Clinical rotations began for 30 Fredericksburg High School students at Methodist Hospital | Hill Country Thursday, Oct. 12.
To learn the ins and outs of the healthcare industry, the group will shadow healthcare professionals twice a week for the remainder of the school year.
“They’re welcoming to our students and it’s comforting building connections in the community,” said Desiree Bermudez, registered nurse and health science teacher at FHS, about the hospital program.
Bermudez began teaching the clinical rotations class, Health Science Clinicals & Theory, two years ago. Before, she worked in the field, including as the Fredericksburg Middle School nurse.
Throughout the year, students shadow doctors and nurses in 13 different departments, including in neonatal, radiology, physical therapy, in- and out-patient care, pre- and post-operative care, wound care, outpatient procedures, biomed and in the emergency room.
Pictured from left are Neveah Villa, Mariana Gamboa, Dion Cruz, Paige Kuhlmann, Kirsten Hartmann, Delaney Bedford, Natalie Bermudez, Kate Hughey and Brooklyn Monaco. — Submitted photo
If necessary, students may be asked to leave, but they will observe each assigned professional a total of three times.
The students follow workers at the hospital, “wherever they’re comfortable,” Clinical Nurse Educator and Simulation Coordinator Cindy Loeffler said.
Loeffler has been a nurse at Methodist Hospital | Hill Country (formerly Hill Country Memorial) for 27 years and became involved in the clinicals program three years ago.
“It takes a lot of people to care for a person,” Loeffler said, mentioning that although many students are interested in becoming nurses, they have opportunities to learn about other health care professions.
Nurses and doctors at the hospital share their passion for their work with the students, Loeffler said.
“It’s good to see how hospitals work.”
Wednesday, Oct. 18, the students participated in a routine mass casualty drill with hospital staff where they practiced response to a mock airplane disaster.
“We’re far enough away from San Antonio to need to act on our own,” Loeffler said.
She was impressed and proud of the students’ performance during the drill, and said they helped the hospital see where they need to strengthen.
The clinical rotations program gives students the opportunity to better understand what healthcare looks like specifically in Gillespie County, she said.
“We’re in a staff crisis all the time,” Loeffler said. “Healthcare is always in desperate need.”
She said it has become harder for students to complete nursing school, but programs like the clinicals rotation and Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) get students interested.
HOSA is a student-led healthcare education and volunteer organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Education and was founded in Arlington, Texas in 1976.
This year, there are 62 FHS students in HOSA, grades 9-12. Not all — but, most — students in clinical rotations are members of HOSA.
Every year, the cohort establishes an area of interest. The 2023-2024 cohort will volunteer at nursing homes and assisted living facilities throughout the school year.
Students involved in the program run four blood drives, volunteer at the Kraut Run and help at the Fredericksburg Fire Department, in addition to participating in medical terminology competitions.
