WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)—Wichita’s middle school students got a hands-on look at future careers in health care.
The 2024 workforce report from the Kansas Hospital Association says that by 2030, the state will need nearly 29,000 nursing assistants and over 20,000 registered nurses. This does not account for the thousands of other health care professionals Kansas will need by 2030 and beyond.
“Futureready Experience: Healthcare” hopes to increase middle school students’ exposure to the field and create a pipeline of future workers. The event was brought together by The Greater Wichita Partnership, in collaboration with WSU Tech and Wichita Public Schools, along with HCS Healthcare Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
“We’ve tried to figure out where the heart monitor should go on a person, and we listen to each other’s heartbeats. We’ve tried tying tourniquets and stuff like that. It’s been a lot of fun,” said Joanna Hbentt, a student at Gordon Parks Academy.
It’s a day of learning about careers that could one day save lives.
“We’ve learned about different technicians and doctors and ultrasound techs, and that’s really cool,” said Lyric Davis, a student at Robinson Middle School.
Organizers say events like this address health care worker shortages in Kansas.
“Perhaps some students never even thought about a career in health care. So, this at least exposes them to the possibilities. There are many professions that desperately need health care professionals to go into the programs,” Lynn Loveland, Dean of Health Sciences at WSU Tech.
Igniting that interest and making health care accessible and exciting.
“What I like about EMT is just being able to help her right then and there, help them know that they’re safe, they’re in good hands, and that I like that working under pressure as well,” Caden Proffer, a student at FRC with Wichita Public Schools.
The hope is to make more informed career choices in health care.
“The goal is to help students get to where they want to be and fill their career aspirations in the health care industry. And so it’s either that job right out of high school or something further down the line,” said Eric Shipman, Principal at Wichita Public Schools FRC.
Mobile health career stations will also travel throughout Wichita middle schools for the students who didn’t attend. Another 3000 students will get to participate in hands-on activities like those at today’s event.
