Health Science Students Immersed in Professional Environments

Where will these STA students end up for their careers? Physical therapy? A dentist’s office? Radiology? Pediatrics? The ER? These health science students are figuring that out as they begin several weeks of job shadowing as part of their capstone courses at STA. These experiences are due to longstanding partnerships the Allied Health and Professional Nursing instructors have curated with local hospitals and other health care facilities. The shadowing experiences are intentional as they are a part of how LSR7 guides all students along the Career Development Continuum. 

The LSR7 Career Curriculum is intentionally designed to help students navigate to careers they will love no matter where they are on the Career Development Continuum. Starting in 6th grade, students work their way through a number of tools, such as Missouri Connections and YouScience, helping them gain Self and Career Awareness. Students are encouraged to Explore by taking classes, joining clubs, and researching. In the capstone courses at STA, students are deepening their Exploration, as well as beginning Preparation, and Training for their next steps! Case in point, Allied Health and Professional Nursing programs are not only learning vital health care content, but they are also actively preparing for successful careers in healthcare by gaining certifications and participating in hands-on client connected projects. In addition, 25 Professional Nursing students will start paid internship training this spring at St. Luke’s Hospital and Children’s Mercy to gain hospital specific certification as nursing assistants. After graduation, students will work entry level positions as they attend college, and the hospitals will reimburse part of their tuition costs! 

Check out other capstone courses available at STA. These programs are designed to help students navigate the latter part of the career development continuum—from gaining industry specific career exploration to stepping confidently into the workforce.