Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), is a club here at Shadow Ridge High School that has been studying for the State Leadership Conference (SLC) every week, meeting on Mondays and Thursdays. The SLC is where they go to test and compete using their skills they have learned over the year.
“HOSA is an after school club that comes together on Mondays and Thursdays,” sophomore Helena Haney says. “It is an environment that is to support and help students who have a passion to follow the healthcare career in the future.”
After school clubs are a great way to bring students together. While this club is fun, it also allows students to dedicate their studies toward their futures.
“Every year HOSA students from schools across Nevada compete in HOSA-related events. First, the students will have to take a content knowledge test in their respective field. All students who pass the testing portion of the competition then move on to the skills portion of the competition where they may be asked to demonstrate how to prepare an animal for surgery, how to compound a prescription medication, how to measure and record vital signs, how to assess a trauma patient, etc,” Mrs. Chambers continues.
These important skills help to prepare the students for their futures in real life. These students aspire to be in a medical career.
Haney states, “We have been studying and practicing our skills to prepare for SLC. On a typical day, we focus on a skill and study for it to eventually compete at SLC.”
The repetitive studying and practice to prepare for SLC is the best way to ensure true knowledge and learning.
Chambers explains, “Preparation is definitely key. Typically, students will prepare for the content knowledge test on their own time. They are provided books and practice quizzes to help them prepare. We use our dedicated after-school HOSA meeting times to practice hands-on skills. It’s all about repetition, working together, and learning from each other.”
HOSA students spend their meeting times after school to practice their skills and learn the material they need for the competition.
Chambers said, “Most events are individual events, but some events (such as EMT) have the students work in pairs. In those cases, working well with and being in sync with your partner is crucial.”
The after school meeting times allow students to be able to work in real life scenarios with their peers to prepare them for their skills portion of the test.
Chambers states, “Although placing and receiving awards is fun, the HOSA students get so much out of SLC! They meet new people, make connections (both personally and professionally), and they get exposed to a wide variety of healthcare career options they may not have considered. This is a great way to see what’s out there and to learn some important skills along the way.”
The students who compete in SLC are able to get awards and have a feeling of accomplishment, whether physically or with the knowledge they have gained. This club helps to prepare students for their futures and SLC is a great way to test those skills they have learned.
