CTE Month Highlight: Preparing Future Healthcare Providers at Crescent Valley High School

In the third week of Career and Technical Education Month, we are highlighting our Health Sciences Program and the Health Occupations class at Crescent Valley High School. A critical skill for any career in healthcare is the ability to provide basic life support when needed. Teacher Aubrey Mendonca prioritizes getting her students Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certified, a healthcare provider-level certification and industry-recognized credential that gives our students a head start on their professional resumes.

Hands-On Practice

Recently, the class spent its time practicing the specific physical skills needed for certification: 

• CPR – Students practiced chest compressions and rescue breaths on feedback mannequins. These trainers use green lights and visible chest rise to show students exactly when they have hit the right speed and depth.
• Bag Mask – After watching the technique on video, students practiced using the device to provide ventilation, learning exactly when and why a patient might need this support.
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – Students practiced how to place pads and operate an AED while also learning how to coordinate the device with their CPR and bag-mask skills.

While they practiced, Ms. Mendonca circled the room to check their technique, reminding students to verbally communicate for someone to call 911 and asking questions to make sure they are ready for next week’s test.

Real-World Experience

Students also participate in career labs and shadow different hospital departments to get a real look at different healthcare careers. After this class, they have the opportunity to take Health Science work experience to continue job shadowing. Some of the most popular days of the year are field trips to Linn-Benton Community College’s Health Science Center to explore their programs, and to Western University of Health Sciences to see the medical school and the cadaver lab firsthand.

Learn more about our CTE programs here: Career & Technical Education (CTE)