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PITTSBURG —
Kyra Hunt and Savanna Smith are on a roll.
The Pittsburg High School juniors have been members of Health Occupation Students of America for two years and have qualified for the HOSA National Leadership Conference both years.
The two earned first place in the career health display category at the HOSA Kansas Spring Conference held March 28-30 in Salina, which earned them the right to attend the national event June 19-23 in Orlando, Fla.
“Last year we competed at Anaheim, Calif.,” Hunt said.
She said they based their latest project on the Joplin 2011 tornado, and the triage efforts by nurses there.
Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients’ treatments based on the severity of their medical condition. It is often used in emergency situation.
“I know people who lost their homes in the tornado,” she said. “A lot of my parents’ friends are nurses, and one of my mother’s friends helped with the triage.”
Both students really are interested in health care careers.
“I want to be an ER nurse,” said Hunt, daughter of Jodi Hunt and Kevin Hunt. “It would be cool to not have the same routine every day.”
She also has a personal interest in the medical field.
“Since I was little I’ve been very accident prone,” Hunt said. “My mother says I get hurt so I can experience different kinds of doctors.”
Smith’s mother, Holli Smith, is a nurse for Dr. Danny Reveal, Pittsburg orthopedic surgeon, but she doesn’t plan on becoming a nurse.
“Physical or speech therapy is my interest,” she said. “I really like helping people.”
The two are looking forward to their trip to Orlando. In addition to the national competition event, the conference will include educational and social learning activities, leadership academics, exhibits by professional healthcare associations and workshops by professional partners about current health care issues.
“It’s cool being surrounded by people with one big interest,” Hunt said.
James Foresman, their advisor, is optimistic about their chances at the national competition.
“I think they stand a chance to place at nationals,” he said.
He added that a total of 10 PHS HOSA members attended the state competition in Salina. Others earning medals were Lizzy Willis, third in extemporaneous poster; Caden Yantis, third in extemporaneous writing and emergency preparedness; Reece Burns, second in medical photography and emergency preparedness; Taylor Hawkins, second in health lifestyles. Smith also placed second in job seeking skills.
The mission of HOSA is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community.
Kyra Hunt and Savanna Smith are on a roll.
The Pittsburg High School juniors have been members of Health Occupation Students of America for two years and have qualified for the HOSA National Leadership Conference both years.
The two earned first place in the career health display category at the HOSA Kansas Spring Conference held March 28-30 in Salina, which earned them the right to attend the national event June 19-23 in Orlando, Fla.
“Last year we competed at Anaheim, Calif.,” Hunt said.
She said they based their latest project on the Joplin 2011 tornado, and the triage efforts by nurses there.
Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients’ treatments based on the severity of their medical condition. It is often used in emergency situation.
“I know people who lost their homes in the tornado,” she said. “A lot of my parents’ friends are nurses, and one of my mother’s friends helped with the triage.”
Both students really are interested in health care careers.
“I want to be an ER nurse,” said Hunt, daughter of Jodi Hunt and Kevin Hunt. “It would be cool to not have the same routine every day.”
She also has a personal interest in the medical field.
“Since I was little I’ve been very accident prone,” Hunt said. “My mother says I get hurt so I can experience different kinds of doctors.”
Smith’s mother, Holli Smith, is a nurse for Dr. Danny Reveal, Pittsburg orthopedic surgeon, but she doesn’t plan on becoming a nurse.
“Physical or speech therapy is my interest,” she said. “I really like helping people.”
The two are looking forward to their trip to Orlando. In addition to the national competition event, the conference will include educational and social learning activities, leadership academics, exhibits by professional healthcare associations and workshops by professional partners about current health care issues.
“It’s cool being surrounded by people with one big interest,” Hunt said.
James Foresman, their advisor, is optimistic about their chances at the national competition.
“I think they stand a chance to place at nationals,” he said.
He added that a total of 10 PHS HOSA members attended the state competition in Salina. Others earning medals were Lizzy Willis, third in extemporaneous poster; Caden Yantis, third in extemporaneous writing and emergency preparedness; Reece Burns, second in medical photography and emergency preparedness; Taylor Hawkins, second in health lifestyles. Smith also placed second in job seeking skills.
The mission of HOSA is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science technology education students, therefore, helping students to meet the needs of the health care community.
