Baptist Hospital-North Mississippi hosted its fifth-annual Crash Course nursing camp this past week, giving students in grades 10 through 12 a firsthand glimpse at careers in the healthcare field.

Sixteen students from as far as South Panola and Olive Branch were selected to attend the camp. Over the course of the week, campers were able to visit various departments of the hospital, including Women’s and Children, radiology, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, emergency and surgery.

It’s an experience hospital director of education Jenny Filgo said is exciting for both campers and nurses.

“The students have made new friends and gotten unforgettable experience in the Crash Course,” Filgo said. “My nurses always enjoy Crash Course as much as the kids do.”

The students shadowed nurses as they made their rounds, and even obtained CPR certifications and simulated IV starts and injections.

One of the nurses involved with the camp, Summer Vanderford, said getting to experience a real working situation is invaluable for the campers.

“People who are interested in different careers actually get to go out and see them before deciding on a career,” Vanderford said. “The students have been very excited to see the ER portion; it’s their favorite. One even said, ‘I’m going to be an ER doctor,’ and that’s our whole goal with this program.”

The week culminated in a live interactive demonstration with the Wings helicopter medevac.

Kat Moss, one of the students from Lafayette High School who attended Crash Course, said the helicopter demonstration was fun, but her real passion is the emergency room.

“I knew I wanted to be in healthcare, but I didn’t know exactly where I wanted to go,” Moss said. “I have really liked emergency medicine and the ER so far. My mom is a nurse, and I just like that you can save someone.”

For more information, visit http://www.crashcoursecamp.com.