“Experienced” isn’t a term that’s usually associated with high school students.
But for Tanner Connections students like Will McJury, “experience” is all in a day’s service.
This spring will be McJury’s second year in the Tanner Connections program, making him one of the program’s longest serving students since the program’s inception in 2010.
Tanner Connections is a work-based learning internship program for high school students that allows them to get out of the traditional classroom environment and gain real-world experience at Tanner Health System facilities.
“When Will came to work with us, he just fell in love,” said Nancy Harris, RN, BSN, CCRN, nurse manager for the intensive care unit (ICU) at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. “He’s requested our unit over and over again for two years. A lot of people are afraid of working in the ICU — especially the high school students. It can be pretty overwhelming to walk into a room and see patients connected to all kinds of life support, IVs, tubes and wires, but Will just jumped right in and really, really enjoyed it.”
When he started in 2016, McJury was assigned to the emergency department at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton. Since then, he’s made rounds through several of the hospital’s other clinical units, including diagnostic imaging and the infusion center, before deciding to “specialize” in the intensive care unit.
“One of the things I love about this program, and working in the ICU, is seeing how much everyone I work with really loves their jobs and what they do,” said McJury, 18, a senior at Central High School in Carroll County. “You can just see how much they love caring for people, and because of that I have loved working here, too. I feel like I have been able to learn so much more being in that type of environment.”
McJury said he’s always been interested in health care, but what really piqued his interest to pursue a career in the field was speaking to mentors and teachers who’ve had successful healthcare careers of their own.
“I am taking a couple of nursing classes and both of my teachers are healthcare professionals,” said McJury. “After hearing their stories and about how much they loved their careers, it inspired me.”
Harris said that students in the Tanner Connections program really do receive a hands-on experience, taking on a share of the responsibilities and day-to-day tasks of a real nurse.
“We allow our students to be a part of the team, and I think that’s one of the reasons they enjoy it so much,” said Harris, who usually takes on several students every semester. “Our nurse techs show them how to stock the medical supply carts and resupply linen. They may help feed patients who need assistance feeding themselves. And our students also observe a lot. Sometimes we have to perform procedures in the ICU, like bronchoscopies, EGDs and minor procedures, such as line placements and wound debridement. Will has been able to learn and observe a lot in our unit.”
McJury said working in the Tanner Connections program has helped him build his skillset beyond what he was learning in the classroom.
“When I am in class, I am reading about and studying nursing, but here I am able to further my education by working alongside actual nurses in the field,” said McJury. “This is actual hands-on learning. I’m right there with the nurses, assisting them with whatever they need. It’s providing experience that I can take with me when I go to college and put on my resume when I apply for nursing programs.”
Tanner Connections started through a partnership with Tanner Health System and local high schools in Carroll and Haralson counties. The program has now grown to include high schools in Randolph County, Ala. More than 250 students from around the region have successfully completed the program.
“Most of the students that come through Tanner Connections are seniors and are with us one semester, two at the most,” said Danna Deering, an education specialist for Tanner Health System who oversees the Tanner Connections program. “Will has been with us for two years and is an excellent example of what this program is able to offer and how it enables students to excel inside and outside of the classroom and gain much valuable experience along the way.”
McJury’s last day in the Tanner Connections program falls on the same day as his high school graduation — May 17.
After high school, he plans to head off to college to pursue a degree in nursing. He said he’s confident that the knowledge, experience and relationships he’s gained working in the Tanner Connections program will help him springboard his budding career in health care to the next level.
To be eligible to participate in the Tanner Connections program, a student must:
• Attend a high school in Carroll County, Carrollton City, Bremen City and Haralson County school districts
• Participate in his or her school’s Work Based Learning program
• Maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Have no discipline issues
• Be on track to graduate
• Have completed one class in their career pathway
After the above criteria are met, the student will submit two references — from teachers — and a one- to two-page essay on why he or she should be considered for the Tanner Connections program to Danna Deering, who will make selections based upon position availability, quality of the essay and references.