CUTLINE – Pictured is Henry County High School Senior Angel Furst who is completing an internship at Henry County Medical Center this semester.
Paris, TN – While some of her classmates are heading home, or to practice, or to a part-time job after school, Henry County High School Senior Angel Furst puts on her scrubs and heads to Henry County Medical Center for an hour-and-a-half “test drive” of her future career.
Furst and four other HCHS seniors are undergoing a clinical internship at HCMC as part of the high school’s effort to expose its students to potential careers in healthcare. From February to May, students head to the HCMC campus to intern in one of five departments: Cardiac Rehabilitation, the Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine, Laboratory, Pharmacy and the Center for Wellness and Rehabilitation.
Furst, who plans to become a registered nurse while studying at Jackson State next year, spends her afternoons at HCMC’s Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine. “Everyone here has been super helpful and they take time to explain to me what they’re doing.”
Following her rotation at the wound clinic, Furst will move on to the cardiopulmonary rehabilitation department next week.
Joyce Faulkner, RN, the Staff Development Coordinator at HCMC, works with HCHS Coordinator Tamera Dicus on the clinical internship program. “This is a valuable program because it gives them a first-hand look at what we do at the hospital, which helps the students decide if they want to work in healthcare in the future.”
Faulkner also noted that HCHS students are able to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) after completing a course at the high school and a clinical rotation at the Henry County Healthcare Center.
For more information about opportunities at HCMC, go online at www.hcmc-tn.org.
About Henry County Medical Center
Located in Paris, TN, Henry County Medical Center is a progressive, integrated healthcare organization committed to serving the healthcare needs of Henry County and the adjoining region. Including a 142-bed hospital and other facilities, the medical center provides a variety of outpatient services, as well as inpatient care. Additionally, HCMC owns and operates 7 provider clinics in various specialties. Henry County Medical Center is a county-owned and operated nonprofit institution. For more information: www.hcmc-tn.org.