Health and medical sciences courses prepare students for careers in medicine, nursing, dentistry, and other health occupations. Consistent with their abilities, interests, and educational needs, students may complete a variety of health sciences courses to reach a variety of career preparation goals.

Health and medical sciences courses:

• Introduce secondary students to nursing, medical, and other health occupations.

• Prepare students with basic skills for employment in a variety of healthcare settings.

• Facilitate entry into advanced health occupations programs that require post-high school education leading to state licensure, certification, registration, or national credentialing.

• Students to become more knowledgeable consumers of health services.

Nurse Aide

Nurse Aide I, offered as an occupational preparation course beginning at the 11th-grade level, is regulated under the Virginia Board of Nursing. It emphasizes the study of nursing occupations as related to the healthcare system. Students study growth and development across the lifespan, simple body structure and function, and medical terminology. They are introduced to concepts of infection prevention and disease processes. Students receive entry-level skill training in patient-nurse aide relationships; measuring and recording of vital signs; cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and general patient care. Work-based learning may be offered as part of this course. The Nurse Aide I course introduces students to careers in nursing, health professions, and STEM-H professions. Students must maintain American Heart Association's Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) training during this course.