Franklin Students Explore Careers and Ease Fears at Crouse Hospital-Land

Franklin Elementary School second grader Siham Aden needed her tonsils out. Her parents – two fellow students – drove her to the hospital. A security guard – another classmate – checked them in. An admissions nurse – yet another peer – provided her with an ID bracelet. A transport nurse – classmate number five – brought her to her room in a wheelchair.
 
With classmates playing a pretend role every step of the way, the experience was all part of the interactive “Hospital-Land” experience.
 
“That was fun!” Siham exclaimed, after her fake hospital experience was over. “My favorite thing was when everyone was taking care of me. It made the hospital seem not so scary.”
 
That’s the idea behind the Crouse Hospital program. In a building in North Syracuse, centers are set up for kids to learn about security processes, admission procedures, hospital rooms, hospital staff, xrays, operating rooms, nutrition, maintenance, and more.
 
Registered Nurse Faith Terry walked the students through a simulated hospital experience, asking for student volunteers at each step.

“I need four doctors!” Nurse Terry called, as student hands popped up enthusiastically. She noted that she knew she wanted to be a nurse from the time she was five years old – explaining about the various ‘Hospital Helper’ roles available and what they each entail. She encouraged students to think about what career options sounded exciting to them.
 
“Our second-grade team decided to organize this trip to address a significant concern among our students: many do not have primary care doctors and often visit local hospitals for medical attention,” Franklin teacher Katie Luhr said. “By providing an opportunity for students to explore the hospital environment, we aim to alleviate some of the anxieties associated with hospital visits. This experience also allowed our children to engage in role-playing – acting out various healthcare careers, and potentially inspiring them to pursue futures as doctors, nurses, or a host of other possibilities in the healthcare field.”
 
After the simulation activity was complete, students were given time to explore stations set up – practicing temperature screenings, using wheelchairs and crutches, laying on a stretcher, exploring parts of the body in medical displays and on dolls, playing around with cleaning carts, and more. Each child went home with a Crouse goody bag, as well as an official Good Patient Certificate.
 
Thank you to our friends at Crouse for offering this educational experience for our Franklin students!