LINGLE – A new program is giving high-school students the opportunity to experience all aspects of health care – and for a competitive wage – at Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb.

Scott Alwin, RWHS Service Excellence Director, visited Lingle-Fort Laramie High School last week as part of a series of informational presentations he’s conducting throughout the Wyo-Braska region to encourage students to apply for the program.

Alwin said he modeled the summer internship after a similar program in Alliance, Neb.

“It’s actually going to be a part-time job for high-school kids throughout the summer,” he said. “These interns (will) work part-time, Monday through Friday, and also on a couple of special projects … some activities on a Saturday once or twice. 

“Interns will actually float through and work through the entire hospital … both clinical and non-clinical.”

Examples of work areas may include, but are not limited to: outpatient clinics, Acute Rehabilitation, Human Resources, Environmental Services, Emergency Medicine, nursing units, Facilities Management, Finance, Food Services, Imaging, Home Care, Rehabilitation (outpatient and inpatient), and Surgery, according to the RWHS website, rwhs.org.

“The premise of it is we want to be able to give these interns exposure to all aspects of it, not just clinical,” Alwin said, adding potential duties may consist of changing bedding; walking behind a therapist with a wheelchair for a patient; assisting a patient by retrieving fresh water or helping them adjust the TV; working with a nurse to get a room ready for the next patient; watching and observing examination procedures; preparing meals; and more.

“We want you to get the whole experience,” Alwin explained. “There are so many different areas related to health care that impacts our patients and are necessary for us to manage.”

Each intern will be paired with a mentor from within the Medical Center or Physicians Clinics, the website states. Interns and their mentors will meet routinely for updates, education, and mentor support throughout the nine-week experience.

A team of RWHS leaders will select eight students from the region following interviews in April. Sophomores through seniors in high school are open to apply. Interns will work approximately 20 hours per week from June 3 to July 31, and must attend all orientation and Service Excellence training sessions. The website states applicants must have completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school as of June 2019. Applications will be accepted March 1 through March 31. Each intern will present a capstone project upon completion of the program.

“It is a commitment, it is a responsibility, it is a job – but the benefit of that is you gain an incredible amount of experience,” Alwin said.

To apply, go online to rwhs.org/careers/internships. Successful candidates will provide an application, cover letter, resumé, one-page or less essay, current high-school grade-point average and two reference letters regarding his or her work ethic, maturity, and responsibility.