advertisement

High school students graduate from Advocate Condell program

Lucia Romozzi is only 18 but she already knows the job she wants right down to a very specific title: Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner in Acute Care.

Lucia's focus is due, in part, to her participation in an Advocate Condell Medical Center program that offers high school students an intensive, hands-on experience in the health care field. The Lake Zurich High School senior was accepted into the highly competitive program in fall 2014. After seven months, she graduated on April 27 along with 31 other juniors and seniors.

"The most important thing I acquired from this program was that a sense of community and a common goal are very important for a hospital," Lucia said. "Every area of the hospital I went to during this program was staffed with the nicest nurses, technicians, doctors. They were always so welcoming and loved to teach us new things."

The Advocate Condell program is Penwasciz, which stands for three items a nurse traditionally carries: a pen, a watch and scissors. Begun 60 years ago in August, 1955, Penwasciz (pronounced "pen-WAH-zee") has maintained the same goal throughout six decades. It aims to demonstrate that success in the care of a patient hinges on teamwork, while emphasizing hands-on experiences for participants.

Joining that group of participants isn't easy. Instructors Patty Burke and Sue Storto notify about 20 local high schools, most in Lake County, each summer that the application window is approaching. In 2014, the link to the applications was online at the Advocate Condell website from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sept. 2. Students who wanted to apply had to do so then. Burke and Storto received 176 applications during that single hour.

Thirty-two high school students who met the criteria were selected to participate. Thirty were new to the program and two were returning for a second year. The 2014-15 session ran from October through April, with students participating in clinical rotations for two hours on Monday evenings.

Initially they observed and assisted on medical/surgical units. As their skills and confidence increased, they gradually were transitioned into specialty areas such as New Life (obstetrics), respiratory, radiology, emergency, cardiology and pharmacy, where they were allowed to observe procedures with patients' permission.

Additionally, they participated in a five-hour orientation, a four-hour CPR training for those not certified in Healthcare Provider CPR, and monthly group meetings featuring speakers talking about health care, wellness topics and roles within health care.

Few things buoy Burke's spirits more than hearing from former students now working in health care.

"They are so excited to tell us how much the program meant to them," said Burke, a nurse at Advocate Condell. "One recently told me Penwasciz put her so far ahead of the other nursing students in her class."

Dr. Robert Kummerer, a cardiovascular surgeon with Advocate Condell Medical Center, said he would have jumped at the chance to participate in such a program when he was in high school.

"What a tremendous opportunity. The students get to see first hand the dedication that's required to be in the medical profession and the impact we can have on people's lives," said Dr. Kummerer, who spoke with the students in March.

After a brief lecture about anatomy and physicians' experiences, he and the students dissected pigs' hearts. In groups of four or five, students watched Kummerer as he delicately pieced apart the chambers, valves and vessels, describing how they interact. Then the students had the opportunity to dig a little deeper to understand the workings of the heart, which Kummerer said is remarkably similar to a human heart.

Hands-on opportunities such as this one got student Anthony Dinkel's heart pumping.

"Besides learning that a medical career is right for me, I have realized more and more how much of a gift life is and how incredible science is to explain life and save lives," said Anthony, 17, a Grayslake senior at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein.

Like Anthony, Lucia used the Penwasciz program to help her narrow her areas of interest in the health care field. Upon hearing Sarah Lee speak to the group, Lucia felt she found her calling. She asked if she could shadow Lee, an adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioner in trauma at Advocate Condell, and Storto arranged it.

"It was definitely a life-changing experience," said Lucia of Lake Zurich. "She was so kind and such an inspiring person. She helped me realize what I definitely want to do. She talked to me about college and grad school and gave me ideas on how to go through my schooling. I am beyond grateful I was able to experience shadowing her."

That's the kind of enthusiasm Burke hopes every Penwasciz student experiences.

"It gives the students a clearer picture of what to expect if they decide to go into health care," Burke said. "We're ecstatic when the program does what it should be doing."

Later this year, Advocate Condell Medical Center will hold a reunion for all former Penwasciz students who participated over the last 60 years. Penwasciz graduates interested in attending should contact Burke at (847) 990-2449 or patricia.burke@advocatehealth.com.

• To submit Your news with one photo, go to dailyherald.com/share. To submit Your news with multiple photos, send it to nbrcalender@dailyherald.com.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.