For the first time, Littlefield ISD is offering an EMT training course for seniors only this year. Jenna Ozbirn, with the help of Superintendent Mike Read, started the EMT training program, which will last for the entirety of the school year.
Ozbirn said there are a lot of lectures that go along with the course to teach students the basics.
“We’re trying to get them to the EMS station that way they can learn the hands on stuff and actually get a feel for what it’s like and not just the textbook side of things,” Ozbirn said.
Ozbirn said last week, the class learned transferring and lifting patients, where they used stretchers and they learned how to drag, if they are in a tight situation or an emergency situation.
“We’ll learn airway management and how to insert certain airway management techniques and then they’ll be able to do clinic rotations as well,” Ozbirn said.
Ozbirn said she has also taught a patient care technician course for three years at Littlefield High School.
“They will be able to take two certification tests at the end of the school year and they can get certified in patient care tech,” Ozbirn said. “Kinda like a nurse aid, but a step above, and they can get certified to do phlebotomy and EKG’s as well.”
Ozbirn said next week she will be getting the students CPR certified.
“So, they’ll get their BLS certificate, they’re basic life saving skills, and then that’s the only certificate, other than when they test at the end of the year, that they’ll get,” Ozbirn said.
Ozbirn said she is teams with the paramedics and EMS staff to help get their expertise.
“ I’m a registered nurse so...I’ve never worked EMS so they’re coming to teach some of the information that I’m not that familiar with and then we’re going to be going to the station quite a bit to do the skills side of things,” Ozbirn said.
Ozbirn said she got her bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2011 and worked in the hospital and home health before going back to school in 2019 and graduating with her master’s and Nurse Practitioners Certification.
Ozbirn said she had not found a nurse practitioner job and that is when, former school nurse, Ms. Hobbs reached out and told her she was retiring.
“First year, 2019, I was just the school nurse and then Mr. Read came to me and he was like ‘hey would you want to start a CNA type class?’ and I was like ‘sure’ so I got into teaching,” she said.
Ozbirn said she taught an anatomy and physiology class last year.
“When they wanted to expand and do some more certifications I was like ‘OK, I’m going to have to be only on the teaching side’ and not the school nurse trying to do the two,” Ozbirn said.
Ozbirn said she received her Alternative Teaching Certificate from iTeach Texas, last year.
“ Now I’m just teaching,” Ozbirn said. “I was like ‘never did I imagine I would be teaching, much less back in my school’ but I love it. I love these classes.”
Ozbirn said she is excited to expand on these programs.
“Hopefully, in the near future, when we get in the new building we’ll be able to offer some more certification classes,” Ozbirn said.