Bridgeport High Students Tour WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital for Practical Health Care Insights
More than 60 Bridgeport High School students stepped out of the classroom and onto hospital floors on Oct. 19, trading textbooks for real-world medical equipment during a field trip to WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital.
The visiting teenagers, ranging from freshmen to seniors, spent the day rotating through multiple departments to observe active patient care and interact directly with practicing medical professionals. Heath science teacher Dana Kreiter, who accompanied the group on her first field trip in the role, noted that the students walked the halls while regular operations continued around them.
Students observed respiratory therapy setups, explored the emergency room, and practiced hands-on chest compressions on medical training manikins. Staff members also demonstrated surgical instruments used by surgical technicians, while representatives from Wheeling University attended to discuss volunteer opportunities and hand out college applications.
For seniors like Delanie Allen, who plans to pursue a career in nursing, the visit offered a tangible look at specialized units like radiation therapy and oncology. Allen noted that staff members provided clear guidance on entering the medical field and demonstrated proper techniques for handling ventilators and administering CPR, aligning directly with recent coursework covering the human heart.
Junior Aydyn Hildebrand, who is considering a specialty in radiology, spent time examining the diagnostic labs and imaging equipment. School officials emphasized that these experiences are designed to bridge the gap between theoretical classroom study and actual clinical environments.
“It was a good experience for our students to get out and see something out in the world,” Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher said, according to the report.
Fisher pointed out that students within the district can take multiple health care courses and graduate with qualifications as a nursing assistant.
