Patient Care Exploration
Explore Patient Care Careers
A unique, hands-on learning experience providing care for patients in a clinical setting. Work side-by-side with healthcare professionals in a healthcare facility and fulfill prerequisites for many college health programs.
Certification Opportunities
Includes CPR, First Aid, and Nurse Aide (CNA) Certifications.
Available at:
HSC-168: Nurse Aide
HSC-205: Exploration of Healthcare Careers
Students have the option to enroll in Exploration of Healthcare Careers and Nurse Aide during either Fall OR Spring semester. Additional coursework of the student's choice is completed the additional semester.
Students must be 16 prior to March 1 of the year enrolled. Completion of high school biology within the last two years, with a grade of C or higher is recommended. Students must obtain 79 or higher in Nurse Aide course during spring semester to move on to clinical experience. There are no excused absences for Nurse Aide, per state regulations. Students must arrange their own transportation to clinical experience and be prepared for time commitment outside of academy class to complete the clinic requirements. Health immunization requirements (*if applicable) are shared with students at orientation and must be completed prior to the beginning of November of the year enrolled in the course.
Exact courses may vary. Contact your high school counselor or Visit nearest Kirkwood location for full details.
Students are required to have a current physical and immunization records completed and then submitted to Certified Background during the first semester of the academy.
Per state requirements, all health care facilities require criminal background checks, including students in a clinical setting. More information will be shared at the required orientation.
If you are planning to transfer to a four-year college or university after attending Kirkwood, specific transfer information can be found at All About Transferring.
“I’d tell any high school student to try Career Academy. I was able to learn how to do college without the stress of paying for it.”
La'Mai Range,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Read more about La'Mai Range on the Kirkwood Online Newsroom.