Tenth grade student Jordan Little is learning about himself and about life in his Pre-Professional Internship. He is assigned to South Pointe Hospital's Emergency Room every Monday. Each week Jordan shadows a nurse and learns protocol and procedures as he stocks equipment, transports patients, and assists with EKGs and taking vital signs. His internship days go quickly as he has become part of the team who must respond to each emergency in turn.

This past Monday morning Jordan even became one of the main responders to a crisis. An elderly gentleman was wheeled into the emergency room in full cardiac arrest. While a doctor attached him to a breathing machine, a nurse took over the CPR. She became fatigued and asked Jordan if he knew CPR. Thanks to the Communication for Success course that Jordan experienced last year at Trinity in preparation for his internship, he answered that he did have CPR training. She asked him to take over the compressions and he did so without hesitating. "I was glad that I got to help out and I couldn't believe that I got the opportunity to use last year's CPR training. I was very nervous but proud that I knew what to do."

He performed compressions on the patient and was gratified to see the man's pulse return. The doctor looked over and said, "Good compressions, kid." Unfortunately, as the treatment continued, this time with the nurse again performing the compressions, the patient did pass away. However, the family was grateful for the team's efforts and thanked Jordan for trying to save their family member.

"I've seen many things happen in the ER including people pass away," Jordan says, "When that happens, I try to keep my emotions aside so that I can act professionally."

Jordan loves his internship and reports that it is very hands-on and that he is learning many things. "It makes me feel good that I have the opportunity to help patients and their families," he said. Even though his career goal is to become a computer programmer, Jordan realizes that his internship is preparing him for his future employment. "My internship is getting me ready for a work environment," he said. "This experience has made me more mature and responsible."

Jordan’s supervisor Sharon Dooley, South Pointe's Director of Emergency Services, agrees that Jordan shows a level of maturity impressive for his age. "He comes in every Monday eager to learn something new and to make himself valuable to our department," she said. "I am proud to have Jordan as part of our team."