Summer

Have you ever thought about becoming the heartbeat of a healthcare team? That's exactly what you'll be as a registered nurse (RN)! Our program isn't just about teaching you the nuts and bolts of nursing; it's about turning you into a leader in healthcare. Imagine combining knowledge from social, mathematical, and physical sciences with pharmacology and pathophysiology to make crucial clinical decisions. That's what you'll learn here.

Communication is key in nursing, and you'll become an expert at it. You'll also learn how to work effectively with others and use available resources to help patients maintain, regain, and improve their health. Think about mastering the art of critical thinking and problem-solving using the nursing process. It's not just about following procedures; it's about leading with compassion, respect, and cultural sensitivity.

Nurses are in high demand in all sorts of care settings, so your skills will be sought after. Plus, to ensure you're fully prepared, all registered nurses must pass a national exam to practice. Our graduates have consistently aced this exam compared to other programs nationwide. So, if you're ready to step into a career that's both challenging and rewarding, where you can truly make a difference, our RN program is the perfect place to start your journey.

Health information technologists play a vital role in the healthcare sector by processing, storing, and exchanging health data within an electronic environment. As a Health Information Technologist (HIT), your responsibility is to safeguard health data, ensuring it is processed, delivered, and analyzed in compliance with state and Federal laws, such as HIPAA, while upholding confidentiality and security standards.

In our HIT program, you will delve into documentation practices, electronic health record laws and regulations, as well as the confidentiality and security of patient information. You'll learn how to maintain the integrity and accuracy of documentation within electronic health records, and gain proficiency in analyzing healthcare data, including mortality rates, census figures, and death rates, as well as the application of data to improve patient health outcomes. Coding is a fundamental aspect of effective documentation practices, and you will become skilled in identifying appropriate procedure and diagnosis codes to facilitate patient billing and uphold documentation standards, ensuring that bills are submitted correctly and accurately in accordance with federal and state laws.

As an HIT professional, you will become a member of the American Health Information Management Association, joining a community that provides the knowledge and resources needed to make a meaningful impact on healthcare while ensuring the accuracy and security of patient health data.

Western's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is both demanding and fulfilling. As a PTA, you'll use your knowledge and skills to enhance human health and functionality. You will achieve this by applying scientific principles to prevent, detect, evaluate, correct, or alleviate both sudden onset and prolonged movement dysfunctions.

To excel in this role, you must possess strong technical skills and the ability to collaborate with a variety people. Being organized and detail-oriented is essential, particularly when it comes to documenting the progress of your patients.

This degree will set you up for success in this high-skill career working effectively under the direction and supervision of licensed physical therapists.

Are you interested in a career that makes a real difference in people's lives? Consider enrolling in our associate degree program to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), or to explore other exciting job opportunities in related fields. As a COTA, you'll have the chance to work closely under the guidance of an occupational therapist. Your role? To help individuals overcome challenges in their daily lives using engaging, goal-oriented activities. This could mean assisting people in mastering everyday living skills, enjoying leisure and play, or developing work skills.

But that's not all. As a COTA, you'll find yourself in a variety of settings, each offering unique experiences. You might work in a hospital, a school, a geriatric center, or even in people's homes and communities. Each environment offers a chance to positively impact lives, helping people to not just live, but to thrive. If this sounds like the path for you, our program is the perfect starting point to launch your rewarding career in occupational therapy.

The operating room is a demanding and often stressful environment, and it takes a collaborative effort to ensure its smooth operation. If you thrive under pressure and can remain calm in challenging situations, you may find your calling as a surgical technologist. In this critical role, you will be an integral part of the surgical team, responsible for ensuring that equipment functions correctly, maintaining a sterile and safe environment, and ensuring the patient's comfort. Surgical procedures can vary from invasive to minimally invasive, diagnostic, or therapeutic, and you will gain experience in all these areas. Your duties will encompass both pre- and post-operative care, making you an indispensable member of the healthcare team.

Success in an operating room demands focus, dedication, and exceptional multitasking abilities. Before starting the program, all candidates will have the opportunity to gain insight through job shadowing experiences and witness surgeries in progress.

While some general studies courses are available online, with distance learning options at our regional locations, many of our program's core courses are taught face-to-face at the La Crosse Campus. These courses will consist of a combination of lectures, labs, and clinical rotations as you progress through the program.

You will be required to take a national certification exam as a final step before beginning employment as a surgical technologist. This certification ensures that you are well-prepared to excel in this vital healthcare role.