Compare Health Science Careers-Nursing and Medical Careers
Which Healthcare Field are you Interested in?
Use this comparison to help you decide which of these two popular WANIC programs to apply to. BOTH programs are excellent foundational classes that prepare students for a future in healthcare. BOTH programs would reflect very well on the resumé of a student pursuing any healthcare/medical field.
WANIC Health Science Careers
At WANIC@LWTech, Sammamish HS, Woodinville HS*
Focus: Nursing Assisting, Pre-Nursing
This WANIC program provides academic rigor, lab skills, and practical experience and prepares students to become Nursing Assistant Certified (NAC), also known as CNA. Program includes 40+ hours real-world clinical practice in facilities in the area.
Students who have earned their NAC, can receive on-the-job training in facilities to complete their Patient Care Technician (PCT) certification.
High school credits: 3 (CTE, Health, Lab Science)
Dual Credit college credits: Up to 22 college credits (At BC or LWTech) Subject to change.
Career Information Nursing Assistants
Nursing Assistants work in Hospitals, Long Term Care, Assisted Living and Home Health under supervision of a nurse and provide basic patient care.
Certified Nursing Assistants can expect to do the following in the workplace, plus additional skills as trained on the job:
- Answer patients’ call signals.
- Turn and reposition patients.
- Observe patients’ conditions, measure and record food and liquid intake and output.
- Measure and record patient vital signs.
- Report changes of patient conditions to licensed staff.
- Assist with patient feedings.
- Support patients with ambulation and range of motion exercises.
- Provide patient care by supplying/emptying bed pans, applying dressings, supervising exercise routines.
- Bathe, groom, shave, dress, or drape patients to prepare them for surgery, treatment, or examination.
- Collect specimens such as urine, feces, or sputum.
- Transport patients to treatment units, using a wheelchair or stretcher.
- Straighten patient rooms and change linens.
- Assist Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapists with patient care and care plans.
- Job titles include Certified Nursing Assistant, Nursing Assistant Certified, Patient Care Technician.
Employment outlook: Increasing by 14%
- NAC Hourly pay range Seattle Metro: $19-26
- PCT Hourly pay range Seattle Metro: $22-35
At Woodinville HS, this program is called Medical Professions Academy. This is not the same as Medical Careers, which is offered only at WANIC@LWTech
WANIC Medical Careers
At WANIC@LWTech only
Focus: Medical Assisting, Medical Lab Assisting
This WANIC program provides academic rigor and practical skills covering the groundwork for medical assisting/lab assisting and prepares students to earn their National Health Science Certification Exam (NHSCE).
Note: Students interested in earning their MA (Medical Assisting certificate) will need to complete additional college courses after the WANIC school year.
High school credits: 3 (CTE, Health, Lab Science)
Dual Credit college credits: Up to 12 college credits (At BC or LWTech). Subject to change.
Career Information Medical Assistants
Medical Assistants work in doctor offices, medical centers, labs, or clinics under supervision of a doctor or nurse and perform clinical and administrative duties.
Once certified, Medical Assistants can expect to do the following in the workplace:
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Prepare patients for the physician, interview them to obtain medical information, measure vital signs, weight, and height.
- Record patient medical history, vital statistics, and information such as test results.
- Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments and materials or performing tasks such as giving injections or removing sutures.
- Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, and physicians' instructions to patients.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
- Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
- Schedule appointments, maintain medical records, and perform billing and coding for insurance purposes.
- Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
- Authorize medication refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
- Follow safety and procedural protocols in a medical laboratory, for example, urinalysis.
- Assist Physical and Occupational Therapists with patient care and care plans.
Employment outlook: Increasing by 20%
- MA Hourly pay range Seattle Metro: $21-33
Full Year Course Info
Times, Locations, Course Credits and Equivalencies for WANIC Programs
Course Expectations Additional information about course expectations that may be useful in students', parents', and staff decision making about the program.
WANIC Application AgreementBy submitting a WANIC application the Student & Parent should understand the WANIC Application Agreement.