After singing the songs and carols, the nurse assistants went around the room to greet each resident personally with a smile, a hand squeeze or a hug. They also gave a warm pair of socks to each man and woman as a holiday gift. The nurse assistants brought warm social interaction to the residents.

Nurse assistants look forward to a strong job outlook for the future. They help provide basic care for patients in hospitals and individuals in residential care and long-term care facilities, such as assisted living communities, nursing homes and rehab centers.

Students from the Animal Science, Nurse Assisting, and Clinical Medical Assisting Programs at the Academy at Ward Technical Center in Riverhead collaborated on a cutting-edge learning experience; dissecting a beef heart.

A human heart is very similar to a beef heart, thus allowing in-depth discussions related to the similarities and differences. Both serve the same purpose: to oxygenate blood from the lungs to the heart and pump it through the body, and both have four valves and four chambers. The difference between the human heart and the beef heart is size and weight. The heart dissection lab allowed the students to observe and analyze, compare and contrast the dimensions, chambers, and valves to gain a better understanding of this unique pump.

Students adhered to safe laboratory procedures when performing the dissection including wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, scrubs, and goggles.

Nurse Assisting and Clinical Medical Assisting students studying anatomy and physiology recently dissected a sheep heart. Their experience was helpful during the beef dissection because they were able to assist in identifying the external anatomy of the heart, locating the base and the apex of the heart, and the right and left sides of the heart.

After orienting the heart so the widest part, the base, pointed upward towards the ceiling, the dissection began. Using a scalpel, a student cut to the lateral wall of the right atrium so probing and an examination of the internal anatomy could begin.

Throughout each phase of the dissection, students answered thirty questions on a Heart Dissection Lab sheet. From their perception of a heart, to the actual appearance and identification of the Cardiac Conduction System.

The dissection of the beef heart was timely for the Animal Science students learning about heartworm disease caused by roundworms. Transmission of the worm is through an infected mosquito. Once the larvae mature, they take up residence in the large pulmonary arteries leading from the heart to the lungs. Students used spaghetti to simulate heartworm disease in the beef heart.

The lab provided a better understanding of heart function because the students got hands-on, observational experience. They learned the anatomy of the heart because they touched it, put their fingers in the valves, felt the fat and muscle, and trimmed away parts of the heart to probe vessels.

This early exposure to techniques and hands-on practice is beneficial to students aspiring to employment in the Health Career professions and Animal Science.