Health & Wellness at Durham Tech

Durham Tech
Health and Wellness Programs

Kevin Lawrence, M.Ed
Health & Wellness Success Coach

Sharleen Traynor, PhD, MPH
Director, Clinical Trials Research

Occupational Therapy Assistant
Optician
Respiratory Therapist
Surgical Technician

Anesthesia Technology
Clinical Trials Research
Restorative Dental Technician
Medical Assistant
Nursing

What do you know about these
Health and Wellness careers?

Multiple Choice

What is anesthesia used for?

• To replenish fluids in a patient's body

• To prevent patients from feeling pain during medical procedures

• To stop bleeding during a medical procedure

• To help you sing better

Anesthesia Technology

 What does an Anesthesia Technologist do?

 Works directly with an anesthesia
provider to ensure safe and efficient
care of patients

 May troubleshoot problems with airway
equipment so must have a
thorough understanding of anesthesia
machines

Salary: ~ $42,000 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 23% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in a
hospital

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes clinical research?

• Experiments conducted in a laboratory to test how medicines work in animals

• Experiments conducted in a healthcare setting to test how medicines work in human beings

• Experiments conducted under the microscope to test scientific theories

• Experiments conducted in nature to test environmental conditions

​

Job Market: Growth by 6% - NC (2024)

Clinical Trials
Research Associate

 What does a Clinical Trials Research Associate do?

 Conducts research on medical products in
preparation for regulatory approval

 Could work at a research site working directly
with clinical research participants

 Could work for a medical product company or
contract research organization

Salary: ~ $45,000-50,000 per year – Durham (2024)

Location of employment: usually in a hospital,
pharmaceutical company or clinic

Multiple Choice

40% of the US population is made up of Black, Hispanic, Asian, or other minority groups.

What percentage of clinical trial participants come from these minority groups?

• 40%

• 33%

• 25%

• 10%

Clinical Research
Equity Scholars Program

• Partnership between Durham Tech and

  Duke University

• Internship to address the lack of diversity in clinical trials

• Students work with researchers and the community to improve equitable access to research studies

Multiple Choice

What does a Restorative Dental Technician Do?

• Clean a patient's teeth

• Adjust braces or Invisalign for patients

• Create dentures, crown moldings and bridges for patients

• Performs root canals

Restorative Dental Technician

 What does a Dental Lab Technician do?

 Fabricates dentures, partials, metal
or porcelain crowns and bridges

 Can specialize in areas (Partial Denture,
Crown and Bridge Techniques,
Complete Denture Techniques)

Salary: ~ $39,000 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 12% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in
commercial laboratories, dental offices
laboratories, or dental manufacturers

Multiple Choice

Where does a Medical Assistant work?

• Nursing Home

• Prison

• Doctor's Office

• All of the above

Medical Assistant

 What does a Medical Assistant do?

Verifies patient information by interviewing
patient, recording medical history, and confirming
purpose of visit

Prepares patients for examination by performing
preliminary physical tests, taking blood pressure,
weight, and temperature; and reporting patient
history summary

Secures patient information and maintains patient
confidence by safeguarding records

Salary: ~ $36,200 per year – in Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 23% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: any setting where healthcare is provided, usually a medical clinic or physician's office

Multiple Choice

What is the average salary for a Travel Nurse in North Carolina?

• $50,000-$70,000

  per year

• $80,000-$100,000

  per year

• $125,000-140,000

  per year

• Over $150,000

  per year

Nurse Aide I & II

 What does a Nurse Aide do?

 Bathe and dress patients.

 Serve meals and help patients eat

 Take vital signs

 Turn or reposition patients who are bedridden

 Collect information about conditions and
treatment plans from caregivers, nurses and doctors

 Provide and empty bedpans.

Salary: ~ $32,000 per year - Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 9% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in a medical
clinic, hospital, long term facilities, physician's office

Nursing

 What does a Nurse do (depending on scope)?

 Record medical history and symptoms

 Collaborate with team to plan for patient care

 Advocate for health and wellbeing of patient

 Monitor patient health and record signs

 Administer medications and treatments

 Operate medical equipment

 Educate patients about management of
illnesses

Salary: ~ $77,900 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 11% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in a medical
clinic, hospital, long term facilities, physician's
office

Nursing Programs Offered at
Durham Tech

 Associate Degree Nursing (ADN)

 22 months

 Leads to the Registered Nurse (RN) credential

 Typically works in hospital, medical clinic, or other settings

 Practical Nursing (PN)

 12 months

 Leads to the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) credential

 Typically works in medical clinic, long term care, and other settings

 LPN to ADN (RN) Transition program

 Must have a LPN credential to complete

 12 months

Nursing Programs Offered at
Durham Tech

 Nurse Aide

 Curriculum and non-credit offerings available

 Typically works in hospital, medical clinic, long term care, home health
and other settings

 Associate in General Education- Nursing

 A pathway to complete course requirements to transition to a BSN
program after the ADN program (RN to BSN program)

 Associate in Arts- Nursing

 A track to complete course requirements towards entry into a traditional
BSN program (not an RN to BSN program)

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a task that an Occupational Therapy Assistant would perform?

• Train someone to operate machinery at work

• Provide counseling for someone at work

• Help someone find a job

• Assist someone relearning to walk post-surgery

Occupational Therapy
Assistant

 What does an Occupational Therapy Assistant do?

 Occupational therapy assistants typically help
patients do therapeutic activities

 Lead children who have developmental
disabilities in play activities that promote
coordination and socialization

 Assist patients to resume typical daily activities
and normal functional tasks such as bathing,
cooking and dressing themselves

Salary: ~ $60,000 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 27% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in a medical
clinic rehabilitation center or a hospital

Multiple Choice

What does an Optician do?

• Make glasses and contact lenses in a laboratory

• Conduct eye exams and vision screenings

• Assist during cataract procedures

• Deliver babies (similar to a midwife)

Opticianry

 What does an Optician do?

 Adapts and fits corrective eyewear or
ophthalmic devices as prescribed by the
ophthalmologist or optometrist

 Analyzes and interprets prescriptions

 Maintains records and has effective
communication with consumers

 Uses pertinent business management skills

Salary: ~ $45,000 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 15% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in an eye
doctor's office, optical store or a lab

Multiple Choice

What is a medical condition that would require someone to need a Respiratory Therapist?

• COVID-19

• Asthma

• Punctured Lung

• All of the above

Respiratory Therapy

 What does a Respiratory Therapist do?

 Interviews and examines patients with
breathing or cardiopulmonary disorders

 Consults with Physicians to develop patient
treatment plans

 Performs diagnostic test such as measuring
lung capacity

 Treats patients by using a variety of methods

Salary: ~ $60,000 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 20% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: usually in a medical
clinic or a hospital

Multiple Choice

Which of the following describes a responsibility of a Surgical Technician?

• Organize the operating room before surgery

• Stabilize and hold organs in place during surgery

• Passing instruments to the surgeon

• All of the above

Surgical Technician

 What does a Surgical Technician do?

Creates a sterile field in the operating
room, sets up required instruments, passes
instruments to the surgeon and handles
specimen

 Functions as a member of the surgical team

Salary: ~ $46,900 per year – Durham (2022)

Job Market: Growth by 9% - NC (2022)

Location of employment: hospitals, surgical
clinics, health clinics

Multiple Choice

Why would a person choose a career in Health & Wellness?

• Job security

• Enjoy helping and assisting people

• Like working in a lab setting

• All of the above

Learn more

Health & Wellness Programs : Programs and Pathways | Durham Technical Community College

Attend and upcoming Information Session (See “Events” on our home page or listed on each program
page)

Reach out to the contact person listed on each program page

For short term training options, email [e-mail]

Or, email Kevin Lawrence at [e-mail] and he will help you make the right
connection!

Questions about Health & Wellness
Programs at Durham Tech?