The health-related professions listed below have training opportunities offered by either New Mexico State University or Dona Ana Community College in Las Cruces, NM. Therefore, the NMSU Pre-Health Professions Advising office does not offer advising for these programs. To find out more information about one of these programs, please contact the program directly. There is a brief description and contact information for each program below.
Athletic Training
“Certified athletic trainers are highly qualified health professionals who are trained in preventing, recognizing, managing, and rehabilitating injuries that result from physical activity. Athletic trainers can help you avoid unnecessary medical treatment and disruption of normal daily life; if you’re injured, they are trained to work with your healthcare provider to get you on the mend and keep you on the move.
The AMA (American Medical Association) has recognized athletic training as an allied health care profession since 1990. If you become an athletic trainer, your job prospects are good: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), this field is projected to grow “faster than average” through 2012. Typically athletic trainers earn a salary of $35,000 to $75,000 per year.”
New Mexico State University: Athletic Training Program
Phone Number: 575-646-5038
Visit the NMSU Athletic Training Program
Email: mspence@nmsu.edu
Dental Hygiene
“Dental hygienists are preventive oral health professionals who have graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program in an institution of higher education, licensed in dental hygiene to provide educational, clinical, research, administrative and therapeutic services supporting total health through the promotion of optimum oral health.
In performing the dental hygiene process of care, the dental hygienist assesses the patient’s oral tissues and overall health determining the presence or absence of disease, other abnormalities and disease risks; develops a dental hygiene diagnosis based on clinical findings; formulates evidence-based, patient-centered treatment care plans; performs the clinical procedures outlined in the treatment care plan; educates patients regarding oral hygiene and preventive oral care; and evaluates the outcomes of educational strategies and clinical procedures provided.
Clinical procedures provided typically include removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the teeth; exposing and processing dental X-rays; applying cavity-preventive agents, such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants; and administering antimicrobial agents. In some states, they also administer local anesthetics and nitrous oxide; place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; perform root-planing as a periodontal therapy; and polish restorations. In addition, they can provide clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for interpretation by other health professionals.”
Dona Ana Community College: Dental Hygiene Program
Phone Number: 575-528-7216
Visit the DACC Dental Hygiene Program
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
“Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics respond to emergencies, from someone who may be having a heart attack in her home to multi-vehicle accidents on the highway. EMTs are most frequently found in ambulances but some may provide care for patients being transported by air as well.
They provide first-line medical or emergency care for sick and injured people at the scene, which may be in the person’s home, at an accident site or other places and while they’re being transported to the hospital for care. They typically operate in teams with one person serving as an emergency vehicle operator while the other continues to provide life-saving emergency care to the patient en route to a medical facility.”
(Source: http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Career/43/Emergency_Medical_TechnicianParamedic )
Dona Ana Community College: Emergency Medical Services Department
Phone Number: 575-527-7645
Visit the DACC Emergency Medical Services Program
Email: jobradle@nmsu.edu
Nursing
“According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nursing is among the top 10 occupations with the largest job growth.
Registered nursing (RN) requires a large base of knowledge used to assess, plan and intervene to promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illness. When providing direct patient care, nurses observe, assess and record symptoms, reactions and progress, which provides the basis for care planning and intervention. They are health educators and advocates for patients, families and communities.
They have a unique scope of practice and can practice independently, although they also collaborate with all members of the health care team to provide the care needed by each patient as an individual.
RN roles range from direct patient care and case management to establishing nursing practice standards, developing quality assurance procedures, directing complex nursing care systems, conducting clinical research and teaching in nursing programs, as well as practicing in many other invigorating settings.
RNs also develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct patients and their families in proper care and help individuals and groups take steps to improve or maintain their health. While state laws govern the scope of nursing practice, it is usually patient needs that determine a nurse’s daily job activities.”
New Mexico State University: School of Nursing
Phone Number: 575-646-3812
Visit the NMSU School of Nursing
Email: nursing@nmsu.edu
Nutrition
“Scientific studies are proving that the food we eat has a significant impact on our health. Changes in diet can help prevent or control many health problems, including obesity, diabetes and certain risk factors for cancer and heart disease.
Dietetics is the health field that focuses on the interaction between nutrition and health. Dietitians and dietetic technicians design “nutrition therapies” that help the body use the natural nutrients and properties in food to protect against disease and promote health.
The field of dietetics has a strong emphasis on public health and a commitment to educating all Americans about the importance of making proper dietary choices. Dietitians who work in facilities preparing food strive to develop menus and recipes that are healthful, tasty and cost-effective.”
New Mexico State University: Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetic Sciences
Phone Number: 575-646-3936
Visit the NMSU Nutrition and Dietetics Program
Contact the Nutrition and Dietetics Program
Public Health
“Public health is the science and art of creating healthy communities through education, research and promotion of healthy lifestyles. In public health, the focus is on health promotion and disease/injury prevention, in contrast to the medical model of care, which focuses more heavily upon diagnosing and treating illnesses and conditions after they occur.
Public health professionals analyze and develop programs that protect the health of individuals, families and communities in the United States and abroad. The United States is placing a high priority on building up the nation’s public health workforce.
A career in public health opens the door to diverse opportunities in a variety of sectors such as federal, private and non-governmental organizations. Because of their “big picture” perspective, public health experts play a key role in emergency preparedness and response. This may be why public health has become such a growing field in recent years.”
New Mexico State University: Department of Public Health Sciences
Phone Number: 575-646-4300
Visit the NMSU Public Health Program
Email: lettyg@nmsu.edu
