Sewanhaka Central High School District Medical Assisting students marked American Heart Month in February by offering free daily blood pressure screenings to faculty and staff, promoting heart health awareness and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Second-year students in the district’s Medical Assisting Career and Technical Education program conducted the screenings, educating participants about understanding their numbers, including the standard normal blood pressure reading of 120/80. Students provided charts outlining healthy ranges and, when readings fell outside the normal range — indicating hypertension or hypotension — distributed informational pamphlets and guidance on next steps.
In addition to discussing medication, students emphasized lifestyle strategies to help lower blood pressure, including regular exercise, healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight.
During each screening, students asked patient-care questions such as, “Do you have a preferred arm for readings?” “What is your normal blood pressure?” and “Do you take any medications for your blood pressure?”
Each Medical Assisting student conducted screenings at least twice throughout the month, totaling approximately four hours of direct patient-facing experience per student. District officials said the hands-on interaction helps strengthen communication skills, clinical accuracy and professional confidence.
Beyond staff screenings, students also counseled interested peers on heart health, discussing healthy height-to-weight ratios and the importance of maintaining a weight appropriate for their height.
Now in its third year, the Medical Assisting program is one of the district’s newest CTE offerings. With 24 seats available per course, students must apply for acceptance. The program offers dual enrollment opportunities through Nassau Community College, allowing students to earn 13 college credits through coursework aligned with college-level standards. Upon completion, students are eligible to sit for national certification as medical assistants.
"Providing the Medical Assisting II students with the opportunity to perform blood pressure screenings on faculty and staff during American Heart Month is invaluable,” Instructor Lori Lorusso, MSN, RN, said. “These real-world patient interactions help students build confidence, strengthen clinical skills and understand the importance of preventive care in a meaningful way.”
