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McGlumphy up for the challenge of a health care career

By Jeffrey Saulton 5 min read

For Abigail McGlumphy the path to a career in health care began at an early age.

"When I went to the (Washington County) Career Center for the first time in the eighth grade, I really liked it and I knew that was where I wanted to go," she said.

In the center's patient health care program, McGlumphy said they learn by watching and doing, not just sitting in a classroom.

"In our junior year, we learned all the basics in health care," she said. "We get opportunities to go see how the nurses do their jobs and get to see all the different fields. It's all related to medicine."

McGlumphy said she was influenced in her career choice by two people.

"I've been interested in this area for a long time. I looked up to my sister who is in the medical field and that drew me toward it," she said, adding that her family is supportive.

"I've also been influenced by my teacher, Heather Klintworth, at the Washington County Career Center," McGlumphy said. "She has been coaching me toward it and not letting me give up; making me realize I could accomplish way more than I thought I could."

McGlumphy said the field is difficult.

"I've definitely wanted to quit at times," she said. "This is not an easy field to stick with and pursue." At Warren High School, she has taken college credit courses in English and math. Next semester she will take two biology courses and physiology. McGlumphy said biology has been challenging.

One of the biggest parts of the program is learning all the medical terminology along with anatomy and first aid, she said.

McGlumphy works with SkillsUSA, a program where students compete against others from across the state and then move on to test their medical knowledge against others from across the country.

"We don't take the test until later in the senior year," she said. "I'm in a study group with others, but I'm not doing the test yet."

McGlumphy said the test she is waiting to take will cover medical terminology instead of medical knowledge.

"It can be very confusing; there is a lot that goes into it," she said. "There is so much to learn and a lot of memorization."

McGlumphy's main non-academic pursuit at Warren is varsity cheerleading, an activity she began while in kindergarten.

McGlumphy said she has been cheering with the same teammates since then and enjoys working in a group that has been together for so long. Despite her accomplishments in patient health care, McGlumphy said she has had to deal with the cheerleader stereotype of not making academics a priority

"It is definitely a big stereotype," she said. "I still get it now when people see that I cheer and then learn what I'm doing at school."

McGlumphy said her post-high school plans are to go to college to earn her bachelor's degree in nursing.

"I want to go to college next," she said, "I've been accepted at Ohio University, but I haven't decided if I want to go there or go to Washington State (College of Ohio) for my RN."

McGlumphy said she wants to specialize in a field.

"It's between respiratory and trauma," she said. "They both interest me a lot."

Specializing in respiratory care is interesting to her because of how the respiratory system works.

"In trauma, there are so many things you will see," she said. "You have to be ready for so much."

McGlumphy said if she could talk to her grade school or middle school self she would advise herself to work harder

"I would say try your hardest and don't give up," she said. "And (do) not let others guide her in wrong directions. I would tell her she can accomplish way more than she thinks she can." McGlumphy said in her life she learned she was able to do more. When she started at the Career Center, her attitude toward academics changed.

"I just didn't care enough about it," she said. "When I got to the Career Center and had a teacher like Miss K (Klintworth) telling me I could do better ... I've had a 4.0 grade average the past two years."

Because of the demanding work at the Career Center, McGlumphy said she has not been involved in a lot of different activities at school. However, last year she and two friends did a hygiene drive at the high school.

"We had the whole school involved in this," she said. "We asked students, teachers and staff to donate items like soap, shampoo, toothpaste. We bagged it up and took them back to the classrooms for students ... to have if needed."

McGlumphy said she was inspired because of the connection hygiene has to overall health.

Starting at /week.