Mayte Martinez Fernandez is a Level 3 Health Occupations student, senior at Antietam High School, and the first student from Antietam to be accepted into Penn State St. Joe’s Hospital’s internship program. While working on her Nurse Aide Training certificate at BCTC, she is gaining experience in the Labor and Delivery department – her top-choice placement.
Before landing the internship, Mayte applied and interviewed for the position last school year. “My guidance counselor at Antietam helped with the application, which included listing three departments at St. Joe’s where I wanted to work,” she explained. “Then I had to interview. It was my first professional interview, and even though it was virtual, I was nervous. My interviewer and I were able to connect and laugh a few times, which put me at ease.” Mayte was thrilled to learn she had been accepted into her top-choice placement in the Labor and Delivery department. She completed the onboarding process over the summer, which mirrors the process for employees and includes background checks and vaccinations.
Mayte began her internship the same week she started her senior year. She interns at Penn State St. Joe’s Hospital Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays immediately after her morning classes at BCTC that includes working toward a Nurse Aide Training certificate. Mayte completes her high school coursework through Antietam’s cyber school.
Her days at the hospital begin by checking in with the Volunteer Coordinator, the nurses in the unit, and then the Resource Nurse in Labor and Delivery, who decides who she will be shadowing for the day. “I haven’t been in a room during a regular delivery, but I have observed a lot of c-sections. It is such a magical moment when a baby is born,” Mayte said. She also assists in the triage area and can observe newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
This internship has strengthened her passion for healthcare. “It has been a good opening for me so I can decide what I want to do after high school. The internship has helped me figure out what I like and don’t like. I know I want to become a registered nurse.” While she loves the calm environment of the NICU, she is also considering the fast-paced excitement of the Emergency Department.
In addition to her internship, Mayte completed three job-shadowing experiences at Reading Hospital last year. Both the internship and job-shadow experiences have given her valuable insight into each hospital and the different environments within the healthcare field. Mayte also maintains a weekend job at Texas Roadhouse—balancing academics, clinical experience, and employment with impressive dedication.