Hey Charleston, Lexa here. 👋 I recently had the opportunity to get an inside look at Charleston Southern University's collaborative healthcare programs during an on-site simulation with students.

I know you're shocked, but I'm a writer with minimal health-related knowledge, and this team of students absolutely blew me away during my visit.

Keep reading to find out what I got to check out and how you can Try This — or how you or someone you know can begin studying at one of CSU's healthcare programs.

What we tried:

The athletic training students tended to the athlete on the field. | Photo by CHStoday

I watched as the athletic training + nursing students conducted a simulation of an athlete who was injured on the field and needed care. The students promptly tended to the needs of the athlete — delegating individual roles and responsibilities both on the field and in the emergency room, from recording patient information to checking vitals.

Once all students knew that the patient was in good health, they debriefed as a team, discussing what went well + any questions.

What not to miss:

I learned that the school offers a 3+2 program for kinesiology and athletic training students looking to earn their bachelor’s and master’s degree in just five years, which seems like an incredible option for the right student.

The school also offers a dual enrollment opportunity for Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees. In short: The opportunities are endless.

Not sure which program is right for you? Explore options + take a degree-matching survey.

What we’re still talking about:

Once inside, the nursing students took over. | Photo by CHStoday

The trauma simulation that the athletic training and nursing students performed happens once a year. It was clear that CSU's various health science programs are able to work together in a collaborative environment, which was cool to see live in action.

This type of hands-on experience is infused into the curriculum at CSU to bring students together for the purpose of better patient care.

How you can experience this:

*Once the dust settled, the students debriefed and discussed their experiences.* | Photo by CHStoday

If you're interested in touring the school's facilities (10/10 would recommend) or getting some one-on-one time with the professors, head to CSU's First Look enrollment event on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Can't make it? Don't worry — there's another opportunity on Saturday, March 25.

Things to know if you go:

Experience: An inside look at the collaborative healthcare programs at CSU
Website: www.charlestonsouthern.edu/academics/
Address: 9200 University Blvd., Charleston, SC 29406
Social: Facebook | Instagram *