On Feb. 4, 2026, Nurses from The Sutter Health Hospital came to Tracy High to speak to students about careers in health care and different nursing specialties, including registered nursing, pharmacists and physical Therapist.
During the presentation, the nurses explained their educational paths, how long nursing school takes and what their experience was like as students.
They also described how health care professionals work together as a team in hospitals and clinics.
Manjot Bagri, a registered nurse, shared her journey, explaining that her path was not direct.
“It’s ok to change directions,” she said. “Every step you take still counts and everything you’re learning now will help you later.”
She explained that registered nurses typically complete either an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, followed by clinicals and the NCLEX exam.
Other specialties such as Radiology and Pharmacy require additional schooling and certification.
Students also learned about different work environments and schedules in health care. Nurses explained that some positions allow flexible hours, outpatient work or weekday schedule, depending on the specialty.
Jacqulin Simmons, a Physician, explained why volunteering at a hospital while in high school is important.
“Volunteering can help you understand where you want to start and it also helps students get experience,” Simmons said.
The presentation encourages students to explore different careers in health care through volunteering, shadowing and taking science classes.
They also recommend taking college classes while in high school to strengthen their knowledge. They also encourage focusing on classes like Biology, Chemistry and Algebra because these classes are required to take for many nursing schools and programs.
The presentation ended with nurses encouraging students to take science classes, get involved in volunteer opportunities and ask questions about different medical fields.
They also explained that gaining experience early can help students make decisions about their future education and career paths.
