Could YOU be a nurse?

Some consider themselves called to nursing from an early age; others stumble upon it. In any cohort of nurses, there will be those who never previously realized the range and variety of careers to be found under the umbrella of the profession.

A central principle of the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing is the importance of enabling new generations of potential nurses to discover that this profession is for them. To support this effort, the school invests considerable nursing expertise in a double-faceted community outreach program. The UCI-HBCU Summer Research Program helps prepare students from historically black colleges and universities for graduate school by facilitating participation in research activities with a UCI nursing faculty mentor, giving opportunities to attend professional development seminars, providing coaching in self-care practices, and offering support as students prepare their graduate school applications in the year following the summer program.

The second facet of this outreach is the School’s Nursing Camp in Summer. After a two-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, the school restarted the camp in its newly accredited Simulation Center, the first of its kind for a University of California school. Over two sessions, a total of 64 high school students participated, with attendees hailing from as far as Taiwan, Washington State, and Northern California.

The goal of the camp is to provide an engaging introduction to the extraordinary variety of careers available within the nursing profession, particularly focusing on reaching students who may not have had prior exposure to information about nursing, ensuring they understand the vital role nurses play in healthcare and community settings.

“Through our outreach to schools throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Riverside counties and beyond, we hope to have counselors assist us with identifying students who have an aptitude or desire to work in the field or find out more about what nursing is all about,” said Leanne Burke, associate clinical professor, pre-licensure program and camp director. 

The camp week is designed to ensure that each day the students learn skills via hands-on exercises that build upon each other and are applicable to everyday life. Volunteer nurses demonstrate everything from CPR and how to perform injections to best practices for preventing infections, giving each student an opportunity to directly practice each skill in addition to earning their CPR certifications at the end of the week. 

Burke emphasizes that this hands-on approach aims to instill not only knowledge but also enthusiasm for nursing. “We want them to learn while having fun, so we came up with competitive activities,” she explains, “like the healthcare skills relay race, which was a big hit.”

Associate Clinical Professor Jocelyn Ludlow, who is director of simulation at the school, serves as camp coordinator alongside Burke, welcoming students on the first day. The week begins with interactive activities designed to assess the campers’ knowledge of nursing and to foster dialogue about the profession. “A lot of these kids haven’t had any nursing classes, so on our first day we do an activity to gauge what they know about nursing,” she explains. “We have a group discussion and then throughout the week they learn hands-on skills, but they are also exposed to all the different roles of nurses in today’s healthcare setting.”

A meet-and-greet speed mentoring session also features a variety of expert nurses. “Students were able to sit and have a one-on-one with each nurse, and learn more about their jobs, their training and preparation and what they like most about nursing,” Ludlow says. “This is an example of one of the many activities the students participate in that exposes them to nursing.”

One of the highlights of the camp is the “Stop the Bleed” simulation, where students learn critical emergency response techniques, including how to apply a tourniquet. The campers take part in a disaster simulation, where they have to create earthquake survival kits and practice how to triage patients represented by mannequins after a hypothetical earthquake.

“They have to decide who gets care first, with patients including an infant with a head injury, a blunt force trauma victim, leg fracture patients including an older adult with a broken hip, and even a stressed-out kid,” Ludlow explains. “Part of the challenge is how to identify what is internal vs. external. The students decide what interventions are needed, then rank the patients and talk about their decisions.”

The heart of the Nursing Summer program lies in the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing’s state-of-the-art simulation center, where students engage in realistic scenarios that mirror the challenges and rewards of nursing. Along with Ludlow, the simulation center is operated by a diverse team of experts, including ex-military Accreditation and Operations Manager Keith Beaulieu, and Simulation Specialists Casey Peevy—
a special effects artist—and Tommie Olds, a former army medic with combat experience in Iraq.

“Some of my previous experience dealing with creative simulations has helped me design an alternate simulation experience for students to excite their interest in healthcare,” Olds says. “In the army, we trained in a crawl, walk, run model. Here, we want to ensure that students are engaged from the very beginning. We want them to feel like they are part of the experience.” 

Olds emphasizes the importance of intensive, hands-on learning, particularly in a field where practical skills can save lives. “Some of the basic things we implement include first aid techniques like applying a splint or dressing a wound. These skills are essential and memorable, giving students tools they can use in real-life situations,” he says. “For instance, we teach them how to evacuate and lift a patient without causing further injury.”

The structure of the camp allows for a progression from basic skills to more complex scenarios, keeping students engaged throughout the experience. Olds elaborates on this approach: “Phase one is about mastering basic medical practices. In phase two, we introduce excitement and energy into the classroom. We want students to feel animated and interested in what they are learning.” He believes that the right mix of fun and seriousness is crucial. “I can be a little silly and joking, which helps students calm down and enjoy the process,” he adds.

Students are also exposed to emotionally charged scenarios that illustrate the realities of medical emergencies. “In one exercise, we simulate a disaster where students have to work together to treat a ‘patient’ who has injuries. This not only tests their medical skills but also their ability to focus under pressure. We want them to tune out distractions and concentrate on providing care,” Olds explains, highlighting the
importance of maintaining composure in real-life situations.

So far, the feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. As the camp came to an end, campers expressed enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity, says Ludlow. “They departed not just with newfound skills but also with a clearer vision of their potential future in the nursing profession.” According to Olds, many students expressed a desire to continue their journey in healthcare after participating in the camp. “We create an impression that resonates,” he says. “Some students even reach out after class for networking, which shows the impact we have on their lives.” 

As well as educating students, participating in the camp reminds current professionals of what they love about their job. “Our Nursing Camp in Summer is such a rewarding experience for everyone involved,” says Mike Bueno, assistant professor of nursing. “Being able to instill the joy and reward of being a nurse in potential future nurses is fulfilling and helps combat the burnout that is on the rise in our profession.”

Burke agrees with that assessment. “We are not only providing knowledge and skills; we are igniting passion,” she says. “Our faculty, students and alumni leave rejuvenated by the enthusiasm and curiosity of these young campers. They remind us why we chose this profession in the first place.”

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About the Author: Nicholas Schou is a regular contributor to Humanitas. He is an award-winning journalist and author of several books on national security, the media and the war on drugs.