The College of Graduate Nursing has established partnerships with the Colton Joint Unified School District in San Bernardino, and the Pomona Unified School District. Both school districts have a majority Latino population.
Presentations will be made to between 200-300 middle and high school students annually, introducing the nursing profession. These presentations are done by project faculty and San Bernardino Public Health Nurses (members of the project team). Venues are varied as designated by the school (career fair's, science classes, etc). The goal is to increase student exposure to nurse role models and understand the part they play in health care. Students are given a Health Career Guide focused on nursing.
Presentations focus on the lack of minorities in nursing and other health professions. Students learn that a way to improve their community is to enter the health professions and practice "back home." Through presentations and continued contact with students, the College of Graduate Nursing hopes to create optimism about the value, rewards and accessibility of the nursing profession.
Powerpoint presentations, handouts, career guide (how to prepare to be a nurse) and videos (recruitment video for nursing) are used and shared with students. Nurses in a variety of roles have been contacted to obtain a list of volunteers (males RNs, ER, ICU, Pediatrics, etc) as guests during presentations. Efforts are under way to obtain volunteers that are young, are ethnically diverse, and have an enthusiasm for the profession.
Information is also provided to career counselors at participating high schools. It has become apparent that many career counselors are not knowledgeable about the prerequisites and courses needed in high school to prepare students for a career in nursing.