In the comradery-filled halls of The University of New Mexico College of Nursing Health Sciences Rio Rancho campus (HSRR), a new mentorship program is enacting change in the future of health care. By pairing Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students with high school students from three different Sandoval County high schools interested in pursuing careers in nursing, this symbiotic initiative fosters growth, learning and collaboration for both sets of students.
The mentorship program is the brain child of UNM HSRR Nursing Program Director Karin Ludi, DNP, RN, who had the initial goal of breaking down the barriers of getting into nursing school for high schoolers.
I’d love this program to spark interest in health care and nursing in high school students and offer them the tools and knowledge they need to know that they are totally capable of accomplishing nursing education.
She says, “I’d love this program to spark interest in health care and nursing in high school students and offer them the tools and knowledge they need to know that they are totally capable of accomplishing nursing education. They will learn how to apply some skills nurses need for patient care and what a day in the life of a nursing student looks like.”
By engaging high schoolers interest in health care early on, the program will increase their likelihood of apply to nursing school in the future and helping close the gap New Mexico’s nursing workforce shortage of over 6,500 nurses.
The pilot program lasted 8 weeks, with HSRR nursing students and the accepted high school applicants meeting once a week for two hours for director-designed and supervised activities including a “how-to” application and admissions presentation from the College of Nursing admissions staff, hands-on skills building in HSRR’s skills lab with mid-fidelity manikins, a mock trial representing the judicial side of health care policy and discussion panels from a diverse set of nursing professionals. Ludi accomplished her goals plus more, both her students and the high school mentees reflect overwhelmingly positive reviews and feedback.
One high school student, Kalani Chavez from Bernalillo High School says, “the most valuable skill I learned from the program is how to read an EKG. From respiration to heart rate and everything in between, it was all super fun!”
Another student, Lauren McKell from V. Sue Cleveland High School says, “thank you so much! I loved the program and all of it really solidified my interest in becoming a nurse.”
Emmanuelle Obeng, BSN, RN, a UNM College of Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice student pursuing Nursing Administrative Leadership and a BSN alum, assisted Ludi with the program and witnessed the beneficial aspects for not just the high school students, but for the BSN students, as well. She says, “the program functioned as a ‘teach back’ opportunity for our BSN students. They could deeper understand the skills they have been learning in their program by teaching them to the high school students. It helped cement their confidence in their abilities while also discovering where they themselves can improve.”
This mentorship program allows both BSN and high school students alike to build connections, skills and interest in the field of nursing; a health care sector that is in need of a fast-growing, passionate work force to mitigate the local, state and nationwide nursing shortage. Ludi and this program are positively contributing to building the future of nursing and enhancing the learning of current nursing students. The mentorship program is expected to continue in the fall semester.