Making Healthy Connections: Introducing Nursing as a Career Choice to Middle School Students

Abstract

The current economic climate has resulted in many experienced nurses returning to the workforce. Despite this, the nursing shortage is looming in our future and the recruitment of a diverse nursing workforce reflective of the population remains a high priority. The Merrimack Valley in northeastern Massachusetts has two large cities, Lawrence and Lowell, in which the Hispanic and the Southeast Asian populations are disproportionately higher than state and national levels. Through the University of Massachusetts Lowell's Bring Diversity to Nursing Project, partnerships with both city school systems were developed and after-school programs aimed at highlighting nursing as a career choice were initiated. Mr. Thompson's Heart is the focus of a middle school, pre-entry program developed by faculty. Introducing career choices in middle school gives students fundamental information about careers and how to begin investigating them. Mr. Thompson's Heart introduces nursing as a career choice combining career information with a focus on developing healthy lifestyle habits. Multiple hands on activities create excitement and interest in the nursing profession.

Adolescents perception of career choice of nursing among selected secondary schools in Jos, Nigeria

“…The finding equally shows that all (100%) respondents have made their career choice. This finding is in line with Knight et al (2011) which indicated that students often begin investigating career choices and discussing their future plans in middle school. Gavin (2008) also lends support to this finding as his study showed that pupils make career choice about the age of 14years.…”

“…This finding equally shows that choice of careers is tentative thus a lot might still embrace nursing before finally leaving the school. Knight et al (2011), found in their study that the choice of career is often based on stereotyping instead of awareness of the opportunities. Knight et al (2011), further discovered that some students, following an after-school workshop, had an increased interest in nursing.…”

“…Knight et al (2011), found in their study that the choice of career is often based on stereotyping instead of awareness of the opportunities. Knight et al (2011), further discovered that some students, following an after-school workshop, had an increased interest in nursing. There was an increased interest of men who would consider nursing as a career.…”

“…Individuals whose career decisions are strongly influenced by religion or spirituality (Hernandez et al, 2011) may refer to their careers as a calling or a vocation. Students (Knight et al, 2011) often begin investigating career choices and discussing their future plans in middle school, and awareness of opportunities should also be a factor when considering a career choice. Individuals have severally attempted to rationalize their choice of nursing.…”

Recruiting middle school students into nursing: An integrative review

“…In an integrative review for the years 1989–2006, Matutina, found that programs which exposed middle school students to nursing cultivated statistically significant increases in the desire to become or consider becoming a nurse. Since that review, for the years 2007–2016, seven programs have documented recent success with students becoming more aware of the nurses role and inclination to consider nursing as a health career choice …”