Guiding the Next Generation: St. Luke's Nurses Mentor Students

By the time they reach high school, many students have already begun to mull over their career options. Some will opt to pursue careers with the highest salary potential; others will try to match their talents or desires to a "calling," no matter what it pays. Some students, however, have no idea what path to follow, nor do they know about the perks and realities of various endeavors.

Since the current academic year began, 36 students have enrolled in the Health Science Magnet Program at Forest Brook Senior High in north Houston have been presented with a unique opportunity, courtesy of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital's Operating Room Education Department of Perioperative Services. Faced with the realities of a severe nationwide nursing shortage, St. Luke's nurses worked together to come up with a unique way to recruit nurses - start with the next generation.

"Almost 70 percent of today's nurses are more than 40 years old," said Beverly Griffin, registered nurse and perioperative educator at St. Luke's. "It's imperative that we seek ways to encourage young people to enroll in nursing school. But to do that, we felt it was critical that we reach students early on, before their senior year, when many have already made decisions about college and careers."

Based on data provided by the Board of Nurse Examiners, a group of perioperative nurses including Griffin; Laurie Mitchell, registered nurse and perioperative education specialist; and Patricia McDaniel, registered nurse and perioperative educator, created St. Luke's Nurse Mentoring Program for High School Students.

"The data we received revealed that Hispanics and African-Americans are under-represented in the nursing profession, so we chose to make this population our target audience," said Griffin. "We wanted to reach out to inner-city schools and work with students who may feel that college is not an option for them, as well as with those students who may have already thought about a health care career but weren't sure what that really entailed."

Forest Brook Senior High not only met the program's facility criteria, but the school's administration welcomed and embraced the idea of a Nurse Mentoring Program - one of a kind in the city of Houston.

"We felt it would be a win-win situation for both the students and the nursing profession," said Dr. Emily Bartley, magnet coordinator and health science technology instructor at Forest Brook. "And, although we've just started the program, it's already proving to be a big hit with the students. They love seeing what actually goes on inside a hospital."

"We've been exposed to useful information, not just in the medical field but in everyday life as well," said ninth-grader Brittany Washington. "I'm grateful that St. Luke's nurses have taught us so much. Right now I'm aware of what I want to do in life, and I owe much of that to this program. I just wish that everyone my age could have access to this."

"Our plan is to follow the students from grades 9 through 12, which will give us plenty of time to introduce them to the various nursing disciplines, as well as other health care career choices," said St. Luke's registered nurse Patricia McDaniel. "Thus far, we're visiting the school every six weeks, and the students have visited St. Luke's twice. It's really been helpful when nurses from other areas of the hospital, such as Ramona Williams, a registered nurse and case manager in St. Luke's Comfort Care Department, take the time to go to Forest Brook to talk about home health nursing. Combined with on-site visits, it really makes an impact on a young person's mind when they actually get to observe or talk to someone, rather than just read about nursing from a textbook."

Other St. Luke's employees who have contributed to the success of this program include Linda Wilson, registered nurse and quality coordinator, Labor & Delivery; Willie Dickerson, registered nurse and nurse manager, Adult Dialysis; and Jerod Littelton, dialysis technician, Adult Dialysis. Each were hosts and tour guides during site visits.

"We appreciate the time they took with the students and encourage other departments to get involved," said Griffin. "There will be no shortage of opportunities during the next few years as we continue to expand student awareness of health-related career opportunities."

The many job-related discussion topics addressed with students have included nursing specialty areas, management opportunities, and salaries and work-hour flexibility.

"We realize that salary potential is a very real issue for many students, so we don't hesitate to point out that the nursing profession has come a long way toward providing respectable wages," said Griffin. "Ultimately, it's our goal to encourage these students of the class of 2004 to pursue their dreams. It will make our dreams come true if one day we receive an invitation to one of their college graduation ceremonies. We'd love to have them all as colleagues, and know that we made a difference."

If comments from the students are any indication, the program is already working.

"How many people can say that they've had an opportunity to witness open-heart surgery or had professional nurses talk to them?" asked ninth-grader Brittany Greegan. "Well, I can. Every time they visit us, I learn something."

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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