Students Flourish in UMSN Program Dedicated to Improving Diversity in Health Care
“This program is very interactive and I feel like it gives us a better insight into what health care really is,” says EnAct participant Emily Sedgeman.
“Anyone who is interested in nursing or health care should experience this,” says Anthony![The students check out "Survival Flight"](/sites/default/files/content/migrate/files/resize/news-3311-helicopter-400x300.jpg "The students check out "Survival Flight"")
Coffie, one of 17 teenagers participating in 2013’s Exploring Nursing as a Career for Tomorrow (EnAct).
Coffie, one of 17 teenagers participating in 2013’s Exploring Nursing as a Career for Tomorrow (EnAct).The intensive program is designed to familiarize middle and high school students with a range of health careers and the educational requirements to focus on before applying to college, such as developing strong math and science skills. The students live on campus while participating in activities such as a community health fair, team building exercises, and touring the U-M School of Nursing (UMSN) and U-M Health System (UMHS).
Education about the variety of health careers was a large part of the appeal for EnAct participant Cydney Rogers. “I’m very interested in kinesiology or sports medicine or maybe nursing because I love interacting with people,” she says. While EnAct participants still have time to decide which college they are interested in, Rogers says U-M is at the top of her list: “I love it here--it’s my dream school!”EnAct is part of UMSN’s Gaining Excellence in Nursing Education: Strength in the Sciences (GENESIS) program, funded by a $1.5-million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Nursing Workforce Diversity program. GENESIS provides year round support to underrepresented students. It’s part of a larger goal to improve the quantity and quality of nurses from disadvantaged areas.
GENESIS also includes BootCamp for Entering Students’ Training (BEST). Ten BEST students, ages 18-20, who have already been accepted to UMSN, par
ticipated in a two-week campus visit run in conjunction with EnAct. “Within the two weeks, the BEST students went on community service learning and nurse shadowing experiences in hospitals and community health clinics, and most notably, these students managed to run an entire community health fair while at the same time mentoring the younger EnAct participants,” says Alecia McCall, Ph.D., GENESIS III Project Coordinator.
ticipated in a two-week campus visit run in conjunction with EnAct. “Within the two weeks, the BEST students went on community service learning and nurse shadowing experiences in hospitals and community health clinics, and most notably, these students managed to run an entire community health fair while at the same time mentoring the younger EnAct participants,” says Alecia McCall, Ph.D., GENESIS III Project Coordinator. This year’s program was also an opportunity for former GENESIS participants to share their success by volun
teering. Sydney Tyler participated in the program, earned her BSN (Bachelor of Nursing Science) from UMSN in 2012, and now works as a nurse in General Medicine Telemetry at UMHS. “Being a participant in GENESIS was immensely helpful in orienting myself to the campus, building a strong relationship with fellow nursing students from a relatively similar background--but most important it was a time to better understand the roles and responsibilities of becoming a nurse,” she says.
teering. Sydney Tyler participated in the program, earned her BSN (Bachelor of Nursing Science) from UMSN in 2012, and now works as a nurse in General Medicine Telemetry at UMHS. “Being a participant in GENESIS was immensely helpful in orienting myself to the campus, building a strong relationship with fellow nursing students from a relatively similar background--but most important it was a time to better understand the roles and responsibilities of becoming a nurse,” she says.Tyler says GENESIS had a powerful impact on her educational plans. “The program director, Dr. Patricia Coleman-Burns, told the GENESIS students freshman year that she expected great things from all her students. This was profound for me; when my thoughts were focused on getting through my undergraduate program, Dr. Coleman-Burns was speaking on my future in a graduate program. Her confidence in my future has helped me to currently pursue applying to a graduate nursing program for fall 2014.”
“I would say the moment that caught me the most was during our end of program symposium,” says Alanna Hyatt, K-12 Outreach Coordinator for the GENESIS III Project. “While awarding our students with their certificates, I couldn't help but get emotional. In just looking at them all standing proudly with their awards, I truly saw a difference in them and a sense of growth. I knew at that moment that they did get something at this program that they will hopefully take with them on their future endeavors.”
