Southcoast Health and UMass Dartmouth launched an educational program for high school students in the community called Nurse Camp. 

The camp is a program designed to introduce local high school students to careers in nursing and healthcare through hands-on experiences, clinical shadowing and the chance to learn from experts in the field through panel discussions.

"Nurse Camp was a wonderful opportunity for a three-way collaboration with New Bedford High School, Southcoast Health, and our College Nursing Team to provide high school students with the opportunity to learn about nursing," said Kimberly A. Christopher, PhD, RN, Dean of the UMass Dartmouth College of Nursing & Health Sciences.

"Like Southcoast Health, our College is committed to advancing the nursing workforce locally and beyond, especially through initiatives like these that hopefully inspire students to seek educational opportunities and a career in nursing or other health care areas."

For the first year, there were 12 total participants, including eight students from New Bedford High School and four students currently enrolled in the UMass Dartmouth Nursing Program.

Throughout the three-day event hosted at both the UMass Dartmouth and St. Luke's Hospital campuses, the students met with numerous healthcare providers, asked questions, and participated in a Stop the Bleed Training Event in the hospital's simulation lab.

"As an acute care community hospital, we are very fortunate to have a resource like the simulation lab. Along with allowing us to host educational programs, this space is used as another learning strategy for our clinical front-line staff to stay sharp in their skills," said Eleanor Almeida, MSN, RN, Director of Professional Development, Wound/Enterostomal & Vascular Access Services at Southcoast Health.

The purpose of the Nurse Camp is for students to take on challenges posed by workforce shortages in local and regional healthcare institutions by nurturing healthcare students into the nursing profession and supporting the needs of local healthcare organizations.

"The best advice I can share with students considering a career in nursing or healthcare is to always be ready and willing to learn something new," said Jacqueline G. Somerville, Ph.D., RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Southcoast Health.

"There are so many opportunities for a rewarding career in this industry, and I have found caring for our community members to be one of the greatest privileges," she said.