Reaching out to future generations—introduction at the high school level

AORN Journal,  May, 2004  

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   One girl asked if you had to have self-confidence
   to begin with, or if it comes
   with the job. I told her that nurses
   learn to be problem solvers and they,
   get to be very good at it. They learn
   how to do things that seem impossible,
   and by developing this skill, you
   increase your self-confidence.

The students also asked what happened when things went wrong and what they would do if they were to see someone doing something wrong. "I talked about how we must be able to admit our mistakes and to ask for help when we have reached the limits of our abilities," says O'Connell.

She notes that what struck her the most is that the students really did not know what information they were lacking.

   We have to tell them what they need
   to know about nursing, and maybe
   even about what they need to know
   about themselves to make a good
   career choice,

says O'Connell.

   Providing a positive role model is
   very important. If they see nurses as
   confident, capable, and caring, they
   may decide that by becoming a nurse
   they can become those things, too. I
   think the girls I visited really wanted
   to know what kind of person becomes
   a nurse.

The students wanted to know whether nursing would be a good fit for them and whether they would be able to relate well to other nurses. "They need to know that some traits, such as being squeamish about blood or crying easily, are not deal breakers," says O'Connell. "I think we need to find something in common with them so they can relate and consider that if I could become a nurse, maybe they can too." Next time, she plans to tell students more about herself and her interests in high school. "I will spend less time describing the educational preparation and more time describing what being a nurse has done to make me a better person," says O'Connell.

CREATING DISPLAYS, Carol Miller, RN, BSN, CNOR, is a perioperative educator at Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford, Ill, and president of AORN of Rockford. In her area, there is an annual health sciences career day. The sponsors include Rockford Memorial Hospital, Swedish American Hospital, OSF St Anthony Medical Center, and Rock Valley College, all in Rockford, Ill. Every April, nearly 2,000 middle and high school students from the local area are bused to the physical education center at Rock Valley College, a two-year college with both a nursing and surgical technologist program. The event is not controlled by the local AORN chapter, but 15 or more AORN of Rockford chapter members are involved each year in setting up and staffing booths to talk to the students about opportunities in perioperative nursing and surgical technology.

The two booths are a big draw for students because the booth attendants set up a simulated OR, dress in scrubs, have a draped mannequin for a patient, and invite students to get dressed up like the team members. Students are encouraged to manipulate surgical instruments and "perform an operation." The nurses in the booths have equipment, such as a laparoscopy box, with which the students can work. Another popular activity is using a video tower with an endoscope inserted in a melon. Students manipulate the endoscope on the screen and extract melon seeds. The RN booth also has a continuously playing videotape that explains educational preparation, the role of a perioperative nurse, and responsibilities of other surgical team members. Feedback from the students is very positive.