School of Nursing Gives Children’s School Students Inside Look at Health Care Careers
On the morning of Friday, May 9, 40 sixth-grade students from the Rochester City School District Children’s School (#15) will get a behind-the-scenes opportunity to learn about health care careers in physical therapy, nutrition, nursing, and medicine, when they visit the University of Rochester School of Nursing, 255 Crittenden Blvd., as part of the School of Nursing’s third annual “See What You Can Bee” program.
The students attending the event will take part in hands-on demonstrations within the School of Nursing’s Simulation Laboratory, Skills Laboratory and classrooms to learn about the roles that nurses, doctors, technicians, nutritionists, and many others play in delivering health care. The program supports the Rochester City School District in its efforts to engage students in STEM-focused learning (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and prepare them for success in college and careers in these areas.
The Children’s School serves a large population of students and families who have relocated from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, in addition to families native to Rochester.
Part of creating a college-going culture is helping students and their families understand that it’s never too early to start thinking about going to college.
“Many of our students do not easily picture themselves attending college, and haven’t had the exposure to the many types of careers that might be open to them,” said Children’s School principal Jay Piper. “Part of creating a college-going culture is helping students and their families understand that it’s never too early to start thinking about going to college and that it’s within their reach. Going to college is no longer just an option, it’s imperative in a competitive global economy, and the University of Rochester students serve as terrific role models to show the younger children what’s possible.”
The “See What You Can Bee” program is one of the School of Nursing’s numerous children and family health literacy initiatives, through which nursing students provide health education (on topics including hygiene, nutrition, illness and disease prevention) to a variety of multi-cultural and underserved groups throughout the Rochester community. These partnerships — with local non-profit organizations as well as RCSD schools and affiliated programs — help nursing students develop critical multi-cultural competence while fulfilling a core part of their clinical practice curriculum requirements.
The “See What You Can Bee” program was developed by School of Nursing instructor of clinical nursing Leann Patel, MS, RN, and nursing students as a way to give back to local schools and organizations that have allowed them to gain valuable field experience. All of the participating School of Nursing students are recipients of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing scholarships which are awarded to high-achieving students of varied backgrounds and cultures who will enrich the diversity of the nursing profession.
One of those students, Kristian Vitu, RN, a graduate of the School of Nursing’s APNN program, organized a nursing station for the sixth-graders to offer insight into the vital role nurses play in health care and share his own experience as a nursing student originally from the Czech Republic.
“This eye-opening experience for students helps boost their confidence in pursuing a professional career,” Vitu said. “Being a part of the program lets me show them that reaching your dream is attainable, no matter the challenges.”