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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Diana P. Hackbarth, RN, Phd, Gloria Jacobson, Rn PhD, and Marisol Solis, BA. Loyola University Chicago School of Nursing, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60625, 773 508-2894, dhackba@luc.edu

An innovative health careers camp "Experiencias en Salud" was developed in 2002 by Loyola University Chicago as part of a larger program at 2 Chicago area high schools to recruit and mentor Hispanic young people to seek a career in nursing. Currently less then 2% of professional nurses are Hispanic.Young urban Hispanics face many cultural, educational, social and economic barriers to college and careers in the health professions.The program has served over 80 teens of primarily Mexican descent. The annual 3 day long summer day camp is designed to be culturally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of those who are the first in their family to consider college. Activities include visits to health facilites,nursing and medical schools,emphasizing areas of interest to adolescents. Participants gain self confidence learning simlple nursing procedures in the skills lab,conduct chemistry experiments,observe in the human anatomy lab,visit a newborn nursery, and tour OR,ED,and helicopter areas. Classes include health promotion topics that students can teach to peers/families in their own community. Hispanic nursing students serve as role models.Contact with participants continues at the high schools over the school year and program staff assist with college entrance procedures. Evaluation data includes four years of follow up on changes in knowledge and attitudes toward nursing as a career, as well as recruitment, retention and success rates among those who enroll in a nursing program.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Discuss the need to increase the number of Hispanic young people who seek a career in nursing/health professions. 2.Recognize cultural, educational, social and economic challanges faced by Hispanic young people seeking a career in nursing. 3.Describe a health careers camp as one way to increase interest and decease barriers to nursing

Keywords: Public Health Education,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation