Students from three Grand Rapids area high schools are taking a GVSU course that gives them an opportunity to consider nursing as a career.
Sue Bosold, faculty member at Grand Valley State University's Kirkhof School of Nursing, teaches the entry-level nursing course at Ottawa Hills High School. The class is comprised students from Ottawa Hills, East Kentwood and City High, and several GVSU students. The high school students are taking the course for college credit under GVSU's dual-enrollment program.
This goes with our new curriculum, Bosold said. Students can take this class as freshmen, and have a career-oriented class early. We will also have them shadow a nurse ¿ a public health nurse, school nurse or someone at a hospital ¿ later in the semester.
Students are learning about the history of nursing, nursing theories and processes, and career opportunities.
Deborah Bambini, assistant professor of nursing, said this course might also help combat a pending nursing shortage. Experts project a national nursing shortage that may reach 400,000 in 2020, when baby boomers will retire and health care demands will increase.
We need to get students interested in nursing and into our program sooner, Bambini said. Hopefully, we're also giving the high school students an opportunity to think about their career choices early.
