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What is the most popular program in your organization that encourages young people to pursue nursing?
Without a doubt, I would say "First Choice: Nursing" is the most successful program. It's a two-day program designed for high school juniors and seniors. During the first day, students attend a seminar at a nursing school campus. The seminar includes an overview of career pathways in nursing, stories from working nurses and nursing skills activities.

There also is a panel of representatives from the six nursing schools who introduce their programs and answer any questions students have about nursing school. On the second day, the students participate in a job shadow with a working nurse at a hospital. I think it is so successful because the students who come already have a strong interest in nursing. We give them an opportunity to learn what nursing is really like from the stories that the nurses tell and from the hands-on skills.

What are the challenges in attracting students to nursing?
One of the challenges we've faced is finding scholarships for potential nursing students. This is a major challenge for many people and we get calls regularly from people wanting information on scholarships.

High school students today seem reluctant to get a loan to go to school. The idea of owing thousands of dollars in student loans prevents some people from pursuing nursing. Many of the students we speak to also have a relative who is a nurse and are well aware of how difficult nursing is at the moment due to the shortage. Unfortunately, some of these nurses are telling their young relatives not to go into the profession.

What perceptions do students have about the nursing profession?
Unfortunately, there still is a perception that nursing is just for women, and it is the older students who tend to say this. Younger students seem to be more open to the fact that boys can be nurses. There also is a perception among high school students that nursing school is difficult to get into and that there are long waiting lists.

Do you have any tips for people who are trying to spread the word to students about nursing?
Nursing stories are popular with the students. In any nursing program we do, students always rank the stories the highest and ask for more. They love job shadowing. They want to put their hands on things. They love masks, gloves, stethoscopes, recording vital signs, etc.

My advice would be to teach them a clinical skill, like how to insert an IV tube. I also have found that nursing students are really wonderful in working with youth and are great recruiters.

What is most rewarding about recruiting young people for nursing?
I love it when students say, "I never knew nurses could do all that!" I also enjoy successful job shadowing experiences.