The Kids Into Health Careers (KIHC) Initiative: Innovative Approaches to Help Solve the Nursing Shortage

Abstract

<h4>ABSTRACT</h4> <P>In 2001, the Northern Illinois University School of Nursing was awarded a grant from the Division of Nursing of the Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to enhance the School's advanced practice nursing program. As a recipient of this grant, the School of Nursing was required to incorporate activities to meet the goals of the "Kids Into Health Careers (KIHC) Initiative" to encourage children into health care careers. </P> <P>This article describes the strategies developed by the School of Nursing to meet the KIHC goals and encourage children, especially those from minorities, into health care careers. The School's approach was multifaceted and included collaboration with a variety of community organizations and groups. While there is a tremendous amount of work to be accomplished in encouraging middle and high school students to consider nursing as a career, creative strategies through which nurses take an active role in helping resolve the problem are suggested.</P> <h4>AUTHORS</h4> <p>Received: April 14, 2004</p> <p>Accepted: January 18, 2005</p> <p>At the time this article was written, Dr. Cohen was Co-Director, Rural Adult Nurse Practitioner Project, Dr. Burns was Associate Chair and Associate Professor, Dr. Frank-Stromborg was Chair and Presidential Research Professor, Ms. Flanagan was Preceptor Coordinator, Rural Adult Nurse Practitioner Project, and Dr. Ehrlich-Jones was Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois. Ms. Askins is currently Research Associate, Office of the Provost, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.</p> <p>This project is supported by funds from the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under grant #1 D09 HP 00163-01, Adult Nurse Practitioner Program for Rural Illinois, for $1,759,495. The information, content, and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any official endorsement be inferred by, the Division of Nursing, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or the U.S. government.</p> <p>Address correspondence to Rebecca Cohen, EdD, RN, CPHQ, 207 Dunkery Drive, Sycamore, IL 60178; e-mail: <a href="mailto:bcohen19@yahoo.com">bcohen19@yahoo.com</a>.</p>

High School Allied Health Students and Their Exposure to the Profession of EMS

“… 8 Another study in the nursing literature noted career development benefits through exposure within the K-12 (kindergarten through grade 12) educational setting 9 . Among the participants in this study, a majority of students indicated certainty regarding their career paths, which supports earlier investigations suggesting that career recruiting may need to take place prior to the student reaching high school 10 11 …”

“…9 Among the participants in this study, a majority of students indicated certainty regarding their career paths, which supports earlier investigations suggesting that career recruiting may need to take place prior to the student reaching high school. 10,11 Students in this study maintained a strong outlook on attending college, with the majority planning to attend a fouryear college. However, knowledge of college EMS programs was lacking, with many students unaware of AAS and BS programs for EMS.…”

Making Healthy Connections: Introducing Nursing as a Career Choice to Middle School Students

“…Career fairs are another strategy to increase awareness of nursing in middle school students. The Northern Illinois University School of Nursing Rural Adult Nurse Practitioner Project initiated the Kids Into Health Careers project by teaming with school nurses (Cohen et al., 2006). Activities included participating in school health fairs, interacting with students, and playing games that highlighted the characteristics of a nurse, settings where they work, and education needed to become a nurse.…”

Recruiting Middle School Students Into Nursing

“…This question may receive an affirmative answer in the future after widespread implementation of recruitment. It will take time to determine if efforts such as the Kids Into Health Careers (KIHC) Initiative (Cohen et al, 2006), Career Awareness Recruiters and Educators (C.A.R.E.) Project (Kansas Schools of Nursing, n.d.), Nursing Exploration Summer Camp (Drenkard et al, 2002), Gaining Excellence in Nursing Education: Students Intensifying Scholarship (GENESIS) Project (University of Michigan School of Nursing, n.d.), The 2007 Middle School Scholars Program for Nursing and Health Careers (Pace University, 2006), and Prenursing Club: A Recruitment Program for Minority School-Age Children (Stearns & Marchione, 1989) will result in more students entering the nursing profession.…”