High School, First-Year Students “IMAGINE” Careers in Nursing During SIUE’s IMAGINE Summer Success Academy
Thirty Students Participate in Numerous Hands-On Nursing Activities During Residential Camp
It is possible that future nurses in the fields of critical care, community health, and mental health attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing’s (SON) IMAGINE (Increasing Mentorship and Graduation in Nursing Education) Summer Success Academy.
The residential summer camp, held from Tuesday, June 11 through Friday, June 14 on the Edwardsville campus, hosted 30 high school and soon-to-be first-year college students. The Academy was developed and led by Myjal Garner, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, assistant professor in the SON, and principal investigator of the IMAGINE Summer Success Academy grant.
“The purpose of the camp was to introduce underrepresented students to a nursing career through hands-on activities, familiarize them with SIUE, and connect them with peers from different schools who have similar ambitions,” said Garner. “By combining practical skills training, mentorship, college preparation and peer networking, the camp effectively introduces students to the possibilities of a nursing career and to higher education.”
“I gained many new memories and experiences that will help guide me in my future,” said Jane Turner, a 2024 graduate of Lincoln Community High School in Lincoln. “I felt so welcomed by all the staff, participants, and those on campus!”
“Many camp participants were first-generation students, with at least 20 falling into this category,” said Garner. “Navigating college without familial experience can be challenging.”
The goals of the camp were multifaceted, according to Garner. They included:
· Providing comprehensive exposure to various nursing roles and specialties
· Offering hands-on activities and simulations to develop basic nursing skills
· Introducing patient communication skills
· Familiarizing students with college life and the academic expectations of a nursing program
· Connecting students with current nursing students, faculty and healthcare professionals
· Facilitating mentorship opportunities
· Encouraging peer networking
“The highlights of the camp were the simulation stations, where students learned to complete nasogastric tub (NG) tubes, insert Foley catheters, intubate patients, and utilize the Anatomage table, among other skills,” explained Garner. “Additional highlights included CPR training, panels with current and former students, and creating vision boards.”
"Thank you for this opportunity. It really helped me feel more comfortable about going into my nursing career,” said Charity Keely, a soon-to-be first-year college student at SIUE and a 2024 graduate of Mascoutah High School in Mascoutah. “It was really an unforgettable experience.”
"Thank you so much for the opportunity,” said Tyanna Andrews, a senior at East St. Louis Senior High School in East St. Louis. “I can't wait to apply and go to SIUE!”
Diverse healthcare teams are crucial for providing culturally competent care, particularly for diverse patient populations,” explained Garner. “Encouraging underrepresented students to pursue nursing helps create a workforce that mirrors the community it serves, potentially improving healthcare access and outcomes for marginalized groups.”
PHOTOS: Students pose for group photo; Jerrica V. Ampadu, PhD, RN, CCP, associate professor and Director, WE CARE Clinic and SNAP, Coordinator for Diversity, and Myjal Garner, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, assistant professor in the SON, and principal investigator of the IMAGINE Summer; students participating in patient care simulation
