Alyssa Gaulrapp & Alexa Potts: High School Students’ Perception of Nursing
The inaugural Summer Institute of Nursing was developed and implemented in the summer of 2012 at Gustavus Adolphus College. Twenty female students between the ages sixteen and seventeen participated in the Summer Institute of Nursing, which was designed to provide high school students the opportunity to explore the profession of nursing. A research study examining the perception of high school students on nursing was collected through pre and post surveys distributed at the beginning and end of the week. The five-day week on a college campus was full of learning and utilization of nursing skills, lectures, service projects, tours, and activities. Results from the surveys indicated multiple positive outcomes of the Summer Institute. The Summer Institute was very effective in helping students decide about a nursing career and helped the students gain knowledge regarding the nursing profession. Most students stated they learned things from the Summer Institute that changed their views on nursing. Students found that the hands on nursing skills and head-to-toe assessment were the most useful in their learning experience. All the students responded positively, indicating that the Summer Institute was beneficial to their learning about the nursing profession, and it was effective in helping them decide about a nursing as a career. Statistically significant results were found in the likeliness of students to pursue a career in nursing t(19) = 4.41, p < .001 from before (M = 4.05) to after (M = 4.95) the experience. Students stated the best aspects about nursing included the profession being rewarding and challenging, with good salary/job security, and the chance to help others. The implications from this research study contribute to nursing by identifying the perceptions of high school students on the profession of nursing. Their perceptions about the field of nursing may have the largest impact on students’ decision to apply to a nursing program and seek opportunities to learn more about the profession.