The “Amazing World of Nursing”, a Johnson and Johnson Project Campaign for Nursing Future, was held in December 9 at the Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) Health Science Annex. More than 20 members of the Florida Student Nurse Association, Florida Nurses Association District 10 and Hadassah Nurses Council had the privilege of meeting a group of extremely bright, “potential future nurses.” The nursing students understood the dire need for recruitment of future nurses and volunteered to participate in this event the day before their final exams.

The children showed great interest in learning about nursing and asked many questions. SFCC students enjoyed the chance to showcase the school’s brand new nursing lab, complete with human simulators, and the latest health care equipment.

There were stations set up throughout the lab for practicing first aid techniques, identifying heart rhythms on monitors and listening to different heart sounds with a stethoscope. The nursing students taught the risks of smoking using human body models. The visiting children had the chance to meet the famous simulated dummy, the SimMan, who simulates a real client in a hospital. The SimMan can tell you when he’s not feeling well or if he’s having trouble breathing.

The boys and girls enjoyed asking questions about taking care of clients in the hospital. The student and nurse volunteers had a wonderful time teaching the children about client care in the hospital and in other health care settings. The goal for the hosting organizations was to stimulate interest in nursing. The hope is that the children continue their interest towards an education in one of the most rewarding health care professions - nursing.

For more information on SFCC nursing programs, visit www.sfcc.edu.

Article & photos submitted by Ellen Audet MSN, RN and assistant professor of nursing at SFCC.