Discover the Appeal of Nursing! Hands-On Nursing Experience for Middle School Students

Introduction

　We planned and organized a program titled “Discover the Appeal of Nursing! On-Site Nursing Experience for Junior High School Students” at two private nursing universities in Aichi Prefecture.

We believed that, given the declining birthrate, it was necessary to introduce the appeal of nursing to students at an earlier stage than high school, so we conducted this program for middle school students.

2. Planning and Management Methods

　The goal of this initiative is for nursing educators to visit middle schools to promote the appeal of nursing and provide hands-on experiences, thereby fostering a better understanding of the field and increasing the number of students interested in pursuing a career in nursing. By having middle school students answer questions while experiencing nursing through VR materials, we can provide accurate information to those aspiring to become nurses. Another objective is to create opportunities for educators to exchange information and build professional networks.

We sent posters and informational materials to the boards of education in municipalities we could visit, asked them to recommend junior high schools that could participate, and then finalized the visit dates and program details.

3. Participants

　The program has been held seven times (at seven locations), with 242 middle school students participating.

4. Content

　The session focused on nursing lectures and VR experiences using Meta Quest (such as a medical helicopter simulation and taking patients’ temperatures on a hospital ward). Depending on the number of participants, we also conducted hands-on activities like “Listening to Heartbeats with a Stethoscope” and showed videos on topics such as BLS and preparing IV drips.

5. Survey Results

Free-response section (excerpts)

• I had always thought of nurses as assistants to doctors, and that they needed a doctor’s decision before taking action, so I was surprised to see nurses taking action without waiting for a decision.
• I learned that nurses are always there to support patients during their hospital stays. Since my dream is to become a nurse, I was happy to learn more about the profession through this VR experience. I’d definitely like to participate again if I get another chance.

6. Summary

　The open house events held at universities attract many students who aspire to become nurses; these students are not attending as part of the career selection process. While many junior high schools provide opportunities for students to consider their career options, it appears that some junior high school teachers do not have a sufficient understanding of the nursing profession or nursing universities.

　Through this project, many students appeared to have gained a deeper understanding of the nursing profession and nursing universities. For many, it became one of their potential career options, and they were able to learn while having fun.Junior high school is a time when students enter adolescence and begin to realize that they have their own inner world distinct from that of their parents and friends. It is also a period when they struggle with the gap between their self-perception and objective reality, and begin to search for their own path in life amidst various conflicts. We believe that conveying the rewards of nursing to children at this stage was an effective approach to addressing the shortage of nursing professionals.

　Although it was a short-term initiative, the fact that faculty members from the two universities were able to work together toward a common goal while exchanging information provided a valuable opportunity to build relationships among them. We have all recognized the effectiveness of this project and agreed to continue and expand it in the future. We look forward to further strengthening collaboration between our universities.