Exploring mentoring activities to increase awareness of the profession of nursing to high school students: a teamwork/collaboration project

Abstract

Urban youth may experience obstacles in pursuing health careers, but the advantages of diversifying the health care profession is evident in the literature. Pipeline programs aim to increase enrollment, retention, and college graduation, among underrepresented minority students interested in healthcare professions by providing mentorship. An examination of the literature to better understand the factors that support underrepresented students in continuing on the path to becoming a healthcare professional was taken place. Four themes emerged from the literature review: perceptions of nursing, family support, self-efficacy, and early intervention. From the analysis of the review, a one-day program to recruit underrepresented students into the nursing profession was then designed and implemented.