Missouri Western hosts nursing camp for middle school students
By Ashley Luthans
Missouri Western State University’s nursing program hosted its inaugural “Griffon Nurse Training Camp” on Wednesday for incoming sixth to eighth graders.
The camp, located at Missouri Western, allowed students to learn all about nursing and complete hands-on activities.
The camp featured classroom activities, a LifeFlight helicopter, an ambulance and more.
Students involved in the program shared their favorite part of the day.
“Probably, like, learning CPR and how to use the AEDs,” said Layla Hausman, an incoming sixth grader.
Nursing student Olivia Dierenfeldt said the activities are to help the students get an idea of what health care is actually like.
“Some of the things the kids have gotten to do is hands-on,” Dierenfeldt said. “Just hands-on exposure to what goes on in health care.”
Kinlee Whetstine, another nursing student at Missouri Western, said the event helped show the many facets of nursing.
“We want the kids to come here to Missouri Western and see how important nurses really are,” Whetstine said. “It’s a field that sometimes is lacking, and we are needing more nurses. And it’s good to get the kids out and see that there’s not just bedside nursing, there’s other things to do in nursing.”
Kensley Mccormick, an incoming seventh grader, said she thinks it’s a good idea to learn about possible career fields early.
“Like, for the future, I just really really want to go into the medical field,” Mccormick said. “And I think it’s great being educated about this stuff, like, especially this young, you know. And so I thought it was interesting and was like ‘Might as well give it a shot, right?’”
Although this is only the first year of the program, many students said they would attend next year.
The event was sponsored by the MWSU nursing department and the Mosaic Life Care Foundation.
