Interactive Boot Camps Inspire the Next Generation of Nurses

Thanks to a new Cleveland Clinic program, middle and high school students can spend a day as a nurse — doing patient intake, listening to heartbeats through a stethoscope and even drawing blood from a simulated human arm.

Last year, Cleveland Clinic created the Launchpad to Nursing Boot Camp, a hands-on, exploratory nursing career experience for sixth through eighth graders and ninth through 12th graders.

“The Launchpad to Nursing Boot Camp is an initiative by Cleveland
Clinic’s Center for Nursing Career Exploration to introduce students to nursing at a younger age in a way that is interactive and exciting,” says Lisa Baszynski, DNP, RN, NE-BC, Executive Director and Associate Chief Nursing Officer for
Nursing Education and Professional Development at Cleveland Clinic.

“Our goal is to have students come and see what a nurse does,” says Linda Gardner, DNP, MEd, BA, RN, CNOR, Senior Director of Nursing Education for Cleveland Clinic. “Imagine a day where students are transported into the dynamic world of healthcare using simulation, didactic instruction and real-life scenarios. We want to change the face of nursing by providing an immersive experience that equips students with a profound understanding of what it means to be a nurse.”

Broadening horizons

Gardner explains that prior to the boot camp experience, students might not have understood the true role of a nurse. “Everyone thinks we’re caring individuals — and yes, we are,” she says. “But we do more than just hold hands: We are critical thinkers, innovators and patient advocates.”

The day starts when students meet with real Cleveland Clinic nurses who explain the “why” behind their job. Each student receives a paper chart, and as a team, participants rotate through a series of five stations designed to simulate a real patient experience.

The mock patient at each interactive station describes symptoms of a common illness, and the students are given the opportunity to draw blood from a simulated arm. Participants are also taught how to read the values from a blood draw, perform a head-to-toe assessment, properly wash their hands and save a life using CPR.

Once they’ve completed all the stations, students walk through how to do a thorough nurse handoff.“ Students have the opportunity to engage in simulations designed to build their confidence and sharpen their analytical and decision-making abilities,” Gardner says. “In addition, the real-life scenarios they encounter bring them face-to-face with the human side of healthcare, highlighting the emotional intelligence, empathy and communication skills that are indispensable in nursing.”

The culminating activity is an escape room, where the students “escape their shift” by reviewing the patient’s information and providing proper handoff instructions to the next nurse. The exercise is designed to show the significance of good communication and reinforce the lifesaving information students can take back into the community. Students receive a certificate of completion at the end of the program.

Preparing caregivers of the future

In 2024, 181 students from 58 schools applied for 100 Launchpad to Nursing Boot Camp spots. Cleveland Clinic makes schools aware of the program primarily via social media, and Gardner reports that interest in the course is already starting to outpace availability. Six Launchpad to Nursing Boot Camps are already scheduled for 2025 with the possibility for more. Each session is designed to accommodate 40 students.

Gardner and her team also hope to expand the program to fourth and fifth graders and to create a “part two” boot camp for students who have completed Launchpad and want a deeper dive into nursing.

“We have learned that we have to get in front of students early and often and engage them in a hands-on way,” says Gardner. “As these young minds navigate the intricacies of patient care, they witness the profound impact nurses have on individual lives and the healthcare system as a whole.”

“It’s never too early for students to start looking into their career options and exploring opportunities,” adds Baszynski.

“Students interested in nursing need to know before high school what courses to take,” she explains. “Nursing school is rigorous, so we want them to be prepared.”

The nursing shortage affects hospitals across the country, so it has never been more critical to “pack” the nursing pipeline, Gardner notes.

“Our nursing education department has created a program unlike anything I’ve seen before,” Baszynski says. “The boot camp serves not only as an educational platform but also as a beacon of inspiration, igniting a passion for nursing that may shape their future careers. Our investment in the future nursing workforce sets Cleveland Clinic apart.”