Summer Campers Get a Taste of Real Healthcare

The Lloyd A. Jacobs Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center was filled with hands-on learning opportunities this week as participants in the Nursing and Respiratory Care Camp and the Pharmacy and Science Career Camp explored careers in healthcare.

Twenty-five nursing campers spent part of the one-day Nursing & Respiratory Care Camp learning how to draw blood, perform CPR, take blood pressure readings and practice basic suturing techniques.

For the first time, this year respiratory care was added to the nursing camp with attendees getting the chance to learn how to intubate a patient and gain exposure to another critical healthcare profession.

Kelly Phillips, chief nurse administrator in the College of Nursing, said there is a persistent need for nurses in the workforce and the annual camp has become an important recruitment tool.

"We like to catch them early so that they have knowledge of what's out there, what's available in nursing and in the medical field," Phillips said.

This year also marked the 25th year for the Pharmacy and Science Career Camp, as 47 students from five states also participated in experiential learning in the simulation center.

During the camp, rising high school juniors and seniors learned CPR, patient safety principles and emergency response skills.

Dr. Michelle Seegert, associate dean for admissions and enrollment in the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, attended Pharmacy Camp as a student in 2003. She said the program continues to be an effective recruitment tool for both the college and the university.

"Coming into school, just getting that Toledo exposure, it's a great way to expose kids to a lot of different careers in STEM, not just pharmacy," Seegert said. "It's huge for us to get our name out there and for people to be able to experience Toledo as both a city and as a campus as well."

This year's camp collaborated with Destination Toledo and was sponsored by Walgreens and the city of Toledo. To date 1,700 students have participated in the Pharmacy & Science Career Camp.