Teens give nursing a chance

SPEARFISH, SD (KELO) — The “Give Nursing a Shot” camp is in its third year in west KELOLAND and continues to grow each year.

The camp is a collaboration between Black Hills State and South Dakota State University.

Middle and high school students come together to learn everything about nursing.

“I think it’s really important, especially with the shortage of nurses, to interest younger people. The sooner the better,” nursing student Emerson Good said.

“I love working with middle school students, they have an energy that still feels a bit like childhood innocence, like they’re not planning on going to college. They're curious, they're curious, and they're fun to work with. It absolutely is, if they have an interest here, it really amplifies that,” said Susie Leahy, a recruiter at the SDSU College of Nursing.

This Give Nursing a Shot camp brings together on average around 75 different campers between middle and high school students. And it offers a wide range of topics and activities to help them move toward a potential career in nursing.

The camp teaches kids about everything from concussions and blood pressure to the impact of vaping on their health.

“I think it's also important for them to learn about lung safety and how important it is to not get into vaping and everything else. It’s just important to talk to them about it before you start,” Good said.

And with South Dakota's shortage of nurses, the camp could spark children's interest in a career in healthcare.

“If students get their BSN, they get their license and a job. This is a great way to sell this program. So if students are interested, we can let them know and say, 'Hey, you get your degree and your license, you're going to get hired somewhere,'” Leahy said.

This year's camp is full, but they plan to hold another one next year.