This award provides funding to Gardner-Webb University (GWU) to implement a Summer Bridge Program for high school students and to enhance the hands-on experiences of its nursing students. It is anticipated that 40 students will enroll in the summer experience and will be introduced to various fields within the health sciences, such as nursing, pharmacy, and public health. The program will offer interactive activities such as lab work, simulations, and shadowing healthcare professionals. These hands-on experiences allow students to see the practical applications of the skills they would learn in a health sciences career pathway. This exposure is expected to lead to increased enrollment in the schools’ nursing programs which include the Associate Science of Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Traditional and Accelerated), and Doctor of Nursing Practice (Family Nurse Practice and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner) as well as to third party credentials. Additionally, approximately 220 undergraduate nursing students and an estimated 100 graduate nursing students, annually, will have the opportunity to increase their hands-on experience while enrolled in the nursing programs. Golden LEAF funds will be used for equipment, supplies, and personnel costs.
