As NYU Langone emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York City-based health system had begun to see its workforce rebound. However, acknowledging the cyclical nature of nursing shortages, leaders took proactive measures to ensure stability and inspire local teenagers to consider nursing as a career path.
“We’re also in very diverse communities, and we looked across our system and saw pockets of good programs reaching out to high schools with our nursing teams,” Debra Albert, DNP, chief nursing officer and senior vice president for patient care services, told Becker’s. “The bones were there, and we began thinking about how we could pull it all together to ensure we had a good pipeline coming into the profession.”
This work began roughly three years ago, with Althea Mighten, EdD, DNP, APRN, senior director of nursing for innovation and inquiry at NYU Langone’s Center for Innovations in the Advancement of Care, playing a key role. Dr. Mighten worked with the human resources team on various programs and opportunities to engage with underserved high school students.
One such initiative is NYU Langone’s Cristo Rey New York partnership, a corporate work-study program that places students in roles throughout the system. As part of the partnership, students from Cristo Rey New York High School — a Catholic, coed, college-prep school — spend four days each week in the classroom and one day at the hospital immersed in healthcare, according to a system news release.
The nursing arm of the program began a year ago with two students. Both returned for a second year and expressed an interest in nursing.
“They come to work once a week, on Thursdays, and are exposed to different healthcare environments,” Dr. Mighten said. “The importance of this is to show them how diverse nursing is across the discipline and help them envision the many opportunities available.”
For example, at NYU Langone’s Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, students have assisted nurses, provided refreshments to patients and offered companionship to those receiving treatment. They also learned appointment scheduling, care coordination, cybersecurity and other skills.
Another initiative is Healthcare, Energy, Education, Environment, Agriculture and Technology, or Heat. Focused in Brooklyn, the program gives high school students opportunities to explore social, political, technological and economic complexities across industries, according to NYU Langone.
Last year, the health system partnered with the New York City Department of Education to launch new programs at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn as part of the DOE’s Heat initiative. One program prepares students from Brooklyn South high schools for careers in clinical research, and the other for careers in nursing.
NYU Langone leaders said students in this program propose solutions to nursing challenges. At the end of the program, they present their ideas to staff and faculty.
“We’re working on standardizing the curriculum to focus more intentionally on research in both parts of the program,” Dr. Mighten told Becker’s. “The students in this program are interested in healthcare and nursing, and we mentor them and give them insights into the field.”
Health system leaders also pointed to the NYU Long Island High School summer mentorship program, which runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and students can work service jobs at 3 p.m. to help support their families. The program offers training on CPR, Narcan administration and bleed stoppage. MetroCards are provided for public transportation, as are bag breakfasts and free-lunch certificates to support students who need those resources.
Ultimately, the goal of these programs is for teenagers to pursue nursing, pass their licensure exams and, ultimately, view NYU Langone as a place they want to work.
