SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN PREVIEW FUTURE NURSING CAREERS

(GRAPEVINE, TX – Oct. 9, 2001) – Attention all future nurses, get a head start on your career!  Baylor Medical Center at Grapevine offers a community service program, “Mommy, I Want To Be a Nurse,” to promote the nursing profession to school-aged children.  The presentation promotes the rewards of being a nurse, why nursing is so important and who can be a nurse (girls and boys). 

“There is a definite nursing shortage right now, and if we can do anything to promote a positive image for nursing, it has to start with your youth,” says Sandy Knox, R.N., vice president of nursing for Baylor Grapevine.  The hospital developed the program to address the critical nursing shortage experienced by hospitals nationwide.

Statistics provided by the DFW Hospital Council reveal a vacancy rate of almost 29 percent for intensive care unit nurses in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.  “Above 9 percent indicates a significant and serious shortage,” Knox says.  “Part of the problem is there isn’t enough funding for nurse educators, so we would like to encourage people to support any legislative issues that support more nursing educators,” she says.

This program is Baylor’s way to protect the future of nursing.  Kim Ridenour, R.N., director of endoscopy at Baylor Grapevine, leads the program with Knox and helped develop the video presentation, which features children of Baylor employees.  “The video promotes good character, good morale and why nursing would be a fun career,” she says.  “We present nursing as a culturally diverse field that helps people and makes people feel good.”

Following the video, children can ask questions.  “We want them to have a positive image of nursing, and that it takes a desire and dedication to help others,” Ridenour says. 

“Mommy, I Want To Be a Nurse” is available free of charge to schools, PTA groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, churches, daycares and other others. To arrange for a Baylor Grapevine nurse to come out and make an on-site presentation, call (817) 329-2508.