Germantown High students learn about nursing and education

Claire Milliken (left) and Olivia Manuel (right) teach 11th graders from Germantown High School how nursing students learn to use computerized medication dispensing carts to access drugs for their patients in the hospital setting. For this simulated exercise, the carts dispensed candy.

On March 21^st, nineteen 11^th grade students from Germantown High School (GHS) visited Villanova’s campus as part of the University’s partnership with the school facilitated by the Center for Multicultural Affairs. GHS has been partnered with Villanova through Philadelphia’s Office of the Mayor and Phillygoes2college to support GHS students in the college application and decision process.

The program included a visit to the simulation labs in the College of Nursing’s Learning Resource Center. Led by Associate Professor Patricia K. Bradley, PhD, RN, FAAN, three volunteer senior nursing students, Olivia Manuel, Claire Milliken and Rasheeda Thomas, spoke with the students about their college experiences and career goals and demonstrated use of computerized medication dispensing systems as well as the nurse’s role in the care of a newborn infant. The nursing students volunteered as part of their service mission in the Chi Eta Phi Sorority. GHS students later attended a presentation by the Office of University Admission.

In the GHS-VU partnership, students from both schools are invited to attend enriched academic and social functions at the high school as well as at the university. At GHS, students attend workshops to aid processes of applying to and attending college. At Villanova, students visit classes, listen to speakers, work with tutors on their application essays, and learn about opportunities such as study abroad. They also form relationships with Villanova students and attend a basketball game.