Each year, we get a lot of strong applications for UW Nurse Camp. While we can’t accept everyone, we’re dedicated to supporting your academic and professional aspirations.
Although we don’t have an online nurse camp, we’ve compiled resources that can help you find similar experiences.
Become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
A great way to gain healthcare experience is to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). CNAs work directly under a nurse and are hands-on with patients.
Check out this Washington State Department of Social and Health Services website to find all of the CNA training sites in Washington: https://nursing.wa.gov/education/nursing-assistant-education-programs/nursing-assistant-training-programs
Volunteer opportunities
- University of Washington Medical Center: http://www.uwmedicine.org/uw-medical-center/volunteer
- Seattle Children’s Hospital: http://www.seattlechildrens.org/healthcare-professionals/education/observership/
Scholarships are a great way to pay for your nursing degree. While the UW School of Nursing provides some financial support, many people will apply for scholarships outside the school. Some of these scholarships can be found here: https://nursing.jnj.com/scholarships
- Tips for winning a scholarship: http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/the-12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship
- Navigate the world of federal aid and make your scholarship applications stand out: https://www.scholarships.com/financial-aid/financial-aid-tips/
- Apply to as many as you can!
Self-care is imperative to personal health, sustenance to continue to care for others and professional growth.
- One method of practicing self-care includes acupressure. Traditional Chinese medical theory describes special acupoints, or acupressure points, that lie along meridians, or channels, in your body. These are the same energy meridians and acupoints as those targeted with acupuncture. It is believed that through these invisible channels flows vital energy, or a life force called qi (ch’i). These twelve major meridians are also believed to connect specific organs or networks of organs, organizing a communication system throughout your body. Learn about some acupressure points at Pointfinder.org.
- Yoga is another activity that promotes self-care. Yoga is a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, which includes breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily posture. It is widely practiced for health and relaxation.
Health disparities are preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations. As a healthcare provider, it is important to understand these disparities as they can directly affect you and your care.
- Learn more about health disparities here: https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/health-equity-healthy-people-2030
- One of the ways we can try to overcome health disparities is by identifying our own personal biases. These biases can range from race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. The Harvard Implicit Bias test helps you identify your biases: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html
There are many areas in which nurses work. During UW Nurse Camp, a variety of nurses came to speak to campers about their experiences and the pathways to their profession. Here are some of the areas nurses who support UW Nurse Camp work in.
- Nephrology, Transplant Diabetes – UWMC
- Maternity and Women’s Health Nursing – UWMC
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit – Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Long-Term Care, Assisted Living – Sea Mar Community Health Centers
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Adult Psychiatric – Cascade Behavioral Health Center
- Critical Care – Providence Alaska Medical Center
- Float Pool – UWMC
- Pediatrics – Seattle Children’s Hospital
- Med/Surg & Correctional Nurse – MultiCare Auburn Medical Center
- Flight Nurse – Harborview Medical Center
- Correctional Health – King County Correctional Facility
- Community Health – Neighborcare Health