Inaugural Health Science Day Introduces Local High School Students to Numerous Nursing Career Options at Atlantic Cape

MAYS LANDING — Students from Atlantic City, Lower Cape May Regional and Oakcrest high schools were introduced to the many exciting and worthwhile careers that encompass the Nursing industry during Atlantic Cape Community College’s Early College Program-sponsored first Health Science Day on January 10 on the Mays Landing campus.

Industry professionals from Atlantic Cape’s Nursing Program, Mercer County Community College, Rowan University, Rutgers University at Atlantic Cape, Shore Medical Center School of Radiologic Technology and Thomas Jefferson University led individual workshop sessions that provided the students with program-specific knowledge and hands-on instruction.

Myrna Morales Keklak, dean, Nursing & Health Sciences at Atlantic Cape, began the morning by extolling the benefits of a nursing education at Atlantic Cape where programs, such as Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Laboratory Technician and Paramedic are available along with the option to transfer to Rutgers University, Rowan University or Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Health Professions to continue their undergraduate education.

“I and my nursing faculty are equally as excited to let you know that if you want to explore nursing, this is where you want to come. Atlantic Cape is the most cost-effective way to become a registered nurse,” said Morales Keklak. “(After Atlantic Cape) you can spend a year on-campus at Rutgers University, earn your Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing and do it all for less.”

Keynote speaker Jill Acevedo, alumna, Atlantic Cape assistant professor of Nursing and current nursing doctoral student, looked back upon her turbulent upbringing as a youth and numerous challenges she had to overcome along the way to becoming a nurse, mother and wife in an emotional and inspirational speech to the students.

“I had an extremely challenging childhood. My older brother and I were basically left to our own devices to take care of ourselves, make it to school and eat. I started working when I was 12 years old because I needed money for clothes and food,” admitted Acevedo, who is a mother of three and a grandmother. “I also suffered severe burns to my leg down to the bone when I was in 6^th grade when a boiling pot of water tipped over. I spent six months in a burn center, basically alone.”

“The nurses sort of became my family. They would pay for my TV, bring me Teen Beat magazine, sometimes bring me McDonald’s or home-cooked meals. They always asked how I was feeling and they showed me that they cared. They showed me kindness, love, caring and empathy, which I had never really experienced. When I left after six months I thought to myself that’s what I am going to do with my life.”

Acevedo’s message of perseverance, overcoming obstacles in your way and achieving the successes you desire, despite the odds against you, was applauded by students and teachers alike.

Seven distinct workshop sessions gave students the chance to choose program topics that closely aligned with their interests:

• Mercer County Community College hosted a Medical Laboratory Technology Program session that touched on medical tests, diagnosis, equipment and more.
• Professor Acevedo and other Atlantic Cape Nursing faculty showcased the College’s Nursing Simulation Lab and had students demonstrate how to swaddle a baby, take a pulse and listen to a heartbeat.
• Shore Medical Center’s School of Radiologic Technology discussed the partnership with Atlantic Cape to develop the next generation of medical imaging professionals.
• Thomas Jefferson University’s College of Health Professions hosted a Respiratory Therapy Program session where students practiced intubating a “patient” to get them on a ventilator.
• Representatives from Rutgers University at Atlantic Cape discussed the benefits of the 3+1 RN to BSN pathway program where students can seamlessly transition to a bachelor’s degree in nursing program.
• Rowan University representatives highlighted its Respiratory Therapy Program where students could observe and listen to a breathing lung.
• Atlantic Cape’s Wallace Maines hosted a hands-on Paramedic Science Program session to explore the skills and knowledge needed to provide life-saving care in emergency situations.

Lower Cape May Regional High School Biomedical sophomore Olivia Nolan has thoughts of becoming a Pediatrician and attending Atlantic Cape in the coming years.

“I want to help little kids just because I like kids. Like them, I used to be scared of going to the doctor, so I want to make it less scary for them,” said Nolan, who is registered for a dual credit course in Principles of Biomedical and Human Body Systems. “I saw a lot to like and even some classes that I would take, so it (attending Atlantic Cape) looked very interesting to me.

Atlantic City High School senior Nadirah Martinez has always known that she wanted to go in the direction of nursing and is planning on attending Atlantic Cape in the fall.

“I started in 10^th grade taking biology, then psychology, chemistry and pre-biomedical for nursing. Then I went to Atlantic Cape’s Atlantic City campus and took my placement test,” said Martinez. “I got the highest score, surprisingly. I got seven out of eight in reading and writing, a 252 in another and 284 out of 300 on the other test. Now I just have to pick my classes.”

Another Atlantic City High School senior, Kayani Harper, is more confident in her future path now.

“The Nursing class I was in today really inspired me to want to become a nurse even more. They had everything, all the props and everything that I am interested in. They explained everything to me from a deeper point of view,” said Harper. “And they helped me understand that a lot of patients like to bond with their nurses, so it’s important to keep your personality and make sure you make them happy because they are the ones having a rough day.”

Atlantic Cape’s Early College Program partners with local high schools to provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit while enrolled in high school through options including dual credit, concurrent courses, articulated credit and associate pathways, which allow the student to earn college credits while shortening the time and cost it takes to earn an associate’s degree. Visit atlanticcape.edu/earlycollege to learn more.

“It is important students explore their options and see that there are so many pathways that can come from Nursing and Health Science. It opens their mind to careers they may not be familiar with, that may be of interest to them,” said Kelsie Steup, career and high school career & technical education program coordinator. “Students are able to understand how to start here and move on to amazing programs with our partnership institutions.”

Visit atlanticcape.edu/nursing to learn more about the various pathways available to students interested in pursuing a career in the health sciences at Atlantic Cape.

View a photo gallery of Health Science Day on Flickr here.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.