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Paige Barnum, Brian Cochran, Ryan Dowling, Parker Henderson, Samantha Kenney, Hannah Miller and Kayla Norris who attend the Kent, Salem and Stark campuses of ������ were among 24 Northeast Ohio nursing students accepted to intern at Akron Children’s Hospital as part of the Assuring Success with a Commitment to Enhance Nurse Diversity (ASCEND) program. In its fourth year, the ASCEND program works with traditionally underrepresented populations within the nursing profession, such as minority groups or first-generation college students. During their summer internship, which began in May, the students will work 40-hours a week on a clinical unit. Those students who successfully complete the ASCEND program requirements will receive a stipend.

“Akron Children’s Hospital created the ASCEND program as an initiative to increase nursing workforce diversity within the organization,” says Megan Dorrington, MBA, M.S.N., RN, CPN, ASCEND program coordinator and education coordinator. “Literature has shown that culturally sensitive and competent care is provided when the nursing workforce reflects the diversity of the community members served.”

The ASCEND program focuses on building communication skills, professional development and therapeutic relationship skills. Each student is paired with a registered nurse mentor who encourages observation and participation in interdisciplinary communication, patient and family education and therapeutic interactions.

“Students in the ASCEND program have a unique opportunity to spend over 300 hours in a clinical pediatric setting with nurse mentors,” Ms. Dorrington says. “Nursing school clinical rotations typically do not allow for students to see a shift from start to finish, and the internship provides the opportunity to see patient care throughout the entire shift. Because the internship focuses on communication skills and therapeutic relationship skills, the interns are able to observe and participate in other very important aspects of nursing that may be minimized in the clinical rotation setting.”

Additionally, ASCEND students will participate in professional development throughout the summer, focusing on patient and family-centered care and resources, professional boundaries, human resources’ guidance on résumé building and interview skills, role exploration, cultural competence and more.

“Kent State had numerous applications for the ASCEND program that displayed a variety of backgrounds and commitment to becoming a high-quality compassionate pediatric nurse,” says Tracey Motter, D.N.P., RN, associate dean for undergraduate programs in Kent State's College of Nursing.

In order to be eligible to participate in the ASCEND program, the nursing students had to be in good standing with the Kent State baccalaureate program; completed their junior year of nursing school; and belong to an underrepresented group in nursing, including ethnic/minority backgrounds, males or first-generation college students. 

Hannah Miller, from Creston, Ohio, represents Ohio's Amish population as her grandfather was raised Old Order Amish.

“Many of my aunts, uncles and cousins are still Amish, and I've had the opportunity to learn about the genetic conditions in the Amish Community through an honors experience at the New Leaf Clinic in Mt. Eaton, Ohio,” Ms. Miller says. “It is my hope that I can help make the healthcare experience more enjoyable and less frightening for Amish patients at Akron Children’s Hospital.”

Ms. Miller is working in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where patients are critically ill and may be hospitalized for extended periods of time. She is developing relationships with the patients and their families, and she enjoys being a small part of their journey.

“Students accepted into this competitive program have an opportunity to learn from experts in pediatric healthcare,” says Barbara Broome, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, dean of Kent State’s College of Nursing. “This is an exceptional opportunity for clinical education for students interested in pediatrics. Akron Children's Hospital is a leader in pediatric healthcare, and ������ College of Nursing is proud to be a partner in preparing the next generation of healthcare providers.”

Brian Cochran, from Columbiana, Ohio, dreamt of becoming a nurse because he felt called to help people at their most venerable times. Mr. Cochran, who wanted to experience a fast-paced environment and the challenge of thinking quickly, is working in the Akron Children’s Emergency Room.

“The ASCEND program is important to me as a future nurse because it will allow me to not only build skills in areas such as communication and thinking on the run, but also see many different situations I have never experienced before,” Mr. Cochran says. “After graduation, my dream job is to work on a pediatric oncology unit. That is my calling, and I would love the opportunity to one day help those children.”

Including this year’s seven students, a total of 21 Kent State students will have participated in Akron Children Hospital’s ASCEND program. To date, eight of those Kent State ASCEND alumni have or will be working at Akron Children’s Hospital as registered nurses.

“Because the ASCEND program provides clinical internship and professional development to nursing students who belong to traditionally underrepresented groups in the nursing profession, this initiative is one of the ways Akron Children’s Hospital is addressing the importance of supporting future nursing, while promoting diversity and inclusion in our nursing workforce,” Ms. Dorrington says.