The Midlands of South Carolina Black Nurses Association, Inc. (Midlands BNA), in partnership with Richland County School District One’s Bradley Elementary School, implemented the National Black Nurses Association’s (NBNA) Mini-Nurse Academy (MNA) for students in grades 3-5. During the 2023- 2024 school year, Midlands BNA was one of 12 chapters across the country that piloted MNA with funding provided to NBNA from Direct Relief.
The MNA aims to introduce students in grades 3-5 to the nursing profession. Student participation will increase awareness of nursing as a career option and provide knowledge and skills related to professional nursing practice. Professional nurses affiliated with NBNA, such as the Midlands BNA Chapter, who share the students’ backgrounds and life experiences, serve as organizers and facilitators.
“It is important for children to see professional nurses who look like them and serve as role models during their elementary years,” said Lisa Davis, MBA, MPH, BS, RN, founding president and current treasurer of the Midlands
BNA.
Bradley Elementary School Principal Mrs. Kezia Myers is a dedicated partner and staunch supporter of the MNA. Reflecting on the pilot year, she expressed her pride.
“The resounding success of our MNA for our third-grade, fourth-grade and fifth-grade students was truly inspiring. Witnessing these young minds embrace the world of healthcare with such enthusiasm and dedication was a testament to the program’s effectiveness. Through hands-on learning experiences and mentorship from the Midlands BNA, these students gained essential nursing skills and developed empathy, teamwork, and a deep sense of responsibility,” Mrs. Myers said.
During the pilot year, the Chapter’s MNA Champion, then vice-president Dr. Lori Vick, led the comprehensive 15-week academy that was embedded in the existing afterschool program. The curriculum covered a wide range of topics, including the history of nursing, understanding the health care system, discussing social determinants of health and interactive sessions such as hand-only
CPR, calculating body mass index and counting pulse rates. The program culminated in students learning to conduct a research project. All curricula were presented at an age-appropriate level.
“The students eagerly shared their knowledge about the roles of the members of a health care team and are receptive to learning about nursing as a possible career. We were delighted with the opportunity to introduce nursing to this wonderful group of young people,” said Dr. Vick.
In December 2023, MNA participants, their families, and Principal Myers were invited to the annual Midlands Scholarship Luncheon. There, they were recognized, and their research projects were displayed.
This year, the Chapter’s MNA Champion was Dr. Jessica Tillman. She and other Midlands BNA volunteers completed this vital work with a stellar group of fourth-grade and fifthgrade students at Bradley Elementary School to help grow the nursing profession. If you want to learn more about the Midlands BNA MNA, please contact us at MIDSCBNA@gmail.com.
