Can You Toss Me an Idea or TWO

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2003

I second the Discover Nusing site- they're fabulous!!! When you go there, you can order up to 500 brochures with different covers (all the same info, but some are Asian, African-American, female, and male) per order. They also have posters (you can order 15) and a video. I ordered these, along with two professors at my college, and gave mine to them so they would have more to hand out/hang up.

Are you going to have a table? You could see if they have an electrical outlet and then set up a viewing station and play the video on loop, or you could even make a video of your own interviewing nurses from different areas and just play that.

If you've got a table, I'd also contact some nursing agencies and hospitals, as well as local nursing programs, and ask them to donate materials to hand out- recruitment brochures, fliers, etc. or cards to send off for more information.

I think Gwenith's idea is great- why don't you see if someone has a digital camera and have someone actually pose for the picture? Dress them up elaborately, go for the full stereotype, and you could get it blown up at a copy shop and have a nice display. You might even be able to get someone to cover the cost for you (for instance, a school or business who would then get the rights to the photograph to use in their promotions if you get to keep the sign for future fairs).

prmenrs, RN · Sep 11, 2003

When I was a Freshman SN, we had to give a skit for high schools in the area, recruiting students for the next year. We had only been there a couple of months ourselves, only thing we knew how to do was 'Buck's Traction' [a treatment for slipped discs that is no longer in use, I'm old]. So, that's what we did. And, of course, w/our cute little starched uniforms and caps, we were a rousing success!

You will be, too. Best of luck! :kiss

purplemania, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2003

my experience with young people has been they want to know some facts like how long does it take to get licensed? Can you work while you learn? What is starting pay? Compared to other jobs, what is pay like? Do you have to be good in math and science? Do you have to be an "A" student? You might have a handout that covers some of that. I also recommend you keep your handouts and freebies inaccessible or people will just load up on them and walk off without hearing what you have to say.

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 11, 2003

Thank you ALL so much for your help! You have jump-started my creativity! I'll let you know how the fair goes.

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2003

Just FYI for anyone who is interested, Johns Hopkins has a 15 minute "Nursing 411" tape for about 25 bucks that has interviews with real nurses about what real nursing is all about. Here's a link; there's a preview of the tape you can watch on your computer. :)

http://www.hopkinsnursing.org/nursing411/index.htm

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2003

Also, the NSNA has a "Breakthrough to Nursing" campaign that features a video and full-color pamphlets. According to their site, if you email [email protected] you can inquire about purchasing the video (or getting it free if you're working with a school that is participating in this? Not sure how that works, but it's worth an email, I think...) and getting 100 copies of the brochure. They have the full color brochure in Adobe on their site at this link: http://www.nsna.org/career/nsna_web.pdf

NICU_Nurse, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2003

Which just gave me another idea: Why don't you call your state Board of Nursing and the state student nurses' association and see if they have materials for you? Maybe they could give you some ideas as well, or point you in the right direction. :)

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Sep 12, 2003

Thank you very much :)!!

renerian, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2003

All great ideas! renerian

mattsmom81 · Sep 14, 2003

I feel strongly we have to be careful with recruiting...as too many new grads are bailing. Nobody presented the realities to them obviously and they were not prepared.

Good luck on your project...hope you make it real. :)