Since the fall of 2003, Bergenfield High School has offered the Nursing Apprentice Program (NAP) as a collaborative partnership among Bergenfield School District, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (EHMC) and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ).

Area 1: Goals:

The Nursing Apprenticeship Program promotes high student achievement through a rigorous academic curriculum delivered via a hands-on approach. Exciting off-site learning experiences make it possible for students to continuously showcase and apply their knowledge to real work situations on a regular basis.

The goals of The Nursing Apprentice Program (NAP) are

1) to promote academic and interpersonal skills that allow the participants to increase their understanding and appreciation for the health profession,

2) to provide students with an opportunity to develop career paths and increase their career maturity,

3) to create a linkage to higher education and to provide students with an opportunity to gain academic credits for colleges courses while giving them an advantage in pursuing a career in the health profession,

4) to help students realize their full academic potential by integrating academic and vocational curricula.

The Nursing Apprentice Program (NAP) was specifically developed to plainly address the NJCCCS for Cross Content Workplace Readiness Standards.

Standard 1: All students will develop career planning and workplace readiness skills - At each step throughout the four years of high school, the students can evaluate their personal progress against a clear, step by step guide to success.

Standard 2: All students will use information, technology, and other tools - From computerized nursing practice exams, to digital blood pressure cuffs, to MRIs and CAT scans, students are required to develop knowledge and proficiency with technology and other related tools.

Standard 3: All students will use critical thinking and problem-solving skills - The advanced level courses offered through UMDNJ and the clinical experiences challenge students to apply math, science and communication skills to ongoing interactions with patients and medical professionals.

Standard 4: All students will demonstrate self management skills - EHMC offers the nursing apprentices the same mentorship program that it offers its Registered Nurses which requires students to follow stringent, well established guidelines for behavior in the medical setting. Students are evaluated on their professionalism and conduct at each step along the pathway.

Area 2: Activities:

Community partners are fully involved and contribute to the ongoing planning and implementation of three intrinsic program components: the high school curriculum, the college courses and the work experience. At each step along the way, students and teachers are making meaningful connections with adult health care professionals who are committed to facilitating the education of our students. These relationships and mentoring experiences are developed through a wide array of learning experiences including observational activities in various departments such as surgery, pathology, etc.

Students also absorb invaluable lessons that cannot be found in textbooks through ongoing shadowing opportunities with experienced nurses and medical staff. Additionally, all students are required to provide 50 volunteer hours per year to the hospital. During this time period, they encounter personnel from senior volunteers to top surgeons who all contribute to shaping their future.

Throughout the summer of the junior year of the program, students may also opt to be trained/employed at the Medical Center. These learning activities have been thoroughly enriched by the unselfish contributions of our exemplary partners.

Area 3: Outside Resources:

Both Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (EHMC) and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) have greatly contributed to the Nursing Apprentice Program through their generous contributions of human resources, curriculum development, and program materials. Both organizations have supplied highly educated medical professionals to collaborate with district administrators and teachers to develop the program curriculum.

These partners have also provided ongoing, meaning professional development to staff members to assist them with improving the academic curriculum at all levels to include lessons in applied math and sciences. Meanwhile, both organizations have assisted classroom teachers with researching, identifying and acquiring classroom supplies and equipment to elevate the intensity of the classroom component of the program.

Finally, both organizations have contributed hours of personnel resources to recruit staff members to participate in shadowing and mentoring experiences, to match their staff members to student needs, to insure that the student experience complies with all school and hospital safety and regulation policies, to assist with the evaluation of each student, to serve on a advisory committee to evaluate the program and to create a plan to improve the program as necessary.

Area 4: Evaluation:

Since 2003, annual evaluations of the Nursing Apprentice Program completed in collaboration with our partners, document that the program has had a positive impact on the students, teachers, and the community. For example, in 2003, only 46% of our high school's graduating seniors planned to attend a four-year college program and only 26% planned to continue their education at a two-year college (A total of 72% planning to participate in post secondary training). Therefore, the school implemented the NAP program as a first step to transforming the high school paradigm. As a result, in 2005, 90% of graduating seniors planned to participate in post secondary training.

To date, 170 students have participated in the program during the past two years and currently 65 are enrolled this year. To date, 70% of all students have attained the status of a Patient Health Care Provider or its equivalent. At the same time, 95.7% of high school students have successfully completed HSPA requirements with math scores rising from 72.1% Proficient in 2003 to 76.1% Proficient in 2004.

Classroom teachers, involved with the program, believe there is a correlation between higher levels of math offered through the Nursing Apprentice Program and student performance. Teachers also state that their lesson planning has been greatly impacted by their own opportunities to participate in shadowing opportunities and collaborate with health professionals. They are much more aware of creating applied lessons that enable students to see the connection between the classroom experience and the real world.

The partners have also benefited from the Nursing Apprenticeship Program in terms of human resources. New Jersey has been experiencing a severe shortage of nurses and the program has enabled each organization to groom students to fit seamlessly into nursing openings.

Area 5: Stability:

The Nursing Apprentice Program is extremely stable and has been operating successfully for three years. The program coordinator is Elizabeth A. Van Wynen, EdD, RN, CNA, BC. Dr. Van Wynen has been with the program since its inception. She is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the on-site clinical educational activities and the EHMC Junior Volunteer Program.

Meanwhile, the program boasts extremely prestigious and committed partners that are highly recognized in our own state and across the nation. UMDNJ is the nation's largest health sciences university and New Jersey's statewide system of health sciences education, biomedical research and HealthCare. With five campuses and a network of more than 200 affiliated healthcare and educational partners spanning the state, they touch the lives of almost every New Jersey resident every day.

Meanwhile, EHMC is a regional leader in patient care and educational services. Hospitals like EHMC are willing partners as they look to address the critical shortage of health professionals and believe that NAP is a strong recruitment tool that identifies and supports high school students who may have an interest in the health professions.

Students will continue to be recruited into the program through informational programs provided by guidance professionals and partners for both students and their parents beginning in 8th grade. Orientation and training are built into the program at each step along the career pathway. Meanwhile, major stakeholders will continue to meet on a quarterly basis through the advisory committee to continue to assess the progress of the program, revise the curriculum as needed and to continue to respond to the needs of the students, teachers and partners.

Area 6: Endorsements:

The unique nature of this Nursing Apprenticeship Program has enabled me to be involved in lives of the high school students as they begin their explorations of choosing a career - one that hopefully includes nursing!

Dr. Elizabeth A. Van Wynen, EHMC

As a partner with BHS, I have never seen such enthusiasm and cooperation. In fact this relationship has been seen as a model by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and is in part a reason why we were able to be funded for our grant on recruitment and retention. It has been a win-win for the medical center and the BHS. Along with a mechanism for recruitment, it is also a means to impart health care education to the student and their families.

Edna Cadmus PhD, RN, CNAA; Senior Vice President Patient Care Services,
Englewood Hospital and Medical Center

The Nursing Apprenticeship Program has enabled the Bergenfield School District to pilot an innovative program that is just a first step toward engaging community based agencies and businesses in partnership with schools to improve the way that high school students are prepared for work and further education.

Dr. Michael Kuchar, Superintendent, Ed.D.