Nursing students at Cal State San Bernardino’s Palm Desert Campus (CSUSB) are stepping into leadership roles through a new Nursing Peer Mentoring Program designed to inspire and support local high school students interested in pursuing health care careers.

The mentorship and career guidance program is part of OneFuture Coachella Valley’s Regional Healthcare Initiative to increase access to health care locally. The program is funded by the Inland Empire Regional K-16 Education Collaborative.

Program highlights include:

Strengths-based mentorship. Each participating high school student completes the CliftonStrengths assessment to identify their unique talents which serve as a foundation for career planning and
leadership development.

Engaging mentoring sessions. Students take part in three structured mentoring sessions, one in-person and two via Zoom, within small cohorts of 5-10 students. Each cohort is led by a trained CSUSB nursing peer ambassador.

Expert guidance. Mentoring sessions are supervised by OneFuture Coachella Valley staff and CSUSB nursing faculty with health academy teachers welcome to join.

Mentor training. CSUSB nursing peer ambassadors undergo mentor training; their own strengths are assessed and they receive guidance on how to support mentees.

Resource accessibility. Participants have access to shared program materials and assessments via a digital platform.

Career readiness. By the end of the program, high school students will gain valuable insights into patient care, college readiness and career pathways in health care.

The program is already making an impact, with two mentoring sessions completed at Desert Mirage High School in Thermal and Cathedral City High School.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for both current nursing students and high school students interested in a career in nursing,” said Justin Schneider, assistant professor, CSUSB Department of Nursing. “Nursing is a demanding profession, and admission to nursing programs is highly competitive. Through this mentorship, nursing students are developing leadership skills, while high school students gain insight into what it takes to succeed in a nursing program.”

Schneider adds that it was inspiring to see their nursing students effectively leading discussions with high school students, engaging them and asking thoughtful questions. “I can’t wait for the day when one of our mentees steps into my classroom as a nursing student.”

In November, the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Department of Nursing and OneFuture Coachella Valley hosted a dinner and college night to further support aspiring health care professionals. The evening offered high school students and their families the opportunity to explore the CSUSB nursing program, tour state-of-the-art labs and engage with faculty and enrolled students.

Michael Singer is a communication specialist with CSUSB Palm Desert campus. For more information about CSUSB’s nursing programs, visit www.csusb.edu/nursing.