Dozens of local high school students explored what the nursing profession is all about at the Summer Institute for Nursing Exploration at Mount Saint Mary College in July 2025.
Dozens of local high school students attended Mount Saint Mary College’s Summer Institute for Nursing Exploration, a free series of workshops that provided an immersive, hands-on dive into the profession.
The events were hosted by the Mount’s Desmond Center for Community Engagement and Wellness, which provides free and accessible educational, health, and wellness services to community members and families.
Taking place with two separate cohorts in July, the weeklong workshops offered valuable insights from seasoned professionals and opportunities to connect with current nursing students.
During the program, students gained practical skills through interactive workshops and simulations in the college’s state-of-the-art facilities. They learned important skills such as wound care and vitals monitoring, and engaged in high-fidelity simulations. They also explored various nursing specialties, including pediatrics, emergency care, and oncology, while hearing from professionals in the nursing career path.
The students attended two panel discussions, one featuring current and recently graduated nursing students, and another featuring Mount alumni working in the field. The groups shared their experiences, pulling the curtain back on many aspects of nursing school and the profession.
“The number one thing that I noticed is that I didn’t know how to study effectively,” said Patricia Sanchez of New Windsor, N.Y., a rising Mount senior and member of the Mount’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), during one of the current nursing student panel talks. “Learning what works for you, and sticking to that, is really important.”
Another panelist, Michelle Tingson-Pregno of Highland, N.Y., also a rising senior, highlighted the critical role of time management.
“The most challenging part, I definitely would say, is time management,” she explained. “And that goes for everything,” from classes and homework to jobs and internships.
In addition to her suggestion of using a planner to help keep oneself focused, Tingson-Pregno also advised the young students to prioritize self-care. For a nurse to take care of a patient effectively, he or she must be at their best, she said: “You have to definitely prioritize taking care of yourself. It’s really important.”
Rising senior Myasia Williams of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., a Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) student, was the third panelist. Like Tingson-Pregno, she highlighted the importance of self-care and avoiding burnout.
“You need to learn how to prioritize your tasks, but also your own mental health and well-being,” Williams explained. “If you can’t take care of yourself, how do you expect yourself to take care of your patients in the future? You have to prioritize yourself,” she noted.
She added, “Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of burnout and it’s unfortunate. It’s very avoidable, and you just have to focus on yourself sometimes when time allows.”
Beyond skill-building and learning from current nursing students, the Summer Institute for Nursing Exploration emphasized teamwork, stress management, and wellness, with students participating in team-building exercises and learning strategies for maintaining well-being throughout their nursing journey. Participants also had the opportunity to earn up to three certifications: Stop the Bleed, how to use Naloxone, and CPR/First Aid.