Pathways to Providence: Sacred Heart Nurse Camp

At Providence, we are steadfast in our ministry to serve all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable by fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. The Pathways to Providence Sacred Heart Nurse Camp at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children’s Hospital was created to inspire high school students from varied backgrounds to consider serving our community through a rewarding career in health care.

The 2025 Pathways to Providence: Sacred Heart Nurse Camp will be held July 7 – 11.

Clinical Observation & Interactive Skills Lab

Over the course of this immersive five-day camp, students will gain a deeper understanding in various nursing specialties through clinical observation sessions. Students will have the option to choose between adult or pediatric focus. In these sessions, they will have the chance to shadow our dedicated nurses, observing the nuances of patient care and interactions with both patients and families. (Please note, students will not be involved in providing direct patient care.) Students will be paired with a nurse for two and half hours on the unit each day to experience nursing workflow, disease processes, innovation and technology in the following areas of the hospital:

We serve neonates from all over the region. Babies are often transported in from all over Eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana. We are currently delivering neonates as early as 22 weeks gestation. Our neonatologists are here 24 hours a day along with a nurse practitioner. We have a team of dedicated pediatric specialists to include surgery, neurology, cardiology, gastrointestinal, nephrology, genetics and palliative care. We provide care for infants born as young as 22 weeks to infants that require sophisticated types of respiratory support, including ventilation, inhaled oxide and extracorporeal mechanical oxygenation or ECMO. Additionally, we are a Cardiac Center and provide care and surgical intervention for infants born with congenital heart disease.

No day is typical. You could have multiple deliveries (admits) and discharges during your 12-hour shift. Our census is always evolving. We keep busy taking care of and educating our new moms and the care of their expanded family, as well as meet the unique needs of those moms who for whatever reason, may be separated from their babies. Their newborn could require special interventions in our NICU, which is often unexpected and stressful. Our patients usually go home in 24–48 hours. There is a lot to accomplish with our moms and babies in that amount of time. Every hour we are moving towards that goal of discharge to home. All our newborns needing regular newborn care stay in their rooms with their mothers. This allows for bonding, breastfeeding and time to learn all about their newborn needs.

We provide sick children with the highest level of medical and surgical care. Care is provided by a team of registered nurses, respiratory therapists, pediatric hospitalists and clinical pharmacists, all with specialized training in the care of children. Support staff are specially trained in pediatrics and includes case management, chaplaincy, child life specialists, dietitians, as well as occupational, speech and physical therapists.

  • This is a fast-paced 29-bed unit which specializes in cardiac as well as sepsis patients. We serve:
    • Septic patients
    • Cardiac arrhythmia patients
    • Heart attack rule-out patients
    • Post-heart-catheterization patients
    • Post-surgical patients
    • Patients suffering from substance-use disorder
    • Medical overflow and ICU step-down patients

The Ortho/Trauma/ENT/Plastics unit is a 70 bed/50 room unit that covers a very vulnerable population of patients. Our nurses are integral members of a collaborative interdisciplinary team. Sacred Heart is the only Level Two Trauma Designated Hospital in the area, and we serve a diverse patient population with motor vehicle accidents, gunshot victims, stabbings, falls resulting in trauma.

Medical Oncology is a high-paced and dynamic unit, making it a great place to continue to learn and grow, even for the most experienced of nurses. Our staff is committed to creating an environment where the mission and values of Providence are demonstrated in our practice and actions every day. We care for patients receiving chemotherapy, biotherapy, cancer workups, palliative care and end of life care. Additionally, we have medical overflow on occasion and long-term patients.

Additionally, students will participate in interactive, hands-on skills labs where they can learn and practice various nursing techniques on models in our state-of-the-art Dr. James W. Mounsey Clinical Simulation Lab. They will also engage with an educational panel, providing them the chance to ask questions and explore nursing as a viable career option. Students will be trained in self-defense for workplace violence prevention, safe patient handling strategies and emergency response, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Requirements

The Pathways to Providence: Sacred Heart Nurse Camp requires students to be entering into their junior or senior year for Fall 2025 and be 16 years of age at the time of camp start date. Students will need to submit an application as well as two letters of reference. A committee will select candidates to move forward to an interview.

  • Students must be enrolled in high school
  • Age 16 at the time of the camp start
  • Two recommendations
  • Be able to attend all five days of camp, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Health screen and vaccinations

In supporting and creating healthier caregiver communities and to promote our vision of Health for a Better World, our student/agency/vendor/contractor partners must have the following health requirements assessed before starting their regular work assignment /rotation/shadow/visitation in any Providence St. Joseph Health facility or affiliate building where patients are treated, or caregivers perform work.

  • Annual Health Screen: Indicate free of infectious disease, able to work with or without accommodation (specify any accommodations needed) and signed by MD, DO, NP or PA.
  • Tuberculosis Testing: Tuberculosis testing; IGRA or Q-Gold blood test or two-step tuberculin skin test current within the last 12 months, and annual as per ministry requirements. If history of positive, please provide copies of chest x-ray results after positive TB test and medical clearance note from your provider.
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Documentation of 2 MMR’s at least four weeks apart after the age of one and/or positive laboratory titer or signed declination.
  • Varicella (Chicken Pox): Documentation of 2 doses of varicella at least four weeks apart and/or positive laboratory titer or signed declination.
  • Hepatitis B: Documentation of Hepatitis B vaccinations (series of 3 Engerix or Recombivax or 2 Heplisav) and positive laboratory titer or signed declination where required.
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis: Documentation of vaccination/booster or signed declination.
  • Annual influenza vaccine: Documentation of vaccination or signed declination, including reason for declining.
  • COVID vaccination: Documentation of updated (most current) COVID-19 vaccine or a written declination for medical or religious purposes preferred.
  • Respirator Training: Respiratory Protection (PAPR or N95 Fit Mask Testing), if required by setting or functions performed.

Background check

We follow a very thorough process to ensure a safe and healthy environment for you, our caregivers, and the patients and families we serve. If you accept an offered position(s), onboarding will include*: completing an orientation, passing state and national criminal background checks, completing a health screening checklist, and completing role-specific training. Depending on your role, additional pre-requisites may be required. Please note that since we are holding a spot just for you, we reserve the right to discontinue onboarding if assignments are not complete in a timely manner.

Application Information

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The ideal candidate:

  • Demonstrates the level of maturity to care for patients.
  • Committed to confidentially to ensure the privacy rights of patients.
  • Interested in a career in nursing or another health care related field.

Key Dates:

  • Application opens January 30, 2025
  • Application closes: April 4, 2025
  • Candidate interviews: Late April and early May
  • Camp dates: July 7 – 11, 2025
  • Graduation celebration will be July 11, 2025