CHILLICOTHE, OH – High school students from Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, and Vinton Counties gathered at Ohio University Chillicothe (OHIO Chillicothe) on Monday, June 16, 2025, for the Bobcat Nursing Camp, offering an interactive glimpse into nursing and healthcare careers, as reported at 3:45 PM EDT on Friday, June 20, 2025. The one-day event, designed to inspire future professionals, attracted eager participants seeking hands-on experience.
Led by OHIO Chillicothe nursing faculty and students, the camp featured demonstrations and activities covering vital skills such as taking vital signs, hand hygiene, physical assessments with stethoscopes, wound care, sterile gloving, suture removal, neonatal care, and proper use of personal protective equipment. Students practiced on mannequins in simulation suites and skills labs, gaining practical insights into the medical field.
Dejah Thomas, a junior at Huntington Local High School, shared her enthusiasm: “Today was really fun. It definitely gave me a better outlook of what I want to go into and broadened my horizons.” The camp also benefited nursing students like Avery Glitt, a second-year Associate of Applied Science in Nursing student, who noted, “While helping with activities like auscultating lung and heart sounds, I connected what we’re learning in medical surgery class to clinical settings, understanding why baselines are crucial for patients.”
The day wrapped up with a Q&A session, where current nursing students offered advice, and instructors shared tips for succeeding in nursing school. Lindsey Shotts, associate director of the School of Nursing at OHIO Chillicothe, highlighted the event’s impact: “Bobcat Nursing Camp is a wonderful opportunity to explore healthcare, gain hands-on experience, and discover the passion driving nursing.”
Funded by Ohio University’s Regional Higher Education Workforce Success Initiative, which aims to boost workforce development and local economies, the camp underscored its commitment to empowering future nurses.
