Nursing Fun Day at Garrett County Memorial Hospital (GCMH) in Oakland is a way for area Girl Scouts to be introduced to careers in nursing while pursuing their respective nursing badges.

For the second year, GCMH hosted Brownie, Junior, and Cadette Girl Scouts where 78 girls get to tour the hospital and take part in nursing activities.

“We want to provide the Girl Scouts of Garrett County with the chance to learn about the various career opportunities available in the field of nursing and hands-on experiences to promote interest,” explains Donna Crawford, RN, BSN, CPUM, director of utilization management at GCMH and one of the event coordinators.

To earn their badges, all Girl Scouts have to complete the following: learn about nursing history and pioneers including Florence Nightingale, the founder of nursing, and Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross; listen to their own heart and a partner’s lungs using a stethoscope; and interview at least three nurses about their job and why they like being a nurse.

Additionally, the girls visit a variety of stations where they are able to see x-rays and a skeleton, learn about wound care, and the fundamentals of infant care. They try on scrubs and uniforms at a dress-up area, and even try out laparoscopic surgical equipment.

In the spirit of Girl Scouts, the troops arrive with coloring books and boxes of crayons which they donate to the pediatric patients of GCMH as a token of their appreciation for the day of nursing fun.

“Nursing Fun Day also provides an opportunity for the girls and parents to tour the new Emergency and Outpatient Surgery departments, meet some of the friendly nurses that work at our facility, and have fun earning their badges,” Crawford said.

Garrett County Memorial Hospital plans to host the event again next year.

The Maryland Nurses Association also provides an opportunity for students to earn a Nursing Exploration Patch. Students earn the patch through activities that increase their knowledge of the variety of career opportunities available in the nursing profession and focus on exploring the need for nurses, the many roles of nurses, education requirements, resources available for those pursuing careers in nursing, as well as general health and wellness information.

Contact:
Kearstin N. Hinebaugh Kathryn Hall, RN, MS
Marketing and Development Specialist Executive Director
Garrett County Memorial Hospital Maryland Nurses Association
301-533-4041 410-944-5800
info@marylandrn.org