Introduction to Nursing as a Career and Profession
Gain hands-on nursing experience before choosing if nursing is the right path for you, through Adelphi鈥檚 summer nursing program for high school students.
This course has filled to capacity. New applicants will be placed on a waitlist. We encourage students interested in this course to explore the Careers in Healthcare Academy.
About the Course
Step into the life of a Registered Professional Nurse in this hands-on summer program. You鈥檒l learn about the critical role nurses play in patient care, communication, and ethical decision-making, while gaining practical experience in a clinical and simulated healthcare environment.
Through interactive simulations, clinical site visits, and engaging discussions, you鈥檒l explore professional values, patient relationships, and the reasoning skills that shape safe and effective nursing practice.
Students interested in nursing and healthcare will gain foundational skills and certifications that prepare them for future study and careers in nursing, public health, and allied health professions.
Course Details
- Credits: 3
- Location: 天美传媒, Garden City, NY campus
- Dates: July 12鈥揂ugust 1, 2026
- Schedule: Monday鈥揟hursday, 10:00am鈥�2:00pm
- Clinical Site Visits: Fridays, July 17 and July 24, 9:00am鈥�1:00pm
Nursing students practice patient care skills in 天美传媒鈥檚 Clinical Education and Simulation Lab during the summer pre-college program.
What You鈥檒l Learn
By the end of the course, you will:
- Participate in educational simulation experiences in 天美传媒鈥檚 Clinical Education and Simulation Lab, the only lab of its kind on Long Island accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
- Explore different areas of clinical expertise, including nutrition, medical-surgical, older adult, obstetrics, pediatrics, and public health
- Earn CPR certification from the American Heart Association
- Become 鈥淪top the Bleed鈥� certified
- Gain practical experience through clinical site visits at local Long Island hospitals
Inside CESiL
Located in the Nexus Building, our 22-bed sim lab with ER, delivery and pediatric rooms allow students to train in real-world medical scenarios with no risk to patients. Launch Gallery
Inside CESiL
Located in the Nexus Building, our 22-bed sim lab with ER, delivery and pediatric rooms allow students to train in real-world medical scenarios with no risk to patients. 7 Photos-
During a high-fidelity simulation, a faculty member provides remote support to nursing students to guide them through a variety of clinical scenarios.
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Telepresence robots like this one are used for remote monitoring in CESiL鈥檚 home-care suite as well as in the growing home healthcare field. They enhance both nursing and healthcare informatics students鈥� educational experience.
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For College of Nursing and Public Health nursing students, learning in the various CESiL simulated settings and situations is like training in a real hospital. That experience was especially invaluable in the midst of the pandemic, nursing students said.
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By practicing their clinical skills in a realistic hospital setting and learning how to safely and accurately administer medications, nursing students become well prepared for their first RN jobs.
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Here, a cohort of students addresses an emergency code situation with a high-fidelity manikin and gains experience in electronic medical record processes. Various manikins, supportive supplies and state-of-the-art equipment enable faculty and students to translate theory into practice.
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Faculty use this pediatric manikin to train their students in everything from routine to emergency experiences. When used with an obesity suit, the manikin enables nurses to learn about the treatment of child obesity, a growing problem in the 6-to-9 age bracket.
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Victoria, a high-fidelity maternal simulator manikin, arrived at CESiL with two baby manikins in March 2019鈥攁ble to simulate a complete range of situations that nurses may face in the delivery room, from typical neonatal care to obstetric emergencies.
Meet Your Professor
Theresa Drucker, PhD, RN, is an experienced registered nurse with a strong foundation in critical care nursing. She spent several years delivering expert care in critical care settings at Saint Francis Hospital before transitioning her passion for teaching and advanced practice into academia. Theresa鈥檚 scholarly focus centers on the integration of telehealth in critical care, also known as the teleICU, where remote support enhances bedside care and patient outcomes. Through her work, Theresa strives to bridge clinical practice, technology, and nursing education to prepare the next generation of nurses for the future of healthcare.
Professor Debra Norberg, RN, MSN, brings 25 years of wide-ranging clinical experience to the Summer Pre-College Program, grounded in a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and a career spanning medical-surgical nursing, orthopedics, home care, psychiatry, and medical detox. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at 天美传媒 and Assistant Director of Nursing at Northwell Health, roles that blend academic instruction with high-level clinical leadership. A seasoned practitioner and educator, Professor Norberg is committed to patient-centered, evidence-based care and to mentoring the next generation of nurses through real-world insights, practical skill development, and a strong ethical foundation.
