title: Strengthening the foundation for the future of nursing through a Summer Study Hall program at an academic medical center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article was to describe the development and implementation of an innovative Summer Study Hall program developed by clinical nurse specialists (CNSs)/clinical nurse educators (CNEs) in an urban academic medical center.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The program was implemented as a strategy to give nursing students the opportunity to enhance their clinical skills. The chosen skills are considered high risk for hospitals and have major impact on the American Nurses Association National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators, such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and catheter-acquired urinary tract infections. The secondary purpose of the program is to provide a venue to be able to work with potential employees and determine if they have the potential to be promising employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 20 students voluntarily met with a CNS/CNE weekly for 4 weeks in a simulation laboratory to review and demonstrate skills such as Foley catheter insertion and suctioning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The program was very well received by participants as well as by the CNS/CNE faculty. The program will continue annually, and some modifications have been made to include nonclinical topics such as professional development skills (eg, interviewing skills and résumé preparation).
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: Director, Nursing Research, Advanced Practice and Education (Ms Zavotsky), Nursing Education Specialist (Ms Rolston), and Administrative Director, Human Resources (Ms Jacobs), Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Kathleen Evanovich
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Zavotsky
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rolston
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D009515:New Jersey; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009729:Nursing / Q000639:trends; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D016730:Program Development; D013338:Students, Nursing