Other Titles
Youth Pathways into Healthcare: Hands-On Workshops as a Catalyst for Empowerment [Title Slide]
Abstract
Background: There is a disparity in the representation of individuals from marginalized and racialized backgrounds across healthcare professions (Keisha et. al, 2022). These disparities reflect ongoing barriers to access and a lack of relatable representation. Engaging workshops in healthcare professions have the ability to foster identification and inspiration for marginalized youths (Kendrick et. al, 2020).
Objective: To address these gaps, the CBNA-YorkU, a student-led organization, developed a summer workshop for marginalized youth to introduce nursing as an achievable career, promote a sense of possibility, and spark interest in post-secondary education.
Description: Building on the success of the 2024 inaugural workshop, the 2025 summer high school workshops expanded into a series in partnership with York University and three major Toronto hospitals. Approximately 120 students participated across four workshops, each offering a unique perspective on nursing and healthcare careers. The flagship York University workshop provided a one-day experience rooted in foundational nursing skills. All station content and curriculum were developed and led by current BScN students with minimal faculty support. Accessibility was a major priority, and funding supported items that students identified in previous surveys as essential for engagement. The one-day format across all workshops was designed to accommodate students’ summer schedules and increase inclusivity.
Results: Across the workshops, post-workshop surveys assessed student experiences. Findings showed a significant increase in interest in healthcare careers. Before the workshop, only 31.4% of surveyed students rated their interest in nursing or healthcare professions at the highest level (score 5), compared to 88% after participation. Additionally, 95.5% reported having a better understanding of nursing as a career. Experience ratings were highly positive, with 86.4% rating their experience as “Excellent” or “Very Good.” Furthermore, 98% of nursing students who co-created and led the stations rated their experience as “excellent” and impactful to their future careers.
Impact: Survey feedback revealed increased enthusiasm among participants to pursue healthcare careers, with many highlighting the interactive, hands-on approach as highly engaging. The initiative also established groundwork for continued mentorship and expansion, including new partnerships with youth, the community, and hospitals in Toronto.
Notes
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References:
Danner, O. K., Lokko, C., Mobley, F., Dansby, M., Maze, M., Bradley, B., Williams, E., Matthews, L. R., Harrington, E., Mack, L., Clark, C., Wilson, K., Beech, D., Heron, S., & Childs, E. (2017). Hospital-based, Multidisciplinary, youth mentoring and medical exposure program positively influences and reinforces health care career choice: "The Reach One Each One Program early Experience". American journal of surgery, 213(4), 611–616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.12.002
Ehiagwina, E. J. (2025, July 25). Empowering youths for Healthcare Careers: Bridging Diversity Gaps through hands-on nursing workshops. Home Page. https://doi.org/10.7939/82465
Jefferies, K., States, C., MacLennan, V., Helwig, M., Gahagan, J., Bernard, W. T., Macdonald, M., Murphy, G. T., & Martin-Misener, R. (2022). Black nurses in the nursing profession in Canada: a scoping review. International journal for equity in health, 21(1), 102. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-022-01673-w
Kendrick, K., Withey, S., Batson, A., Wright, S. M., & O'Rourke, P. (2020). Predictors of Satisfying and Impactful Clinical Shadowing Experiences for Underrepresented Minority High School Students Interested in Healthcare Careers. Journal of the National Medical Association, 112(4), 381–386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnma.2020.04.007
Norris, T. L., Wicks, M. N., Cowan, P. A., & Davison, E. S. (2016). A Summer Prematriculation Program: Bridging the Gap for Disadvantaged Underrepresented Minority Students Interested in a Nursing Career. The Journal of nursing education, 55(8), 471–475. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20160715-10
Sigma Membership
Lambda Pi at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
DEI/BIPOC, Simulation, Teaching and Learning Strategies, Marginalized Youth
Recommended Citation
Ehiagwina, James, "Marginalized Youths Pathways into Healthcare: Hands-On Workshops as a Catalyst for Empowerment" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 93.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/93
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-29
Marginalized Youths Pathways into Healthcare: Hands-On Workshops as a Catalyst for Empowerment
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: There is a disparity in the representation of individuals from marginalized and racialized backgrounds across healthcare professions (Keisha et. al, 2022). These disparities reflect ongoing barriers to access and a lack of relatable representation. Engaging workshops in healthcare professions have the ability to foster identification and inspiration for marginalized youths (Kendrick et. al, 2020).
Objective: To address these gaps, the CBNA-YorkU, a student-led organization, developed a summer workshop for marginalized youth to introduce nursing as an achievable career, promote a sense of possibility, and spark interest in post-secondary education.
Description: Building on the success of the 2024 inaugural workshop, the 2025 summer high school workshops expanded into a series in partnership with York University and three major Toronto hospitals. Approximately 120 students participated across four workshops, each offering a unique perspective on nursing and healthcare careers. The flagship York University workshop provided a one-day experience rooted in foundational nursing skills. All station content and curriculum were developed and led by current BScN students with minimal faculty support. Accessibility was a major priority, and funding supported items that students identified in previous surveys as essential for engagement. The one-day format across all workshops was designed to accommodate students’ summer schedules and increase inclusivity.
Results: Across the workshops, post-workshop surveys assessed student experiences. Findings showed a significant increase in interest in healthcare careers. Before the workshop, only 31.4% of surveyed students rated their interest in nursing or healthcare professions at the highest level (score 5), compared to 88% after participation. Additionally, 95.5% reported having a better understanding of nursing as a career. Experience ratings were highly positive, with 86.4% rating their experience as “Excellent” or “Very Good.” Furthermore, 98% of nursing students who co-created and led the stations rated their experience as “excellent” and impactful to their future careers.
Impact: Survey feedback revealed increased enthusiasm among participants to pursue healthcare careers, with many highlighting the interactive, hands-on approach as highly engaging. The initiative also established groundwork for continued mentorship and expansion, including new partnerships with youth, the community, and hospitals in Toronto.
Description
Summer workshops created to introduce marginalized youths to nursing and healthcare careers through accessible, inclusive, and interactive experiences. This workshop series demonstrates how inclusive environments and relatable role models can inspire future nursing and healthcare leaders.