High school students from across the Northeast explored the nursing profession through hands-on simulation, clinical experiences, and skill-building activities during the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing's 2026 Early Introduction to the Nursing Profession (EINP) Summer Program.
UConn Nursing Summer EINP students
For the first time, the University of Connecticut Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing's Early Introduction to the Nursing Profession (EINP) Summer Program was included as part of UConn's Pre-College Summer programming, expanding opportunities for high school students to explore nursing through hands-on learning, simulation activities, and real-world healthcare experiences.
The EINP program began four years ago and continues to evolve providing students with an early introduction to the nursing profession through immersive educational experiences. The program is designed to help students better understand the role of nurses, develop foundational skills, and explore nursing as a potential career pathway.
The 2026 program offered students experiences at both the Storrs and Hartford campuses. At Storrs, students participated in a residential program, living in campus residence halls, dining in UConn's facilities, and engaging in social and extracurricular activities alongside other pre-College participants. During the second week, UConn Pre-College piloted three courses at the Hartford Campus, including EINP, providing students with a commuter-based experience.
Throughout the program, students gained insight into the life of a nursing student and the nursing profession while developing skills that reflect the experiences of undergraduate nursing students. Participants explored wellness, self-care, and nutrition, completed a group health literacy project, took part in a Virtual Dementia Tour, earned CPR certification, and participated in a variety of simulation activities. Through hands-on practice, students learned skills including infant diapering and swaddling, proper hand hygiene, taking blood pressure readings, assessing pulses, and listening to lung sounds. The program concluded with a collaborative simulation-based escape room activity that challenged students to apply their knowledge, communication skills, and teamwork.
Students also gained firsthand exposure to healthcare environments through field trips to hospitals and clinical learning spaces. Storrs students visited Hartford Hospital, where they shadowed nurses on hospital units, toured the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation (CESI) lab, and learned about Life Star emergency transport services. Hartford students visited UConn Health, where they shadowed nurses, participated in simulation lab activities, and explored the research library.
The program was led by Dr. MaryAnn Perez-Brescia, Ph.D., RN, with support from Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing faculty and staff. Amanda Moreau, MSN, RN, guided students through simulation activities, Dr. Christine DiLeone, Ph.D., RN, CNE facilitated the Virtual Dementia Tour, and Leslie LaPointe, MSN, APRN, CPNP, CHSE, taught wellness and self-care sessions during the first week of the program. The program's success also reflects the ongoing efforts of Aime Liggett, program assistant for the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing, who coordinates and helps organize the annual EINP Summer Program, ensuring a seamless experience for students, faculty, and staff.
"The EINP Summer Program provides students with a unique opportunity to experience nursing beyond the classroom," said Dr. MaryAnn Perez-Brescia, Assistant Clinical Professor at the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing. "It is incredibly rewarding to see their confidence grow as they explore their potential as future nurses."
The 2026 EINP Summer Program welcomed 37 students from across the region. The Storrs program
included 19 students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maine, and Illinois. The Hartford program included 18 students. Students ranged from rising sophomores to rising seniors in high school, bringing together a diverse group of aspiring healthcare professionals interested in learning more about the nursing profession.
Through experiential learning, simulation-based education, and exposure to clinical practice, the EINP Summer Program introduced students to the knowledge, skills, and compassion required in nursing. As the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing continues to expand pathways for future nurses, programs like EINP provide students with meaningful opportunities to envision themselves as the next generation of healthcare leaders.
