OHIO — University Hospitals launched a new program in an effort to inspire the next generation of nurses. This doubles as an effort to combat the nursing shortage.

The paid program, which spans two weeks, exposes high school participants to the world of nursing. It includes tours of local nursing schools, exposure to UH facilities and hands-on training. 

Alexa Borally, a 17-year-old Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School student, is participating in UH's Future Nurse Academy.

“I love the nursing field," said Borally. "I love care taking for people and it just seemed right up my alley.”

The brand new program "100%" confirmed Borally’s desire to work in nursing, she said.

Twenty-six students from nearly two dozen Cleveland-area schools were selected for the summer program. Students practiced drawing simulated blood, received CPR training and learned how to take vital signs.

“So fun because everyone has the same interests that I do, so I don’t know we just get to talk about everything and we’re all like super obsessed with all the topics we’re learning," Borally said. "It’s really fun.”

The program had more than 400 applicants. The industry could benefit from thaat high interest down the road, as the national nursing shortage is expected to continue and get worse.

According to a National Council of State Boards of Nursing study, about 100,000 RNs left the workforce during the past two years and more than 600,000 reported an intent to leave by 2027.

“More people need to understand that the nursing aspect includes so many things and you have so much potential to do different things in nursing whether you be an educator, or a bed-side nurse, or a nurse manager. Like there’s so much potential and I think that if people realized the endless possibilities in nursing we would have more," said Borally.

The program's graduation and pinning ceremony was Friday, June 30, at the Wolstein Research Center.

“This just kind of solidified my need to like care for people the rest of my life," said Borally.