Morning classes are ending at UPMC Jameson at Hamot School of Nursing in Erie.

It’s the first day of the summer semester. Students are excited about what they’ll be doing.

“I think that the hands-on experience is really helping us grow and prosper,” said student Sami Jo Turowski. 

It’s in the old Wayne Middle School in Erie. It started a few years ago.

“They get a little mix of everything. That way, by the time that they graduate, they should [have] a pretty good idea of where they want to go,” said Dr. Tamila Salisbury, an advanced educator in the program.

This is their first summer semester. They have about 50 students.

“It’s a much smaller cohort,” Dr. Salisbury said. “Usually in the fall, we aim for about 125 students.”

One of the goals of the program is to get more nurses in Erie.

“I know our nursing [shortage] has declined due to use having all the schools in Erie, Pa. But there are still shortages,” she said. 

A new survey from Cross Country Healthcare said nurse burnout is still a big problem in the field.

This program teaches students how to manage their mental health.

“It’s going to be a lot of the experience and teaching them coping strategies [and] stress relief,” Salisbury said. 

Students told me they’re not worried about getting into nursing, despite its struggles.

“Our population, in particular in Pennsylvania, is not getting any younger,” said student La’Shay Jones. “This is a time [when] we are needed. This is not something that you’re just going to give up on.” 

“It makes my heart feel good when I help people. And it makes me feel good. And I just know that it’s like, my place to be,” said Carissa Rodriguez, a student in the program.

They’re looking forward to a semester of growth just like Dr. Salisbury. 

“Just seeing them as new graduates and getting to work with them on the floor is amazing,” she said.

The deadline to apply for the fall semester at UPMC’s nursing school is June 1. Classes will start on Sept. 2.