Nursing Pipeline Program for High School Students in Career Technical Education: A Feasibility Pilot Study

Background: Enrollment challenges in pre-licensure nursing programs represent a new threat to the ongoing shortage of registered nurses in the United States. One way to avert declining enrollments is through proactive engagement with students in kindergarten through 12th-grade education to promote nursing as a viable career choice. Objective: Our pilot study evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a nursing pipeline summer program targeting high school students in career technical education (CTE), a federally funded program focused on preparing high school students for a variety of careers through structured curriculum planning and experiences. Methods: This pilot feasibility study involved 11th- and 12th-grade high school students. We administered electronic surveys to collect data on program acceptability from students. Results: Over the 12 months from August 2023 to August 2024, we recruited 31 high school students into the blended-learning summer pipeline program. Twenty-seven students completed all program components and obtained 5 industry-recognized certifications. Those who responded to the program evaluation surveys ( n = 16) rated their program experience favorably. For example, 93.8% reported that they truly enjoyed attending the course, and 87.5% would recommend this course to other students. Conclusions: We contribute to the nursing pipeline programs’ research by highlighting the role of CTE as a potentially valuable, yet underutilized partner in creating a sustainable conduit of youth into nursing. To expand the pipeline of students into nursing, nursing programs should consider partnerships with high schools offering CTE.