Nurture Your Child’s Caregiving Instincts

I’m so blessed. I got called to my nursing career from a very young age.

I now spend my days teaching the future generation of nurses at AdventHealth University Tampa, but you don’t have to be dean of nursing to spot when a child has a knack for caring or an interest in science and medicine.

It’s never too early to nurture those fascinations.

If you’ve got a preteen or teen who likes cooking or baking, playing with LEGOs, gardening, or operating appliances at home, or watching gross biology videos on TikTok, here are some tips on keeping that spark ignited:

🗸 Encourage them to look into HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) in middle school or high school. HOSA helps them visualize being a future health professional. Also, share your child’s interest with his or her guidance counselor, who can help them choose electives and find student clubs that align with their passions.

🗸 Grab an annual pass to a museum or science center, such as MOSI, Glazer Children’s Museum, Florida Aquarium, Florida Air Museum, Clearwater Marine Aquarium or to animal-friendly entertainment centers, such as Busch Gardens or ZooTampa. All these places champion the concepts of discovery, biology, caring for one another, teamwork, and community.

🗸 When they are old enough, allow them to job shadow someone in health care or to participate in Take Your Child to Work Day.

🗸 Read or give them books about health care heroes, such as “Who Was Clara Barton” or “Cherry Ames, Student Nurse.” YouTube shows such as “Operation Ouch!” or “Brain Games” can make science fun.

🗸 Play games that encourage critical thinking, such as Rush Hour, Mancala, and Mastermind.

🗸 Help your teen find summer volunteering opportunities at hospitals, nursing homes, food banks, veterinarians or animal shelters – great place to learn compassion and empathy.

🗸 Have down-to-earth discussions and let them ask questions. Talk about the joys and challenges of caring for others.

Your bug-loving fifth-grader may just be a future nurse who will make a difference in the lives of countless patients and families.

About the Author
Dr. Elizabeth Arroyo serves as Assistant Dean of Nursing for AdventHealth University Tampa. Dr. Arroyo earned her Doctorate in Adult Education and her Master’s in Nursing Education from Capella University and her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing Science from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. She began her nursing career in a local hospital's step-down Intensive Care Unit, where she developed a deep passion for patient care. Dr. Arroyo soon became a preceptor in her unit, discovering her love for both nursing and education.

*Presented by AdventHealth University Tampa