UA Little Rock School of Nursing, American Heart Association Host Second Sweethearts Event on Campus

The UA Little Rock School of Nursing collaborated with the American Heart Association (AHA) to put on an event for the AHA Sweetheart Program. 

The program invited high school students interested in the healthcare field to participate in a Jan. 23 event designed to help them learn more about career opportunities in healthcare.

“The Sweetheart program is a healthcare-oriented service and leadership opportunity that finalizes with the AHA Heart Ball,” said DeeDee Moline, assistant professor in the School of Nursing. 

The School of Nursing first participated in the AHA Sweetheart Program four years ago through St. Vincent. At the time, Moline was the heart attack program coordinator, seeking to bring community collaboration to the cardiology internship with AHA. So, she invited the UA Little Rock Nursing program to participate in the one-day cardiology internship. 

Since then, the relationship between AHA and the School of Nursing has grown. Students and faculty from the UA Little Rock Nursing program would go to St. Vincent to participate in the Sweetheart program, bringing a variety of healthcare simulation equipment for demonstration and hands-on learning purposes.

Then last year, a representative from AHA, Kathy Finley, asked if an additional event could be held at UA Little Rock. During the two-hour, fun-filled interactive experience, the high schoolers worked with virtual reality, manikins, and even put on geriatric simulation suits. This program gave the School of Nursing a chance to showcase the Center for Simulation Innovation, a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art simulation hospital on the first floor of the nursing building. 

This event, like much of what the School of Nursing strives to do, is focused on serving and educating the community. 

“Education is a very powerful tool,” said Joanna Hall, director of simulation for the UA Little Rock School of Nursing. “We want to give them the information they need to know.”

Hall says her experience working with AHA Sweethearts has been wonderful. Her background was cardiac when she was a nurse at St. Vincent, so it feels like a full circle moment getting to educate future healthcare providers about nursing. 

“With all of these collaborations, we are really trying to open the door for people to understand the opportunities that are available to them,” said Hall, who added that the UA Little Rock Nursing program is exceptional, and it has been great getting to inform future prospective students about the great resources available.