Nursing Adventure Day creates nurses for a day—and the future

The energy was immediate.

As students from John Hay High School arrived at Case Western Reserve University’s Health Education Campus with Cleveland Clinic, an enthusiastic group of nursing students from Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing welcomed them, answering early questions and setting the tone for the day ahead. 

The air of nervous curiosity quickly turned into excitement, as the high school students split into teams and began a scavenger hunt through the building. Laughter echoed as they explored classrooms, tracked down clues and got comfortable in a space that, for many, was entirely new.

It was the start of Nursing Adventure Day—an immersive, thoughtfully planned experience hosted by the Black Student Nurses Association (BSNA) that brought 20 Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) students to campus for hands-on learning, mentorship and connection.

For BSNA president and founder Lorenzo Lopes, a second-year nursing student, that energy was exactly what the extensive preparation for the program had been building toward.

“This event was literally months in the making,” Lopes said. “But that is exactly why I am so grateful to have had my amazing board by my side throughout this journey; every single member played a vital role in bringing this vision to life.”

That vision inspired Lopes to found BSNA during his first year at Case Western Reserve.

“I knew my very first goal was to create a nursing organization that was focused on community outreach,” Lopes said. “I wanted to create a space where we could come together and make a real impact—not only on CWRU, but on the broader Cleveland community.”

Me'Chelle Hayes, DNP (NUR ’25), undergraduate nursing advisor and assistant director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, agreed that commitment to outreach has always been central to the organization’s mission.

“When BSNA was started, this event was one of our goals,” Hayes said, “so being able to bring this group of students to campus was very exciting for us.”

A day of immersion

After the morning’s events, students gathered for lunch and a Q&A session with nursing students and faculty, where conversations flowed easily. Questions ranged from the practical—what classes are like, how clinicals work—to the personal, including what inspired current nursing students to pursue the field.

“The goal of the day was to show the high school students one of their options after they graduate,” Hayes said. “Sometimes people do not dream big because their goal feels too big or they have not seen anyone have the same achievements.”

The afternoon shifted into interactive breakout sessions, where students rotated through three stations designed to engage them in different aspects of nursing.

At the first station, they learned how to take vital signs such as blood pressure before pairing up and practicing on one another, recording their findings and gaining hands-on experience with essential clinical skills.

The second station focused on cardiovascular health, blending science with creativity. After learning about the importance of heart health, students measured their heart rates before and after activity—and even created TikToks to reinforce what they had learned, turning education into something both memorable and fun.

Finally, the day ended with what was possibly the most impactful stop: a mind-body connection and self-love station.

At a table covered in bright markers and sticky notes, students paused between laughter and quiet reflection, writing affirmations about themselves. A few read them aloud while others tucked them away. Nursing students offered encouragement, reminding them not just of what they had learned that day, but of what they were capable of in the future. It was a simple but powerful moment that underscored the deeper purpose of the event.

Learning through leading

BSNA members didn’t just assist throughout the day—they led, stepping into teaching and mentorship roles, guiding activities and building connections with the CMSD students.

“What interests me most about events like these is that they do so much more than just create a moment,” Lopes said. “They stimulate real community interaction. They not only teach me and my BSNA members what it truly means to be a leader, but what it means to genuinely connect with someone who shares the same goals and aspirations as you.”

That leadership component was just as impactful for the nursing students as the experience was for the visitors.

“Leadership is not always learned in a classroom,” Lopes said. “Sometimes it is learned by doing, by showing up and by being responsible for an experience that someone else will carry with them.”

Hayes agreed, pointing to the strength and collaboration of the BSNA executive board.

“I am always impressed by the initiative our students take and the things they are able to accomplish,” she said. “The executive board of BSNA works so amazingly together. Everyone leans into their strengths and they are all leaders in their own right.”

Looking ahead, the BSNA is already thinking bigger.

“Next year, we are planning some really big things that I am genuinely excited about,” Lopes said. “The goal is simple: more. More events, more high schools and more students. Ultimately, it is about building up the surrounding Cleveland community while also strengthening the Case Western Reserve community from within.”

As it hopefully will be for the students in future events, the impact was immediate for the CMSD students at Nursing Adventure Day. Many left energized, expressing interest in returning for future events and reflecting on what they had learned—not just about nursing, but also what their own futures could look like.

“For many of these students, simply being on a college campus can shift their perspective on what is possible for their future,” Lopes said. “We wanted them to leave feeling seen, valued and aware that higher education can be a place for them if they choose it.”

The day ended with one final surprise: goodie bags filled with small gifts and personalized letters. For Lopes, those reactions—smiles, gratitude and excitement—captured everything the event was meant to accomplish.