Overview
In partnership with NBCC, this activity helps middle school students learn what a Registered Nurse (RN) is, where they work, and their role in our community. It also explains how someone can become an RN. Students will build critical thinking and decision-making skills by exploring real-life situations nurses face and deciding what actions they might take.
NB Curricular Connections
Subject: Personal Wellness 6-8
- Strand: Career Connected Learning – Big Idea: Thinking about potential career pathways – Skill Descriptor: Critically investigate and describe the labour market and preferred career pathways.
- Strand: Wellness Big Idea: Healthy Lifestyle Skill Descriptor: Examine their personal health habits and their impact on the seven domains of wellness, self and community.
Subject: English Language Arts 6-8
- Strand: Interactions – Big Idea: Expression – Skill Descriptor: Describe and contribute thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and compare to those of their peers.
- Strand: Career Connected Learning – Big Idea: Thinking about potential career pathways – Skill Descriptor: Describe and contribute thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and compare to those of their peers.
What You’ll Need
- 5 posters of Nursing Scenarios (one per station) – Provided as PDF
- Student recording sheets – Provided as Word document
- “What is a Registered Nurse” Mini lesson – Provided as a PDF
- Guided notes for Mini Lesson – Provided as a Word document
- How to become a Nurse with NBCC | Centre of Excellence for Health
Instructions
Step 1: Minds on (Activation – 15 minutes)
Hook
- Ask students: “What skills do you think nurses need besides medical knowledge?”
- Create a class brainstorm (digital board or chart paper).
Step 2: Mini-Lesson
Teacher introduces:
- What is a Registered Nurse
- Where do Registered Nurses work and what is their role in our community
- What are the pathways to becoming a Registered Nurse in New Brunswick
Students complete guided notes (Word Document Attached)
- What is one key responsibility of a nurse in providing patient care?
- What is one important skill a nurse needs to do their job well?
- What is one type of education a nurse needs to become a Registered Nurse?
Step 3: Action – Scenario Rotation Stations (30-40 minutes)
- Students rotate through 5 Nurse Scenario Stations set up around the classroom (PDFs attached with Scenarios)
- School Nurse – The Dizzy Student
- Long-Term Care Nurse – Fall Incident
- Emergency Room Nurse – Sports Injury
- Community Health Nurse – Flu Prevention
- Pediatric Nurse – Scared Child
At Each Station:
Students:
- Read or listen (one student in each group could read out-loud) to the scenario
- Identify the problem
- Decide what the nurse should do
- Select appropriate supplies
- Record reasoning
Extension Activity – Literacy Connection
Narrative Writing: “My Shift as a Nurse”
Students write a first-person narrative describing a shift as a nurse.
Must include:
- Clear beginning, middle, and end
- A challenge or problem
- Decision-making steps
- At least 5 key vocabulary terms
UDL Options:
- Traditional written story
- Comic strip
- Podcast recording
- Video journal entry
- Digital storybook
This extension strengthens:
- Descriptive writing
- Organization of ideas
- Perspective-taking
- Expression of thoughts and experiences
- Use of content vocabulary
UDL – Action & Expression-*See Attached UDL Activity*
Students may:
- Write responses
- Use bullet points
- Draw diagrams
- Record oral responses
- Role-play and explain thinking
Step 4: Reflection (15 minutes)
Partner or small-group discussion:
- Which scenario needed the most problem-solving?
- What non-medical skills do nurses use?
- How do nurses show leadership in their community?
- Where could you see yourself working as a nurse?
Students complete a short reflection (choice format):
Option A: Paragraph
Option B: Mind map
Option C: Interview-style Q&A
Literacy Supports Included
- Bolded key vocabulary
- Sentence stems:
- “The nurse’s first priority is…”
- “The nurse should ask…”
- “This tool is needed because…”
- Option to create a quick flow chart instead of paragraph
Additional extension ideas (optional)
- Create your own nursing office (mindful of all the different things nurses may run into or need in a shift)
- Have students design their own nurse scenario
- Invite a local RN as a guest speaker
Reflection Activity
Please see the attached PDF for several choices on how you and your learners can reflect upon today’s activity.
Global Competencies
