Sickle Cell Nursing Boot Camp

The Sickle Cell Boot Camp to Promote Nursing Excellence Nationally and Globally Utilizing a Train the Trainer Model was most recently held Sept. 9-13, 2024 at the UT Health Science Center College of Nursing in Memphis. The program included all the information provided in the original 2022 Nursing Boot Camp. But it was expanded to include the Train the Trainer Model to empower nurses to become SCD nurse educators at their institutions. 

Implementation. The comprehensive curriculum for the Sickle Cell Boot Camp to Promote Nursing Excellence includes a patient panel, as well as a focus on theory and clinical skills. The curriculum integrates the cornerstones of nursing education, including evidence-based practice, skills, attitudes, and values. A lifespan approach explores age-based disease complications progressing from birth to adulthood. Current evidence, best practices, and critical analysis skills are also taught. 

Adapting a Train the Trainer Model. Train the trainer content that focuses on adult learning principles is incorporated throughout the five-day boot camp.

Development of Teaching Materials for Trainers. A condensed version of the Sickle Cell Boot Camp to Promote Nursing Excellence content is provided to graduates. Content  includes the essential components of the care of sickle cell patients along with theory and clinical skills. Content includes learning objectives for each section, review questions for the participants, and learning activities. The trainers also receive videos developed by the Sickle Cell Planning and Curriculum Committee to teach assessment skills and early recognition and treatment..

Support a Core Group of Trainers. Follow-up support to trainers is provided to strengthen the transfer of sickle cell theoretical content and clinical skills and support their teaching efforts. Follow-up support includes online meetings to talk about the trainer’s progress with teaching the content, answer questions, provide additional teaching materials if needed, and discuss any obstacles they have encountered with implementation. In addition, attendees are required to engage in follow-up activities for a minimum of 12 months upon completion of the boot camp. These activities may include periodic phone calls or Zoom meetings to discuss how participants have applied and shared the knowledge gained during the bootcamp.

Learn more about the course curriculum and agenda.

Application and Eligibility 

Who: This program is geared to nurses and nurse practitioners who provide care and develop nursing policy for patients with SCD, including bedside and clinic nurses, nurse managers and administrators, and nurses in academia with a focus on SCD. Applicants must be registered nurses actively involved with the SCD patient community. Applicants must work in the U.S. 
What: This is a five-day, in-person, interactive event. Participants are required to attend all five days. Please don't apply if you cannot attend the entire boot camp. Space is limited.
When: The boot camp is scheduled Sept. 8-12, 2025.
Where: UT Health Science Center College of Nursing and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.
Cost: This is free to participants. Transportation, food, and lodging will be provided for out-of-town participants in the nursing bootcamp.

Application deadline is June 13.

APPLICATION LINK

Application Checklist:

• Have a copy of the RN license ready to upload.
• Prepare a statement about “Why I want to participate in the SCD Nursing Bootcamp."

Twenty-five nurses attended the April boot camp from institutions including Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic, the Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Students came from across the nation and other countries such as Sierra Leone.

Evaluation Comments

• “You all filled me back up, and I am brimming with motivation, excitement, and renewed spirit for our collective work.”
• “This week was truly electrifying, from listening to the patient panel to everyone's wonderful presentations and all the insightful discussion! I feel so privileged and grateful to have you all as friends and colleagues in the fight to improve care of sickle cell. This is only the beginning.” 
• “All was essential information to provide appropriate care for SCD patients.”
• “All the presenters have been very helpful in helping us understand sickle cell. The interaction among the group is amazing.”
• “I cannot wait to do all I can to make the lives and outcomes better for these patients.”
• “Although we have our work cut out for us to impact change for the sickle cell population systemically, by meeting and interacting with each of you, I am confident that we will definitely, positively improve sickle cell patient care and patient outcomes.”