JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The first black-owned nursing school recently opened in an underserved community on Jacksonville’s northside, and now it is spreading the wealth to help kids stay off the streets.
Sharron Braziel-Marshall founded the Sharron Nursing Academy because she felt obligated to bring a meaningful business to a low-income area.
“I opened to give other people the opportunity to come into nursing, especially in the lower income area because I came from that area. Somebody gave me the opportunity,” Braziel-Marshal said.
The nursing school is also hosting a free summer camp for teens 13 to 17 years old.
“We want to reach the population between 13 and 17 who don’t already have a criminal record,” Braziel-Marshall said. “Even if they are in trouble right now, we’re trying to save them. So we decided we wanted to introduce them to the medical field to let them know there is something out there beyond shooting, partying, and cursing.”
Alexie Charles and Brannea Robinson said they couldn’t wait to sign up for the camp.
“I have some friends and family that I feel could benefit from the type of nurse I want to be. I want to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner,” Charles said.
Robinson said she wants to become a registered nurse.
" I don’t know what field I want to go into, but I know registered,” she said.
The teens participating in the camp receive hands-on experience in an environment that resembles hospital settings like a patient’s room, hospital equipment and even laboratories.
So far, Robinson said she has learned how to take blood pressure, weight and other vitals.
The 32208 zip code and neighboring 32209 zip code are not only low-income areas but also areas that have a history of gun violence.
“Somebody’s friend got shot. They said their friend got shot, so we try to acknowledge, yes, the violence is bad here,” Braziel-Marshall said.
The teens are also learning how to help gunshot victims until paramedics arrive.
“We teach them how to apply pressure. How to tie it up. How to stop the bleeding,” Braziel-Marshall said.
The Drug Enforcement Administration will also hold a life-saving demonstration on the dangers of drug use.
Even though regular nurse courses aren’t free, the owner said the school currently offers a free CNA course that will last through December.
Visit sharronnursingacademy.com for more information on the programs.