Summer Health Institute for Nursing Exploration and Success

This two-week summer immersive runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 16-27, 2025. The program takes place at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the UC Davis Sacramento campus.

Students are exposed to a rich curriculum that provides in-depth insights into the role of nurses, how to navigate academia and how to prepare a professional portfolio. Students receive daily breakfast and lunch and a monetary completion award.

The program employs teaching and learning strategies that include active workshops and hands-on simulations. Students and leaders also engage in cooperative learning opportunities through small group exercises and group mentoring. By introducing students to numerous career options in health care through a broad spectrum of enthusiastic UC Davis Health clinicians and professionals, the program provides guidance and resources to establish a clear and attainable path to a career in health care. Read more about 2025 SHINES »

SHINES includes more than 15 sessions that range from lectures and hands-on workshops to simulation education experiences in our state-of-the-art simulation suites. Topics include:

• Understanding Nursing Practice and What Nurses Do
• Service-learning project
• Writing workshop
• Health professions simulations
• Health ethics, inequity and systemic racism
• Branding yourself for professional success
• Pathways to nursing
• Pathways to other health care careers
• A day in the life of a nursing student
• Speed mentoring
• Barbershop Health Talks
• Resume and cover-letter writing

Each accepted student receives daily breakfast and lunch and a monetary completion award.

Eligibility

Current high school students in their junior or senior years and current community college students in their first or second year are encouraged to apply. These students should be interested in pursuing a nursing or health care career. Additionally, students must live or attend school within Sacramento city limits. Priority registration is available to students who attend our partner schools: Cristo Rey High School, Benjamin Arthur Health Professions High School, and McClatchy High School. 

Students must commit to attend all portions of the program from 9:00 to 3:30 Monday through Friday June 16-27, 2025. Students not able to attend all sessions of the program, or who have attended SHINES in past years, are not eligible.

In alignment with principles of fair admissions and state and federal laws, the Summer Health Institute for Nursing Exploration and Success (SHINES) Program at UC Davis is committed to assuring that access to learning resources for its participants is open to learners and communities from all segments of society.

How to apply for SHINES

Students can apply for the program by completing an online questionnaire. All questions must be answered. There is a short answer section with eight free response questions. Students are encouraged to spend some time on their responses so the SHINES team can get to know them and their goals. 

Applications are currently closed for this program. Application information for Summer 2026 will be available in early Spring 2026.

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SHINES is made possible through support from many partners, including:

• UC Davis Health
• Betty Irene School of Nursing at UC Davis
• UC Davis Health Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council
• AARP
• Sutter Health
• Stanford Health Care
• Kaiser Permanente Northern California - Greater Sacramento
• Capital City Black Nurses Association (CCBNA)
• Sacramento Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN)
• Philippine Nurses Association
• Hmong Nurses Association
• Sacramento Youth Speaks (SAYS)
• La Familia Counseling Center
• Cristo Rey High School
• Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions High School
• McClatchy High School

Your gifts ensures future generations can participate in SHINES.

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