FORT HOOD, Texas  –   Ten ROTC nursing cadets arrived at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center this summer ready to learn. Four weeks later, they left with more than clinical hours. They left with new experiences, a better idea of where they want to go, and more confidence in their abilities.

The cadets recently graduated from the Nurse Summer Training Program, or NSTP, after spending four weeks learning alongside CRDAMC nurses and preceptors.

For Cadet Alexander Nelson, a nursing student at Marquette University, the experience stood out from the clinical training he had received at home.

"It's been probably the best clinical experience I've had so far," Nelson said. "Here they have more training and teaching for us so we can be more confident in our skills."

Throughout the program, cadets completed at least 120 clinical hours while working through required skills and learning how to apply what they had learned in the classroom to real patients.

That hands-on experience gave the cadets opportunities to become more involved in patient care while learning from nurses who were willing to teach them.

By the end of the program, Nelson said he felt more prepared for what comes next.

"I feel much more confident in my clinical skills, in my assessments, and my tasks that we often see," he said.

For Maj. Paige Becker, Nurse Summer Training Program officer in charge, that confidence comes from letting cadets learn by doing.

"The hands-on experiences offered at CRDAMC are unmatched because we are a teaching institution that values educational practices," Becker said. "The staff know we all start somewhere, and as cadets we invest in them because they are the next generation!"

Becker said she saw the cadets become more willing to take on new tasks, including inserting IVs and performing head-to-toe assessments on new patients without assistance.

The experience also gave cadets a chance to figure out what kind of Army nurses they might want to become.

Some arrived with a particular specialty in mind. After rotating through different departments, Becker said, they could discover a new interest or confirm that the path they had chosen was the right one.

For some, that exploration extended well beyond the hospital.

Nelson said the cadets spent time with the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, learning about ground medical evacuation and casualty evacuation platforms and talking with operators and medics.

The cadets also had opportunities to learn about UH-60 MEDEVAC aviation with aviators from the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, as well as military working dog care, giving them a look at parts of Army medicine they may not encounter during a traditional clinical rotation.

Those experiences helped Nelson better understand how nursing fits into the larger Army.

For Nelson, who is interested in public health, the program also opened his eyes to the possibilities available through Army Medicine.

"There is more you can do in Army medicine than you can accomplish in civilian medicine, and the opportunities are much wider and much more available to everyone," he said.

But NSTP wasn't only about learning procedures or checking off clinical skills. Becker and other program leaders also spent time talking with the cadets about what it means to become an Army nurse and leader.

"I hope every cadet walks away with a smile," Becker said. "I hope they recognize the efforts and experiences will carry over to their individual leadership styles."

For CRDAMC, the goal is simple: help prepare the next generation of nurses for whatever the future holds.

"It is important to invest in training the next generation because they are the ones who will be taking care of the families, beneficiaries, and dependents," Becker said.

For Nelson, the four weeks provided a chance to learn, explore, and experience Army life firsthand.

"I've had a great time here at Fort Hood and enjoyed my first time here in Texas," he said. "Definitely a lot of learning and a lot of interesting experiences."

The 10 cadets now return to college to finish their nursing degrees. When they eventually put on the uniform as Army nurses, they'll bring with them the skills they learned in the classroom — and the confidence they gained putting those skills to work.