Nursing students at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College
of Nursing Lincoln Division received seven weeks of practical nursing experience
this summer through BryanLGH Medical Center in Lincoln. Sixteen senior
nursing students participated in the UNMC Senior Clinical Nursing Externship
program, which gives students an opportunity to apply nursing theories
and skills, as well as learn to make appropriate decisions in a hospital
setting.
BryanLGH provides pay for the nursing students and the UNMC faculty
who supervise the students, as well as reimburses the students tuition
for the externship. Students must apply and get selected for the program.
The externship program is unique because it combines on-the-job skills
and nursing academics, said Janet Nieveen, M.S.N., B.S.N., of the UNMC
College of Nursing Lincoln Division. The nurses at Bryan are great role
models for our students and are eager to help our students develop as professional
nurses.
The goal of UNMC nursing faculty is to develop the students decision-making
skills, organizational abilities and nursing skills, as well as evaluate
their knowledge, Nieveen said. The process will enable students to think
through in a professional manner the decision theyre making and why one
decision may be better than another, and it increases the students confidence.
The program also is valuable because it could lead to job opportunities
and the students require less orientation to the health care environment,
Nieveen said.
We absolutely love the program, said Kristie Boehm, R.N., clinical
manager at BryanLGH Medical Center. This gives us an opportunity to work
with the best and the brightest. They come with good ideas, a willingness
to learn and assume more and more responsibility. We have hired many of
the students in the past three years.
Jamie Schomerus, senior nursing student of Unadilla, Neb., is one student
participating in the program. Schomerus, who plans to graduate in December,
said the experience was invaluable.
The experience is wonderful, the staff is supportive and my self-confidence
has increased greatly, said Schomerus. I feel I could go out and feel
comfortable in a health care setting. I wouldnt mind staying at Bryan.
Ive had the opportunity to work with great staff, patients and their families.
UNMC College of Nursing faculty members involved in the program are
Nieveen, Missy Ofe-Fleck, M.S.N., B.S.N. and Mary Jane Stanley, M.A, B.S.N.
Students who participated in the externship program and their hometowns
are listed below:
ALLIANCE — Amy Cornish, Michelle Hance and Ann Wyman
BEAVER CROSSING Brook Knisley
BELLEVUE Jenni Rollins
COLUMBUS Joni Andreasen
IMPERIAL Jane Bessler
LINCOLN Corrine Jarecke, Kristina Saunders
OMAHA Cynthia McCumbers
OVERTON Kevin Ourada
PAPILLION Kelly Klostermeyer
STERLING Lori Widdifield
UNADILLA Jamie Schomerus
JEFFERSON, IOWA Katharine Turpin
SIOUX CITY, IOWA Cari Hayden
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education and patient care, UNMC has
established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for cancer research
and treatment and solid organ transplantation. More than $34 million in
research grants and contracts are awarded to UNMC scientists annually.
In addition, UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more
health professionals practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.