November 15, 2009
Nursing students in the UAA nursing cohort. From left to right: Back: Kevin Phelan, Irene Beaver, Nikki Pollock and Charles Lesniak. Front: Sandra Fox, Michelle Simmons (kneeling), Bessie Francis and Kendra Harding.
Bethel nursing students get clinical experience at ANMC
by Mary Weiss, Assistant Professor AAS-University of Alaska Anchorage
The eight nursing students who are in the University of Alaska Anchorage RN Associates degree program in Bethel began a three-week intensive clinical experience at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage on October 28.
The students are in their second semester of the four semester program. They began this semester with a two week lab at Yuut Elitnauviat and, until they left for Anchorage, they had been gaining clinical experience on North Wing, Emergency Room, Operating Room, and Kuskokwim Clinic.
The clinical experience they received in Bethel has provided a good foundation for the Anchorage clinical. The students are observing in the operating room and intensive care unit, shadowing a vascular access team nurse, and providing supervised nursing care on 4East and 4West for a minimum of 80 hours. The nursing staff at ANMC have commented positively about the students' enthusiasm and skill.
Between the intensive clinical experience and the ongoing class work the students-Nikki Pollock, Kendra Harding, Michele Simmons, Kevin Phelan, Irene Beaver, Sandra Fox, Bessie Francis, and Boris Lesniak-have been putting in long hours. Several have commented about how much they are learning in Anchorage and that they are looking forward to going home.
Next semester the students will have another three-week intensive clinical at ANMC in OB and Pediatrics. In the final semester (Fall 2010) the three-week Anchorage intensive clinical will be in Psych/Mental Health nursing at Alaska Psychiatric Institute and in advanced medical-surgical nursing.
The past support of Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation has resulted in RN licensure and careers as RNs for several local YK Delta residents and has added to the nursing workforce for Bethel. YKHC's ongoing support for this group of students has made it possible for the students to progress in their education.
On behalf of the students, camai and quyana cakneq from Anchorage!
