By Shelby Westinghouse, Chadron State College
CHADRON, Neb. – Earlier this semester, 10 Chadron State College students traveled to Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and visited the West Nebraska Division of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing.
Dr. Ann Buchmann, Professor of Biology, said the experience allowed students to shadow nurses in the hospital and dental hygiene students as they worked with patients. According to Buchmann, it was a great way for students to ask questions and learn about the next steps in their careers.
Kylee Simon, a pre-dental hygiene student from Burwell, Nebraska, appreciated the hands-on interaction.
“The annual trip to the West Division of UNMC is such a great opportunity to experience how the dental hygiene program operates in a rural area. This trip is extremely important for a future dental hygienist as it allows them to connect to the small communities of Nebraska and watch how the current students interact with patients,” Simon said.
Carlie Schneider, a pre-nursing student from Alliance, Nebraska, obtained insights from students in the program.
“I learned a lot and got to have some real-life experience at Regional West. We also got to hear what some students from UNMC had to say about nursing school and it honestly took some stress off my shoulders,” Schneider said.
Dr. Shaunda French-Collins, Dean of the School of Business, Mathematics and Science, views the trip as an aid to students’ success as they transition into professional school.
“It was highly beneficial for our students to be able to tour the educational facilities. Additionally, the students were able to meet with current students and faculty to get a better perspective of what their future will entail when they get to professional school in the next year or two,” she said.