For more information, contact: Vicky Cerino, UNMC Public Affairs Phone: (402) 559-5190 July 2, 1999

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 they’re 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 wouldn’t mind staying at Bryan. I’ve 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.