Kara Lemkau - Student Spotlight

Kara Lemkau is an honors student in UNMC College of Nursing’s BSN Program.

Why I chose nursing: I always desired a career in the medical field because knew it would offer endless opportunities to continue learning. In nursing, every day brings new clinical experiences and requires individualized approaches to care. Every single person is unique and requires a different form of care, and I knew I had the flexibility and the willingness to adapt to new circumstances. I knew nursing school would help me refine my abilities and I would learn how to best assist people. The chance to make an impact and serve people in their time of need, while also continually learning new ways to best take care of others, is what motivated me to become a nurse. During my time in nursing school I have grown so much, and I cannot wait to become a registered nurse after I graduate in May.

What I like about the honors program: I was interested in the Honors Research Project because I love learning new things and I am always open to new opportunities. I was excited to join the Honors Research Program and learn more about research and how I could be a part of an effort beyond myself. I have loved being a part of this program and I have learned so much about the research process and the role nurses can have in research. I really enjoyed being able to work closely with my faculty member, Dr. Mollard, on her research project and in turn developing my own project. The title of my project is, “Breastfeeding initiation and duration in depressed and non-depressed women who gave birth during COVID-19.”

Future career goals: My vision for my career is to make my care reach beyond my patient’s stay in the hospital and make an impact on their lives as a whole. By pursuing higher education and improving my critical thinking, management, and clinical skills I will be able to make a positive impact on the healthcare system. I would like to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice and then go on to become a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. Ultimately, I want to be able to say, when I retire, that I left the health care system a better place than when I found it.

Three things people may not know about me: