Nursing students provide comfort and care to NRMC patients

Wednesday, January 21, 2004

A group of 28 nursing students from Fort Scott Community College are about to embark on one of the first of many adventures during what for some will be a long and rewarding career as registered nurses. On Tuesday, the group participated in an orientation and tour of Nevada Regional Medical Center, where the students will begin taking part in personal patient care on Thursday.

It will be a learning experience some of them will never forget, said NRMC Clinical Education Coordinator Katie Bond. Trained as a nurse herself and having worked for NRMC for about 14 years now, Bond says she still remembers patients she cared for during her clinical training. "The ones you take care of when you're a student you remember," she said.

Melissa Swarens, who works in the hospital's community relations offices, nodded agreement.

Staff members enjoy acting as mentors as well as having the extra help to provide patient care, and patients get more individual, personalized care.

"The patients really appreciate them (the nursing students). They appreciate the personal attention they get from them."

Students support the care provided by the rest of the medical staff, and get first-hand knowledge of what caring for patients is really like.

Fort Scott Community College nursing instructor Susan Clark said students, who are beginning the second semester of training, are looking forward to the hands-on clinical training that will help them prepare for a career in nursing.

This semester's class is the largest in a while, Bond said, but even so, many of those who graduate won't end up staying in the nursing profession.

Many will find it doesn't meet their expectations, and will move on to other professional fields after a short time.

"Nursing is hard. Not everyone stays with it," Clark said.

Bond said the challenges of the job are many, but those who remain nurses generally find it rewarding.

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