Program Description : Shared Clinical Model : Workforce Education Initiatives : Nebraska Hospital Association

Program Description

The Nebraska Center for Nursing and Nebraska Hospital Association Workforce Collaborative shall provide for the expansion of clinical training sites for nurses throughout the state, giving preference to areas that have lower numbers of registered nurses per capita compared to the state average, in collaboration and consultation with statewide hospital and health associations. This work is made possible through the Center for Nursing (CFN) Innovation Project. Through the CFN Innovation Project, experienced Nebraska RN's will be able to serve as clinical practice instructors to ADN, PN, RN, or BSN students within the confines of the Nebraska Shared Clinical Model.

UNMC College of Nursing - Lincoln

Student Testimonials:

"Provided me with access to people with a wide range of health problems."

"The instructors were very excited to have us there and more eager to help than any other facility that I have been in. There were a wide variety of patients, and I got to see more here in 5 weeks than the rest of the clinicals."

"I enjoyed being able to do more and see other sides of hospital I would have never seen in Lincoln. In Lincoln at all the hospitals they are so big we never were able to do labs or that part of the care, but in Syracuse we were able to do that and see how all of the other departments worked. We had lots of IV starts and the nurses were so nice there, there really always wanted to help and us to get as much experience as possible."

"I cannot say enough good things about my experience. I was at Butler County Health and loved it. My CPIs were amazing and wanted us to learn from them as well as every nurse, aid, doctor, and even lab. I was pulled into rooms, procedures, and experiences every shift and was excited to be there. Some specific things that went well were IV insertions for me. I had one attempt at a clinical last semester and here I had 7 attempts with 5 successes. I feel more confident and experienced after this rural experience in not only IV insertion but also my communication with patients and even nurses. We were able to practice giving shift report at the end of the evening which was really beneficial and we do not get anywhere else. We had four clinical days here including two floor days, one outpatient, and one surgical. The floor days were amazing for me because I got a typical med surg pt with cellulitis which was nice to learn communication with a language barrier as well as do a vancomycin IV med admin. My other day on the floor was amazing because it was an induction! I love this area of nursing so I was excited to see a more hands on and have a more approachable staff to be with during it. Surgical day was awesome because we were able to do the entire process which we do not get to do anywhere else either. Admission including IV and questions, watch the surgery itself, PACU, and post op procedures including vitals, monitoring etc. Finally, outpatient was great because that was the day to start all the IVs before they go for their procedure. We also got to watch the procedures most of the time too. Another side thing that got added onto our days was wound care. They let us observe and learn about lots of different wound patients that came into their outpatient center which was very unique considering it was our home base clinical and not a specialty! One last side note, they let us go back to their emergency room too. This was really neat to see for me because I was interested in ER and wasn’t for sure on it. I was able to help out in a high stress situation and place an IV and set up vitals and the heart monitor. This was also unique and really amazing to have that opportunity."

"Our clinical instructors were phenomenal and were very engaging. They always made sure to involve us in learning and skill developing opportunities."

"I had the opportunity to get much more hands-on experience and really practice and develop my skills. I also got to work in many different areas of the hospital to see how they operate."

"I really enjoyed being able to attend this clinical experience. I was able to grow as a student and learn in a warm and friendly environment. This was my favorite clinical experience yet!"

"I felt that this experience gave you more one-on-one time with a nurse. Whereas big hospitals, it's hard to find your nurse and they often disregard students. This gave me the opportunity to receive a lot of feedback and advice from the nurses."

"Honestly, I can’t think of something that did not go well. My CPIs walked us through things just enough to where we were independent in the skills but had guidance and support if needed. I wish I had more days here as it was hands down the best experience I have had at a clinical site."

"This clinical experience allowed me to grow and learn more than ever before. The rural hospital has so many different types of patients and it was so amazing to be able to see every specialty all in the same clinical day. I hope everyone will get to experience a rural setting clinical during nursing school."

"I believe that getting a rural clinical experience is an amazing opportunity for students. Being able to see how a smaller hospital works and the culture they have there is a great way to figure out what you like for when you’re becoming an RN."

"Rural clinicals are the most underrated clinical site of them all. I learned the most I have ever learned at any of my clinical sites. Everyone in that hospital, including nurses, aids, doctors, surgeons, and lab wanted us (students) to be there and learn as much as possible. We were pulled into rooms, procedures, surgeries, everything possible and really got the most out of the experience. We got to see a little bit of EVERYTHING and I am so thankful for the experience, and I hope that it continues for more students in the future!"

"During my clinical time at Syracuse Area Health, I gained invaluable experience that deepened my appreciation for the unique challenges and rewards of rural healthcare. One of the most fulfilling aspects of the rural clinical environment was the ability to provide personalized care, we learned the importance of being resourceful, and creative and incorporating problem-solving by making the most of available tools and support. In this setting, I was able to expand my skill set by taking on diverse responsibilities, including patient education, learning about care coordination, and collaborating with members of the healthcare team. The close-knit nature of the team was another highlight. Working with a small, dedicated staff meant that collaboration and communication were key to providing the best possible care. You could tell the nurses and health care team at."

"Syracuse truly cared about each other. It's a great reminder and example of the nurse that I strive to be one day. Ultimately my experience at the rural clinical reinforced my commitment to improving healthcare access and quality in rural Nebraska. It demonstrated a critical role that small rural providers play in the larger healthcare landscape, and how essential it is to support these facilities so that they can continue to serve their communities."