High School Senior Inspired to Explore Nursing After Positive Summer Internship Experience

Thanks to the guidance of experienced nursing staff, Kaitlyn Preheim's student internship at Rice Hospital opened the door to a newfound interest in nursing.

When Kaitlyn Preheim, an incoming senior at New London-Spicer High School, began her search for summer jobs, she stumbled upon an interesting opportunity on Indeed for the Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP) with CentraCare in Willmar.

"I didn't know what I wanted to do. I'm still figuring out what I'm interested in and where I want to go to college after high school," Kaitlyn shared.

Initially drawn to physical therapy because of her involvement in sports, Kaitlyn thought that might be an area she could see herself in. However, once she started shadowing with the nursing team at Rice Memorial Hospital, her perspective began to shift.

The 10-week paid SCHIP internship, supported by a grant from MDH, offers students like Kaitlyn a real-world introduction to different health care professions, helping them navigate potential career paths.

"I found that I liked the variety that nursing offered and the teamwork involved. Everyone helps each other and works together to help the patient. I also didn't know that there were aides who supported the nurses, which was interesting," she explained. Kaitlyn learned that nurses make many decisions in patient care, which intrigued her.

"Real life is nothing like the movies," she laughed, "I had no idea what nurses really did."

Mentorship and Guidance: Learning from Experienced Nurses

Throughout her time at Rice Hospital, Kaitlyn worked closely with registered nurses Ashley Ansolabehere and Mackenna Hogan on the adult health care unit. Both mentors made a significant impact on her, offering guidance and answering any questions she had. "They were both super sweet and really helpful. They taught me a lot," Kaitlyn said.

One of the highlights of Kaitlyn's internship was spending time in the Emergency Room. "It was really busy, but they made sure I followed the nurse and got to experience different situations. The time in the ER was interesting and helpful," she recalled.

A Well-Rounded Experience

Kaitlyn's exposure to different departments in the hospital, including the pharmacy, provided her with a better understanding of how nursing collaborates with other team members.

The internship also helped Kaitlyn overcome some personal anxieties. "I used to be afraid of IVs and needles," she admitted. "This experience really helped me get over my fears."

Kaitlyn encourages other students who are unsure of their career path to seek out internships or shadowing opportunities, even if they're unpaid. "You learn so much in a short time," she emphasized.

The Value of Mentorship

Ashley, one of the key nurses who mentored Kaitlyn, enjoys the opportunity to teach and guide students participating in internships.

"Having interns experience what we do in nursing is a great way to talk about your career to someone who is not already a nursing student," Ashley explained. "You can educate someone about the nursing profession in general—how we work as part of a larger team. There are so many people that care for our patients, including dietary, pharmacy, physicians, and others. We also get to share and explain things such as cultural care."

"It's an opportunity to show the student all the cool things you get to do as part of your job when you're a nurse." - Ashley Ansolabehere, RN, BSN

As Kaitlyn prepares for her senior year of high school, she hasn't yet decided on a college, but her newfound interest in nursing, shaped by her time at Rice Memorial Hospital, has given her valuable insight into a potential path. Thanks to the mentorship of nurses like Ashley and Mackenna, she now has a clearer understanding of what a career in nursing could look like.