The CCMH internship program just finished it second successful summer opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in a healthcare organization. The program aims to bridge the gap between students’ school years and their college careers, helping them confirm their interest in a career in healthcare.
Internship Program Design
The program currently offers internships in nursing, radiology, and rehab services, with plans to expand. Interns work alongside the entire healthcare team, from EVS to the CEO, gaining real-life experience and understanding various roles. A core goal of the program is to “grow our own” talent, as recruiting healthcare professionals to Western Iowa can be challenging.
Dana Neemann, Director of Education, said the program reaches beyond clinical exposure.
“The internship provides professional development, covering topics like career paths, benefit packages, banking, and technical skills. Interns learn phlebotomy and telemetry, with opportunities to apply these skills clinically. We like to think the experiences our interns have in our program helps prepare them for the next steps in their education.”
Interns Share Their Motivations and Surprises
The students who participated in this year’s internship program included: Lola Mendlik, Autumn Nemitz, Sophia Schumacher, Dominik Garcia, and Lauren Turin. Anna Seuntjens also participated but was unavailable for the interview. Each of the interns shared their motivations for joining the program and what has surprised them.
Motivations
Dominik Garcia was motivated by his high school’s career exploration program at the hospital, which exposed him to various departments like pharmacy and the med floor, sparking his interest in healthcare.
Lauren Turin also participated in the Career Exploration class but wanted more in-depth, day-long experiences in departments beyond the single hour allotted previously.
Sophia Schumacher, who is starting a nursing program at South Dakota State University (SDSU), joined to gain hands-on experience and confirm her career choice.
Lola Mendlik participated in a similar high school program and initially considered physical therapy, but through discussions with Neemann and spending time in the nursing department, she discovered new opportunities in nursing that surprised her.
Autumn Nemitz was motivated by her career exploration program and extensive shadowing experiences in physical and occupational therapy, seeking to understand the day-to-day work.
Surprises
Lauren Turin was surprised by how much she enjoyed the phlebotomy training during the professional development days and appreciated venturing beyond the radiology department.
Lola Mendlik found it surprising how she handled challenging situations and how the book “Emotional Intelligence 2.0” helped her manage her emotions.
Dominik Garcia was surprised by the distinct differences between each unit. While all units work together seamlessly, each has its isolated section, such as the day-to-day care on the med floor versus the surgery department. This broadened his perspective beyond the common portrayal of doctors and nurses in ER or surgery settings, highlighting the critical roles of all supporting departments like radiology, lab, patient access, and billing.
Autumn Nemitz was surprised to learn about specializations within physical therapy, particularly Jamie’s expertise in wound care, which she found eye-opening.
Sophia Schumacher was surprised by how much she liked certain aspects of every department she experienced, making it challenging to narrow down her preferences but reinforcing the idea of healthcare as an interconnected system.
Key Takeaways from the Internship
Sophia Schumacher values working with professionals, being immersed in the healthcare atmosphere, and observing various conversations and interactions. This helped her identify what might work for her professionally and understand how different parts of the hospital operate as a cohesive unit. She emphasizes that the program helps clarify what one doesn’t like as much as what one does like.
Lauren Turin highlighted the importance of the patient-provider relationship and how healthcare professionals interact with patients, managing their moods and ensuring effective care. Dana emphasizes this as crucial therapeutic communication and emotional intelligence, giving the interns a significant advantage in their future careers.
Lola Mendlik appreciated being exposed to unexpected situations and realizing the vast opportunities available within different areas of the hospital.
Dominik Garcia found the experience very eye-opening, handling situations better than he anticipated. He realized the inherent humanity in healthcare, where everyone is doing their best, and he found his “niche,” genuinely appreciating his work despite the challenges.
Autumn Nemitz cherished the ability to easily connect with patients, build rapport, and engage in simple conversations that open up meaningful interactions, recognizing the human desire for connection and trust in healthcare.
Those students interested in future internship opportunities are encouraged to contact Dana Neemann at CCMH by emailing dneemann@ccmhia.com or call 712-265-2500.
