By Andrea Nagel
Kootenai Health
has a history of partnering with
local universities to help provide students with the
best education possible. Probably the longest of these
partnerships is with Coeur d’Alene’s own North Idaho
College (NIC).
NIC has partnered with Kootenai since the initiation
of their first L.P.N. program and then the R.N. (as-
sociate degree nursing program) in 1970. Now, more
than 800 nursing students come to Kootenai Health to
complete clinical rotations needed for graduation each
year—300 of these from NIC. The total number of stu-
dents is projected to jump to over 1,200 in just two years.
“It’s great to see students come in and grow in their
skills and confidence as care providers,” said Ashley
English, manager of Kootenai Health’s student services.
“In the time they’re here they come to understand
our culture and expectations for quality, and it gives
NIC nursing student Bob Livingston visits with Dixie Vucinich in
her room at Kootenai Health.
Partners in Education
them the opportunity to build relationships with other
professionals in their industry.”
As student services manager, Ashley acts as a liaison
between Kootenai and NIC (as well as other univer-
sities). She works to create more opportunities for
students and manage student placement. Ashley also
manages new student orientation and assists with the
placement of individual students with mentors called
preceptors in their final semester. Both Kootenai and
NIC are members of the Northwest Clinical Placement
Consortium, the regional coordinating body for stu-
dents and clinical facilities in the Inland Northwest.
“This is where representatives from all the local
colleges come together to track all students as well as
educational opportunities and openings,” Ashley said.
“It’s my role to bring a clinical perspective and work
with the directors and faculty from these schools.”
This partnership reaches much further than just
nursing. Medical assistant, L.P.N., radiologic technol-
ogy, pharmacy technology and physical therapy assistant
students all access Kootenai for clinical placements.
“NIC benefits immensely from our relationship with
Kootenai Health,” said Gina Prindle, director of nursing
for North Idaho College. “Kootenai Health demonstrates
evidence-based practice and provides students the op-
portunity to provide health care to their own community.”
Many students who graduate from NIC continue on
to work for Kootenai Health and then in turn help train
and educate new students going through the program.
“By having students complete their clinical rotations
at Kootenai Health, we’re keeping students in their
own community,” Gina said. “The ongoing dialogue
between the faculty at NIC and the staff at Kootenai
is improving the learning experience for students and,
ultimately, the care given to our patients. The innova-
tive nurse educators at NIC combined with clinical
excellence at Kootenai is a partnership that is helping
improve health care in the community.”
LOCAL NURSING STUDENTS RECEIVE TOP-NOTCH
EDUCATION AND HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
WE LOVE TO HELP YOU LEARN
Learn more about student services
at
KH.org
, or call Ashley English at
(208) 666-3375
.
10
OUR COMMUNITY
