40+ Nursing students in Julie Lepianka and Ashley Gilson’s Mental Health and Community Concepts courses recently completed their community advocacy projects as part of our Spring, 2022 service-learning opportunities.

Julie said, “Everyone has their own story. Each of us has a bigger purpose on this earth to share our story. Thank you for being vulnerable in your sharing! It was a privilege to teach all of you in this important community mental health learning. Best of luck in your final semester!”

Students spent over 200 hours researching and collaborating with community partners in Fond du Lac, Washington, and Dodge Counties to learn more about substance abuse, foster families, gun violence, elderly depression, bullying, human trafficking, poverty, domestic violence, sexual assault, and more. Students formulated detailed plans to address how a nurse can help a community identify and address these issues, providing education, awareness, advocacy and resources. Students gathered data to help determine strengths and weaknesses in their own communities. Project presentations were held in May. Ashley said, “My students did a phenomenal job assessing their surrounding communities for health concerns and building advocacy plans that we, as nurses, have the power to implement within their communities. These students were drawn to nursing because of a desire to care, to serve, and to help…..and they did just that!“

Congratulations on all of this great work on important mental health issues in our MPTC community!

U.S. Olympic Snowboarder, Courtney Rummel, visited Moraine Park’s West Bend campus earlier this month to share her journey from snowboarding in small-town Wisconsin, to competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics.

Rummel’s visit was organized by MPTC Health and Wellness Instructor, Carrie Felix, who has trained Rummel for three years.

“Courtney is such a pleasure to train,” Felix said. “I started training her when she was 15, so I have gotten to watch her grow up. She is very hardworking and has developed a passion for working out over the last three years.”

Felix has known the Rummel family for 10 years and was approached by Courtney’s mom, Kim Rummel, in 2019 to become Courtney’s trainer.

Rummel competed in the women’s slopestyle and big air snowboarding events at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

“Watching Courtney on the big screen was so surreal,” Felix said. “The obstacles she faced to get to Beijing are not normal teenage obstacles. She gave up so much for her dreams, so to be able to watch her on the biggest stage of her life was amazing. The coolest part is that she is still the same goofy, funny, hardworking teenage she has always been.”

Rummel splits her time living and training in Park City, UT, and at home in West Bend, WI. Felix trains Rummel when she is in Wisconsin and coordinates with her trainer in Utah.

“In some ways, training an Olympic athlete is just like training all my other clients,” Felix said. “Everyone has specific goals when deciding to invest in a trainer. It is then taking those goals and where the individual is at in their fitness journey and looking to strengthen what they already have. What’s different with Courtney is she has other trainers that I need to converse with often. I need to know what she is doing at the U.S. training facility and what she needs to work on when she is with me. It’s also important to make sure we don’t do anything too crazy if she has a big event coming up.”

During her visit, Rummel spoke with students in Felix’s Health and Wellness class about how she got started in the sport, her training regimen, overcoming mental barriers, her experience at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and more.

“I love that I was able to share Courtney with my Health and Wellness class at Moraine Park,” Felix said. “Most students are not sure what they want to do after they graduate, so to show them options in their career field is so valuable.”

Written by Kim Mueller and Sheena Hoekstra

It’s a boy! No, it’s a girl! No, it’s both!

Since early February, eleven simulation babies were born at the Beaver Dam simulation center. The first five were high-risk pregnancies, training 4th-semester nursing students on how to manage pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes during labor and delivery. The remaining six were normal pregnancies that helped train 2nd-semester nursing students on the basics of labor and delivery with a healthy mom and baby. These simulations were also facilitated at the West Bend simulation center for nursing students, delivering six simulation babies. Students from both Beaver Dam and Fond du Lac attended the simulations in Beaver Dam to reinforce theory content in Complex Health Alterations 2 and Nursing Health Promotions.

Faculty used the Sim Mom mannequin and other models to teach assessment and intervention skills like determining cervical dilation and completing fundal massage.

Some of the feedback students give about how simulation helps their learning includes helping put all the pieces together, being a low-stress environment to learn and feel safe to make mistakes, as well as being able to conceptualize information that they previously were confused about. Hands-on learning really makes a difference in their nursing education.

Moraine Park Technical College Nursing student, Carrie Kuehn of Beaver Dam, received the College’s first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students on Friday, Dec. 17, at the Beaver Dam campus Pinning Ceremony.

The award was created to recognize and celebrate nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients and their families. The DAISY Foundation hopes that this program will inspire and motivate students to provide the best clinical skills possible and to impact patients and families with human spirit and kindness.

Kuehn was nominated by a fellow Moraine Park Nursing student, Shane Keck.

“Carrie is an inspiration at clinical,” Keck said. “She is such a professional and so quick at clinicals that we all marvel at her competency. She’s also unbelievably kind and picks others up when they’re down and struggling. Carrie is a phenomenal leader and I truly believe she’ll be a shining star of an RN someday soon.” 

Kuehn, a fourth-semester student, was chosen through a blind selection process by Moraine Park’s DAISY committee made up of three Moraine Park representatives and one advisory member. Nominations for the award can come from any patient, staff nurse, fellow students, faculty or member of the community that the student has positively impacted.

“I had no idea I would be receiving this award,” Kuehn said. ‘It came as a complete surprise, and I am honored to have even been nominated. I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a child, so the recognition means everything to me.”

Read more about the DAISY Award at Moraine Park.

Many students come to the Student Success Center at MPTC to get help with their course work, but sometimes our programs partner and instructors will go to the students. Two examples are found in the Medical Assistant and Auto programs. Past partnerships have included working with Culinary Arts, CNC, Welding, and CNA classes.

Bob Mengert has assisted in the Auto courses for several years, and is right in the classroom to help students understand the math and reading skills needed to succeed in those programs. Similarly, Jeani Slaymaker works with students in the Medical Assistant program.

Bob holds classes for any auto students who need skill-building, primarily in math and reading skills, and will tailor the lessons to specific needs for that program. He doesn’t just teach general math lessons, but math skills needed when working in the field of Auto Mechanics. Bob also assists in the labs, where instructors in the program make good use of and appreciate his help!

Jeani does similar work with students in the Medical Assistant program, teaching necessary reading and math skills needed for Pharmacology, Human Body, and other courses. She has created hands-on review materials to make the lessons come alive for students, including the “human game board” and Kahoots quizzes. She also meets virtually with students to review instructor lectures and help with students’ notes and comprehension.

Many students have benefited from Jeani’s help. According to MA instructors, Brianna Matheson and Erika Herriges, Jeani “…is an asset to the program.” She “… cares deeply for the students, utilizes creative study techniques.” Brianna adds, “Students who work with Jeani tend to achieve higher test scores and retain knowledge longer than students who don’t.”

The Student Success Center instructors strive to assist students in their college courses. Whether you come to us, or we come to you, our aim is the same – your success!

Moraine Park Respiratory Therapy student, Tammy Wentlandt, was selected to virtually attend the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) House of Delegates conference as Wisconsin’s representative this fall.

Wentlandt is from Jackson, WI, and works as a massage therapist at a physical therapy clinic.

She started at Moraine Park in January 2020 and was encouraged by instructors to become a student member of the AARC for educational opportunities and to get up-to-date industry news.

“The House of Delegates Conference brings together respiratory therapists and students from all around the country,” Wentlandt said. “Basically, it allows the people with boots on the ground to have an open discussion about things they want to change or things they see happening in the field.”

Some of the topics discussed at the 2021 House of Delegates meeting include the deficit of respiratory therapists the field is currently facing and the educational levels currently offered for respiratory therapy.

“I never want to stop learning about respiratory therapy,” Wentlandt said. “I’ve had so many great conversations with people in the field, and I want to continue to ask questions and bring new ideas forward.”

Wentlandt’s current goal is to start working in a hospital and attend more conferences in the future.

“Moraine Park is the foundation for everything I’m working towards,” Wentlandt said. “The door is opening for me, and being able to represent my school at a national conference was very powerful. I encourage anyone who is considering a career change to look into what Moraine Park has to offer.”

Learn more about Moraine Park’s Respiratory Therapy program.

Moraine Park communities will soon benefit from the growing program offerings at the College with the addition of Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

With over 100 programs, Moraine Park collaborates with the local business and industry to meet the current needs of our workforce. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program joins a robust group of Health Sciences offerings, giving students interested in health care a wide array of choices.

Registration for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will begin in the fall of 2022. However, the College expects the demand to be very high, and interested students are encouraged to submit applications now to secure a spot for the fall of 2022.

“We are excited to expand our medical imaging programs at Moraine Park,” Ben McKenzie, associate dean of health, said. “Moraine Park’s Radiography program has seen consistent interest in the program annually. The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program that students have expressed interest in for several years and will nicely complement our Radiography program, as well as other Health Science programs.”

Additional program information:

• It’s a 69 credit Associate Degree program.
• The program will be based out of the Beaver Dam Campus with clinicals throughout Dodge, Washington, Fond du lac counties and beyond.
• The Median Annual Salary in Wisconsin for a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer is $79,300.

Enrollment for new students begins Nov. 16.- get more details here!

What is a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer?

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers, otherwise known as ultrasound technicians, utilize soundwave equipment that produces images and videos of the internal body. They also assist various medical professionals in making accurate diagnoses without invasive measures. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers are an integral part of the health care system and commonly work in cardiac care, OBGYN, thoracic, and musculoskeletal specialties. In the classroom, the students will learn alongside other health sciences students in our new health simulation center.

The introduction of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program will allow Moraine Park students to expand their experiences and pursue a field or specialty that best fits their career interests. 

Submit your application today!

Nursing School can be challenging and overwhelming, but also rewarding and fulfilling. The pressures associated with class load, clinicals, exams, and job availability can make it easy to lose sight of the art of caring while learning the science of nursing.

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students was created to recognize and celebrate nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients and their families. The DAISY Foundation hopes that this program will inspire and motivate students to provide the best clinical skills possible and to impact patients and families with human spirit and kindness. 

Nominations for this award can come from any patient, staff nurse, fellow nursing students, faculty, or member of the community that the student has had a positive impact on.

The nomination period is now through December 1, 2021. The review committee will meet in mid-December and reveal the recipient at Moraine Park’s Pinning Ceremonies. The review committee has specific criteria for the selection committee that can be found on their website. The committee will include the following:

Kelly Shafaie (Representative from Dean’s office) 

Barb Brown (Alumni and retired faculty) 

Kelli De Ruyter (Partner facility, Cedar Community Advisory Member) 

Anne Lemke (Leadership at MPTC) 

Student life representatives will take turns on panel (Lisa Manuell, Sandy Botham for this academic year) 

Nominate here.

Any questions about the DAISY Award can be directed to the Student Nurses Association (SNA) advisors on each campus:

Beaver Dam- Grace Rommelfanger

Fond du Lac- Melissa Rodriguez  and Michelle Mengert 

West Bend- Karrie Bruegman-May

Nursing students in Instructor Michele Mengert’s Mental Health and Community Concepts course recently completed their community advocacy projects as part of our Spring, 2021 service learning opportunities. Michele said, “our Nursing students are learning community health oriented nursing. We are targeting prevention strategies. Today’s Nurses need to be able to advocate for under represented populations and know about community resources that are available to help their patients.”

This semester 20 students spent over 100 hours researching and collaborating with community partners in Fond du Lac, West Bend, and Beaver Dam to learn more about parenting, fostering, opioid addiction, human trafficking, poverty, developmental disabilities, domestic violence, sexual assault, and more. Students formulated detailed plans to address how a nurse can help a community identify and address these issues, providing education, awareness, advocacy and resources. Students gathered data to help determine strengths and weaknesses in their own communities. Project presentations were held in May.

Congratulations on all of this great work on important mental health issues in our MPTC community!