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.

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!

STORY FEATURED IN THE SPRING/SUMMER 2021 NEXT MAGAZINE

Kelly Hagner, of Fond du Lac, has always desired to care for others and make a difference in the world. This is what drove her to pursue a nursing degree at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC).

“When I first came to the College in 2005, there was a waitlist for nursing,” she said. “I knew MPTC was going to be a vital steppingstone for me, and I wanted to take advantage of my time at the College. So, I enrolled in the Supervisory Management program, and then the Nursing program when a spot opened.”

Hagner graduated from the Supervisory Management and Nursing associate degree programs in 2009.

“After my graduation, the economy was not great, and I had difficulty finding a job as a registered nurse (RN) in a medical clinic setting,” she said. “I took a job as an RN in one of Agnesian HealthCare’s nursing homes, which was another choice that proved to be a valuable career step.”

A few years later, Hagner accepted a position as an RN at the Agnesian Cancer Center.

“I love my work at the Cancer Center,” Hagner said. “Both the patients and people I work with are uplifting and bring me so much joy. They make me want to be better and do better.”

Hagner became settled in her career but had aspirations for higher education. She decided to make a goal to earn a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) and become a nurse practitioner (NP) before the age of 40.

“I knew I wanted to continue my education, but it was also scary in so many ways,” she said. “I have a family with young children and didn’t think I would have the time. However, after some encouragement from friends and peers, I decided to have a conversation with the admissions department at Marian University.”

During that time, she also got an email from her employer that detailed both a tuition discount program with Marian and a tuition reimbursement employee benefit.

“I took that as a sign from God and began my next educational journey,” she said.

Hagner graduated with her MSN last May and is living out her career dreams as an NP with the Medical Oncology team at the Agnesian Cancer Center.

“I am so grateful to Moraine Park,” she said. “They offered me the opportunity to stay local, have a family, and live life to the fullest— all while getting an education. The College opened my eyes to both the educational and career opportunities right here in my community, and I’m honored to have Moraine Park as part of my journey.”

Did you know MPTC has transfer agreements with nearly 50 different colleges/universities and in more than 100 program areas?

This means, you can earn your associate degree at Moraine Park for a fraction of the cost and then transfer your credits to earn a bachelor’s degree or beyond!

View our transfer agreements by program or college at morainepark.edu/transfer.

Moraine Park Technical College nursing students will be assisting Dodge County Public Health and Advocate Aurora Health to administer the COVID-19 vaccination to eligible individuals. 

“Our nursing students have experience in helping to distribute vaccines,” Heidi Martin, Moraine Park nursing instructor, said. “We have worked with Dodge County for the past two years, helping at their flu shot clinics for students in grades K-12. We have a great relationship with the County Public Health Nurses and our local healthcare facilities, and currently, they really need our help.”

The Moraine Park nursing students participating are doing so on a volunteer basis. Their volunteer time will count toward community impact requirements at the College.  

“This is a wonderful opportunity for our nursing students to give back to the community,” Martin said. “They have the skills needed to truly impact the health of our families, neighbors and friends. My students are excited to be an active part in helping to decrease the severity of this pandemic and ultimately save lives.”

Moraine Park continuously looks for ways to offer hands-on opportunities for students in our local communities. 

For information regarding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility and distribution, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health at dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19.

For more information, visit morainepark.edu. 

**Photo is not from current vaccine event, and was taken pre-COVID-19.

Wednesday, Feb 10th the West Bend Student Nursing Association (SNA) group put their books away for an hour or so to be creative and add a little cheer to the residents at Cedar Community in West Bend. 

Using stamps, ink, scissors and colored pencils they created valentine cards for residents.  Some of these cards were attached to personal care items.

  The cards and the small gifts were given to the Cedar Community Activities department and distributed to the to residents. 

For more information, visit morainepark.edu.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Moraine Park would like to extend a sincere thank you to those who devote their career to the fight against cancer.

We had the opportunity to speak with a couple of our alumni who work at the Agensian Cancer Center- here’s what they had to say:

Kelly Hagner- Nurse Practitioner

2006 MPTC Graduate-nursing

“Working at the cancer center is like no other job, I feel. Every single day you come to work you have the opportunity to make a difference in someone lives. Whether it be the lives of the patient or the family members. When cancer is diagnosed to a patient, it doesn’t just affect the patient. It affects everyone from spouses, to children, to mother and fathers. I have had the opportunity to cry with patients, laugh with patients and jump with joy with patients. Often people think that cancer is always such a negative thing, unfortunately that is incorrect. We have treated hundreds of people and saved their lives. We have helped patients live longer, and not be scared. We have held their hands and listened to their stories while supporting them. Every day is not guaranteed but with amazing staff we at the cancer center make the journey less scary. We treat everyone like family!”

Annice Klapperich, RN

2016 MPTC Graduate- nursing

” I work as an RN in Radiation Oncology at the Agnesian Cancer Center. At the cancer center, I work with an incredible team and technology to treat patients with various cancer diagnoses. Radiation Oncology is a fascinating field to work in and I am lucky to have an opportunity to learn something new everyday. However, the best part of my job is the opportunity to build relationships not only with the patients, but with their family as well. I hope to make a positive impact in my work and to make a difference in the lives of others, as the patients and their families have made such a difference in mine. ” 

Denise Schwoch, RN

2009 MPTC Graduate- nursing

“When I decided to become a nurse, oncology was always my motivation.  This is a tough field but I find it extremely rewarding. I love the relationships that develops with patients and their families during their most vulnerable time.  I am forever grateful to be a medical oncology infusion RN!”