UNK program gives health care students experience while easing rural staff shortage

YORK, Neb. (KLKN) — A program through the University of Nebraska at Kearney is helping connect health care students with communities that need them the most.

The Rural Immersion Program throws a lifeline to rural hospitals that are struggling with staffing shortages.

Students are able to shadow health care workers in the community to experience what the day-to-day is like.

“It’s getting out there and learning, it’s understanding the importance of rural health care, making connections,” said Julie Calahan, who works with students in the program at UNK. “Just learning, so they might understand where they want to live.”

For York General Hospital, this program comes at a critical time.

Nurse Carle Conrad said she has to wear many different hats during the day due to open positions.

“We are having to pick up shifts,” she said. “I know med surge, all the 24/7 departments are really having to kind of chip in and pick up when needed because we are short.”

The Rural Immersion Program is something that York General Hospital also hopes can show students the family dynamic of a rural hospital.

“We get hit by that nurse shortage because it is kind of enticing sometimes to go to those big cities and those bigger hospitals,” said Heather Brahmsteadt, the med surge nursing director.

But she said there are many “perks and benefits” to working in a small town.

“Really feels like home,” she said.

Students will spend time at rural hospitals this summer.