Anyone who has spent time in a hospital, either as a patient or in support of a friend or family member, knows the sinking feeling of not only being physically uncomfortable, but being totally out of their comfort zone. From trying to understand confusing medical jargon to weeding through lengthy lists of post-operative care procedures, navigating the healthcare system can be difficult, especially when a patient is suffering.
Nurses are the human antidotes to those pain points. In a typical hospital environment, nursing professionals are responsible for distributing medicine, monitoring vitals, setting IVs and PICC lines, cleaning patients up after procedures (or accidents), communicating treatment plans to care givers, and serving as an accessible resource for patient questions and concerns.
“Nurses are huge patient advocates—they get it done,” says DeAnna VanKuren DNP, MSN, RN. “Nurses can clarify information between patients and physicians. Patients are often scared, and nurses know the verbiage and what is going on. We are the physician’s eyes and ears and the people that can speak on behalf of the patient/family. We help patients feel seen and heard, so they’re not just treated as a disease process or a room number.”
Dr. VanKuren is a full-time professor and the Level 2 Coordinator in the School of Nursing at Olivet Nazarene University. When she joined the Olivet faculty in 2013, she brought 20 years of clinical practice as a medical-surgical nurse as well as years of instructing experience on staff at Kankakee Community College.
In addition to teaching a variety of courses for Olivet’s on-ground bachelor of science in nursing program, Dr. VanKuren coordinates the placement of level 2 nursing students in area hospitals, and ensures that students are proceeding through the program with the proper class schedules and observation hour opportunities required to advance to the next level. Level 2 students in Olivet’s School of Nursing spend time in medical-surgical and mental health units and have additional opportunities to observe operating room procedures and the post-anesthesia recovery room.
“Nursing students need a lot of hands-on experience,” Dr. VanKuren. “They need to touch equipment, get a feel for processes, and test things out. My classes typically do a ‘working Wednesday’ where we move into lab environments in which students participate in different scenarios. Is it possible to explain how to hang an IV or draw insulin when we’re in the classroom? Absolutely, but the lab puts students into the thought process of patient care.”
Dr. VanKuren also serves as a liaison between students and the faculty. Each semester, she participates in focus groups in which representatives from each nursing level come to voice their concerns, share excitement for the successes of their peers, and discuss the overall experiences in the classroom.
With a distinct passion for increasing health and wellness for both her nursing students and their future patients, Dr. VanKuren created a unique course for Olivet students, titled NURS 470 Self-Care, integrating her own extensive practical knowledge and doctoral research.
“This course addresses the need for health professionals to take time to put on their own airbag, because they naturally don’t,” says Dr. VanKuren. “They’re always ready to help others, but often neglect themselves. In this course, we meet once a week to discuss a topical article and then students complete a relevant activity that complements the theme of self-care. The really cool thing is that students from a variety of disciplines, including criminal justice, education, social work, and multimedia have taken the class over the years.”
Nursing practices and procedures are fairly standardized across the nation, and registered nurses can usually change hospitals, departments and units without too much difficulty. Dr. VanKuren notes that despite the interchangeable skill sets, what sets a nursing program apart, like the one that Olivet offers, is the focus on compassionate, sensitive, and kind care that reflects the purposeful call to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
“Our faculty are some of the very best and help guide students in their journey,” says Dr. VanKuren. “You can go anywhere for a nursing degree, but seeing a Christ-centered attitude and way of life modeled on a daily basis has a big impact on the preparedness of our students. We also set realistic expectations that the program will be difficult. Nursing is not an easy road, nor should it be—people’s lives are in your hands. My goal for my students is for them to provide exceptional healthcare as they also demonstrate the love of Jesus through empathy, humor and a gentle heart.”
For more information about the School of Nursing at Olivet Nazarene University, visit Olivet.edu
