Nursing interns support area school nurses
Five Minnesota State University, Mankato nursing students have been selected to serve as Community Health Interns, supporting school nurses across Southern Minnesota.
The year-long, paid internship, which is in partnership with South Central Service Cooperative, focuses on conducting health screenings and creating and implementing health education initiatives for K-12 students around topics such as:
- emotional and physical well-being
- coping strategies
- making healthy choices
- vaping prevention/education
As part of the program, the nursing students are also gaining real-world leadership experience by working across multiple health organizations, assessing the goals of the school district, and helping meet the needs of those in a school-based setting.
Meet the five Community Health Interns:
Natasha Friedges
Hometown: Forest Lake, MN
Enjoys: Reading, working out, teaching dance, traveling, trying new things, being with family and friends
“I am interested in many specialties within the nursing field including abnormal psychology. I have a desire to further my education to become a Nurse Practitioner.”
Madison Hogan
Hometown: Woodbury, MN
Enjoys: Reading, shopping, and playing with her puppy, Jack
“I chose nursing because of my grandma. She was in and out of the hospital a lot when I was a kid. After seeing how kind and gentle the nurses were with her, I decided I wanted to be that person for other people. I hope to either become a labor and deliver or NICU nurse, or both!”
Anna Mauss
Hometown: Caledonia, MN
Enjoys: Snowboarding, hiking, and spending time with friends and family
“I chose nursing as a profession from an experience while working at a nursing home during high school. I realized it was something I was really interested in. Upon graduation I would like to work in a hospital setting providing care to pediatric and/or maternity patients.”
Sophia Schultz
Hometown: Andover, MN
Enjoys: Hanging out with friends and family, attending church, playing softball and volleyball
“I hope to make difference in the lives of others, provide patient-centered care and get people back to being healthy and living a satisfying life. My nursing goals are to become a maternity care nurse and return to the classroom to focus on becoming a Nurse Practitioner.”
Cassie Sorenson
Hometown: Chippewa Falls, WI
Enjoys: Spending time outdoors, being with family and friends, traveling, and dogs
“I chose nursing as a profession because it allows for many opportunities and versatility. I hope to work in pediatrics and possibly go back to school and obtain my Master of Science in Nursing and practice as an APRN. Travel nursing is something that also really interests me. I love knowing I am making a difference in someone’s life and being a sense of comfort in difficult situations.”
