SERVING COMMUNITY
REACH OF COLLEGES OF NURSING,
HEALTH PROFESSIONS EXTENDS BEYOND MEDICAL MILE
STORY BY MICHELE COFFILL
PHOTOS BY KENDRA STANLEY-MILLS
With a combined alumni base of more than 16,000, the Kirkhof College of Nursing and College of Health Professions have a reach and impact that go beyond their anchor buildings on the Medical Mile in Grand Rapids.
What’s not as tangible as the number of graduates lies at the heart of both colleges: service to community.
As the colleges celebrated anniversaries this year — KCON has been a leader in nursing education for 50 years and CHP, at a youthful 20 years, offers a robust 21 academic programs — these stories highlight aspects of how nursing and health professions students and faculty serve their communities.
KIRKHOF COLLEGE OF NURSING
Personal and Professional Nursing Education
COACHING PROGRAM AIDS TRANSITION FOR STUDENTS TO COREWELL HEALTH JOBS
Two years ago, leaders from Grand Valley and Corewell Health announced an innovative partnership to increase the nursing talent pipeline and create a smooth transition from academia to professional practice at West Michigan’s largest health care system. With a $19 million investment from Corewell Health, spanning six years, the partnership creates opportunities for 500 students to pursue a nursing education at GVSU then work for Corewell Health after graduation.
A key component of the program is a one-on-one coaching program for nurse scholars that aligns with their curriculum and includes intentional experiences. Corewell Health registered nurses meet monthly with scholars to serve as mentors and introduce experiential learning opportunities.
Alexis Carroll, who graduated in April, said her coach Melissa Dykman was a tremendous resource who helped create a smooth transition to Carroll's job in the elderly acute care unit at Corewell Health’s Blodgett Hospital in East Grand Rapids. Dykman has worked for Corewell Health for more than 20 years, starting as patient transporter before earning a nursing degree in 2005.
”Melissa would ask me about my experience during clinicals and other questions about where I wanted to work,“ Carroll said. ”She led me through the job application process and how to prepare a good resume.”
Personal and Professional Nursing Education
COACHING PROGRAM AIDS TRANSITION FOR STUDENTS TO COREWELL HEALTH JOBS
Two years ago, leaders from Grand Valley and Corewell Health announced an innovative partnership to increase the nursing talent pipeline and create a smooth transition from academia to professional practice at West Michigan’s largest health care system. With a $19 million investment from Corewell Health, spanning six years, the partnership creates opportunities for 500 students to pursue a nursing education at GVSU then work for Corewell Health after graduation.
A key component of the program is a one-on-one coaching program for nurse scholars that aligns with their curriculum and includes intentional experiences. Corewell Health registered nurses meet monthly with scholars to serve as mentors and introduce experiential learning opportunities.
Alexis Carroll, who graduated in April, said her coach Melissa Dykman was a tremendous resource who helped create a smooth transition to Carroll's job in the elderly acute care unit at Corewell Health’s Blodgett Hospital in East Grand Rapids. Dykman has worked for Corewell Health for more than 20 years, starting as patient transporter before earning a nursing degree in 2005.
”Melissa would ask me about my experience during clinicals and other questions about where I wanted to work,“ Carroll said. ”She led me through the job application process and how to prepare a good resume.”
“Our coaches are rejuvenated. They’ve expressed their excitement for nursing.”
Sue Woltschlaeger-Brooks,
director of professional nursing practice for Corewell Health West
There were opportunities for Carroll and others to job shadow in various hospital units and learn about hospital policies during council meetings centered around patient quality and safety. Carroll recalled one meeting about preventing central line infections and said it was insightful to learn the reasons behind procedures.
While certainly benefiting students, the program also impacted the coaches.
“Our coaches are rejuvenated," said Sue Woltschlaeger-Brooks, director of professional nursing practice for Corewell Health West. ”They’ve expressed their excitement for nursing. Some have expanded their relationships into friendships.”
Corewell Health leaders worked closely with KCON faculty Janet Winter, Christina Quick and Sherri Fannon to establish the program, which lists 135 coaches.
Winter said the students in the first nurse scholar cohort were supported by their coaches and gained a tremendous amount of knowledge about their new employer. ”Our first graduating cohort experienced many of the Corewell Health core values integral to the organization’s vision and mission: compassion, collaboration, clarity, curiosity and courage,” she said.
Overwhelmingly, the feedback from the coaches has been that they wished they could have had a similar experience when they were new to the profession. Dykman said she had wonderful informal mentors but would have benefited from regularly scheduled meetings with a coach.
”This is more than a coffee break and a chat with a colleague,” Woltschlaeger-Brooks said. "The nurses who are coaches are our community and this program is very rewarding for them during what has been a challenging period in the nursing profession.”
COLLEGE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS
Grace Williams raises her hand during hearing and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) tests conducted at the Community Hearing Clinic at Grand Valley, located in Finkelstein Hall on the Health Campus.
Grace Williams raises her hand during hearing and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) tests conducted at the Community Hearing Clinic at Grand Valley, located in Finkelstein Hall on the Health Campus.
Clinic bridges gap for patients with hearing, balance needs
AUDIOLOGY STUDENTS TRAIN WITH FACULTY TO SERVE PATIENTS
Third-grader Olivia Engelking failed her hearing test before entering kindergarten. To help in the classroom, Olivia wears an earpiece that connects to a teacher‘s microphone. Her mother, Cinnamon Engelking, said Olivia’s subsequent hearing tests with the school district‘s audiologist have produced inconsistent results.
That’s what led the Engelkings to the Community Hearing Clinic at Grand Valley, located in Finkelstein Hall, home to the College of Health Professions. Olivia sat in an audiology booth while Jennifer Smart, associate professor and audiology graduate program director, and a graduate student conducted hearing and Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) tests.
Engelking said Olivia does not sound out words phonetically when she reads. The family was referred to the clinic by the school district. ”The other referral we received wanted a minimum of $300 plus more for every 15 minutes. Our insurance doesn’t cover this,” she said.
Olivia Engelking raises her hand during hearing testing at the Community Hearing Clinic at Grand Valley, located in Finkelstein Hall.
Olivia Engelking raises her hand during hearing testing at the Community Hearing Clinic at Grand Valley, located in Finkelstein Hall.
Dan Halling, professor of communication sciences and disorders, said providing more equitable access to care for the community is partly what led to the creation of the clinic in 2021, shortly after the graduate audiology program started. ”We have had patients who wouldn’t have been able to afford hearing aids without our clinic and other who travel for hours for our specialty testing,” Halling said.
It was a thorough, three-hour appointment. ”We start with the hearing test and move on to taxing the APD system by doing a range of tests, including patterns of tonal sounds and presenting words to both ears at once and altering words,” Smart said. ”APD testing can help us to understand if it‘s an auditory processing issue, and/or if the child needs a referral to a speech-language pathologist to evaluate their language processing abilities.”
Dan Halling, professor of communication sciences and disorders, said providing more equitable access to care for the community is partly what led to the creation of the clinic in 2021, shortly after the graduate audiology program started. ”We have had patients who wouldn’t have been able to afford hearing aids without our clinic and other who travel for hours for our specialty testing,” Halling said.
It was a thorough, three-hour appointment. ”We start with the hearing test and move on to taxing the APD system by doing a range of tests, including patterns of tonal sounds and presenting words to both ears at once and altering words,” Smart said. ”APD testing can help us to understand if it‘s an auditory processing issue, and/or if the child needs a referral to a speech-language pathologist to evaluate their language processing abilities.”
The clinic provides hearing diagnostic and rehabilitative services (including hearing aids) on a sliding scale for patients. Halling said the clinic does not accept insurance to keep fees as low as possible, adding that fees are typically lower than an insurance copay.
Last year, the clinic expanded services to include comprehensive assessments for people experiencing dizziness using immersive technology and advanced electrophysiological testing.
Smart said some people drive hours to the clinic for an appointment. ”We have access to equipment and services that some offices can’t offer,” she said. ”We can offer more comprehensive testing; and while doing that, we’re also giving our students the best possible education and training before they graduate.”
“Our students are well-prepared. I am often asked at admissions interviews, ‘What are you most proud of as the director of the program?’ I tell them it’s the students, seeing them thrive in their careers after graduation is exactly why I love what I do.”
Jennifer Smart, associate professor and audiology graduate program director
Jenna Reynolds is in her third year of the audiology program and serving an externship at Mid-Michigan Ear Nose and Throat in Lansing. Reynolds said gaining clinical experience at the hearing clinic within the first year of the program fit well with her learning style.
”The beginning of our experience is supported clinical training with a faculty member and another graduate student clinician,” Reynolds said. ”Our faculty go above and beyond to ensure we understand challenging topics and will be practicing at the top of our license upon graduation.”
Patients at the clinic are ”all ages and stages,” Smart said, adding they see Special Olympics athletes and veterans. Some babies born at Corewell Health’s Butterworth Hospital are brought to the clinic if they fail the newborn hearing screening.
”It’s most rewarding to help parents navigate the health care system and guide them through their diagnosis,” Smart said. ”Our students are learning how to communicate test results and recommendations with empathy. This is occurring while they are immersed into their coursework.
”Our students are well-prepared. I am often asked at admissions interviews, ‘What are you most proud of as the director of the program?’ I tell them it’s the students, seeing them thrive in their careers after graduation is exactly why I love what I do.”
Community Hearing Clinic at Grand Valley
communityhearingclinic.com
(616) 706 -4745
