In The News

WMMC Starts RN Summer Practicum

A group of five nursing students from Puerto Rico have successfully completed WMMC’s first summer practicum program, established to support nursing recruitment efforts.

The nurses were welcomed to WMMC on June 26, and completed their month-long summer practicum on July 25.

The program is part of the ongoing relationship WMMC established two years ago with Antillean Adventist University in Puerto Rico. “Our desire is to try to find a pipeline of Spanish-speaking nurses, because the majority of the population we serve in our community primarily speak Spanish,” said Eileen Lange, manager of Recruitment and Retention.

Amada Zamudio, RN, educator in the Education and Training department, coordinated the summer practicum program in conjunction with AAU and Pacific Union College in St. Helena, Calif. During the practicum, nursing students gain hands-on experience, shadowing WMMC nurses as they work with patients. This summer’s student nurses worked on 2South Med/Surg, 4North Med/Surg, and 6North Telemetry.

“It’s been very good. The experience and the people are really great,” said Mariely Alfaro, one of the student nurses. “I have been able to use new equipment and technology that we don’t have yet at home [in Puerto Rico], and that is much more efficient. I do miss my family, but I have learned a lot here and also had a lot of fun too!”

In addition to all of their hard work, the students were treated to several special activities, including trips to Disneyland, the Hollywood Bowl, the Getty Museum, and a Dodgers game.

“The students were wonderful and so compassionate,” said Zamudio. “They have great potential to become excellent nurses.”

Posted 7/28/08