Hannah Schaefer named Minot State University Nurse of the Year
MINOT, N.D. – It didn’t take Hannah Schaefer long to realize where she belonged in the medical field.
“I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare,” she said. “I did do a year of chemistry here before I switched to nursing. I thought I wanted to go to medical school and then I was working in the hospital as a CNA and realized the doctors aren’t always there with the patients. I wanted to be there more, I wanted more interactions with real stuff. I just want to do things.”
That passion to be hands on and involved in every level of a patient’s care led to her nomination for Minot State’s Nurse of the Year.
Students are initially selected by faculty in the nursing department before interviewing with members of the Nursing Student Association (NSA) on campus. NSA narrows the field to three nominees who then interview with a panel of three judges, including a spiritual leader, nursing educator not affiliated with Minot State, and a registered nurse with active membership in a professional nursing organization.
“It was nice and exciting,” she said. “It was good practice working on my interview skills, too.”
With a graduation date slated for December 2022, Schaefer is acting on her desire to do things both on campus and on the job.
Moving from Alberta, Canada prior to her junior year of high school, Schaefer has been working as a CNA since her senior year at Minot High School. In addition to her nursing studies, attending Minot State has given her the opportunity to serve as a student activities coordinator, orientation leader, and peer mentor, and be a part of the cheer team.
“I love how involved I am,” she said. “It took me awhile to get here for sure, I’m definitely not the same person now as I was as a freshman, at all. I love right where I’m at.”
Part of that love is in part to the Minot State Department of Nursing.
“I love the professors. I don’t know how to word it — I love that we call them by their first names. I love that they’ve all worked as nurses so when they tell stories, they just happened like last summer,” she said. “They get it and they help; they want you to become a nurse. Everything is personable in the nursing program.”
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 02/17/22 |
