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BBGH Summer Interns receive hands on experience

There is one common theme businesses who employ interns hear from their interns toward the end of their employment. The generic comment is, “I learned so much more about the field I’m interested in than I thought I would.” Such is the case for the four summer interns at Box Butte General Hospital, which prides itself in giving college and high school students a variety of educational opportunities in relation to health care careers. Other educational opportunities include the summer high school Cadet program; The Health Professions Club offered to high school students; a hands on career fair for the general public, and externships. The hospital also provides scholarships to both high school and college students, as well as help fund continuing education for staff members wanting to obtain further credentialing or degrees.

 

IT Intern Deana Andrew, RN

Deana Andrew, RN, is originally from Lincoln, NE. She attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center Lincoln Campus to become a Registered Nurse. She has been interested about how Information Technology (IT) interacts with nursing, and has spent two summers at BBGH as an intern in that department to educate herself in that field. The internships ultimately led her to seek employment at BBGH as a Registered Nurse. “I enjoyed getting to know the IT department again and seeing all the changes that have occurred over the last year, Ms. Andrew said. “It was very informative to get to see the backside of the Centriq system that I now use as an RN. This is my second time interning in the department and the first time I was hoping to get to know the hospital.  This time around I spent more time understanding how the role of an RN works behind the scenes and all the departments that make working at the bedside easier.  I enjoyed my time with the IT department because they work very well together and have a nice environment even when things get hectic.  They portrayed the hospital very well and definitely influenced me becoming an employee here.”  She said it was the people she most enjoyed as an Intern.  “I learned a lot from each one of them about the hospital and all its workings.  JaeAnn Bradt (Clinical Informatics Nurse) acted as a great mentor in helping me to develop my skills as an Informatics Nurse Intern.  She also provided a lot of insight in how a nurse develops his/her skills at the bedside.” My family brought my attention to Alliance, NE, but the employees influenced me staying at BBGH as an employee.  The hospital has a great community feel to it that makes starting here a little easier. They brought up both the ups and downs of being at a critical access hospital and helped me to make my decision on where my professional path would lead.  “

Marketing Intern Shae Brennan

Shae Brennan, a student at Chadron State College who graduated from Alliance High School in 2012, is planning to obtain her Bachelor degree in Communications, with emphasis in Public Relations and Journalism. She applied to be an intern in the hospital’s Marketing Department and was summarily employed in that position. “It’s hard to pin down one specific thing I enjoyed most from this whole experience, because I’ve learned so much!,” she said. “This internship gave me the opportunity to be involved with and understand the people who work ‘behind the scenes’ at a hospital. I really enjoyed getting to know all the people. Another of my favorite things about this internship was being able to experience and learn so much more than I expected. I wanted to intern in the Marketing/PR field because PR is my major and I wanted to gain a deeper understanding about what it will be like to work in this field in the future.”

Nursing Intern Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson, also of Alliance, is another college intern who spent her summer in the Patient Care Unit. She’s currently a senior at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.  “I chose to do my internship in the patient care unit,” she said. “I thought it was important to practice my assessment skills and build some general knowledge of patient care. My best experience was the people at BBGH.  Everyone that I worked with was extremely encouraging and patient.  I also enjoyed being able to use the skill and knowledge that I've gained from nursing school to help people in my community.”

Physical Therapy Intern Jim Ottman

Jim Ottman has long had an interest in Physical Therapy. “It’s a field I’ve always been interested in and when I finished my Bachelor’s Degree I wanted to get some hands on experience before I went to Eastern Washington University to get my Physical Therapy doctorate,” he said. “The people I got to work with here at BBGH were definitely a great group to work with and very knowledgeable. It was a pleasure and I learned a lot.” The Torrington, WY native said that once he obtains his degree, he will practice somewhere in Wyoming for three years to fulfill a scholarship requirement. “After that, I hope to say in the Panhandle area, and maybe specialize in pediatrics or cardiac rehab.”

 Each year various departments at the hospital take on summer interns, usually interviewing applicants in the spring. Available internships can be found under Careers on this web site. Some departments also contact local colleges for potential prospects as well. To find out more information, please contact the HR Department at BBGH, 308-762.4357 ext. 3132.

Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.