New nursing program attracting significant attention
For many children, getting vaccinations can be a traumatic experience. Not for Caitlyn Pernsteiner.
The Lakeland sophomore, one of the first students to enroll in Lakeland’s new nursing program, recalls being fascinated by her doctor visits.
“I always loved going to the hospital,” Pernsteiner said. “All of my appointments I would watch them give me shots. I always thought ‘I want to do that when I am older.’”
When Lakeland decided to partner with Moraine Park Technical College last summer to offer a bachelor of science in nursing degree, it had students like Caitlyn Pernsteiner in mind.
Beginning last fall, students could simultaneously enroll at Lakeland and MPTC on their way to earning an associate degree in nursing from MPTC and a bachelor’s in nursing from Lakeland in four years.
Along the way, students will supplement classroom learning through clinical placements via MPTC’s partners and unique to Lakeland’s Cooperative Education program, by working in related jobs which will rotate students between a number of nursing specialties allowing them to explore future career specializations.
Nearly 50% of female prospective students who inquire about Lakeland – students like Pernsteiner – ask about nursing, so the partnership fills a void.
The program is attracting plenty of attention from prospective students. Since launching the degree, the major has rocketed it into Lakeland’s top five in-demand majors.
Lakeland nursing students can engage in Lakeland’s residential campus experiences including athletics, music and theater experiences, Greek life, service learning and study abroad opportunities.
That’s music to the ears of Pernsteiner, of Arpin, Wis., who was a volleyball standout at Marshfield High School. She wanted to continue playing volleyball in college, and considered numerous schools, including several that had nursing programs.
She settled on majoring in biology with a health science emphasis at Lakeland and playing for the Muskies and head women’s volleyball coach Ryan Schopf. She came to LU knowing she would need some additional schooling after graduating to become a nurse.
When Lakeland announced the new nursing program, Pernsteiner was contacted by Kerry Hamm, an RN and director of Lakeland’s nursing program. Pernsteiner quickly switched her major.
“It’s perfect,” she said. “I’ll be able to graduate with a nursing degree with all the people in my class.”
Pernsteiner will start MPTC classes this fall while also playing her junior volleyball season as a key member of the team. She is an accomplished student who won a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Scholar-Athlete Award as a freshman and was named to the College Sports Communicators NCAA Division III Academic All-District Team.
“Coach has really helped me not worry about how my schedule will work and taken the stress off, which is really helpful,” Pernsteiner said. “He has my back, which is nice.”
This summer will mark two years as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) for Pernsteiner, who worked at Marshfield Medical Center last summer.
After graduation, she hopes to start as an RN in labor and delivery like her sister-in-law and role model, Brittany. In the future, she’s interested in exploring a role as a nurse anesthetist.
“(Brittany) tells me stories about her job and it clarifies what I want to do,” Pernsteiner said. “I love working with patients. You get to really know them sometimes. I’m with some of them for weeks at a time, and you see them at their lowest, then in two weeks you get to see them at their best when they leave. That’s rewarding.”
The new program comes at an important time. The Wisconsin Hospital Association’s 20th annual workforce report found that growth in Wisconsin’s nursing workforce is lagging behind the growth needed to meet current and future demand. The report emphasized the need to expand career pathway options to grow Wisconsin’s health care workforce.
Additionally, nursing topped the 2023 list of the most commonly sought occupations in Wisconsin based on number of job postings.
“MPTC is a perfect partner because our missions align in that we seek out innovative partnerships to improve access to degrees,” said Lakeland President Beth Borgen. “In this case, we will build the nursing workforce within our communities.”
