Note: Indiana University East School of Nursing and Health Sciences is preparing highly-qualified nurses for today's healthcare professions. This is the first story in a four-part series to feature how today's faculty and alumni are working with nursing students to prepare for the future.

IU East School of Nursing and Health Sciences graduates quickly land regional jobs

September 25, 2018

Richmond, Ind. - Graduates of Indiana University East's School of Nursing and Health Sciences are being sought by regional health care employers, and many of those hires are rising quickly in their profession.

Recent alumni are grateful for the close connections they've developed with faculty mentors and the use of cutting-edge technology during their instruction.

For instance, Tyler Evans, who earned a B.S.N. in 2013 and an M.S.N. in 2016, said finding his first job was a very smooth process. Through his initial position as a registered nurse at Reid Health in Richmond, he helped heart and lung surgery patients with their recovery.

Evans has since made internal advancements at Reid. In addition to his time in the intensive care unit, he has been able to start the Transition Coaching program, work as a team leader in the cardiac cath lab, and most recently joined management, where he has overseen many units and projects.

"I hear a lot of people say that a small school can't provide you with what you need to be successful, but I am living proof that if you take advantage of your opportunities, you can make the most of it," Evans said.

Evans said he had made connections at Reid through his clinical experiences and took a role as a student nurse during his senior year of nursing school. He was able to accept a position before graduation because of his position as a student nurse, and started his orientation before passing his boards, so he was a step ahead coming out of school.

He said he feels IU East's School of Nursing and Health Sciences prepared him well for the challenges of nursing after graduation.

Amber Huelskamp, a 2018 B.S.N. graduate, said she felt very prepared for the working world as well.

"Through many simulations, I became confident in my abilities and now apply those learning experiences to real-life situations," Huelskamp said. "Most of all, I am thankful for being certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support upon graduation, because this allows me to provide the best care possible to my patients, especially in the ICU."

Huelskamp is now a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at IU Health Ball Memorial. The Jay County High School graduate did her capstone experience with the resource pool at the Muncie hospital. She applied for a job at Ball Memorial's ICU about a month before graduation, and soon was offered her position after an impromptu interview with the manager.

Huelskamp is not alone in finding a job quickly after graduation. IU East surveyed those who received a B.S.N. in 2016, and nearly 91 percent of those who responded had started work within 6 months of graduation, with all but one within a year.

Donald Day Jr., DNP, MSNL, RN, who returned to the region last fall to become the Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services for Fayette Regional Health System in Connersville, said IU East students are well trained and well prepared to meet the expectations of the challenging workplace.

"They are not just taking care of people, they are also learning how to implement many different initiatives that add to the patient experience which many nurses have been able to learn over many years," said Day, who completed his undergraduate studies at IU East in 1998. "The students today learn quickly and are very engaged in helping the patient receive the best care possible."

As a hiring manager of talent while at Reid Health, Day said he always received great candidates from IU East and hired many of them who applied. Day said he also had extra insight as he had worked in the IU East skills lab through his first year as a unit director, so he had the opportunity to meet many of the students applying for work in the clinical setting.