even basic needs— clothing or food.”
With the success Ivy Tech has seen in its students completing clinical hours in the past, Guarneri said she strives to make the partnership program accessible to all of the college’ s aspiring nurses— around 150 per year.
“ My hope is that it can grow even further and really have an opportunity for our Ivy Tech student nurses to experience different types of nursing in our area and really connect with some of the wonderful nurses that are out there serving our community,” she said.
Coombs, the health services coordinator, said nursing students bring an enthusiasm to schools that benefits their resident nurses and
“ Sometimes nursing students bring just kind of an enthusiasm or just kind of a bright light”
creates a positive environment for the school as a whole.
“ Sometimes nursing students bring just kind of an enthusiasm or just kind of a bright light,” she said.
“ We’ ve been doing it for a while, so it’ s nice to have some new people that are learning or maybe they’ ve learned something along the way that they share with us.”
To be successful, Coombs said, students should be willing to learn, research and ask questions throughout the process, remembering the individuality of each child.
“ The more they dive in, the more they’ re going to learn different situations, different kids and how specific their needs are,” she said.
“ That all children have the ability and the right to be in school and to learn like all kids.”
NEWS AND TRIBUNE HEALTHCARE GUIDE 2026
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