Tag Archives: grinnell college students

This summer, The Mayflower Community Health Center is experiencing the enthusiasm of young, dedicated certified and licensed staff. Besides earning college tuition, they are gaining “experiential learning” experience. Typically, graduate medical schools require 2,000 hours of health-related work experience as part of post-grad studies in medicine. In addition to the members of the Grinnell College student class that trained to become Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) on the Mayflower campus last June, there are also five CNAs and two Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), who will be pursuing further studies in science this fall. Pictured below are five of the undergraduate students with three experienced CNAs who are serving as their mentors. The mentors in the front row, left to right are Nely Dayton, Wendy Parrott, and Crystal Carman. The undergrads in the back row, left to right are Nicky Midlash, Catherine Cogley, Kate Tomczik, Albiona Limani, and Jessica Moore. Nicky, from Hinsdale, Illinois, is a student at Grinnell College majoring in psychology. He plans to continue schooling to become a Physician’s Assistant. Nicky sees the Mayflower CNA experience as a “place to help and develop around great people.” Catherine is a Grinnell High School grad attending William Jewel College in Liberty Missouri. With her major of biochemistry, she is planning to attend medical school. The Mayflower experience? “It has shown me what nurses and nurse aides deal with every day.” Kate Tomczik is a second-year at Grinnell College from St. Cloud, Minnesota. She is playing a lot of basketball for the Pioneers while studying biology and studio art. Where will this all take her? She is hoping medical school. In the meantime, “I have learned lots from the residents through their stories.” Albiona is a Grinnell High grad studying biology at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls. She plans to head to Physician’s Assistant school upon graduation. Besides providing “direct patient care” hours for grad school, the Mayflower experience has provided her “…more knowledge about taking care of people. Jessica was an all-state track and diving performer at Grinnell High before heading off to St. Louis University to study biology. She is still running and jumping, now with the Billikins, as she prepares to go to Physician’s Assistant school post-grad. With just a bit of enthusiasm, Jessica observes, “I like the people that work here, and the residents are awesome!” Other locals working this summer in the Mayflower Health Center include: • Jarrett Rose, Grinnell High, is a sophomore studying pre-med at Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota. • Courtney Anderson, South Tama High, is studying for a bachelor’s in nursing at the University of Minnesota State, Mankato. • Other Grinnell College students from our summer CNA class who have started working this summer are: o Bella Butzirus – Lived around the world with Navy father, graduating from Nile E. Kinnick High School, Yokosuka, Japan. A 4th-year, Bella is working on a Mentored Advanced Project studying “Junk Food Nutrition” with rats and planning on medical school after graduation. o Linda Peng – Cedar Falls High, Cedar Falls, Iowa, is a 2nd year studying biochemistry and undecided about post-grad plans. o Gretchen Schreiner – Grand Forks, North Dakota, is a 4th year sociology/biology major with pre-health and neuroscience concentration, planning on PhD or medical school. In addition, she is planning to conduct a sociology study with Mayflower residents. Two employees are headed for nursing school in the fall at Marshalltown Community College: • Taylor Kirby, LPN, Grinnell High, is working on her registered nurse degree. • Cheyenne Klos, Montezuma H.S. grad, will be testing for LPN licensure and is currently on active Army reserve duty. She will begin registered nurse degree studies. When school resumes in the fall, the Grinnell College students will be working part-time in the Health Center, as their schedules permit. The students attending out-of-town colleges will work at Mayflower when they are home for breaks. Bob Mann, Sales & Marketing Director

College Student CNAs and LPNs at Mayflower

This summer, The Mayflower Community Health Center is experiencing the enthusiasm of young, dedicated certified and licensed staff. Besides earning college tuition, they are gaining “experiential learning” experience. Typically, graduate medical schools require 2,000 hours of health-related work experience as part of post-grad studies in medicine. In addition to the members of the Grinnell College

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Gretchen Schreiner; Nicky Midlash; Katelle Donkor; and Mary Jane Shroyer, Grinnell College Director of Health Professions Community; and (back row) Vickie Wieck, RN, Mayflower Associative Director of Nursing; Kevin Gubner; Elizabeth Wesselborg; Katherine Tomczik; Kellie McGriff, BSN, Mayflower Associate Director/Administrator; Bella Butzirus; Linda Peng; Alyssa Hyndman; Sterling Yang; and Cheryl Little, Iowa Valley Director of Health Education

Grinnell College Students Complete CNA Work

Thursday, June 13th marks the final day for classroom and clinical work for the nine Grinnell College students who have been on an intensive Mayflower Community training program to be certified as Nurse Aides (CNA). The nine underclassmen were chosen to begin training on May 20th under the tutelage of Vickie Wieck, RN, Mayflower Assistant

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grinnell college students presenting menus for Mayflower open dining concept

Grinnell College Students Design Open Dining Menu

In preparation for The Mayflower Community’s new Open Dining program, Scott Gruhn, Director of Food Services, worked during the spring semester with a team of Grinnell College students to create a computer application to manage the menu. The students shared their work at an end-of-semester presentation to an audience of other students in the computer

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Gretchen Schreiner; Nicky Midlash; Katelle Donkor; and Mary Jane Shroyer, Grinnell College Director of Health Professions Community; and (back row) Vickie Wieck, RN, Mayflower Associative Director of Nursing; Kevin Gubner; Elizabeth Wesselborg; Katherine Tomczik; Kellie McGriff, BSN, Mayflower Associate Director/Administrator; Bella Butzirus; Linda Peng; Alyssa Hyndman; Sterling Yang; and Cheryl Little, Iowa Valley Director of Health Education

College Students Move into Mayflower

On Monday, May 20th, five Grinnell College students moved into Mayflower Community apartments for short-term stays while they are in training to become Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs). A total of 10 students are enrolled in a special program being conducted on the Mayflower campus (Grinnell IA). Working in conjunction with Grinnell College and Iowa Valley

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Grinnell College students - Maya Adachi and Henry Brannan present wellness study

College Students Study Resident Wellness

During the semester just completed, a Grinnell College two-person methods team worked with The Mayflower Community leadership in a project to study wellness among Mayflower residents. The study was part of Professor Monty Roper’s Anthropology 293 course applied project, “Research for Community Development.” The project centered on experiential community-based learning to answer this research question:

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Mayflower Community Volunteer Appreciation

Mayflower Volunteers Are Appreciated

Annually, The Mayflower Community (Grinnell IA) thanks the many volunteers who provide support to Mayflower residents. Other residents, Grinnell community members, and Grinnell College students help in many ways: Driving, reading, companionship, worship services, audio-visual support. Of significant importance is the Grinnell College “Adopt-A-Grandparent” program, which pairs undergrad students with individual residents for a minimum

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joint planning session for CNA program

CNA Certification Program Collaboration

Grinnell College, Iowa Valley Community College (Grinnell IA), and The Mayflower Community (Grinnell) are collaborating to train Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) for life-experience work in healthcare at Mayflower. A certified nurse aide is a person who works primarily in long-term care (nursing facilities) assisting residents with activities of daily living under the supervision of a

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