Students explore access to healthcare for the homeless population in Green Bay
Hi! My name is Mary Forbes and I am a senior studying Nursing at Bellin College. I will complete my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and graduate this coming May and could not be more excited to start my career as a registered nurse. Before coming to Bellin College, I spent two and a half years at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities completing my nursing prerequisite and general education courses. The advent of Bellin College’s Junior Transfer Option happened just in time for my arrival, and was a major contributing factor in my decision to come to Bellin College. I was also drawn to Bellin College for their state-of-the-art equipment and lab spaces, the College’s partnerships with many well-established hospitals in the area, and commitment to educating student nurses to be leaders and critical thinkers.
From day one at Bellin College, I knew that I wanted to get involved with the Bellin community. I joined the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School – Bellin College Chapter in fall 2015, not quite sure what to expect. Little did I know, becoming involved with IHI would change my life and how I think about practicing nursing and providing patient care. In spring 2016, in partnership with Kortney Marshall, I completed a course through IHI, called Leadership and Organizing for Change. Through this course, Kortney and I developed a project that explored access to healthcare for the homeless population in Green Bay. Our project piqued the interest of IHI Open School staff, and Kortney and I were invited to attend a Leadership Academy in Cambridge, MA, to further our education on what it means to be a leader who is dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare.
Our project required the involvement of numerous community resources, and allowed Bellin College’s IHI Open School Chapter an opportunity to develop a relationship with the New Community Shelter. The New Community Shelter provides refuge to adult men and women of Brown County. Our chapter has made it a goal to serve a meal to the NEW Community Shelter residents at least once every semester. During our fall 2016 meal, our chapter distributed pamphlets highlighting community resources for healthcare and shelter, and became a large part of the project we presented at IHI’s National Forum in Orlando, FL, this past December.
IHI has taught me an incredible amount about the important role nurses can play in quality improvement and patient safety. IHI has allowed me to discover myself as a nurse, and I have Bellin College to thank for facilitating my connection with such a forward-thinking organization. As I begin my career as an RN in Minneapolis, MN, I will be drawing on all of the knowledge I have gained these past two years. Bellin College has prepared me to provide the best nursing care, and I am nothing but thankful for the staff and faculty who have made this possible!
