Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Superior is in its second year partnering with The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire to offer the next generation of nurses a fully immersive experience in rural health care leadership.
 
The program has worked with about 15 students, who meet at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Hospital-Superior and Essentia Health St. Mary’s-Superior Clinic about three times a month during the school semester. 
 
While onsite, students work with the director of nursing and clinic managers, among other roles, and each is unique in the rural health care setting.
 
During UW-Eau Claire nursing student Emma Schrauth’s clinical with Essentia, she contributed to the development of evidence-based care processes. She learned how canceled appointments can amount to a financial loss, and she saw how critical access hospitals serve as a lifeline for communities.
 
“This perspective will allow me to function better on a health care team,” said Schrauth.
 
The Essentia/UW-Eau Claire partnership is a testament to developing the health care workforce. The clinical rotation introduces students to a career pathway and a potential employer, and it allows Essentia staff to share first-hand experience.
 
In Adrienne Radovich’s time with students, the Superior hospital nursing director encourages them to get involved in committees and shared governance councils, so they can help shape their practice and advocate for patients.
 
“We need these nurses in the future to take care of all of us,” she added.
 
Superior hospital administrator Kim Pearson said the clinical rotation shows students there’s a nontraditional road to leadership. “Longevity isn’t what makes someone a good leader; it’s a skillset," she continued.
 
Schrauth worked closely with both leaders, whom she watched shape health care culture with small actions. Leadership is cultivating meaningful connections.

“I got to see people who were very good at that in Superior,” Schrauth said.