Chicago Semester

Michelle McClure: Nursing Education Coordinator

Posted by Michelle McClure in Around Town in Internships in Special Tracks in Staff Stories | Feb 28, 2011

I have lived in Chicago all my life. Like the Chicago Semester students I am living, working, and learning in the city.  Currently, I live in a north lakefront community that offers a diverse ethnic makeup that lends to wide array of dining including, Ethiopian, French, Japanese, Thai, and American, cultural events, and shopping. I have worked at Chicago Semester since Fall 2005. Currently, we only accept nursing students from Hope College. My goal is to expand the nursing education program to include other participating institutions. Also, I am in an online Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) student at Loyola of New Orleans. This DNP degree is a new and evolving program building on my masters’ preparation. When I'm not working or at my nursing practicum, you can find me at one of the neighborhood cafes with free WIFI studying.

The midpoint for Spring 2011 is already here. The nursing students are busy moving about the city with their neighborhood visits, service learning projects, internships and NCLEX preparation. Chicago Semester builds on their previous learning as nursing professionals, offering a unique clinical experience in a magnet designated hospital in Chicago under direct supervision of a BSN registered nurse. The experience enriches their fundamental clinical skills, utilization of the nursing process, and development of communication and interpersonal skills in an urban academic milieu. The students are in clinical areas such as general medicine, cardiac care, pediatrics and pediatric intensive care, and labor and delivery.

It is such a small world.  While at the practicum sites I have often ran into Chicago Semester alumni.  It is great seeing them and hearing about their lives now, working and living in city. I never forget to tell them to check out the Chicago Semester website and update their alumni information.