Volunteers are extremely critical to the success of Ball State’s School of Nursing. The course NUR 350 focuses on the role development of the professional nurse who provides care to clients experiencing behavioral and psychological problems in a variety of psychiatric setting. The course emphasizes health promotion, holistic assessment, therapeutic communication, environmental management and psychiatric illness management. Student and volunteer feedback from this course was shared to educate others about their experience.

Students must be able to communicate to patients to provide the best quality care for them. By having good communication skills, patients will be more comfortable allowing doctors to take care of them.

“The student used some of the therapeutic communication techniques like ‘tell me more,’” Allyson Utz said. “They also made great eye contact and came across as very genuine. They also were relatable and did not make me feel weird for having stress and anxiety.”

Students gaining valuable work experience in college will help them succeed tremendously in their career field. This also lets others see the potential they have in the nursing field.

“The student was great,” Elizabeth Arnett said. “She was an attentive listener and seemed sincere in trying to help me in my situation. I see great potential in this student as a nurse. She will be a positive asset to the world of nursing.”

Nursing students who can relate to patients are ones who make an impact on them and make them feel seen and heard.

            “She related to my type of stress and said, ‘I feel like I’m looking into a mirror,’ “Jill Jereb said. “That was very effective for me to relate back. Her suggestions were not over-whelming. They were easy to understand and do. A little word ‘no’ has a big impact.”

Nursing students have a unique opportunity to truly help others in times of need. The ability to make an impact like this is a gift, Ball State nursing students are learning ways to help people best while gaining experience in that area.

“The student was very confident and guided the conversation to some very concrete problems that I was able to identify,” Jennifer Hopper said. “She suggested tech help for a problem I was avoiding, and she encouraged two other changes to implement, one this month and one next month.”

Because Ball State nursing students can immerse themselves in a working environment because of courses like NUR 350, this allows them to gain valuable feedback and project themselves towards a promising future.