Building community in high-acuity nursing

Students in the Doctor of Nursing Practice nurse anesthesia program give back to the community through Adopt-A-Highway cleanups, one of several service initiatives offered throughout the year.

The Doctor of Nursing Practice nurse anesthesia program’s commitment to whole person health is clear to students even before they enroll.

“During the interview process, we spent dedicated time with current students in a small-group setting designed to ease nerves and help us show up as our best, most authentic selves,” says nurse anesthesia student Bri Ziegler, BSN, RN. “That tone carried into the program itself. There has been a consistent message from day one that our wellbeing matters and that caring for ourselves is foundational to caring for patients. Community and mutual support are core values here.”

From ice cream socials for seniors at The Pillars of Prospect Park and food preparation for people who are critically ill at Open Arms of Minnesota to Adopt-A-Highway road cleanups, students in the nurse anesthesia program demonstrate their dedication to service, relationship-building, and improving the wellbeing of the community throughout their time at the school.

The intentional layering of volunteering, wellness activities and mentoring is by design.

“On day one, we make sure that students, who have worked so hard to be accepted into the program, know there’s zero competition once you’re here. We sort of envelop you into this group that will take care of you as your mentors, as your classmates and faculty,” says specialty coordinator Joanne Donnelly, DNP, APRN, CRNA, FAANA.

Learning beyond the classroom

The partnership with The Pillars of Prospect Park has become one of the most beloved opportunities. At ice cream socials and trivia nights, nurse anesthesia students socialize with retired nurses and other residents.

“The students hear in the classroom about the first pacemakers being created at the University of Minnesota,” says Donnelly, “and then they hear from a retired OR nurse who was part of those implantations. They’re just in awe.”

For student Everett Kohner, BSN, RN, the visits have been incredibly meaningful. “Whether it was making tie blankets for those in need or simply enjoying ice cream together on a hot day, spending time with residents allowed me to connect across generations and step outside the fast-paced, high-acuity world of anesthesia training,” he says. “The relationships I have built there are genuine and grounding, and they serve as a reminder of the importance of human connection.”

The partnership at The Pillars can be in part credited to a former resident — Marie Manthey, who was a trailblazer in nursing and one of the school’s most distinguished alums. When she passed, Donnelly, who holds the inaugural Marie Manthey Professorship in Innovation Practices, felt connected to Manthey’s last home.

“I thought we could continue Marie’s legacy around community building and bring people together for more organic conversations, like her salons. So we quickly kicked that off and did the ice cream socials in the summer, which were big hits and are still talked about,” says Donnelly. “I think so much of this is Marie’s legacy, and also the real companionship and camaraderie that happens across this generational gap. It’s really quite unique.” 

Erin Erdahl, BA, director of programming and partnerships at The Pillars, sees the partnership as a continuation of Manthey’s legacy as well.

“Continuing her legacy of community, connection and service remains an integral part of our shared work. Through partnerships like this, students and residents gain exposure to one another, deepen their understanding, and observe firsthand the value of purposeful engagement and intergenerational connection in supporting overall wellbeing,” says Erdahl.

In addition to The Pillars, nurse anesthesia students have regular volunteer opportunities with Adopt-A-Highway, Open Arms of Minnesota and The Bridge for Youth.

“Volunteering has been an important reminder that whole person health extends beyond the walls of the hospital and classroom,” says Ziegler.

While none of the volunteering is required, students tend to prioritize it because it’s a chance for them to be together across all cohorts and build community.

“All of these opportunities are optional. The only thing that is expected is that we all take our foot off the gas and do the things that fill our cup,” says Donnelly.

Wellness by design

Students participate in kickball and volleyball leagues, and there is designated wellness time incorporated into course delivery.

In a specialty that carries the highest rate of suicide among advanced practice nurses, Donnelly takes that responsibility seriously. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, she surveys students throughout the semester, gauging stress levels and adjusting clinical schedules accordingly.

“Where are you on a scale of one to 10?” she describes asking. “People don’t want to talk about much more than that, but they’ll say ‘I’m an 11.’ And gathering that information is enough to say it makes more sense to take this next week off of clinical.”

Students also lean on each other through a formal peer mentorship structure. Incoming students are paired with upper-level students before the program even begins, and before clinical rotations start — a notoriously anxious transition — the cohort ahead runs a simulation day to build practical skills and ease nerves.

Ziegler’s doctoral quality improvement project took that support one step further, establishing an Alumni Mentorship Program that connects current students with practicing CRNAs for candid conversations about career pathways.

“Connecting students with alumni provides space for honest conversations about clinical readiness, job offers, career pathways and work-life integration,” says Ziegler.

This sense of mutual support and community is what Donnelly wants students to carry with them.

“We have to have a place where it’s different,” she says, “where students come here because they are more than a number. It is a true community, and we’re very connected.”