For the past five weeks 22 Belmont nursing students participated in a summer internship program called Vanderbilt Experience: Student Nurse Internship Program (VESNIP) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center along with students from other regional nursing programs. Six Belmont nursing students were awarded the highest honors at the culminating awards ceremony held last Friday July 8, 2011 in the Teaching and Learning Center at Vanderbilt. Of the twelve total awards given, six went to Belmont students. Chelsea Stevens and Kathryn Russ received Credo awards, Christopher Russell received a People Pillar award, Emily Tice received the Evidence-Based Practice Award (which came with one-year access to the VUMC biomedical library), Chelsea Shirley (pictured at right with James Barnett, Director of the VESNIP program) received an award for fulfilling all five of VUMC’s pillars, and Katherine McFarland received the Nightingale award for overall professional leadership.
Chelsea Shirley was singled out for her quick thinking in a crisis situation. According to her preceptor, Ms. Shirley “stopped us from giving Amidate because she remembered he [the patient] had an allergy… It was quick thinking and she said it loudly enough for the team to hear. Her preceptor, other nurses, and I want to reward her for an action that prevented an allergic reaction that causes seizures.”
This is the seventh year of the VESNIP program. The program began as a partnership between Belmont School of Nursing and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, an outgrowth of Dr. Leslie Fold’s dissertation work. Dr. Folds leads Belmont’s efforts in the program and noted that “the caliber of students who are participating has increased each year.” It has now expanded to a total of 62 students from four area nursing schools. The VESNIP positions are very competitive and are considered elite opportunities for students from around the region.
All 2011 VESNIP participants from Belmont University are pictured below.