Emily Schneider
Education: St. Olaf College
MD Mentor: Various
Staff Mentors: Kate Jappe
Project: Sponsored Clinical Trials
How did you hear about the MHIF internship and why did you want to participate?
I heard about the MHIF internship through the nursing department at St. Olaf, and I was encouraged by my advisor to look into this opportunity. After learning more about this internship, I realized this would be an exciting opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of nursing beyond the bedside and learn more about the role of nursing in research.
What sparked your interest in the field of research, medicine and cardiology?
I have been interested in medicine, specifically nursing, almost my whole life. My grandma likes to remind me that from a young age, I would always ask her: "Are you having any issues?". As I grew older, I continued to be fascinated by how the human body functions and the different roles within the medical system. After working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for the past few years, I have solidified my interest in nursing, wanting to be there for people and care for them in their time of need. However, I always believed that nursing was limited to bedside nursing. This internship opportunity sparked my interest in the connection between nursing and research. I am excited to learn what nursing opportunities lie beyond the bedside and expand my learning in the field of cardiology. My curiosity in cardiology developed more recently, as the courses I am taking have finally begun discussing the structure and functions of the heart. These courses have given me a greater appreciation for the complexity of the heart and sparked a curiosity to learn more about this vital organ.
What is your desired career in medicine?
I am committed to pursuing a career in nursing, but I am currently unsure which field of nursing I want to enter into. For so long, I thought that nursing was limited to a hospital or clinical setting, as these settings are emphasized in the nursing curriculum. However, this internship has opened my eyes to a new side of nursing. This opportunity has broadened my scope of nursing and led me to a place of discovery. I hope this internship and future clinical experiences will help me find the right path.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
I am excited to explore the connection between research and nursing. I am also looking forward to meeting the other interns and learning more about their desired career paths, as I know their futures will likely look much different from mine.
What do you hope to gain from this experience?
I hope this experience will broaden my scope of nursing practice beyond the bedside. I want to gain experiences that I can share about when I return to school, to inform my fellow nursing students of the nursing opportunities that lie outside the hospital setting.
What are your plans after the summer?
I will return to St. Olaf College this fall to begin my junior year. I look forward to starting nursing clinicals and applying my experiences from this summer to my future learning.
What is a fun fact about you?
In the summer, I enjoy going for bike rides. Last summer, I completed a 50-mile ride!
