UIW and CHRISTUS Health Introduce First Paid Nursing Internship, Continuing a Legacy of Care
In 1869, UIW’s three founding Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI) traveled from France to America to provide care to vulnerable San Antonio communities impacted by a cholera epidemic. It was through their unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, compassion and resilience that they were able to provide relief amidst uncertainty, and through their efforts establish San Antonio’s first hospital, the Santa Rosa Infirmary.
Nearly 156 years later, the Sisters’ initial courageous act has been a catalyst that has influenced UIW’s ongoing involvement in healthcare. With five health professions schools presently established (Feik School of Pharmacy, Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, Rosenberg School of Optometry, School of Rehabilitation Sciences and School of Osteopathic Medicine), UIW has been able to support generations of aspiring healthcare professionals in their own goals of administering aid to those in need.
On Monday, July 21, a celebration was held in honor of launching the first paid internship program between UIW’s Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions (SNHP) and the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Heath System. The vision of the UIW-CHRISTUS paid nursing internship program is to simultaneously prepare nursing students for real-world excellence, while deepening the mission-driven partnership between UIW and CHRISTUS.
“At the time (when developing the program), UIW had several paid internship programs with other hospital systems, but not yet with CHRISTUS, and this was a gap that we knew really needed to be closed,” explained Dr. Lindsey Karimisaleh, director of Clinical Partnerships, Engagement and Marketing at SNHP. “Thanks to the support and shared commitment from UIW and CHRISTUS leadership, what started as a goal quickly became a green lit initiative.”
Karimisaleh noted that the goal for the pilot program was to have four interns in its first cohort. However, the program received 16 applications from nearly half of the eligible seniors, leaving the inaugural cohort comprised of 11 interns, nearly tripling their initial goal. For Karimisaleh, the numbers weren’t what mattered most. What stood out was that SNHP students applied because they felt a connection to CHRISTUS through past experiences and knew they would gain meaningful knowledge from the program.
Specialty sectors that cohort members will be exposed to during their internships include Mother/Baby, Emergency Department, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Oncology, Intermediate Care, Intensive Care Unit, Preoperative, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit and Labor and Delivery.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to work one-on-one with a NICU nurse and gain hands-on experience in such a specialized and meaningful area of care,” expressed one student when asked what she was looking forward to. “Being able to learn from an experienced nurse before I graduate will not only help me build clinical skills but also give me a deeper understanding of what it takes to care for our most vulnerable patients. It’s an incredible chance to grow both personally and professionally – and I’m excited to take it all in!”
Students heard words of encouragement from both UIW and CHRISTUS representatives and leadership, including SNHP’s Dean Danuta M. Wojnar.
The celebration concluded with a presentation on the history of the CCVI Congregation given by Sr. Mary Henry, CCVI, director of the Heritage Center. Members of the UIW and CHRISTUS communities paid close attention to Sr. Mary Henry’s words, hearing how the actions of the past have woven together, connecting UIW and CHRISTUS and bringing us to the vast tapestry the reflects the growth of the two organizations. Her presentation concluded with an explanation of how the hospital systems established by CCVI congregations located in Houston and in San Antonio merged in 1999, leading to the establishment of CHRISTUS Health.
“The congregations did not merge, but the hospital systems merged, and they became CHRISTUS Health,” explained Sr. Mary Henry. “I know it (CHRISTUS) is a very strong entity, as is the University. I think it's more than wonderful that the University and CHRISTUS Health are partnering to bring these two entities together, because they were both founded by the Sisters.”
Click here to read more about the history of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and CHRISTUS Health.