Today, the pandemic class that knows that only too well will graduate. They are the 15 nursing students of Daniel’s Iowa Central two-year program, who watched as a virus changed lives and sometimes over-burdened medical services. Today, they accept their diplomas and go out into the world as registered nurses.

“This group is my COVID group,” Daniels said. “They came in in the dead of it.”

Like the sign promised, that first semester was seriously tough.

“Their first semester was pretty much virtual learning. Time on campus was limited to a few labs and testing so we met via Zoom,” she said. “Virtual learning is not for everyone, but these graduating students stepped up and worked hard to learn the material and apply it.”

-Messenger photo by Jane Curtis
Betty Daniel poses with her “COVID kids,” the nursing students who began the two-year program when the pandemic was full-blown and then stuck with it. “I am very proud of all of my students,” said Daniel, “but especially my COVID kids.”

None too soon.

A summer 2021 survey of nurses from across the United States found that 95 percent of them were experiencing burnout, according to Nursing CE Central. Almost half were looking for new positions, some outside of nursing.

“The single most important change I have seen in nursing within the last couple of years is the burnout amongst my nurse colleagues,” Daniel said. “We often care for our patients, our friends, and family, but rarely take the time for self-care. Long hours, short staffing, and caring for more critically ill patients take a toll on nurses. Facilities need to recognize the need for self-care for our nurses or we may not have the nurses we need when we need them.”

But, today, just in time, Daniel’s students will go out into the world of medicine and work at jobs that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, had a median average wage of $77,600 in May 2021.

Nursing is one of the most stable occupations, according to the BLS. It projects jobs for registered nurses to grow 9 percent from 2020 to 2030.

Every year, there are about 194,500 openings for registered nurses, the BLS reports. That number is an average taken over a decade. “Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire,” its report states.

“The nursing shortage is real and is only going to get worse,” Daniel said. “Many factors have played a part in the nurse shortages we are experiencing; Baby Boomers are retiring, COVID has burnt nurses out, both physically and mentally, just to name a couple of factors.

“Nurses are in high demand right now. A graduate who passes their state exam can go anywhere to work and, in many areas, such as obstetric, surgery, intensive care, emergency room, medical-surgical floors.”

At the Webster City campus, Iowa Central accepts up to 35 students in the nursing program.

“The students coming into our nursing program can graduate after one year and sit for their licensed practical nurse exam, or they can continue and graduate with their associate degree in nursing and are able to sit for their registered nurse exam,” Daniel said.

Some of them commute significant distances to attend class. This class comes from West Des Moines, Polk City, Madrid, Boone, Belmond, and Fort Dodge, in addition to local students.

One of them, Elicia Watson, of Polk City, drives an hour and 15 minutes to attend class in Webster City. She was able to get in to the Webster City program more quickly than if she had attempted to attend Des Moines Area Community College, which would be closer to her home.

“We have small class sizes here in Webster City and the students really seem to like that,” Daniel said. “They can connect with each other and, by the time they graduate, they are like family to each other.”

Daniel has been a nurse for almost 43 years. She earned her bachelor of science in nursing from Morningside College, Sioux City, in 1979. Her master’s in nursing education was earned in 2016. In between, she was a part-time adjunct in clinical instruction for Iowa Central before she became full-time nursing coordinator/instructor for the Webster City campus in 2010.

“I have always loved nursing and have worked mostly in small rural hospitals where my skills and knowledge grew exponentially,” she said. “I was attracted to teaching during my many years working as a bedside nurse. I knew good strong educators were a vital part of having nurses in the field that could critically think and provide exceptional care. I acknowledged my own instructors and the influence they had on my nursing ability, and I wanted to be a part of that.

“Growing up in rural Iowa, I respect the part community colleges have on our workforce and Iowa Central was a good fit for me.”

Iowa Central is still accepting applications for fall 2022, according to Colette Bertran, Webster City campus director. The deadline for application is July 1.

Daniels said, “I often hear from facilities in this area that they like to hire our graduates as they are well-prepared. This group will finish up their RN Management course by June 20th. They must complete a 120-hour preceptorship within that time in addition to attending class. Many of our students will be offered a job where they precept. I feel this speaks volumes about our students and our program.”

According to Bertran, 108 nursing students graduated from the Webster City campus of Iowa Central, with either an LPN or RN degree, from 2016-2021.

Daniel, who is genuinely admired by the students who will graduate this afternoon and go on to be pinned on June 17, is reflective when discussing her influence on them.

“We need to educate our nursing students so that they are not only competent, but they need to have autonomy and critically think,” she said. “Learning does not only occur in the classroom, but within our area facilities and our William G. and Marlys Smith Simulation Center. Hands-on experiences allows me to assess whether the students are making a connection with what they learn in class and at the bedside.

“I like to quote Albert Einstein: ‘Education is not the learning of facts. It’s rather the training of the mind to think.”

She has witnessed that moment.

“I love it when we are learning about the different disease processes, labs, medications, etc., and I can literally see the ‘light bulb’ come on. It is then I know they are processing and applying the information.”

She added, “They work extremely hard and often they try to give me the credit. However, I am their guide presenting the information and they are the ones who do the work. I am very proud of all of my students, but especially my COVID kids.”