ABQ Times

In New Mexico's rural areas, healthcare providers play a crucial role beyond treating patients. They build relationships and advocate for their communities. The New Mexico Clinical Education Program, led by the Communities to Careers team at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, offers nursing students an opportunity to experience this firsthand.

Established in 2002, the program immerses students in rural healthcare settings to develop clinical skills and empathy. Amy Greene, Director of Communities to Careers, stated that shadowing healthcare professionals in primary care settings for five weeks provides invaluable hands-on training.

Last summer, UNM College of Nursing students Jackelyn Olivas and Abrianna Notah-Johnson participated in the program at El Centro Family Health in Las Vegas, N.M. Notah-Johnson was motivated by her personal background. "Growing up in Gallup, I experienced firsthand the barriers to health care," she said. Her goal is to become a family nurse practitioner and address health disparities in her community.

Olivas noted how the program deepened her understanding of healthcare challenges. "Patients in Las Vegas traveled for hours just to reach a clinic," she said. Observing various roles within the healthcare system gave her insight into its functioning.

The program also offers unique opportunities for educators at the College of Nursing. Mitch Irvin highlighted that it allows students to learn about nurses' impact on New Mexico's health directly from communities.

Greene emphasized the transformative nature of immersive learning experiences like this one. She noted that recent wildfires have added hardships for Las Vegas residents and highlighted how students learned about ongoing health and environmental impacts.

Both Olivas and Notah-Johnson faced new challenges but found it a powerful learning experience. "This program really shows why health care providers are so important in rural communities,” Notah-Johnson remarked.

Applications are now open for the upcoming summer session of the ClinEd Program.