Nursing Student Follows Passion for Rural Health Care, Receives Support From USD and Avera
Bremer, who is originally from the 500-person town of Ocheyedan, Iowa, initially pursued a degree in engineering at the University of Iowa. However, after working at a group home for people with intellectual disabilities, he discovered a calling in nursing.
Bremer said he chose to attend USD to pursue his nursing degree because of its focus on rural health care.
“From the beginning, I wanted to work in a rural area,” said Bremer. “During my time so far in the USD nursing program, my passion for rural nursing has only grown. Our professors in the nursing program do a great job at highlighting what nursing looks like in both rural and urban areas. This helped me to solidify my desire to work in rural areas. Health care in rural areas faces unique challenges, and my goal is to be a part in dealing with these challenges and overcoming them.”
This summer, Bremer had the opportunity to work in a rural health care setting at Freeman Regional Health, an affiliate of Avera Health, in Freeman, South Dakota.
His experience was part of a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that provides students with real-world experiences in a rural clinical setting.
“It was an amazing learning experience,” Bremer said.
A rising senior, Bremer was recently chosen as an Avera Sponsorship recipient.
“The sponsorship will help me to focus more entirely on my classes and becoming the best nurse possible rather than worrying about funding my studies,” said Bremer. “Additionally, it will help me in securing working opportunities after graduation. The sponsorship will help me to further develop my professional identity as a nurse and put me into contact with people who I can learn from.”
After graduation, Bremer plans to practice in a rural setting. With the hands-on experience he gained as well as the opportunities he had, Bremer said he is prepared for life after graduation.
“Being the only university in South Dakota that has a comprehensive health sciences and medical school, USD also has activities that provide the opportunity for interprofessional collaboration. This is especially useful since nurses collaborate with other professions daily,” Bremer said.
“The entire nursing program has helped me get where I am now, and I want to thank everyone involved in the program,” he continued. “It is obvious that every professor in the nursing program has a passion for preparing the next generation of nurses and wants every student to succeed. They do an amazing job at teaching students the practical and professional skills and theory that nurses need to succeed and provide excellent patient care.”
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