Two students in the Marian University Leighton School of Nursing have earned the Nancy Miller McNiece Operating Room Internship, created to honor Nancy Miller McNiece ’73, an exceptional woman and operating room nurse. The internship aims to inspire and prepare nursing students to specialize in the operating room nursing care of children.
Vanessa Lay ’17 and Lael Allen ’17 began their internships at Riley Children’s Hospital at the IU Health Academic Center at the end of May. The two were selected from nursing students who applied for this internship. Among the qualifications, students were required to have an interest in working in the operating room and with children.
For Allen, her reasons for wanting the internship were more than professional. She has two younger sisters who have had more than 20 surgeries combined.
“Watching my sisters go through continual hospitalizations, I found a sincere interest in wanting to alleviate their discomfort and I would ask my mom if I could go to their appointments,” Allen said. “I cannot wait to have the opportunity to further develop my nursing skills through the opportunity that this internship will provide for me.”
During their internships, the nursing students will under the supervision of a registered nurse, learning more about their chosen profession while working to ensure that their patients receive the best of care.
Lay is excited for the unique internship as she feels called to the nursing profession.
“I want to be a nurse because I believe that God has called me to do something that does not benefit myself, but helps others and reflects His work in the process,” Lay said.
This is the first year Marian University has offered this summer internship, which was made possible through funding from Dr. William McNiece, an anesthesiologist at Riley Children’s Hospital, in honor of his wife, Nancy Miller McNiece ’73, who served as a role model to many nurses and people throughout her life.
“We are so grateful and know the interns will have a very rewarding experience and it will foster an interest in operating room nursing, where there is such a great need,” said Anita Siccardi, Ed.D., dean of the Leighton School of Nursing.
