The Lake Holcombe School District would like to highlight two University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire nursing students who are completing their Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees through learning about community, public and population health nursing with a spring 2024 clinical practicum under the direction of Dr. Pamela L. Guthman, DNP, RN, APHN-PHN serving as their preceptor. Though staff, students, educators and community members have not seen Abby and Maddy on site, they have been working on a project that will benefit Lake Holcombe School District students in the future to address areas in health and anatomy and biology related courses. Both Maddy and Abby have been instrumental in working with Mr. Milas and Mr. Lindau as they researched and considered the feasibility of the project for the future needs of not only students attending Lake Holcombe School District (elementary to high school), but of which may also contribute to supporting early interest in rural population health careers, hopefully right back here in this community in the future. We are thankful for Maddy and Abby’s interest and hard work on this project! Learn more about them and their goals as nurses!
Meet Abby!
What is the one thing you cannot resist?
I cannot resist… NACHOS! I could eat nachos every day of my life.
What is your favorite thing to do?
I love to go fishing! I enjoy ice fishing as well as summer fishing.
Why did you choose nursing as a career?
I have always wanted to be a nurse ever since I was young. I dreamed of working with babies and I was able to make my dreams come true! I work in the Family Birth Center at Mayo Clinic as a Registered Nurse. I go to deliveries, and I take care of sick babies.
How many years you’ve been in education, if you have held previous positions before this and maybe even where you went to college, etc.
I graduated in 2023 from CVTC with an associate degree in nursing. I am currently finishing up my bachelor’s degree through UW-Eau Claire.
Meet Maddy!
What’s one thing you couldn’t live without?
Coffee
What is your favorite thing to do?
Travel
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?
Europe for all the food!
Why did you choose nursing as a career?
I’ve always been interested in science and healthcare. Most of my family had careers in healthcare so I was exposed at a very young age. I knew I wanted to be in healthcare but didn’t decide on nursing until after working in my first post-college job.
What would you most like to tell yourself at age 13?
Don’t let anyone tell you you’re too old to follow your dreams.
How many years you’ve been in education, if you have held previous positions before this and maybe even where you went to college, etc.
I have a biology degree from UWEC, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from CVTC, and I’m currently finishing my Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) through UWEC. I worked as a CNA, as a pharmacy technician, and making costumes in the UWEC costume shop during college. I worked in the Microbiology lab at Nestle prior to going back to nursing school. After my first year of nursing school, I worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at a skilled nursing facility. My first RN position was on the Neuro/Peds/Trauma floor at Mayo. Currently, I’m a dialysis nurse at Mayo.