Pictured above: Laressa Branson, RN at Banner-McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado
University of Wyoming faculty and students work with "preceptors" - nurses who mentor our students in a variety of clinical settings. The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, in an effort to recognize preceptors--especially those who go above and beyond--presents an award annually to a preceptor in those UW School of Nursing programs with clinical components. Students nominate preceptors for these awards.
The preceptor chosen from the Basic BSN program is Laressa Branson, who was working as a nurse in Banner-McKee Medical Center in Loveland, Colorado at the time she precepted our student. The student who nominated our winner said the following:
“There are not enough words to describe the kind of impact that my preceptor, Laressa
Branson, had on me during my capstone experience at McKee Medical Center in Loveland,
Colorado. In her 15 years of experience as a nurse she was a travel RN, worked in
the wound clinic, amassed multiple certifications, is currently working on a master’s
degree and is now an ER Charge Nurse. I feel lucky enough to have had the chance to
work with someone so passionate for her career.
After sitting down on our first day together and coming up with goals, she always
focused on how to help me reach them…she was an amazing teacher- who fostered the
mindset of using critical thinking, helped to grow my confidence, and cultivated my
independence.
She was also someone who wanted to make sure I was always learning. If there was a
code, or someone going to the Cath lab, she would check to make sure that nurse was
okay with me joining in- and soon, I was able to self-advocate for helping or seeing
other procedures or cases with different nurses as timing was appropriate.
As we got started working together, she let me take over one patient who had an easy
case load- so I could think of a few potential diagnoses, think of what the doctors
were going to want (labs, scans, etc), and learn how to time manage orders with patients
requests.
As time went on, Laressa challenged me by letting me take on 2-3 patients consistently
during the day. When I was able to successfully complete the tasks of multiple patients,
I felt as if I could do this on my own someday. The ER is a faster pace—something
I thrive in—and she really helped me by giving me pointers on how best to balance
my organization and personality in that environment.
Although I was a student, she made me feel as if I were part of the team and nurse
family. I loved being able to be at this agency, and with the best preceptor I could
have asked for.
–Hayley Stromberg, Basic BSN Student 2020
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Page updated: 08-31-2020