A new University of Iowa Health Care position is giving students experience in the field while also supporting the workload of hospital staff and enhancing patient care.
In partnership with the College of Nursing, the “Unit Partner” Program provides an extra set of hands to nurses and patient care technicians at the hospital, alleviating demand on hospital staff while exposing students, many of whom are planning careers in health care, to work in a hospital setting.
According to a news release, more than 200 students have served as a unit partner at UIHC since 2022, and many of the students involved are planning careers in health care, which gives UIHC a head start on recruiting nursing staff, a challenge facing hospitals across the country.
“I’m really proud of this partnership between the hospital and the university. It puts students’ needs first while also considering the needs of staff,” said Jessica McDaniel, a nursing practice leader at UI Hospitals & Clinics. “But I think the people benefiting from this program the most are our patients. They are getting the care they deserve.”
