WITC students attend ‘Nurses Day’ event at Capitol

• PHOTO: Nurses

Pictured are the participants in the “Nurses Day” event at the Wisconsin state capitol. Back row (left to right) are Amber Bateman (Dresser); Jill Boder (Maplewood, Minn.); Jenny Stow (Stillwater, Minn.); Allison Vanderbeek (Roberts); Carol Barner (St. Paul, Minn.); Jennifer Murphy (Frederic); Heather Hart (Amery); Lindsay Dougherty (River Falls); Amber Poppovich (Osceola); Wendy Field (Osceola); Monica Camero (Alma); David Johnson (Amery); hidden is Katie McCoy (New Richmond); Rebecca Shatwell (Shafer, Minn.); Dana Linden (Somerset). Middle row: WITC Nursing Instructor Christine Matt (New Richmond); Krista Hall (Osceola); Gina Buhr (Clear Lake); Jill Grant (Hammond); Kristine Mondor (New Richmond) Janine Crotty (Somerset); Courtney Sutter (Houlton); Linda Larson (Milltown); Karen Rapp-Grant (Osceola); Allysa Copley (Woodbury, Minn.); Kerri Spadaccini (Spring Valley). Front: Julie Thai (Roberts) and Jodi Bazille (Emerald). Not pictured: WITC Nursing Instructors Bonnie Howe (Star Prairie), Jean Roedl (Webster) and Linnea Seaman (Amery).

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NEW RICHMOND - Protesters and police around the Wisconsin Capitol posed no deterrent to the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College-New Richmond student nurses who attended Nurses Day at the Capitol.

Recently 32 third and fourth semester Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College nursing students and their advisors climbed the steps of the Wisconsin Capitol amidst the throng of protesters. But their purpose differed: these nursing students were in Madison on health-related business.

Students heard from nurse leaders about federal health care reform, as well as content related to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget bill. They also met with Rep. Erik Severson and staff from Sen. Sheila Harsdorf’s and Rep. John Murtha’s office and discussed certain health-related Wisconsin bills along with the proposed budget.

When asked how this year seemed any different from previous years, WITC Nursing Instructor Bonnie Howe said that this year to enter the Capitol security was tighter: purses and bags were checked, and a security wand passed over each person. The students saw a couple hundred protesters inside playing drums and bagpipes, and nearly as many police officers. The group of nursing students rent a bus and stay one night in Madison.

WITC serves the educational and career needs of more than 25,000 residents of Northwestern Wisconsin each year. With multiple campuses, WITC offers career-focused associate degree programs, technical diplomas, short-term certificates, customized training and a wide array of courses for personal or career enrichment.

Tags: education, witc