Standing, from left, nursing students Bret Tokash, Jerome Bautista, Kathleen Duncil, David Hummer, Kelly Richard. In front, from left, Matheny students Jameir Warren-Treadwell and Shane Szott.
“We learn how to administer medications and communicate with non-verbal patients. It’s a challenge, but it’s been a really good experience coming here.” That comment by Bret Tokash of Stockton, NJ, was typical of the reaction of his fellow Raritan Valley Community College classmates, all nursing students who visit Matheny regularly as part of our sponsored nursing school program.
Affiliations with nursing schools such as RVCC’s have created a greater nursing community for the special care that Matheny’s population requires. And the nursing students are a source of recruitment for Matheny’s nursing department. Because of the diverse needs of Matheny’s patients, nurses have to be knowledgeable and competent in a broad spectrum of practice applications.
This is so awesome for me to see. I began my 37 year career at Matheny as a young 18 year old high school graduate uncertain of my career path..I always loved working with children and always helped care for my own older brother with cerebral palsy and seizure disorder…needless to say I became a pediatric nurse and am still working with children with disabilities and medical fragility. My early training at Matheny under the famous “Mrs. Dee” prepared me better for this field than any of my peers. Invaluable.