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Jonathan Schettler arrived at The University of Iowa intending to be a pre-med major. Now, he is set to become the first nurse in his family.
"I switched from pre-med to nursing because I wanted to be immersed in hands-on patient care, and I knew that a UI nursing education would give me that experience," says Jonathan, who is the recipient of a University Tuition Scholarship. "I'm confident that my Iowa nursing degree will take me anywhere I want to go."
The nursing major plans to attend graduate school to become a nurse anesthetist after graduation. "Nurse anesthetists are vital members of health-care teams -- particularly in rural hospitals and clinics. This means I'll have the chance to truly put my education to work for my patients," Jonathan says.
His UI education has been enhanced by sustaining support for the college, which ensures that valuable hands-on learning opportunities are available to students.
Jonathan completed a nursing externship at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and also spent time working in UI Hospitals and Clinics' surgical intensive-care unit during his second semester -- an experience that made him realize how much he enjoyed the challenges of a critical-care setting.
"Private support for the UI College of Nursing has played a vital role in shaping my opportunities here, and I am grateful to all those who've helped make my education possible," he says.
Jonathan believes these opportunities will pay off for his patients someday: "Everything I'm learning at Iowa right now is what I'll take with me into the field when I graduate. I hope I can use my skills to make a difference in peoples' lives."
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