By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
HASTINGS – The steady hum of an MRI machine filled the room as images appeared on a nearby computer screen, capturing detailed scans of a patient’s ailing hip.
Seated behind the protective glass, Danica Buckles studied every step of the procedure, observing as medical staff at Mary Lanning Healthcare completed a hip arthrogram designed to detect tears and pinpoint the source of persistent pain.
The experience offered more than a glimpse into a medical procedure. It provided a look at where the University of Nebraska at Kearney sophomore hopes to be in just a few years.
Buckles is among 17 students spending time at the Hastings hospital this week through the Rural Immersion Program, an initiative that gives Lopers direct exposure to healthcare careers in rural Nebraska while connecting them with communities across the state.
Launched in 2024 by UNK Health Sciences, the program places students inside partner hospitals for multiple days, allowing them to shadow professionals across several departments while learning how healthcare systems operate beyond the traditional classroom setting.
For Buckles, a Deshler native studying pre-radiologic technology, it’s an opportunity to explore a career path she recently shifted toward.
“Coming into college my freshman year, I was actually undecided and I didn’t really know where I wanted to go,” she said.
Initially interested in teacher education, Buckles changed direction earlier this year after shadowing at a rural hospital near her hometown.
“That’s when the light bulb went off,” she explained. “I really enjoyed it.”
At Mary Lanning, she’s learning more about radiology and many other areas throughout the hospital, giving her a better understanding of how different providers work together to care for patients. Her twin sister Danessa, who’s studying communication disorders, is also participating in the program.
“I think it’s important to see how healthcare professionals work together and collaborate,” Buckles said. “I want to know about all the different roles providers have, not just what an X-ray tech does.”
A FULL EXPERIENCE
The Rural Immersion Program is part of the larger UNK Hospital Partners Network, which includes 20 hospitals and healthcare systems across Nebraska working alongside UNK to create hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in healthcare careers.
According to Julie Calahan, student engagement and retention coordinator with UNK Health Sciences, the program goes far beyond job shadowing.
“The UNK Rural Immersion Program helps students explore rural healthcare careers while building meaningful connections within Nebraska’s vibrant and welcoming rural communities,” she said. “It is more than a networking or career exploration opportunity. This program fosters a sense of community and increases awareness of the critical role rural healthcare plays in Nebraska’s future.”
Students rotate through a variety of hospital departments during the week, including surgery, emergency medicine, laboratory services, labor and delivery, pharmacy, radiology and administration. They also spend time exploring the community itself, meeting local leaders and seeing what daily life looks like there.
Not all participants need this introduction, though.
UNK junior Rylan Nordby grew up in Hastings and his parents both work at Mary Lanning. His sister is part of the hospital’s radiologic technology program, and Nordby has been a certified nursing assistant there since the end of high school.
Even so, the immersion experience introduced him to new areas of healthcare.
“I’ve worked here since I graduated from high school, but I’ve learned things about the facility that I didn’t know before,” he said.
After two years as a pre-nursing student, Nordby decided to change his major to general health sciences and put off professional school so he could evaluate other options.
“That’s part of the reason why I applied for this program, because I thought the experience would give me a new perspective on the different healthcare fields,” he said.
Although his specific position is currently unclear, Nordby already knows where he wants to start his career. He hopes to remain in Hastings and continue working at Mary Lanning Healthcare, citing the hospital’s close-knit culture.
“It just feels like a family,” he said. “Patients know that when they come to Mary Lanning they’re going to be treated well.”
KEEPING TALENT IN NEBRASKA
More than 30 UNK students will participate in the Rural Immersion Program this summer, bringing the total to 65 since the initiative started. In addition to Hastings, hospitals in Albion, Aurora, Central City, Cozad, Geneva, McCook, Sidney and York have signed on as host sites.
With 900-plus undergraduate students currently enrolled in UNK Health Sciences, the Rural Immersion Program and Hospital Partners Network serve as effective recruiting tools for participating hospitals and the state of Nebraska, which continues to face a healthcare workforce shortage.
“Our hospital partners play a critical role in connecting students with real-world healthcare experiences while helping rural communities build a future workforce,” Calahan said. “These relationships provide students with hands-on learning opportunities, scholarship support, professional networking opportunities and exposure to healthcare careers in rural communities, while hospitals gain valuable opportunities to recruit, mentor and engage future healthcare professionals. Together, these partnerships strengthen the healthcare workforce pipeline and support the long-term health of Nebraska communities.”
As director of nurse recruitment and clinical outreach at Mary Lanning, Carol Hamik understands the importance of connecting with students early in their college careers. The “hometown girl” wants to show them what a community like Hastings can offer well before they make a long-term career decision.
“I need to share the success of our community with others for them to not only want to be potential employees of Mary Lanning but also be great citizens within our community,” she said. “I do not only work in Hastings; I live in Hastings, I volunteer in Hastings, I support Hastings. That is why I feel this immersion event is important.”
Hamik organized the Mary Lanning event with a first-time addition to the Rural Immersion Program. While 14 participants came from health sciences programs, three students from the UNK College of Business and Technology joined the group to learn about careers in healthcare administration, including human resources, finance and information technology.
That addition reflects the broader workforce needs hospitals face.
“My best return on investment would be for one or more of these students to choose Mary Lanning and the Hastings community post-graduation,” Hamik said. “I want them to have their educational goals met and build their resumes, with hopes that they’ll look at sharing their talent with us in years to come.”
For students like Buckles, the program provides a clearer picture of the path ahead and the impact she wants to make in rural Nebraska.
“I think it’s important that people in smaller communities have the same access to healthcare as someone from a big city,” she said. “I want everyone to receive the quality care they need.”
