Copper Mountain RN Grads Join Hi-Desert Medical Center

Seven graduates of Copper Mountain College’s Registered Nursing (RN) Program have joined the staff at Hi-Desert Medical Center. The new nurses are now in a 12-week orientation program where they’ll get hands-on experience in a variety of clinical settings.

“The whole idea is that when they’re done, they’ll be very well rounded and can work anywhere in the hospital for us,” said Donna Seifert, Senior Director of Nursing at Hi-Desert Medical Center.

“Obviously you have some nerves the first day on the job, but they’ve done a good job of making us feel welcome,” said Oscar Rico, a new graduate of the Copper Mountain College RM Program.

Korionna McKinnon said she would like to work in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “Before college I’d never actually worked in an ICU, but I just love the whole dynamic of critical care … doing your best to help the patient and their family members,” she said. McKinnon became interested in nursing after graduating from high school and worked as a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) for six years before earning her RN.

Stephanie Reed’s mother was an Emergency Room (ER) nurse for over 30 years. “She came home with a lot of stories and it was very interesting to me, so I’ve known since I was very young that I wanted to work in some area of the medical field,” she said. Reed briefly considered becoming a veterinarian.

Rico summed up what it takes to be a great nurse: “You’ve got to have a passion for wanting to care for people.”