Rebecca (Vannette) Hendriske '15
FINDING A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
The best hospitals hire only the best nurses. Thanks to the education she received at Trinity, Rebecca (Vannette) Hendrikse ’15 was hired at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after completing her capstone project there.
“After completing my capstone—a 200 hour internship–at Northwestern, I realized there was no better place to gain experience than at one of the best hospitals in the nation,” said Hendrikse. “Northwestern expects excellence and precision from their nurses, and I knew I would get to see the newest advanced technologies in medicine. Trinity’s nursing program expects excellence, as can be seen in our 100% NCLEX-RN pass rate and focus on evidence-based practice, and I knew I needed a place of work that would expect the same.”
She had another compelling reason to look for an internship that could lead to a job after graduation. “My junior year, I met a boy by the name of Nathan [Hendrikse ’14]. He graduated and found a job in Tinley Park, Ill. When he proposed to me in January of my senior year, I figured I’d stick around,” she said.
As a general medicine nurse, she passes medications, verifies orders, completes documentation, and helps patients try to be comfortable. “I listen to, I advocate for, and hold the hands of patients and their families. I insert IVs, hold pressure on bleeds, change dressings, and often call for help. I make jokes, smile, and laugh a lot. And I definitely do a lot of cleaning,” said Hendrikse.
While her course work was very important, Hendrikse said much of her growth during college occurred in the relationships she made, including her time as a Resident Assistant (RA).
In fact, Hendrikse found a home at Trinity in the fall of 2013, when she faced several challenging events. “Any nursing major will tell you that first semester junior year is the toughest year of school,” she said. But along with her coursework, Hendrikse’s mother was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer in October. Then, on Nov. 17 during a trip home to Washington, Ill., with several friends, her house and much of her town were hit by a powerful tornado. “My friends and I were able to make our way back that evening when Trinity allowed some other friends to make a rescue trip out to us in a TrinVan. It’s safe to say I was overwhelmed,” Hendrikse said. After being back on campus for a few days, she realized she needed to return to her family. “My nursing professors were extremely understanding.”
Hendrikse specifically recalled how Professor Tina Decker, assistant professor of nursing and department chair, worked closely with her to ensure she would have enough time in the simulation lab. “After the SIM, she asked me to stay for a few minutes and brought me into the nursing office. She proceeded to tell me that she and the other professors were praying for me. Professor Decker pushes us hard because she wants us to be excellent, but she can also make each student feel important in conversations. I think that is what Trinity is all about — large enough to have excellent programs, but small enough to make each student feel worthy and worth while. We are not just numbers.”