MSN Grad Making a difference in peoples lives
Omaha, Neb. – Born and raised in the small town of Creston Iowa, Meagan Freml has always wanted to help and serve others. Each and every day she does just that. Currently, working as a Relief Lead Registered Nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at Nebraska Medicine – Nebraska Medical Center, Meagan cares for adult patients who come to the hospital because of trauma, for liver transplants, any complicated surgery, or those patients with multi-system organ failure. She is also a rapid response hospital team member. You can say Meagan has seen her share of stressful medical situations, but that’s not all. Meagan is also one of 24 RNs who care for patients in the Biocontainment Unit, those patients with highly contagious and dangerous diseases including Ebola.
“When working with Ebola patients every move is calculated,” Meagan stated. “We know Ebola is a highly contagious disease that kills people very quickly. This is why education and training are so important. Each of us are highly qualified, we’ve learned how to work everything in the unit - from the autoclave, to how much bleach to add for cleaning, to how many time we have to shower during a shift.” Meagan has cared for all three of the Ebola patients at Nebraska Medical Center thus far. She explains, “I’m proud to be one of those people who get to care for these patients. I believe people who dedicate their lives to serve the less fortunate deserve care by people who are highly trained. This is a way for me to give back to others.”
Meagan is not only an RN, she’s also a student. Meagan will receive her Masters of Science in Nursing degree from College of Saint Mary this Sunday, May 17 at the CenturyLink. “I chose to get my MSN from College of Saint Mary because I want to be able to teach the new wave of nurses and to push myself to be an even better nurse. I hope to be a resource and have credibility among my peers as a resource as well.” She continues, “Ultimately I hope to be the kind of nurse others aspire to be.” College of Saint Mary’s MSN program was designed for the working professionals and is set up in a hybrid format. This allows students like Meagan to do a majority of their work online, but still meet with professors on a weekly basis. “It’s been my professors who have pushed me to make me the best nurse I can be,” concluded Meagan.
“Meagan brings a sense of excitement about nursing to all her MSN courses,” explains Dr. Virginia Tufano, Director of College of Saint Mary’s Master of Science in Nursing Program. “Meagan loves what she does, and her enthusiasm in her work is contagious. She is passionate about her work as a nurse, and the difference that nurses make in so many ways.”
While attending CSM, Meagan also served as an adjunct professor. Meagan explains, “As an adjunct professor I had the opportunity to teach my students the way I want them to act as nurses. I was able to give them real life examples, while training them to come prepared. Ultimately, this is the type of nurse I want working next to me at the bedside.”
This fall Meagan will continue on with her education and start Nurse Anesthesia school. There is no doubt that Meagan will be making a difference in her patients’ lives for many years to come.
