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- Title
- Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018
- Collection
- Augsburg Central Health Commons Oral History Project
- Search Result
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Oral History Interview with Melvin James,
2018
Tue, 3/9 10:17AM
32:59
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
people, homeless, ai, home, shelters, stayed, helped, commons, minnesota, salvation army, life,
gon, passed, illinois, place, melvin, er, person, nephews, mary jo
SPEAKERS
Samantha Gibson, Kathleen C...
Show more Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Tue, 3/9 10:17AM 32:59 SUMMARY KEYWORDS people, homeless, ai, home, shelters, stayed, helped, commons, minnesota, salvation army, life, gon, passed, illinois, place, melvin, er, person, nephews, mary jo SPEAKERS Samantha Gibson, Kathleen Clark, Melvin James Kathleen Clark 00:00 Well, hello, my name is Katie Clark. I'm an assistant professor at Augsburg University. Could you please introduce yourself for the recording? M Melvin James 00:09 My name is Melvin James. S Samantha Gibson 00:12 My name is Samantha Gibson. I'm an AmeriCorps worker at Health Commons just listening in. Kathleen Clark 00:21 So thank you for joining us for the oral history project of the Health Commons. M Melvin James 00:25 Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 1 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai Thank you for having me. Kathleen Clark 00:26 Yeah. Before we get started, I would like to confirm that you consent to being interviewed and having the interview recording stored at Augsburg University which will be made available to the public. M Melvin James 00:39 Agreed. Kathleen Clark 00:40 Alright, great. So basically, kind of, can you tell me where you grew up and who you called family? M Melvin James 00:48 Well, I grew up in Illinois, it’s a little country called Sun River Terrace, out in the country, of Illinois, Kankakee, Illinois. And I’ve been raised there, I was born and raised there. Well, I’ve been born in Columbus, Mississippi, but I’ve been raised in Illinois since I was what five, six years old. Out in the country, went to grade school in Momence, Illinois, and uh, went to junior high in Momence, Illinois, then I graduated in Kankakee, Illinois in Westview High School in Kankakee, Illinois. That’s basically how I grew up. And also mom, you know, she was really awesome, she had a lot of survival skills, she raised, uh, eighteen kids. It was challenging for her, you know, by herself, you know but, along the way we got split up, you know, but we still stayed there as one family, you know. Everybody got split up, after they got older and stuff, you know, like they, life started to take a toll, tear her down, but she still stayed strong, she was in church and stuff. She was, she was a holy one, you know. She survived, she helped us survive. She gave me all the survival skills that she figured that I needed, coming up in life, you know. I know how to cook, I know how to clean, I know how to do everything. Everything the way she showed me. 02:32 Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 2 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai Kathleen Clark 02:33 So, being that you grew up in Illinois, how did you end up here in Minnesota? After my mom passed, after she passed at 82 years old, she passed at 82, and I'm the youngest male of the family, you know, so. Everybody's grown in my family now, so, you know. So I came to Minnesota after she passed and stuff, so. Everybody just grew up and went their own way, and you know, I was 45 years old when I came here, so, you know, I’m 58 now. Life was kinda difficult for me when I moved to Minnesota, but, like my mom always told me, you can make it in your hometown, you can make it anywhere, you know, it all depends on what you going to another place to venture off to- to do, you know. Cause, if you gonna do bad or wrong, or anything, you might as well stay in your hometown, you know. Cause you gon get the same results no matter where you go, you know, so. I used all of my survival skills to help me come along in Minnesota, you know. Uh, it has some faults, about Minnesota, but, you know, it is what it is, you know. It’s partially my hometown, I had to struggle, I had to crawl before I walk. I’m on bended knees now. So was it a relationship that brought you here, or was it a job, or? M Melvin James 04:24 After my mom passed, I was, I lived with my mom. And, she stayed in the house by herself. I had to, when she passed, I had to go. But I never depended on my other sisters and brothers, the house and me, you know, they helped me through, you know, I counted that on my own, you know, so I was homeless back home, in my hometown. I was sleeping out in the parks, and staying in the shelters and stuff, you know. When I was really there and not here and stuff I got kicked out the shelters, I ended up having to live out on the streets, you know. But along comes with that, we had a family reunion one year and my nephew, he lives up here in Minnesota, he came down and I was sleeping in his brother’s car, well I was sneaking around sleeping in his brother’s car at night, you know, he didn't know I was sleeping in his car, you know. So I guess, I guess they got together and like man, uncle need help, you know, uncle need help, we need to, uh, get, you know, he’s our mentor, you know, so yeah he need help. So my nephew put me in the car and come on let's go to Kmart so I can buy this and buy that. So along with that I was drinking, and I got a little tipsy, and I think I might have fell asleep in the car. And when I woke up I was in Minnesota. I woke up, I was back in Minnesota. Kathleen Clark 06:12 So how did you feel homelessness was, where you were at compared to when you showed up in the Twin Cities? Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 3 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai M Melvin James 06:23 It was kinda fair, I believe. It was more, it was more unity back then, you know, when I was homeless in ‘99, and 2000, my mom passed away in 2002. So, it was similar. It was bad. I mean it’s not like the shelter like the Salvation Army out there, you know, you have people wiggin’ out, buggin’ you, telling you what you can do and what you can’t do, you know, disrespecting you, and you know it was, it was, it’s a lot of unity in the Salvation Army back home, you know. Kathleen Clark 07:07 Well, it sounds like relationships are really important to you. So did you, do you still keep in contact with your siblings at all? M Melvin James 07:15 Oh yeah, I’m going home for Mother’s Day this year, I ain’t been home in 18 years for Mother’s Day. You know, but I’m going home. I told my sisters there I'm coming home, they like oh, it's about time! You know, but, you know, I always go home twice a year, anyway, you know. Usually, about five years, six years back, only time I showed up at home was for Fourth of July. I can't get past a holiday like Christmas or New Year's or Fourth of July without somebody passing the way my path, so. I'm down to four sisters and two brothers. And my oldest brother is still living and I'm the baby brother, still living, you know. Everybody else they’ve passed on, you know, so. My nieces and nephews they kind of look up to me, but my oldest brother, he stays in Florida. He stays in Florida so I’m the closest Uncle around them that they’ve got. So, I make sure that all my nieces and nephews know who’s Uncle Melvin. Yeah. When I go home they be like my oldest nieces and my second nieces and my third nieces cause I’m a great-great-great-great Uncle, you know. My first oldest niece and nephew, I got about 25 older nieces and nephews and I got about 36 great great nieces and nephews and I got 52 great great great nieces and nephews. So they all look up to me, you know. And when I go home they like oh, Uncle Melvin. When they tell their kids I’m comin’ home oh they’re gonna get spoiled. Cause when I be the babysitter, I let ‘em do whatever they want to. If they fall down and skin their knees and elbows I just laugh at them, I’m like get up and try it again. You gon say ouch one day, you know. I keep up with my siblings. Kathleen Clark 09:23 So when you ended up in Minnesota, how long do- were you living without a place to call home? Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 4 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai M Melvin James 09:30 Oh for almost a year and a half, two years. I think about, yeah about two years, cause I got my place at, where I'm standing now, I got my place at ’04, or ’05. I stayed on the Salvation Army, well I stayed with my nephew for a year, a year and a half. Until he started waiting. Then, I didn't know which way to go. I didn't know nothing about Mary Jo's or Simpson’s, or any other of these places, you know, I just, basically just, followed the crowd. You know and the crowd showed me my way. But uh, after I found out where Mary Jo’s was, you know, I was kinda set, you know, I was laid back then, uh, it’s how I got my place and I think in ’04, ’03, or ’05 I think I got my place, and stuff, you know. Kathleen Clark 10:37 So when you got your place did you have to be on a wait list? M Melvin James 10:41 Well, basically, how I got my place, it was, it was a guy that was a community manager over there and he brought 40 application over to Central Lutheran Church. And he gave everybody the application, he did like, all you all gotta do is pass the background check, I’m not gonna charge y’all first month rent if you pass it. So he moved all half of 40 in and I'm only one still there. Out of the 40. Kathleen Clark 11:20 Now recently. You almost had to leave your house or apartment M Melvin James 11:24 Yeah, I’ve been in my apartment 18 years and I was bell ringer for the- I’ve been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army since I used to be homeless, I used to stay down there. I used to bell ring. And that’s how I used to pay my rent and, uh, donate my plasma and stuff, before I got on the fix income. I got on the fix income in 2015. And I didn’t know that I had to turn in my check stubs and, you know, let them know I was working. I thought it was peace work, you know. But along the way they tax me, you know, they took the whole, I was making $750 a month. They went back three years, so they gon tax me, what I mean by tax me they gon, I had to pay back my earnings that I’d made, so that was 750 dollars and all they would give me was 43 dollars a month out of my check. So I almost lost my house, you know. And what I didn’t understand was, I thought my housing was 30% of my income and I figured that I didn’t have the money that I usually get, I figured that 30%, I Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 5 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai thought my income, my rent should go down, you know, but it was gonna go down, but I had to go all the way through the red tape for it to go down. You know, so. I winged myself outta that, you know, you helped me out, this Central Lutheran helped me out, God’s Mercy helped me out, you know. That brought be back up off bended knee, cause I was about to get down on one knee, you know, along the way y’all helped me out. You know, I appreciate y’all you know, got help, you got courage and got understanding. You know I believe that’s, that’s fair that’s, you know, that’s fair love, you know? Fair love. Kathleen Clark 13:38 Now earlier today you were talking about how people end up, you know, being in the emergency shelter like Salvation Army should be a place to be for a moment, but not a place to live. M Melvin James 13:54 Right Kathleen Clark 13:55 Why do you feel like it’s turned into more of a place that people are kind of stuck in living for years on end? Do you think that's changed, do you think it's the same, and why do you think that's a problem? M Melvin James 14:10 Well, see now that's a problem cause people looking for a way out of life, you know you know they just wanna live off the land, you know. Your courage is to upgrade yourself, you know, to monitor what you do through life, you know. Life ain’t handed to you on a silver spoon, you know. Some people just take advantage of that, you know. I think some people might have gave up on uh gave up life, you know, but they still got their mind to think, you know. I don't see no way, no how that a person with six senses can be homeless over 10 to 20 years, you know. I don't, you know, I just can't bear that in my mind. You know, you know, why would you give up life, you know, you know, but I mean, living in the shelter is formed to help you come off bended knee, you know, not for you to basically this is my home. You know, this is not your home, really, you know, it's just a foundation for you to come to, you know to help you so you won't be as poor it is as you wanna live, you know. You can live a lot richer being poor, you know, and to be poor and to be poor, you know, to be poor and to be poor. Because, uh, I heard a person tell me one time, I heard a person Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 6 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai say that there ain’t no such thing as homeless, you know, because you got all of these shelters that are housing you and feeding you, you know, if you got a place to go get a meal, you’re not homeless. You know, homeless is I think homeless is a situation where they don't have no bare bones, no, no shelters, or you know where you have to live off the land, you know, but if you gotta a place where you can go and shower, change clothes and stuff like that, you know. I heard this person say that. There ain’t no homeless, you know, it just, it’s just, basically you’re just without. Without things, proper things, that you outta be common to. You know. And uh, I don’t know, it’s just, you know. Kathleen Clark 16:51 It almost sounds like houseless versus homeless. Right? M Melvin James 16:55 Right. Kathleen Clark 16:59 So how did you end up hearing about the nurses at Central or the Health Commons? How did you first come here and how did you hear about it? M Melvin James 17:09 Well, like I said, you know, back in 2003, 2005, when I got my homeless spot, I found out about Central Lutheran Church. I used to follow where people go to be there, you know, whether you used to go or be, you know, I used to follow the crowd, but I always stuck to myself, you know, I'm always the outside looking in, you know. I see something good, you know, I go investigate it, check it out, see if its right for me, you know. And when I came up on Central Lutheran, you know, I’m like, this a place where peoples intervene and understand how it is to be homeless, you know. Cause somewhere along the way some peoples have came up on the, uh, original back by coming to the church. And, I think uh some peoples, I think some churches love to give back, you know, cause, I guess they have, everybody have a family that go through, you know, trials and tribulations, you know. They understand about how a person can be vulnerable, you know, uh, uh, I think uh, without things that they grew up with, things that they grew out of, you know, because, uh… these churches, have helped, I mean, if you enlighten yourself on and understand about what a church is, you know, it’ll help you, you know, it will help you, you know, you just, I mean it ain’t gon be in the order that you want it to be, you know, but you gotta Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 7 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai improvise the situation that they in, you know. Cause they have life after this too, they have a family they have to raise, you know. You not their only responsibility, you know, you have to bring responsibility to the table too, you know. You just can’t take on, just can’t accept all of their responsibility for you, you know, you have to bring, you gotta bring some responsibility to the table. Kathleen Clark 20:03 So what are some reasons that you or other people come to the nurses at Central? M Melvin James 20:09 Well, when I started coming to you guys, I had a need, you know, not a physical, mental need, nothing like that, you know, but I can feel the enjoyment, you know, from you guys, you know, I can feel the life, you know. The light that you, that y’all share, you know, with each and every one of us, you know. And some people, you know, they, I think some people just ain’t understand it, but I do, you know. I know what I like, you know, and if I run into a situation where somebody is talking, you know, angry or big, uh, you know, being above life, you know, I don’t deal with it, you know. You going talking to arrogant, you know, miss me, you know, miss me with that because I can talk arrogant too, but that ain’t gonna lead us back to stage one. But I can feel, I can feel enjoyment, you know. When I met you guys, you know I used to- didn’t say nothing. You know I was always a closed mouth, you know. I was always a closed mouth, but I got to learning y’all and y’all got to showing me both, how y’all feel about a person and what y’all got to feed a person, you know. Got that understanding, you know all that. Then I started opening up, yeah. Since I am a joker, you know, I like to joke, you know. I like to start my conversation off with a joke, you know to get to the real, real thing that I really need to talk to you about, to ask you about, you know. Kathleen Clark 22:20 Well, so, how do you think we could better welcome people in this space, or do people feel welcomed, or how can we do that better? Well, I think people, I think good peoples, well everybody’s good you know, everybody’s good. You can take the good with the bad, the bad with the good, but I think y’all is more, more, more of a slice of cake, you know, more of a slice of cake. Once you taste your cake you taste how sweet it is, you just go keep inviting yourself back for more and more and more, you know, to get another slice, you know. Get another slice, you know. And uh. Y’all a good welcoming at. Y’all good. I mean, it’s, when you come in here, most people like, I don’t know, they just like to be around you Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 8 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai guys. They like to be around you guys, you know. Well, I do have a lot of students who work in-patient nearby in different hospitals and see some folks that are here that they often see like in the ER and say that people often act different when they are here versus in the ER setting. What do you think that's about, why do you think that people might act different in the ER, versus coming in and asking for blood pressure or something, in this setting? M Melvin James 23:55 It’s because they, they feel more comfortable around you, you know. I mean I’m quite sure they feel comfortable in the ER, but you have all of these moving pictures, you know, moving around, you know, and you don't know which, which, what picture to point the finger at, you know. Here, you ain’t got to point the finger, you know, it’s just nothing but love, you know. It’s just something about you guys and y’all area, you know, that draws attention and everybody just want to be around, you know, around the nurses, you know, because I believe y’all both down to earth, you know, you ain’t got too many pictures to point a finger at, you know, you get, you know, and some people just can’t, just can’t take no for an answer. And since I've been coming in here, what y’all use as a word no, it gives a lot of people strength, you know, y'all don’t use the word no as a mean thing or an angry thing, you know, but you know, I guess in the ER you know, you know, it's like, you know, they be saying it to you in an arguing way, you know, so you feel not capable of being helped. You know, you just being like a Guinea pig that’s being used, you know, and here, y'all, y'all filter out all the, they’ll try to filter out all the weakness that somebody come and talk to you about. You try to help them, you know, mentor their lives, you know. And I, I think that's a good thing, you know, everybody just feels warm and welcome around here. I know I do, you know. That’s why I come in here I do my leisure, that’s why I come in here. It’s like, it’s just like, it’s like y’all is, y’all are like my new mentors, you know, in life, you know, every time I come in here, I'm not looking for nothing. I ain’t looking for no handouts or, you know, I'm just looking for construction, you know, construction, you know, that makes my day, makes my next hours go, you know, not crazy but, you know, go wild and loose, and understanding, you know, that's why I come in here, you know. I guess about- if Mondays, Thursdays, if I sleep over nine o’clock, after ten o'clock, if I miss not coming through here, I’m like, oh man my day gon be rough, because I didn't get to come over to meet my peoples, you know, they give me enjoyment in life, you know, they don't tell me no all the time, you know. Kathleen Clark 26:49 So you volunteered here a couple, many times, actually. So, how is it for you when you volunteer? Oral History Interview with Melvin James, 2018 Page 9 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai M Melvin James 26:57 It was nice, you know, it was nice, I mean I get answered some questions that I couldn't answer, you know and people come to you, and you know, and look for answers, you know. Look for that certain question. You know they got to hear those certain words, you know, that you can provide for them, you know. And sometimes I- but I enjoyed volunteering, I enjoyed volunteering. I mean it helped me out, you know, it helped me out, and I understand how peoples are- you know, how I, I am, you know. It helped me out, you know, with my mental stage. Kathleen Clark 27:38 So what do you think we could do better in the Health Commons? M Melvin James 27:42 I really couldn’t say, right now y’all, right now I think y’all, right now I think y’all are complete. You know, whatever you think that you can offer us, you know, it’ll be complete, you know. Right now, everything is, to me, it’s complete. I can’t see, go around and see no faults, that y’all ain’t serving the peoples well, and stuff, y’all serving the people just, you know, just as promised that’s needed. Kathleen Clark 28:30 Some people have said things like we should have more days or we should do outreach or things like that, but, do you think that we need to do more or is the two days fine? Well, two days, an extra day wouldn’t be bad, you know, an extra day wouldn’t be bad. It’s the people- I mean, try an extra day and if the people show up, you know, the people have to show up, you know. So what do you think some of the biggest barriers are for people who are experiencing homelessness or marginally house to access things around health, whether it's healthcare or get basic needs met, like, what do you think the biggest barriers are? I believe, I think uh, most people need to be talked to, but they won’t- some people, like think this, they kickin theyself bout to slip into a mental state and they come, they hoping they will come that y’all guys are here to help them be positive, you know, before they slip into that mental state, you know, and uh, I think they, they count on you guys, you know, I think they really do, you know. Because like I said, you know, when I miss a day, my day, I’m saying, I’m just like, I missed out on a whole, I missed out on a whole lot of stuff, you know. So you know that we have a lot of nurses who volunteer and students. So Oral History Interview with Melvin James, Page 2018 10 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai if you could tell them one thing when they're coming in that they should think about doing when they're working the folks when we are open, what's one thing that the nurses or volunteers should be thinking about? M Melvin James 30:34 Well, if they first time, they’ll think about, they’ll think everybody that you looking to would say if they first time. You know, if they first time. You just, you know, just follow the good, you know, just listen to it. Listen to the voice, you know, of a person, you know, and, you know, don’t challenge it, just listen and say, ok, this sounds well enough. It sounds well enough, you know. Kathleen Clark 31:08 That's all the questions that I have. Is there anything that you want to add that we didn't ask? Sam, did you have a question? M Melvin James 31:22 Well, me, I like coming here, for once, you know. Like I said, when I miss a day, when I miss a Monday or a Thursday, I’m like- even when I be going out of town, you know, like, like, I'm going home for Mother's Day and I'm leaving on the ninth, then Imma be, my mind gonna be like, oh, man. What did they do, you know, aw man, what did they doing, you know. I miss what makes me excited, you know, and when you miss something that makes you excited it seems like the whole day is just ruined, you know. Because you missed the magic, you missed the feeding part, the gross part, the education part, you know, it seems like you just missed something. Other than that, you know, I’m well off, I’m happy. I’m bout complete now. I’m bout complete with you guys. I just- Y’all just wonderful. Y’all just really wonderful. Kathleen Clark 32:35 Well this has been really fun because you're such a quiet person. So to hear your thoughts has been great. So thank you for taking the time to talk with us and share your input on Health Commons and what we should do better. So. M Melvin James 32:51 Alright, whatever, whatever will make the well water clean enough. Oral History Interview with Melvin James, Page 2018 11 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai Oral History Interview with Melvin James, Page 2018 12 of 12 Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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- Title
- Transcript of Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, 2018
- Collection
- Augsburg Central Health Commons Oral History Project
- Search Result
-
Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,
2018
Tue, 3/9 1:32PM
25:18
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
commons, health, people, individuals, augsburg, community, neat, volunteer, nurse, comments,
patients, led, stigma, hear, volunteering, homeless, rapport, location, received, experience
SPEAKERS
Sam...
Show more Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, 2018 Tue, 3/9 1:32PM 25:18 SUMMARY KEYWORDS commons, health, people, individuals, augsburg, community, neat, volunteer, nurse, comments, patients, led, stigma, hear, volunteering, homeless, rapport, location, received, experience SPEAKERS Samantha Gibson, Alisha Stahler S Samantha Gibson 00:00 Hello, my name is Samantha Gibson, and I'm an AmeriCorps VISTA worker with health commons, would you please introduce yourself for the recording? A Alisha Stahler 00:07 Hi, my name is Alicia Stahler, and I am Augsburg student at the Augsburg University for the nursing program for a bachelor's degree. S Samantha Gibson 00:18 Great, thank you. So I just like to reaffirm for the recording that you consent having this interview and a transcript stored at the library, Augsburg University, where it'll be made available to the public. A Alisha Stahler 00:30 Yes, I have consented for that. Samantha Gibson 00:32 Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 1 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai S Samantha Gibson 00:32 Great. The last thing I'd like to mention is that there may be some background noise. Is there some lawn maintenance going on? That's, that's what that buzzing sound is. Alright. So to get us started, would you please tell me a little bit about where you grew up, and who you called family. A Alisha Stahler 00:50 So I grew up in a small town with a family of four brothers and our parents. We are a middle class, family. And like most families are some families, we grew up with some struggles, I had four brothers who did struggle with some alcohol and drug addiction. We also had extended family of aunts and uncles and cousins that we spent a lot of time with, we had game nights with them. Our family was pretty much involved in some church activities, but never really volunteered for much within the community. As I got older, though, I started to feel the need or felt led to get more involved into the community and volunteer at a couple different things. I've only carest within the community here in my surrounding area. And I also went on a mission trip to Guatemala. And I have also been led to just do random acts of kindness, helping out people at a grocery store paying for their groceries in line. So that kind of leads into the experience I had through Augsburg, which kind of led me to get back into doing that. S Samantha Gibson 02:04 Okay, did you say that you grew up in Minnesota? A Alisha Stahler 02:08 Yep. here in Minnesota, just a small town of population was about 2000. S Samantha Gibson 02:14 All right, and how did you end up choosing Augsburg University? A Alisha Stahler 02:19 So I chose Augsburg because they're here they have a location here in the Rochester area. And I have heard a lot of great things about their program. And also I really liked that they're a faith based. Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 2 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai S Samantha Gibson 02:35 Thank you. And how did your experience at Augsburg lead to you becoming involved health commons? A Alisha Stahler 02:44 So my first nursing core class to get the bachelor's degree, one of they're not really requirements, but one of their programs allowed us to volunteer at the Health Commons in Minneapolis, which kind of seeing patients that were of a diverse culture that had low social economic backgrounds. So it was just an experience that was outside of what I'm used to as a nurse working in a health care in the hospital setting. S Samantha Gibson 03:21 Yeah, absolutely. What else can you tell me about your experience of health commons. A Alisha Stahler 03:26 So at first, I really wasn't sure what to expect, because I haven't really volunteered with any low income, social backgrounds, you know, homeless kind of volunteering work. So I really wasn't sure what to expect. It was interesting when we talked about it in the classroom, just to see the kind of the stigma that goes along with that kind of culture. A lot of people in the classroom hadn't really been around homeless or difficulties of that people are faced with in the world today. So it was really interesting to hear what people's thoughts were. And growing up the way I did having brothers struggle a lot with addiction and drug abuse, and just the, somewhat of a dysfunctional in our family, I kind of been involved with a lot of judgment and a lot of what the stigma is on, on people on this world. So this program, kind of, I felt really led to it because it kind of was nice to go in for myself not having judgment, I try not to have that kind of judgment on people. So the experience was quite interesting and really rewarding. S Samantha Gibson 04:44 Good to hear. So you mentioned the talking about the experience in class, how was Health Commons presented to fit in with your curriculum, and how well do you think that your experience and health comments related to what you were learning A Alisha Stahler 04:58 Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 3 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai so the point of doing this was to kind of just compare and contrast the difference between a nurse working in a hospital kind of studying base and a nurse working in a community kind of setting base. And it was really neat to see how the Augsburg Health Commons provided more of a community base, and it was provided free and they provided a very supportive and safe environment, and was very welcoming. And it was definitely not the medical atmosphere that I was used to. They did things like blood pressure checks, talk to some of the clients that came there may had respiratory issues I'd seen some people had some eye and foot issues, it was neat to see how the nursing staff there, and the volunteers how they all were there to listen and honor each individual that was there. And they definitely built a rapport with these, these patients or people that were coming there. And a lot of it was just meeting basic needs that we all kind of take for granted. They offered socks and diapers, different kinds of toiletries, wipes, underwear, clothing, jackets, hats, it was neat to see the I went during February, so it was right after the Super Bowl. So hearing the kind of how a lot of these people that came to the Health Commons, to use utilize all the support that they give, how they were kind of blocked off during the Superbowl. So that was kind of challenging, and sad to hear that they were kind of not able to walk on certain streets during that time. But it was neat to see the NFL had actually dropped off some jackets. So a lot of the people that were coming into the Health Commons, were able to get jackets to keep them warm during that cold time. So that was really, really, really neat to see. And then just seeing the community connections that they had. And the education that they were giving these patients are the people that were coming in, it was pretty unique. And then prior to starting before the doors actually open. One of the the nurses that was leading the health comments received a phone call from a crisis center regarding an individual who had been coming there for some time. But during that time, health comments was going under had some construction work going on. And they had received this call that this individual had not eaten for four days. And they hadn't seen him and he was pretty nervous about coming into the facility due to the smaller location at the time. And they had asked the nurse to see if maybe she would kind of walk around the community to see if they could find them and offer some help that the health comments was able to provide for these individuals. So I actually had a very unique experience where I was able to go with that nurse in walk was probably about six blocks from the Health Commons location and find this individual. And when we found them, I had stayed back and it was a very safe environment. And the nurse had actually walked up to this gentleman who was wrapped in a couple of sleeping bags and had his items around him. And she kind of went up and and stated his name and he peeked out. And I saw this amazing smile on his face, which she was so surprised to see her. And she had offered to supply him with some daily needs that the health comments had back at that location. And so he gratefully accepted that and the nurse and I had walked back and gathered some supplies for him. And then on the way back, I felt led to purchase a meal. So we stopped at this location, and I was able to get a few sandwiches for him. So it was Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 4 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai really, really neat to actually walk the street and see some of these individuals that utilize as the health comments. It's an experience I will always remember and never forget and just so appreciative of that opportunity. S Samantha Gibson 09:21 Thank you for sharing that story. You mentioned how you related to your Health Commons experience professionally as well as personally. Could you talk a little bit more about how your experience in Health Commons fit or challenged your expectations in both of those realms? A Alisha Stahler 09:39 Yeah, so it was just neat to see in the hospital setting. I'm so used to the patient population that's more centered and focused. Whereas coming to volunteer at the health Commons that's more driven on community based and it's definitely a variety of care and skill. that's given to a particular population such as the homeless man that was there. Also, the hospital setting were more focused on treatment and restoring a patient to their baseline baseline, where the health Commons was more focused on promoting health through education, and then through the community connections that they offer. And then giving a lot of the individuals that came opportunities and references for needs that they may need. The challenging through that is, the difference is that at the health comments, most of these patients don't have really a medical insurance company that provides them with as much as a hospital setting does. So a lot of them haven't been medically diagnosed with things, they don't really receive a lot of preventative health care, whereas in a hospital setting, most of those patients are receiving preventive care. They see their primary providers, they have a diagnosis, and they're being treated as appropriate for their diagnose. So it was really neat to see a group of people come together at the health comments, and provide care for these people, they individuals that may not have received care up anywhere else. So the challenge is to we're just seeing just the need of this within the community at the health Commons. So it was hard to when we came back to the house comments location and provided for the rest of the individuals that were there, it was really hard to just give only a certain amount of items to these individuals or would last longer, so they could provide more within the community. So that was that was hard to see that. So it really made me want to help and challenged me to want to do better and, and volunteer more, and things such as this. S Samantha Gibson 11:58 You know, thanks for your insight, that story that you told about doing sort of some Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 5 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai outreach to an individual who couldn't come into the health Commons location. I was wondering how you would suggest that health comments could better accompany people on their journey of health. And for example, things like doing those outreach services or adding more hours that they're available? A Alisha Stahler 12:27 Yeah, I think that would be a really good idea to do. I think that Augsburg You know, this is the only opportunity so far through any of my nursing, schooling or my nursing program. When I did my associates degree we didn't. We didn't do any volunteering like this. In the past, I've done research and we actually did some outreach. And we're able to go out to different communities, we did a Somali community where we offered free blood draws. And we're able to look at these patients to see if they had Hepatitis B, and we were able to then bring them into the clinic and get them help or educate them. So I think that the health dogs, Brickhouse Commons could definitely reach out more to doing that. I think that would be a good idea for them to just open up more opportunities for students for volunteering. And definitely, with just with classmates that, you know, have this stigma on these people, I think it was a great opportunity for them to be able to go into the community and see this, and maybe lose a little bit of their stigma that they have, and try to push that, you know, disparity away that these will have and actually see them as an individual and be able to reach out and give them the help that they need and finding the different references and or different referrals and that are within the community that can provide help to those individuals. S Samantha Gibson 14:01 In line with what you said, how has this experience? Or has this experience changed any biases that you may have had about homeless or marginally housed individuals? A Alisha Stahler 14:13 I think I went in with pretty much an open heart and tried to not be judgmental, but I know that there's been instances where I might be driving in the car and I'll see a homeless man standing on the street and I'll get a feeling like Why does he need the money or I had an instance where I actually helped somebody. And I had filled her gas tank up with gas and I was actually working on my floor as a nurse and listening to somebody tell a story and it was pretty much the same kind of similar situation and it turned out to be the same person. And this individual ended up following the person that she had helped. And in that situation, the person And actually went to a liquor store. So there is things in life where people do lead you the wrong way. And that's where that stigma comes. But I think Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 6 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai generally in life that you should be open, and no matter if you're helping them or not, I think that in life, we should all just provide and not have a bias or a stigma of what these people are using their money for. But rather than just help these individuals and allow them to, not all of them are doing that, and some need help. So I think that this has just opened my eyes that everybody has a story and if we just opened up and not been so not so judgmental to them, and allow them to get the help that they need. And opening this community based facilities, such as the health comments will definitely be a good thing, and to give health care back, and maybe prevent some of the things that are happening within those individuals. S Samantha Gibson 16:03 Sure. From your your experience at Health Commons, can you tell me about some of the strengths that you heard or learned from the people that you met? A Alisha Stahler 16:14 It was quite amazing to see the rapport that the volunteers and the nursing and the nurses that led kind of instructors in the health Commons, they definitely were building a good rapport with these patients, they trusted them. Even just walking on the street, people were saying hi, as we walked by, and they knew this nurse that was leading the program. And I think that it definitely improves the outcome for these vulnerable, this vulnerable population who may not receive care elsewhere, or have limited resources. So I think that it definitely is a strong base to have within a community because of the rapport that's built, allowing them to come somewhere they feel safe, and they feel a lot of trust. S Samantha Gibson 17:05 You mentioned that report. Did you feel as though people felt welcomed into the health common space? Do you have any suggestions on how we could welcome people better? S Samantha Gibson 17:15 During the time I, like I said, I went and there was some construction going on. And I know that they had mentioned that the numbers were a little bit lower because of the smaller building. And I think that when they have their construction done with a newer facility that will be most likely rewarding. I think that just being in the small location that they were at, at the time, a lot of the individuals that utilize their facility felt a little bit nervous or felt too enclosed. So I think that finishing up with the construction project that they had, and opening up a bigger center, I know they had mentioned that they had computers Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 7 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai for them to utilize and be able to kind of help them maybe get a job or find other references. So I think that will definitely be a key thing for continuing to help the individuals that are utilizing their program. S Samantha Gibson 18:15 Yeah, that construction that you mentioned, I believe it's actually supposed to be completed this fall 2018. And they'll be moving back into the space. Do you have any other suggestions or hopes for that space? A Alisha Stahler 18:30 No, I think just I think this is just a great opportunity that the health comments has led it's vital service within their community. And it's definitely for a student. It's extended my knowledge beyond the traditional learning that I've learned in a classroom setting or within my job at the hospital. So I definitely think that for them to continue with that connection within that community and partnering, partnering, partnering with other references to provide a overall wholesome to get the needs that they need for being met their basic needs, and I think that's going to definitely help them with their health in their overall well being. S Samantha Gibson 19:18 Did your experience at health Commons impact your future career ideals or your personal goals? Yeah, definitely. A Alisha Stahler 19:26 Like I said, I had volunteered for some stuff prior to this class. But as they say, out of sight out of mind, I haven't volunteered probably in the last three to four years. So this this actual program that I was able to volunteer at really opened up my heart and just, there's so much that we can do within our community and I traveled to Minneapolis for this and I know right here in Rochester, there are so many things that I can do. So it was a great opportunity and it actually opened up my mind to hopefully In the near future, be able to volunteer and give back within the community here. S Samantha Gibson 20:05 Great, yeah. What was most valuable or useful to you about your experience and health commons? Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 8 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai 20:14 Like I said, I think the most important thing was probably just watching and seeing the rapport in that relationship that was built for these patients or these individuals. It just, it was just an amazing experience with that part. And I think, going forward, it definitely is going to continue to help people and I think that Augsburg should continue programs and actually even try to see if they there's other programs that they can add to this for their students. S Samantha Gibson 20:49 What do you think Health Commons could do better? Is there anything missing? A Alisha Stahler 20:55 I don't know that there's anything missing. Maybe besides having more opportunities to volunteer at things, like I said, this is the first time I've done any of that. And the first time I've even heard of a volunteering program like this through the, through the school. So I think maybe the only thing is finding other opportunities, not only just in the low income or the homeless, but maybe providing into you know, the alcohol or the drug addiction and being able to provide for them to would be a neat thing to see. Also, I think it'd be neat to, you know, a lot of elderly, I see a lot of elderly in the hospital setting that, you know, struggle struggle with. And they know a lot of them are malnutrition. So I think even helping that or volunteering to serve at homes or, you know, go into homes, rather than having people come to them. And it was a great opportunity to be able to actually have somewhat of an outreach experience when I was there. So I think that sometimes people don't always come into a facility to get help. But I think allowing you to go to their home or the street or wherever they're at would be a big impact. S Samantha Gibson 22:20 What, if anything, will you take forward with you from this experience? A Alisha Stahler 22:28 I think like I said, just taking back and and giving back from that experience, just put that drive back in me. And knowing that when I see a homeless person now that from the stories are heard in the facility, in the four hour, I was there probably about four hours, was pretty amazing. Everybody has a story, and everybody has a situation. And we need to stop judging on that and see individuals for who they are and honor them for them, and Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler, Page 2018 9 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai not for the situation they're in and being able to provide and and help them in any way that we can. S Samantha Gibson 23:10 Thank you. I know you already kind of told one story that stuck with you. But is there another another tale of health Commons that really stuck with you from your experience? A Alisha Stahler 23:21 Yeah, there was I was able to sit and have comments and kind of hand out some toiletries and some basic need items. And one of the volunteers that was there has been there, I believe, for 15 plus years. And she was telling me her story about how she was homeless at the time and was struggling with just daily needs and finding jobs. And she actually told the story that the Augsburg health comments actually saved her life. And now she is giving back by volunteering at that at the facility. And so it was really neat to see somebody who actually received the help that health Commons gives to these individuals, and to see how it's changed her life for the better. And she was very, very grateful for it. And it was really neat to hear her story about it. S Samantha Gibson 24:18 That's an amazing story of the community, I think. Yes. Is there any topic that we didn't talk about or anything you'd like to add? A Alisha Stahler 24:29 No, I think that we pretty much just covered our thing there. I think to just the the donations that the health Commons receives, I think that they can even benefit for more because there is such a need for the individuals that come. So it was really neat because our our instructor had said if we felt led to you know, donate any items to the health comments when we volunteered and I just think that just finding The referrals to find people to bring in donations to help is probably a key thing. So just reaching out to the community to get the support for them to run their program. S Samantha Gibson 25:11 Great. Thanks for taking some time to talk with me today. Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,Page 201810 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai A Alisha Stahler 25:14 Yes, you're welcome. Thanks for having me. Oral History Interview with Alisha Stahler,Page 201811 of 11 Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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- Title
- Transcript of Oral History Interview with Lisa VanGetson, 2020
- Collection
- Nursing Department Oral Histories
- Search Result
-
Oral history with Lisa VanGetson
Tue, 3/9 3:17PM
17:19
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
augsburg, nursing, dnp, nursing faculty, students, healthcare, family nurse practitioner, program,
patients, department, university, faculty, teresa, college, integrative, grow, deep, holistic, practices,
clinical
S...
Show more Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Tue, 3/9 3:17PM 17:19 SUMMARY KEYWORDS augsburg, nursing, dnp, nursing faculty, students, healthcare, family nurse practitioner, program, patients, department, university, faculty, teresa, college, integrative, grow, deep, holistic, practices, clinical SPEAKERS Lisa VanGetson, Joyce Miller J Joyce Miller 00:02 Thank you for joining me today for this oral history project on the Department of nursing for Augsburg University. My name is Joyce Miller and I am the Chair of the Nursing Department. Could you please introduce yourself for the recording? And tell us what your position is at Augsburg University. L Lisa VanGetson 00:23 Thank you, Joyce. I am Dr. Lisa VanGetson. I am in as assistant professor and program director of the doctorate of nursing practice in family nurse practitioner program here at Augsburg University. J Joyce Miller 00:38 Great. Before we continue, I would just like to confirm that you consent to be to being interviewed and to have that interview stored at Augsburg University, which will be made available to the public. L Lisa VanGetson 00:52 Yes, I agree. Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 1 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai J Joyce Miller 00:53 All right. Well, good. Let's begin. Can you tell me where you grew up and who you call family? L Lisa VanGetson 01:00 Sure. I grew up in Midwestern Illinois with my parents. My mother was half Cherokee is half Cherokee Indian. Her both of her parents were native. In I have four siblings. J Joyce Miller 01:15 Awesome, awesome. What led you to the nursing profession? L Lisa VanGetson 01:20 I felt called by God when I was in high school to care for sick people. The interesting thing was that none of us in our family were ever sick. So I'm not quite sure, like I blame God for this one. And I wanted to attend a girl's Catholic college because I was interested in the Franciscan vocation. And while I was in high school, the Sisters of St. Francis from the College of St. Teresa in Winona, Minnesota came in scouted me at a basketball tournament and offered me a two year basketball scholarship to St. Teresa's. J Joyce Miller 01:59 I love it. So you play basketball at went on to state that are at St. Teresa. L Lisa VanGetson 02:04 Yes. J Joyce Miller 02:06 That's awesome. I didn't know that about. So can you tell for me or describe your educational background? L Lisa VanGetson 02:15 In 1982, I graduated with my BSN from the College of St. Teresa in Winonna. And following my graduation, I promised God that I would never attend any more college. So I began Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 2 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai my nursing career at St. Mary's Hospital at Mayo Clinic Rochester. My career had a deep focus on cardiovascular surgery, spending the next 26 years working in a pediatric adult cardiovascular transplant intensive care unit is a bedside rn. And then later, 10 years later, actually, as an family nurse practitioner in this in that same department, I grew deeply passionate about hospital clinical ethics and spirituality in health care. Following a Native American vision quest, I was led to the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, and enrolled in graduated in 1995 and receiving a master's degree in theology and spirituality. I continued to work at St. Mary's in the ICU in in 1997, I was led to study clinical ethics at the University of Chicago as a paid fellow at the McLean Center for Clinical ethics. In 2002, I attended Winona State University and obtained my family nurse practitioner certification. In 2007. I obtained academic rank at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine as an instructor in Biomedical Ethics. In 2010, I was led by God once again to Augsburg College, to complete my terminal degree in the DNP TCN program. J Joyce Miller 03:59 Well, so that's how you really ended up at Augsburg or how, how did you discover Augsburg university? L Lisa VanGetson 04:07 Well, I had applied to a DNP program at the University of Minnesota. And hey, I had delayed my admission. And one day while driving to Minneapolis, one of my nursing colleagues called in said listen to the name of this course. And she shared with me the name of this course in a DNP program. I said, Well, where's that from? And she said, It's from Augsburg College. And I said, Well, where's that at? And she said, Well, they have an educational site in Rochester, and I think the four of us should all go to DNP school together. And I said, Okay, well, what do I do next? And she said, Well, I know it's Friday afternoon at three o'clock, but you need to call Dr. Sue Nash and set up an appointment for all four of us on Monday at four o'clock. I said, Okay, I'm quite sure that'll work. So I dialed up Sue Nash, scheduled us all an appointment The weekend we spent updating our CBS and we we were admitted into the program Three days later. J Joyce Miller 05:07 I remember that day. I remember the data as soon as I shared that for you walked in. So what then inspired you to want to teach? L Lisa VanGetson 05:21 Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 3 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai Well, my first academic teaching position was actually 1999, where I taught applied in clinical ethics in a philosophy department and then later, I taught cardiovascular nursing in the nursing department. I have always taught in academia and also had a clinical practice. When I was obtaining my DNP. At Augsburg, I was very inspired by the nursing faculty. And after our first class, I turned to my four colleagues and said, If I ever teach in academia, again, it is going to be with this nursing faculty. Why they said, I said well, because they really have a wide angle perspective, into a health care in nursing and understanding this transcultural perspective. Of course, as a Native American woman, I really resonated with that and I connected with how Augsburg provided students with a variety of practical experiences in the work of trans cultural and holistic nursing. So I suddenly became inspired again, to integrate clinical practice with academia and became part of Augsburg's nursing faculty in 2011. So in 2013, I was asked to join the Augsburg nursing faculty in a meeting to dream and create a additional track in their DNP program as an FNP. I agreed, as long as we could dream and discuss about having an FNP track which integrated trans cultural, holistic and Integrative Health. Following that meeting, Dr. Cheryl Leuning and I began to play in the program, which included developing the entire curriculum, hiring and mentoring new nursing faculty finding clinical sites for students in interviewing the first class of students. We began the program was two faculty and seven students. Today we have over 12 faculty and about 78 DNP FNP students. J Joyce Miller 07:35 Wow, How the program has grown over the last how many years? Incredible. So how many years then Have you been at Augsburg? L Lisa VanGetson 07:44 Totally, I've been teaching at Augsburg since 2011, which I started in the BSN program. And then in 2013, I entered teaching in the doctorate program. J Joyce Miller 07:56 So what courses do you primarily teach at Augsburg? L Lisa VanGetson 08:00 I teach classes throughout the DNP FNP program. I am the lead faculty on the seminar classes in for one of the practices that we take students to Oaxaca Mexico. And I am also quite passionate about one of the DNP courses on cosmology in in nursing, where we Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 4 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai actually begin to challenge our students to look at who they are as healers, and how as nursing, how we help students begin to understand how health is connected to the care of the earth and how we are connected with the care of the earth and how in order to to be part of creating wellness and health we need to recognize that we are one with the earth. J Joyce Miller 08:52 Sounds like a great class. So what has been your most memorable teaching experience? L Lisa VanGetson 09:00 I'm most inspired by how students will enter our program through what they may call a vocational call, or called by spirit, to be in our particular program. I'm inspired that I too have been called to be among students who journey through our vigorous program into a new life of fulfilling this call, which helps them to understand how their prayers have been answered. It is in this deep way of knowing that I have always believed since the beginning of this DNP FNP program that God has grown this program into being we have been sent excellent FNP clinicians who have grown into their new roles in academia, who have been clinicians for many years and share their years of clinical expertise in integrated primary care. It has been and still is an honor to be part of Creating a legacy program at Augsburg, students and faculty who arrived in our DNP FNP program are indeed called to create a new face of healthcare through trans cultural, holistic and integrated primary care lens. It is a blessing to share this time of my life of bridging the gap between our current healthcare system in integrative complementary and alternative health care. J Joyce Miller 10:29 That sounds incredible. So, when you launched the FNP program, What do you remember about the beginning of that program or, or just the beginning or the launching? or What was your biggest maybe understanding or takeaway? L Lisa VanGetson 10:52 Well, when I was asked by our nursing faculty to consider being the director of the program, I remember feeling deeply embraced by how the mystery of God has been preparing me throughout my professional career for this work. In 2013, was one of the years of my professional life with the mystery of God placed what I call a constellation of creative nursing faculty into a particular time of history in healthcare. Our call, and I believe this is still our calling. It is to be part of a health community to recreate the Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 5 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai meaning of health and wellbeing for our patients. As we know healthcare becomes more and more complex each day, and we are challenged to integrate a holistic and integrative academic and clinical experience for students. This requires each of us to reflect on how we enter a trans cultural culture of healthcare. J Joyce Miller 12:00 So can you tell me all the emphasis you talked about trans cultural culture care? Tell me about the emphasis on transcultural, holistic care really aligns with you and your either nursing or nursing or teaching practices? L Lisa VanGetson 12:19 Well, the emphasis on transcultural, holistic and Integrative Health really has been a deep part of my own nursing and teaching practice for 37 years. As a native woman walking into worlds walking in the spiritual world, where we turn to Mother Earth, the plants and animals, our ancestors, the night sky to help us guide in this work of nursing, and also walking in the world of evidence based practice. And healthcare policy is an effort to provide the very best for our patients. So walking in this worlds with patients and families, I believe we are called to serve to be with them in moments of transformation and healing. To walk with patients through their illness story. This has always been the emphasis of how I provide patient care. J Joyce Miller 13:13 That's incredible. So what should nurses know about practicing from these frameworks? L Lisa VanGetson 13:24 Today in health care, nurses are required, in my opinion, more than ever to understand that trans cultural, holistic, and integrative health care is the road to patient care. These frameworks, they're not subspecialties, this is what healthcare is today, and it is what patients want from us. patients want us to understand their illness story through a holistic lens. nurses, nurse practitioners must come to the patient's narrative, embracing the many ways of understanding how transformation and healing is part of every single visit we have with the patient. This is how we need to be providing health care today. J Joyce Miller 14:12 So if there would be something that we could improve upon, in our department, would you Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 6 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai have any thoughts on that? L Lisa VanGetson 14:21 It is important for our faculty to be allowed to grow into be faculty. We can grow our internal structures faculty to support our students, and to grow our ongoing growth as faculty. But we need the university to support our outer structure of our programs so that we can continue to strengthen the core values and mission of who we are as a nursing department. J Joyce Miller 14:51 So where do you see the department in 20 years? L Lisa VanGetson 14:55 In 20 years, I would hope that ours students would remember the experiences and mentors that are provided to them. Through our nursing program, and through our nursing faculty, I imagine alumni carrying on the deep hearing on the deep legacy of the mission of our department. J Joyce Miller 15:20 I agree. As we both are getting closer to retirement, we do want our students to carry on we are. So is there anything else that you can think of that I didn't ask or that you would like to share today, before we close this interview time? L Lisa VanGetson 15:44 I guess just in closing, I do believe that, that health care is forever changing in to grow with the times to grow a nursing department with the times of the changing face of healthcare is what we have to do. So in 20, and 30 and 40 years, it will look very different. But it will be aligned with meeting the best needs of where healthcare is today, and what our patients need from us. J Joyce Miller 16:17 Thank you. Well, thank you, Lisa. This was quite interesting to find out about your life and your passion, and just your teaching practices. So I really want to thank you for your time. And and very much appreciate you participating in our oral history here at Augsburg Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 7 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai University. Thank you. L Lisa VanGetson 16:38 Thank you. J Joyce Miller 16:43 I hope that stupid banging could hear a little thing and I said shut up. Hopefully, so does it. Transcribe it you're still recording Oral history with Lisa VanGetson Page 8 of 8 Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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