Carol Vermeesch recently retired as undergraduate program coordinator and professor in the College of Nursing. She has been a guiding force educating future nurses for nearly three decades. Here, she talks about her career as a Spartan, including tips on dealing with burnout and for achieving success at MSU.
Q: What motivated you to stay at MSU?
A: I am fortunate to have educated students about a profession that is my passion. For most of my career, I taught one of the first nursing courses the students took when they started at the College of Nursing, or CON. Some of the attributes I admired in these beginning nursing students were their intelligence, motivation, determination and enthusiasm. The students inspired me when I saw these combined with compassion and a caring attitude. Seeing the growth in the students from the very beginning of their education to when they graduate is what has motivated me. I know our Spartan nurses have made (and will continue to make) a difference in the lives of their patients.
I often share the quote below by author Ursula K. Le Guin with my students at the end of the semester:
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
My journey at the CON has allowed me to be a part of educating nurses for 28 years. I can’t help feeling a sense of pride for being a small part of the students’ journey.
Q: Did you ever experience burnout and how did you deal with it?
A: As a nurse, I am very aware of burnout. I experienced it when I first started as a staff nurse as well as when I was teaching at the CON. It was important for me to have a supportive network of family, friends and colleagues to deal with all the stress that comes along with being a nurse and a nurse educator. I also find activities to help me de-stress. We have taught the students at the CON about well-being and how important it is for nursing students and nurses to take care of themselves. We need our students to understand that nurses must care for themselves so they can be there for their patients.
Q: How has higher education changed during your time at MSU, and how did you adapt?
A: The changes in technology have had the biggest impact during my time at the CON. When I started teaching, we had a typewriter (to share) to be able to create course packs to be sent out to be printed so the students could buy them at the bookstore. The tests were on paper, and you had to take the bubble sheets to the Scoring Office to get statistical information regarding the exam. High-fidelity simulation mannequins did not exist.
There was always some anxiety related to the many changes that came along with evolving technology. I think trying to embrace change (and knowing there will always be some bumps along the road) has helped me adapt. I have been able to find support to help me through the many changes, and now I can’t imagine teaching without having an online learning management system and high-fidelity simulation.
Q: What’s the most unusual or unexpected lesson you’ve learned over the years?
A: I never lived close to a college town before moving to the East Lansing area. I didn’t pay much attention to MSU sports schedules initially until one day I tried to drive through campus to get to an appointment. I couldn’t believe all the activities (and heavy traffic) on campus — there were people everywhere. After I got home and mentioned this to my husband, he was surprised I didn’t know there was a football game that day. It was then I learned how important it was to pay attention to the MSU sports schedules.
