Nursing Care with a Musical Flair

Involvement in University Band proved to be the perfect distraction as Mariah Petersen ’25 managed the rigors of obtaining a nursing degree.  
 

MMU: Where are you from and what made you decide to attend Mount Mercy? 

MP: I am from Bennett, Iowa, and I graduated high school from Tipton High School in Tipton, Iowa. I grew up on a farm and am from a small farming community and went to a small public school, so the close-knit community feel of Mount Mercy’s campus really drew me in, although what initially brought me to visit was all the great things I had heard about the nursing program.  

MMU: What made you decide to study nursing? 

MP: I decided to pursue a career in nursing because of my parents. They are both volunteer EMTs and firemen, and my mom is a physical therapist in a hospital setting. Seeing how they give back to their community with the ambulance and fire services inspired me to choose a career path that would allow me to help people and open doors to volunteer opportunities as well. 

MMU: What have you enjoyed about the program? 

MP: I have really enjoyed all the diverse clinical experiences we are put in throughout our three years in the nursing program, ranging from outpatient clinics, inpatient units, to community-based settings like the free health clinic, or specialty locations like the operating room or cancer center.  

MMU: You are also involved in band at Mount Mercy. What do you do in band? 

MP: I played the French horn all four years at Mount Mercy in the University Band. With being in the band, we rehearse twice a week, and typically have two big performances each semester. We also do Pep Band dates for home basketball games! This year, Mr. Frank was able to organize a band “tour,” and the band traveled to St. Louis, stopping to give mini concerts along the way, which was a blast! Mr. Frank has done a great job getting the bands out and into the Cedar Rapids community and I’m excited to see what is instore for the band’s future! 

MMU: What have you enjoyed about that experience? 

MP: I have really enjoyed the friendships and connections with those around me in the band, as well as just having something to take my mind off homework for a little while. Being involved in the band has helped me to make life-long friends, as well as keep me going when the semester gets tough, as it’s been a good quick distraction.  

MMU: What’s it been like having the opportunity to be involved in band while pursuing your nursing degree? Has it been challenging? 

MP: As stated above, I have enjoyed juggling both and I think being in band helped me manage the stresses of nursing school and the homework college brings with it. It certainly had its scheduling conflicts, as some clinicals were scheduled during rehearsal times, but Mr. Frank was always willing to work with me on those items, which made it a lot easier to manage both.  

MMU: What has been the benefit of being involved in band while pursuing your nursing degree? 

MP: I have always been involved in music and the University Band has allowed me to keep doing what I love, while also allowing me to pursue a degree completely unrelated to music. I think being involved in something non-nursing, like band, has really helped me to still enjoy what I do. I like to think of it as a mental break, which I think helped me study better too, as I was able to walk away from my nursing study content and come back to it with a fresh mind after rehearsals.  

MMU: What would you say to a student who is wondering about being able to balance the academic rigor of nursing with an extracurricular activity like band?  

MP: It can definitely have its challenging moments, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to do. I think being involved in so much while going through nursing school really helped me learn how to prioritize my time and tasks to fit everything in. I also think having something to do on campus that isn’t involved with your particular major (especially nursing) helps to keep you interested and not get burnt out before you even start. It’s good to have something completely different to change it up every now and then! 

MMU: What other activities were you involved with on campus? 

MP: I was involved in our student nurse club on campus (MMUANS), Mustangs Unleashed (an on-campus service dog training program) and Advocacy Club, and Student Ambassadors—giving campus tours to perspective students! I also held two part-time jobs off campus. 

MMU: Any particular memories stand out from your time at Mount Mercy? 

MP: The band trip to St. Louis this past spring, when we played mini concerts at a few local schools, and the Mercy St. Louis Hospital. It was fun getting to show off our hard work and enjoy the city together! 

Some classmates and I also traveled to Seattle this spring to attend the National Student Nurse Association (NSNA) convention and present our healthcare advocacy resolution we composed in the fall (also presented and passed at the state level). It was passed and adopted into the NSNA bylaws, which was so cool to see. I really enjoyed attending the educational breakout sessions available to us, networking with potential employers, and enjoying the sights of the city itself! 

I also really enjoyed being a Student Ambassador and giving campus tours to perspective students. It was so cool to meet people from all over and hear what brought them to the Hill, and get to share my own journey here with them as well! 

MMU: Any mentors or people who have influenced you during your time at Mount Mercy? 

MP: My advisor, Dr. Kaylee Small, was a huge help during my time at Mount Mercy. Whether I just needed to bounce a quick idea off her or needed help with a class, she was always there to lend a hand! Dr. Jodee Reed and Dr. Lydia Christoffersen were also huge supporters of my classmates and I as we attended state and national level student nurse conventions, presenting advocacy projects at each one. Mr. Frank has also been a huge help in being so flexible with my schedule and just being supportive of us students in general.  

MMU: What advice would you give to a current or future student? 

MP: No matter what degree you’re pursuing, get involved on campus! That’s one thing I wish I would have done sooner during my time at Mount Mercy. Also, have a support system! Having friends who were going through the same classes, programs, and clinicals as me was so beneficial! 

MMU: What do you hope to do after graduation? 

MP: I have accepted a position at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on the Burn Trauma Unit as a staff nurse! I was connected to this position through my preceptorship and am very excited to begin my career there!