Scholarship helps nurse advance long-term care career

This paid piece is sponsored by Sanford Health.

Serving residents in Scotland in southeast South Dakota since she was 16, Good Samaritan Society nurse Anna Struck is developing quite the fan club.

“We’ve followed her from the time she was a CNA into college,” resident Rosemarie Winckler said. “We prayed for her every day. She’s such a sweetheart.”

That included prayers for wisdom when Struck recently took a test to become a registered nurse.

“I just, oh, I can’t believe it. I passed,” Struck said, smiling. “Really good feeling to finally be where I wanted to be.”

Career opportunities at Good Samaritan Society

Thanks to a Build Dakota Scholarship in partnership with the Society, the former CNA turned LPN was able to continue working at the nursing home while studying for her RN associate’s degree at Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls.

“I don’t know if I would have had it in me to go back as soon as I did (to nursing school) if not for the nurses I work with,” Struck said.

Anna Struck (center) is a CNA turned LPN who is now a registered nurse at Good Samaritan Society — Scotland, South Dakota. “I don’t know if I would have had it in me to go back (to nursing school) as soon as I did if not for the nurses I work with,” she said. (Photo and video by Lonnie Nichols, Sanford Health)

One of Struck’s biggest cheerleaders is her boss, director of nursing Rebecca Pedersen.

“She is very dedicated. She goes above and beyond,” Pedersen said.

Retaining nurses like Struck, along with recruiting them, is a priority at the Society and Sanford Health.

“Within Good Sam, the career opportunities are endless. You just have to get your foot in the door. You just have to be willing to show up and put in the effort and just learn,” Pedersen said.

“(Struck) really has a strong relationship with all the residents. I think they trust her. They open up to her.”

‘All the residents love her’

Resident Pam Vanderbrink came to the Society for therapy and rehabilitation.

“I’m just here to get therapy, get stronger. Then, I’m going back to Rapid (City),” Vanderbrink said.

When Vanderbrink has questions during her stay, Struck makes her feel “like I’m important, like she cares. Like you’re not just another person here.

“She always has a smile on. Always friendly. All the residents love her. She’s so nice.”

The drive to care has been with Struck since she was a kid.

“I was hospitalized as a child. I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 8 years old. The nurses were just so kind and caring and helpful. I just knew that was something I could see myself doing too,” Struck said.

“I think of many of the residents as my grandmas and grandpas almost. They care for you. They know what’s going on in your life. It’s one big family.”

It’s a family benefiting from a skilled group of nurses continuing to learn the latest health care strategies and technology.

“Respecting them, valuing them, helping them feel the love of Christ,” Pedersen said. “When you have long-term relationships with people, you get to impact their life in a more meaningful way over a period of time. That’s what I love about long-term care nursing.”

‘Weight off my shoulders’

Now 27 with no debt from climbing the career ladder, Struck plans to continue sharing her gifts with her neighbors.

“It took so much weight off my shoulders,” Struck said about receiving the scholarship.

“It really solidified that this really is a family here. It’s more than just a workplace. It meant so much,” Pedersen added.

“I think Sanford and Good Sam, they value their employees. When you feel supported and loved and accepted in a workplace, it’s just easy to keep coming back.”

Learn more

• Nurse’s leadership is critical during community crisis
• Society nurse continues education with veteran scholarship
• Former patient becomes nurse because of childhood care