Rural Health Nursing Students Take Learning Beyond the Classroom

Hartwick College nursing students enrolled in the J Term Rural Health Nursing course stepped outside the traditional classroom for two immersive field experiences designed to deepen their understanding of rural health care.

The class split into two groups, alternating between visits to local dairy farms alongside a milk inspector and a hands-on integrative wellness session dubbed “Field Trip on the Hill.”

Now in her fifth year teaching the course, Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing Lisa Depperman said the field experiences have become an integral part of the curriculum.

“This is the second year we have done the field trips. I feel that both of these experiences are integral to rural health and the population nurses care for in these areas.”

Lisa Depperman

Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing

Hartwick College nursing students in dairy barn with cows

Hartwick College nursing students in dairy barn holding fresh milk bag

During the farm visits, students explored conventional, organic and Amish dairy operations while seeing firsthand the agricultural health and safety concerns they had previously discussed in class. Anne Stanavich ’27, a nursing major, said this exposure reshaped her understanding of rural populations.

“I had the opportunity to gain a first-person perspective on the lives of rural farmers and the challenges they face in their daily routines. The material we learned in class about rural populations became much more meaningful after witnessing firsthand how they live, work and function within their environment.”

Anne Stanavich ’27

Nursing Major

The second experience, held at the Hutman Studio on campus, focused on integrative medicine practices led by Jennifer Hopkins, an integrative medicine provider based in Binghamton, N.Y. Students participated in meditation, mindfulness exercises and other holistic techniques designed to support both patient care and personal well-being.

Samantha Vonbernewitz ’27, a nursing major, said the session offered a rare and valuable pause amid the intensity of nursing school.

“As a nursing student, it was a good opportunity to slow down and remain present in the moment when we meditated. Overall, after the experience, I came out calmer, refreshed and less anxious. It truly reminded me of the importance of taking the time to pause and be present in the moment, proving why mindfulness is so important.”

Samantha Vonbernewitz ’27,

Nursing Major

Hartwick College nursing students learning about wellness, meditation and yoga

Together, the two field experiences reinforced the course’s focus on rurality, public health and holistic care, equipping students with both practical insight and personal strategies they can carry into their future nursing careers.

February 18, 2026

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