Senior nursing students from Davenport University’s W.A. Lettinga Grand Rapids Campus recently connected with healthcare leaders from across Michigan at the university’s annual Nursing Forum, designed to help them transition confidently from student to professional nurse.

The event, held each fall and winter during students’ final semester of the nursing program, kicked off with a career-readiness luncheon led by Davenport nursing faculty Amanda Alemdar and Heather Kooiker, DNP. During the educational luncheon, students learned about interview strategies, recruiter expectations and professional communication.

Interviewing for a new position can be stressful, so this was a great opportunity for students to talk through common interview situations and receive guidance on handling difficult questions.

“These students will be ready to enter the workforce soon, so this portion of the forum is very beneficial because it prepares them for interviews in a supportive and less stressful environment,” said Kooiker. 

Alemdar said she enjoys hosting this portion of the Nursing Forum because it lets her connect with senior nursing students on a more personal level. “I enjoy being able to help them understand what healthcare managers are looking for in nurses, and to show them how they can be their best and authentic selves during interviews,” she said. “They get such a great experience at Davenport, and helping them showcase just how well-prepared they are is meaningful and so rewarding.” 

Kooiker also moderated a Q&A panel discussion featuring 15 healthcare employers representing hospitals, hospice, rehabilitation centers, and mental health treatment centers. The healthcare professionals shared insights on when new graduates should start applying for positions, what recruiters look for in applicants, resume and interview strategies, applicant tracking systems, residency programs, specialty nursing opportunities, mentorship, professional development, tuition benefits and organizational culture. 

Kooiker said feedback from participating employers has been overwhelmingly positive. “They unanimously agree that Davenport’s Nursing Forum is one of their favorite events, especially the Q&A panel discussion, and that our students are very professional and stand out in clinical settings,” she said. “One employer even told me they can pick out Davenport graduates when they hire into clinical care areas because they not only have the ability to care for patients, but also come with the knowledge and ability to improve the quality of patient care,” she said.  

For Debbie Bosworth, nursing program director, one of the most meaningful parts of the Nursing Forum is seeing nursing alumni return to campus as healthcare professionals, educators and community partners supporting the next generation of nurses. “These alumni provide something especially meaningful to the current students,  and that’s an opportunity to look across the room and see professionals who once sat where they are sitting now,” said Bosworth.

The Nursing Forum also gave Davenport nursing faculty an opportunity to personally thank participating healthcare organizations not only for attending the forum, but for their continued partnership with Davenport nursing. 

These organizations welcome Davenport students throughout their clinical education and provide real-world environments where students develop their nursing skills, clinical judgment, confidence and professional identity.

“Together, these experiences demonstrate the continuum of a Davenport nursing education: learning in the classroom, developing skills in simulation and clinical environments, working alongside healthcare professionals, connecting with future employers, entering the profession, and, for many graduates, returning to Davenport to support the nurses who come next,” said Bosworth. “That full-circle connection made this year’s Nursing Forum especially meaningful. It was more than a career event. It was a reflection of a nursing community built through lasting relationships among students, faculty, alumni and healthcare partners.”

Another example that “Davenport Works.”