Melissa Burdi, MS, RN (Rush 2003), second from left, pictured with Student Nurse Association board members (L to R) Dana Merk, Allison Pierron and Gwen Bowman.

The Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nurses Alumni Association, in conjunction with the Rush University Office of Alumni Relations, is seeking volunteers for a new networking program designed to connect Rush alumni with current nursing students and with each other.

AlumNet is a database of nursing alumni volunteers willing to share their time and knowledge with current students and fellow alumni. The program is designed to help alumni navigate the complex challenges of today’s nursing career marketplace and to increase the networking resources available to our nursing students and maximize their success post-graduation.

The AlumNet program seeks the following volunteers:

• Mentors are assigned to incoming Generalist Entry Master's students in June and December of each year. Each mentoring relationship is unique. Students and mentors establish their own communication preferences and interact informally through e-mails, phone calls, or face-to-face meetings.

  Shadow hosts agree to host a College of Nursing student for a visit to their worksite. Each shadowing experience is independently arranged by the student and his/her host. Visits can last from a few hours to a full work day depending on volunteer and student preferences.
  Preceptors help students apply didactic content to practice, refine existing clinical skills, and develop critical thinking and advanced clinical problem solving skills. Preceptors for Rush Advanced Nursing Practice students are selected for their ability and willingness to guide the students' clinical learning experience, while acting as role models, facilitating the students' developing autonomy and ensuring clinical competency.

• Career advisors are available to discuss their career paths, occupations, firms, industries, experiences and majors. While not a job placement service, AlumNet is a valuable tool for individuals who wish to obtain career information from and network with their fellow alumni. By volunteering, your knowledge may help a student select a major and learn more about a given occupation. You may help an alumnus/a make a career change, learn more about your company, relocate to your city or expand his or her network of contacts. You decide how, when and where you may be contacted.

• Guest lecturers may be invited to provide guest lectures in the classroom, at Student Nursing Association events, at the Nurses Alumni Association Homecoming or at other alumni events.

To volunteer or pursue networking opportunities, complete our alumni registration form. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (312) 942-2569.