When you give through Muskingum, you change the world!

Traveling ICU nurse and Canton, Ohio native Katie Schneider ‘14 changes other’s lives across the country and the world.  

“What I love most about my job is that I am helping patients and families at the most critical point in their lives. The work is fast-paced and team-oriented and requires being a flexible problem solver.  I cannot say enough about how well my Muskingum nursing education prepared me for my career. My professors were amazing and brought expertise from many diverse nursing specialties.  They taught us the importance of community service and created a drive within me to continue that service throughout my career. Choosing Muskingum was one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Since joining the travel nursing company Medical Solutions in 2017, Katie has lived and worked in Guam; the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state and in Monroe, Washington at the foothills of the Cascade Mountains; Long Island, New York; north central Pennsylvania, and Columbus, Ohio.  She has also traveled and explored Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Thailand, and Canada.  For her next assignment, she is heading to Middletown, Connecticut. 

“I have met so many people and learned so much about different cultures, as my traveling nurse colleagues often come from around the world. I have made amazing friendships with them and have had the opportunity to visit their home countries, stay with their families, and immerse myself in their cultures.”

“I am so thankful for Muskingum and for the alumni who support the University.  It meant so much to be accepted to the nursing program and then to immediately know that I would receive scholarship support throughout my four years.  That support freed me to focus on my studies and to excel, lifting a huge weight of financial concerns from my shoulders.” 
During her time on campus, Katie enjoyed participating in intramural sports, the Nursing Service Organization, and the Residence Hall Association.  “I especially loved hosting student engagement events and getting to know my fellow Muskies from all majors and backgrounds.”

Before joining Medical Solutions, Katie worked for three years as an ICU/CCU nurse at Mt. Carmel Health System.  There, she had the opportunity to develop an evidence-based research project and present her results at a national conference in California. Her research interest focuses on the long-term psychological effects of ICU stays.   She created ICU diaries, to help patients and families fill in the void of time spent in these units, which can often create a sense of “lost” days of life. 

 “As I move further into my career, my goal is to help change the future of nursing care.  I would not be where I am today and where I hope to be in the future without Muskingum. I am very proud to be a part of the Long Magenta Line and represent Muskingum all around the world!”