BY TRISTAN SASSE
Genna Hirsch, a nontraditional nursing student at Fort Hays State University, recently received a $4,000 scholarship from the world’s largest provider of dialysis products and services, Fresenius Medical Care North America. Hirsch has been passionate about nursing from a young age, after a childhood friend encountered severe kidney problems.
“I had a good friend of mine that was a diabetic, had a lot of health problems and actually ended up on dialysis,” said Hirsch. “And he was only on dialysis for about six months before he had some complications and actually ended up passing away.”
Dialysis, which is a specialty treatment focused on the kidneys, is fairly common in the United States. According to the National Kidney Foundation, over half a million Americans are currently being treated for kidney failure nationwide. Currently, 3,000 individuals in Kansas alone are living with kidney disease.
Hirsch has pursued her dream of giving back and helping others by working toward a degree in nephrology nursing, with an emphasis in dialysis. Once she was able to visualize what patients go through firsthand, Hirsch wanted to have a positive impact on individuals in any way possible.
Originally, Hirsch wanted to become a doctor but soon realized that nursing would allow her to be in the emergency room more often, and spend a greater amount of time around patients.
“Being there, knowing I’m making a difference in people’s lives is a big thing. So many of the patients that we work with have a chronic illness,” said Hirsch. “Just knowing I’m there to take care of them and help them live a longer life is a good feeling.”
Currently, Hirsch is the Clinic Manager of Fresenius Kidney Care in Garden City, Kansas. The position allows Hirsch to spend a great deal of time with her patients every day and give them the care they need.
Hirsch has been a nurse for nine years, spending the majority of her time in dialysis. She always wanted the ability to help people, and the medical field is where she noticed that opportunity for her was.
“You really get to know your patients. Some of our patients spend more time with us than they do their own families,” said Hirsch. “I’ve had some patients I’ve taken care of for 10 years. You really get to know them and it becomes a special kind of nursing.”
While working at Fresenius Kidney Care, Hirsch needs to balance her schedule because she is also taking multiple classes online at FHSU. She received her Associate’s degree in Nursing from Manhattan Area Technical College in 2009 and plans to graduate from Fort Hays in December 2019.
Hirsch wants to further her education to help individuals with renal conditions, such as kidney disease. After being one of five selected applicants for the scholarship by the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA), Hirsch has the support she needs to reach one of her long-time goals, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree.
After graduating from Fort Hays, Hirsch plans on staying at Fresenius with the same role. She has spent seven years with the kidney care clinic in Garden City and enjoys her time with the company.
“The next step up the ladder actually takes me into a corporate office,” said Hirsch. “And not that I wouldn’t get to see patients frequently, I just wouldn’t get to see them daily. And I’m not quite ready to give up the patient care yet.”