Nursing student Christa Lotz’s passion for nursing on the front lines

Every area of nursing is unique and requires a specific nurse to fill that need. For Christa Lotz '26, her calling is to work in the emergency department. Sirens blaring, helicopter blades whooshing, racing feet pounding on the pavement because time is of the essence — this is where Lotz's passion lies. 

Lotz found her way to Mount Marty from the country of Haiti. She was born to two missionaries who were serving in Haiti, and she spent much of her time there. When Lotz moved to Yankton, she said, "Yankton was the complete opposite of all I knew." But Lotz embraced the change and began looking for schools close to home to continue her education. "My mom passed away right after we transitioned back to the United States, and I wanted to stay close to my family. After attending a nursing day at Mount Marty, I was set on it. The smaller campus size and community aspect were an additional plus to the location I wanted."

Lotz was no stranger to the nursing world, as her grandmother was a nurse for over 40 years, with a majority of that time spent in the emergency department. Lotz said that she and her siblings would typically ask their grandmother for "hospital stories," and she never disappointed. "I didn't start thinking about nursing for myself until my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer, and I was introduced to the medical world a bit too up close and personal," said Lotz. "During that time, Covid-19 was brand new, and visitors were not allowed in the hospital." Due to the visitation policy, Lotz and her family had numerous FaceTime calls with her mother, where she routinely talked about the nurses who cared for her and how they eased her worries. Lotz said that between these experiences and growing up in a country that lacked health care resources, she wanted the opportunity to care for others and give back in any way she could.

Apart from her intense nursing studies, Lotz is actively engaged in extracurricular activities. She has been on the Student Government Association since her freshman year, and this year, she will serve as the vice president. She is also a theatre work-study and serves in the Red Cross Club on campus. All these experiences have brought Lotz joy, but none were as fundamental as her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) job at Avera Sacred Heart Majestic Bluffs, where her journey in health care first began. Lotz said, "My years as a CNA have helped to shape my view of patient care and have become the core of nursing to then build from." One of her CNA instructors when she first began at Majestic Bluffs was none other than Sister Kathy Burt, associate professor of nursing at Mount Marty. "My first patient care experience was with Sister Kathy during my CNA clinicals, and it has been very full circle to then have her as a professor for my nursing classes."

Many clinical experiences have helped Lotz know where she best fits in the world of nursing, and her top choice for units to work in after graduation is the emergency department. Lotz said, "The fast-paced environment, along with the wide variety of cases in a day, is what originally piqued my interest." Lotz was also able to spend 10 weeks in a Level II Trauma Center at the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls as part of her summer internship, which really cemented her decision. "The first couple of weeks were a blur, and I just tried to take in as much as possible. As I started to learn the process, my preceptors let me take more responsibility for the patients we cared for."

Lotz said the most challenging part for her was jumping into a situation and becoming comfortable with taking charge. Still, she is grateful for all her preceptors who showed patience and understanding and walked her through the necessary skills. "My preceptors were very adamant that everything would come with practice, and towards the end of the summer, I was so much more comfortable," said Lotz. "I think having the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new unit as a student is such a great sneak peek into what nursing looks like outside of school."

Lotz said her favorite memory from her internship was one where she could see her skills beginning to flourish. On the second day of her internship, a helicopter carrying a trauma victim arrived at the hospital. Lotz said this was the first time she had seen a situation like this and wasn't quite sure of her role in a large trauma case like this one. So, Lotz stayed back and gained knowledge by watching her preceptors and team. Later on, Lotz wished she had jumped into the case, but she didn't know that during the last week of her internship, she would get another chance to prove her skills to herself. "During my last week this summer, we had another helicopter flight come in with a similar trauma. However, this time I was able to jump right in. The nurse and medic supported me while I placed IVs and foleys, gave meds and accompanied the patient to CT. The dramatic progression from the beginning of the summer to the end of the summer was evident to me that night and very exciting to experience."

Lotz holds a special place in her heart for the emergency department and said she is excited to see where life takes her upon graduation. Until then, she will continue with her senior year nursing studies and clinical experiences. Lotz mentioned a plaque by the elevator in the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital that recites a quote from the "Rule of St. Benedict," which she sees most mornings. The plaque reads, "Above all things, care must be taken of the sick and elderly, that they may be served as Christ." Lotz said, "It is the best reminder on those early mornings that the work we are training for is a gift that we get to take with us for the rest of our lives."

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About Mount Marty University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, Mount Marty University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, Mount Marty offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management, and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, Mount Marty emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.