The Atrium: A Life Changing Experience for Interns

As Paige Hiban entered her final semester at Penn State University, she knew things would be a little different. Instead of a full class load, the senior majoring in Human Development and Family studies would be interning at the Atrium at The Village at Penn State. From 9am – 5pm, Monday through Friday, Paige would have a taste of what working in a senior living community would be like. She didn’t realize at the time what a profound impact residents of the Atrium would have on her. “It was an amazing experience, said Paige. “It was my favorite experience at Penn State. Even as a senior, there was never a day that dragged. We were never sitting twiddling our thumbs.”

In the spring of 2015, Paige was one of six interns who worked with Community Life Coordinator Dana Gregg and the staff caring for residents in the Atrium, The Village’s skilled nursing Health Care Center.  Like most college students, many of the interns were still deciding on the direction they would take their careers. Paige gives the staff at the Atrium credit for helping her realize her true ambitions in life. “It was just a really good environment for us, as interns, to be at because we didn’t know exactly what we wanted to do. And the staff was open to having us be really involved in the care of all the residents.”  Seeing the nurses’ compassion towards the residents helped shape her future. “It changed a lot of our perspectives of elder care.”

Bonding with the residents, was immediate. During the interview process to secure her internship, Paige sat in on a resident activity; it was then she first met Ruth Murry. “I went over to talk to her and instantly we had a connection. She reminded me of my own grandmother. I knew right then that The Village was where I needed to have my internship.” Paige has stayed friends with Ruth and her husband, Bob, who also lives at The Village, through the years.

A favorite memory of her time at The Village is when she and the other interns organized a cruise for residents…one that never left the Atrium. Each day, they decorated the Atrium to be a different destination.  “It made the residents feel special,” said Paige.  “We could tell that staff members really cared about individualizing everything for the residents.”

After graduating PSU in May 2015, Paige traveled to Thailand to teach for six months. When she returned, she reflected on her experiences and decided that geriatric nursing would be her goal. In February 2018, Paige will graduate from Holy Family University in Newtown, PA with a degree in nursing. She credits her time at The Village for helping her find her path.  When in Happy Valley, Paige still drops by to say hello to the staff and residents. “I still feel part of the Atrium family.”