Supervising Medical Social Work Interns in a Veterans Medical Center Hospital

Authors

  • Breshell Jackson-Nevels Norfolk State University
  • Kirsten S. Ericksen Norfolk State University
  • Marilyn W. Lewis Norfolk State University

Keywords:

practicum education, trauma, military rehabilitation

Abstract

This paper presents a narrative compilation of real social work student experiences through a pair of fictitious medical interns—“Michelle” and “Dwight”—assigned to simulated practicum education placements. Exploring Michelle’s work in the burn unit and Dwight’s in the traumatic brain injury unit, we consider the emotional challenges interns weather in the face of extreme physical trauma and how faculty supervisors can provide support.

 

Author Biographies

Breshell Jackson-Nevels, Norfolk State University

Breshell Jackson-Nevels, PhD, MSW (she/her) is Associate Professor and MSW Program Director, Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA (757-823-9236, bjnevels@nsu.edu).

Kirsten S. Ericksen, Norfolk State University

Kirsten Swedburg Ericksen, PhD, MSW (she/her) is Professor and Associate Dean, Ethelyn R Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA (ksericksen@nsu.edu).

Marilyn W. Lewis, Norfolk State University

Marilyn W. Lewis, PhD, is Professor, The Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA (mwlewis@nsu.edu).

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Published

2026-04-29

How to Cite

Jackson-Nevels, B., Ericksen, K. S., & Lewis, M. W. (2026). Supervising Medical Social Work Interns in a Veterans Medical Center Hospital. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 32(1), 13–26. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2098

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