Abby Butler entered Unity Hospital for her Winter 2025 Field Period® placement with a laptop, a name badge, and a pinch of doubt.
“I was a little nervous going in,” said the Keuka College junior. “I was worried that they’d see my tag that said ‘intern,’ and they’d be like, ‘Who are you?’”
Instead, she found just the opposite: a sense of belonging.
Supervisors welcomed her. Nurses collaborated with her. Doctors relied on her. Patients sought her out. The nerves gave way to something stronger: confidence. The rapid transition surprised even Abby.
“I just picked up on things so quickly that I became really confident,” she said. “And it’s just something I never thought I could do.”
That confidence was evident to Abby’s Field Period supervisor, Jill LiBritz, one of three social workers who cover the Emergency Department at the Rochester, NY, hospital.
Abby transferred into the College’s Social Work program as a sophomore. Her previous Field Period experiences, including one at a Webster, NY, elementary school, had involved working with children. So she followed her instructor’s advice to stretch herself, seeking an opportunity to interact with an adult population in a higher-pressure environment. Unity, which primarily serves geriatric and orthopedic populations, fit the bill.
Abby worked in the hospital’s surgical and respiratory units, but it was in the Emergency Department that she discovered she thrives in a fast-paced environment.
“The pace appealed, definitely,” she said. “Seeing as many patients as you can – that was amazing.”
Abby worked alongside ED social workers, conducting initial assessments and providing support for those admitted under observation. She said meeting patients and families at vulnerable moments and helping them navigate next steps was among her most meaningful responsibilities.
“Doing the initial assessments – building the connections – that brought me a lot of joy,” she said. “Talking to the patients face to face and their families was rewarding.”
Beyond patient interactions, Abby learned about the mechanics of the profession, such as coordinating placements in skilled nursing facilities and assisted living centers, and navigating electronic medical platforms.
“Discharge planning is a key responsibility, and Abby assisted with several aspects of this process,” explained her supervisor, Jill. “She met with patients who had varying levels of social work needs, submitted care management referrals, and helped prepare placement packets for patients who required higher levels of care, such as skilled nursing or rehabilitation facilities. She handled these responsibilities with professionalism and care.”
As she mastered these responsibilities, answering questions, and guiding families, Abby had an epiphany.
“I realized, this is going to be future me. I can see myself doing the same thing, growing in different environments, working with different people. I think putting yourself in a different environment shows you what you can really do.”
Abby said the Field Period – her favorite – has her reassessing her career path to potentially focus on an older population.
“This was definitely a turning point,” she said. “I’m glad that we were kind of put in the position to do something more intensive and something that we haven’t done before.”
Unity’s Jill said she has hosted several interns and Abby – the hospital’s first Keuka College intern – has been among the best prepared.
“Abby set the bar very high for future students,” she said. “And based on this experience, I would absolutely welcome additional Keuka College students in the future.”
