BOWMAN, N.D. − Alex Loudermilk will be a familiar face at Southwest Healthcare Services in Bowman until mid-April when she finishes her clinical rotation. The Ekalaka native is in the final semester of Georgetown's nurse practitioner's program, and will be shadowing Chris Peterson, FNP before earning her degree.

This is the second year in a row that Loudermilk has shadowed Peterson, and said she is glad to be back and that her experience has really helped her prepare for her time after graduation.

"It's been a great program, I feel like I'm prepared to be on my own. It's been nice to come back here and have somebody that I'm comfortable with, is comfortable with me, so we already have our relationship established, so we really get me ready to be on my own," she said.

She also is coming back to Southwest Healthcare Services under a new roof.

"It's so much bigger and nicer, it's awesome," Loudermilk said.

Loudermilk said she has been exposed to a variety of patient cases, and that Southwest Healthcare Services has been great to work with.

"I love that it feels like home to me, it's small and unique and rural and that's what I like and that's what I want to do," she said. "I like that it just feels like the providers and nursing staff care about people...it's just a hometown feel."

Following her course completion, Loudermilk said she wants to work in a rural setting and her intentions are to find a position that keeps her in a rural setting and close to home. She didn't rule out a return to Bowman.

Loudermilk enjoys all aspects of her future field, but said she has a passion for women's health, family planning, and neuromedicine.

Loudermilk started her final clinical rotation in Bowman on Jan. 11, and will be in the facility two days a week. Along with Southwest Healthcare Services, she has also spent time completing clinical rotations in Miles City, and will be completing some hours in Glendive.

Alex Loudermilk is the daughter of Steve and Tricia Lovec of Mill Iron and resides in Ekalaka.