Previous experience/background?

I started in the hospital in high school, working in the kitchen. I then worked as a CNA through nursing school and upon graduation with my BSN decided to gain as much experience as possible. I took a position as a resource nurse, working in almost all areas of the inpatient setting for the first 3 years as a RN. I then worked in the outpatient/procedural area for 6 years, assisting with a variety of procedures and patient care pre-post operatively. Most recently, I have experience in the Clinical Development Department of the hospital setting where I developed, assessed, implemented and evaluated education and processes. I also have experience facilitating various nurse residency program sessions (program for new hospital nurses/graduates) and as an adjunct clinical instructor. 

What inspired you to become a nurse educator?  

After working as a preceptor and facilitating education among my peers, I discovered that I had another passion in addition to caring for others: teaching. A nurse educator allows me to fulfill both of these passions. It’s a personal accomplishment when I can explain, demonstrate or teach a concept in a way that helps a student become successful. I know my impact on people may not be as frequent in the direct care setting, but through the delivery of great nurses into the workforce, I can continue to make an impact on the lives in my community.    

How do you incorporate real-world experiences into your teaching? 

With my variety of knowledge and experiences in nursing I am able to bring many scenarios into the education setting. My involvement in simulation development, nurse residency curriculum and student nurse faculty in the hospital setting allows me to anticipate nursing student needs. My personal creative drive allows me to keep finding new ways to teach and help students develop their critical thinking skills.

Can you share a memorable teaching moment that significantly impacted your students?  

I think one of the most important things you can do as a member of the profession of nursing and education is to be a role model for your students. This includes holding students accountable to high standards, all while recognizing they are individuals who are going to achieve success with your help. Students learn from me, but I learn a lot from my students. Through our interactions they teach me how they individually learn best, what their strengths are, and where they need guidance. It is my job to stimulate their learning to the standards of the profession. I have had students tell me after they have been hired, working next to me, that they appreciated the individuality with their learning. Nothing is better than a former student telling you that they make sure they always complete a specific quality measure because you taught them in a way that enabled them to apply knowledge in the real world.

In your opinion, what qualities make a successful nurse, and how do you instill these qualities in your students?

The ultimate reason for my personal drive is my overall passion for the future of nursing. This includes not only the workforce, entering the ever-changing landscape that healthcare possesses, but also the required innovation to accommodate the changes. Innovation produces new ideas, methods and is a dominant force in the success of many businesses. Healthcare is the business of taking care of others. Today’s high demands of the bedside nurse does not change for novice nurses. The changing landscape of the nurse’s role at the bedside demands flexibility, clinical judgement, critical thinking and problem solving, all while continuing to deliver high quality care. It is a privilege to help nurture and grow the workforce of tomorrow to prepare them for success. With the use of innovation, simulation and other multiple pedagogical deliveries, students at UNI will be more equipped to enter the workforce of today. 

What makes you the most excited about UNI’s new Nursing program?  

The program’s curriculum and course plan is exciting. The addition of courses that include aspects of nursing that mostly come with career experience will provide additional preparation for new nurses. Today, new graduates are able to be hired in any field, any specialty, and any shift.  It wasn’t too long ago that this wasn’t the case. The program will set students up for success in whichever field they are passionate about. This not only makes them successful but that success will translate into success of their future department and healthcare system. The patient is still the heart of it all, reaping the best benefit, an all around quality nurse.