Laura Koke

Laura Koke RN, BSN, CPN, CPHON is honored to be awarded the Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana followed by earning a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Health Systems at Indiana University School of Nursing Indianapolis (IUI). She is now pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Nursing Leadership at IUI with an anticipated graduation date of May 2027.

Laura is a passionate, innovative, and transformational leader who has 20 years of nursing experience. She has held a variety of roles including stem cell clinic nurse for transplant patients, oncology nurse, infusion nurse, team leader, and Lymphoma nurse navigator. In these roles, notable achievements include Clinical Magnet® Nurse Champion, Riley Nurse of the Year Award, Indiana State Nurses Association President’s Award, and Elite 50 Graduate Student at IUI. 

Laura has served as Riley Children’s Health’s (Riley) Magnet Program Coordinator for the past three years, leading initiatives to achieve and maintain nursing excellence. Laura continues to foster a culture of quality improvement, professional development, and recognition that ensures the highest standards of patient care. Her performance in this role underscores her unwavering dedication to advancing the nursing profession and enhancing the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and team members. In her current role and while pursuing her MSN degree, she submitted successful Magnet® documentation, supported a Magnet® site visit, and supported Riley to ultimately achieve its 5th Magnet® designation. 

During her Master’s in Nursing Leadership and Health Systems Program at IUI, she performed a statewide double arm research study in conjunction with the American Nurses Advocacy Institute, the Indiana State Nurses Association, and IUI to measure effectiveness of a variety of educational methods on nurse political astuteness. 

She also developed another research study measuring the effectiveness of professional governance at Riley Children’s Health. This work is foundational to implement systemwide nursing professional governance change at Riley for 1,600 nurses. The foundation strengthens the practice environment and will ultimately improve the pediatric and maternal care received at Riley. On the national stage, she was competitively selected and presented on ambulatory professional governance at prestigious events such as the 2023 Magnet® Conference. 

Her pursuit of a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Nursing Leadership aims to open doors that will allow her to lead and inspire healthcare teams through innovation, trust, autonomy, reward, recognition, and empowerment. She is dedicated to the continual pursuit of nursing excellence by passionately supporting nurse empowerment, advocacy, and enhancing nursing practice environments. 

Laura’s goals also extend beyond clinical settings as she aims to drive positive changes in policy, legislation, and healthcare organizations by impacting nurses’ knowledge and competency in health policy. 

Laura conveys her deepest appreciation for the Susan Bowar-Ferres Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship is far more than a financial award; it signifies a profound acknowledgement of her dedication, commitment, and passion for nursing excellence