Jennifer Myers

Jennifer Myers, MSN, RN, CNE is a 2nd year Ph.D. candidate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is the recipient of the Georgette Viellion Scholarship awarded to nurse educators or leaders with aspirations of developing expertise in teaching while incorporating a service orientation for educating future nurse leaders. Jennifer earned a Hospital Diploma from Frankford Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia in 1995. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, followed by a Master’s in Nursing Education from Drexel University. Her current doctoral studies draw on her passion for nursing education and the desire to have an impact on the future generation of nurses, nurse educators, and nurse leaders.

At an early age, Jennifer dreamed of becoming a nurse or a teacher. After volunteering at a local emergency room during high school, her future as a pediatric nurse was solidified. Throughout her nursing career, Jennifer worked in pediatric and neonatal intensive care settings where patient and family education was a critical component of her nursing care. Empowering parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for their children became her greatest reward. This passion for teaching was heightened after assuming the role of a preceptor for newer staff in the clinical setting. Fostering the growth and development of nurses new to the profession or the pediatric and/or neonatal specialties led Jennifer to pursue a career in academia.

Jennifer entered academia in 2012. Throughout her academic career, Jennifer has had the opportunity to work at the undergraduate and graduate levels, while also teaching in various settings including the traditional classroom, simulation center, and online learning environment. These experiences have given her an appreciation for the diverse needs of students, a student-centered approach to teaching, and the role of mentoring past and present students.

Currently, Jennifer is the director of the online nursing education program at her university. She is also heavily involved in the curriculum revision process in the college of nursing. Jennifer plans to utilize the knowledge and skills gained from her doctoral studies to contribute to the specialized body of science related to online teaching and learning. Her dissertation focuses on the role of connectedness in the online learning setting and its relationship to student and faculty satisfaction. Results from this research can be used to support faculty development in online pedagogy and enhance student retention rates in these programs. In addition, Jennifer plans to take an active role in eliminating barriers to expanding the nurse educator workforce through innovative curricular solutions. A steady pool of qualified and diverse nurse educators with a strong foundation in educational theory and teaching and learning principles is essential to preparing future generations of clinically competent, compassionate, and safety-minded nursing professionals.