her research, including the People’s Choice Award at the North Dakota Nurses Association research conference. She has published research on telehealth implementation and received a $2,000 grant from the South Dakota Nurses Foundation for rural oral health screening that creates hands-on learning opportunities for nursing students. Her commitment to excellence in teaching, research and service makes her a valuable asset to NSU’s nursing program and the broader university community. DR. SHELBY BOETTNER joined Northern State University as a tenure-track assistant professor of nursing in fall 2024, contributing to the development and launch of the university’s new Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of North Dakota, a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Western Governor’s University and a B.S.N. from Presentation College. Dr. Boettner brings valuable experience in nursing education and program development, paired with ongoing clinical practice in emergency department and intensive care unit settings. At NSU, she has developed multiple nursing courses including clinical practicums and simulations, ensuring alignment with accreditation standards. She established and launched NSU’s Student Nurses Association as faculty advisor, creating opportunities for student leadership and professional development. Beyond campus, Dr. Boettner represents NSU through service as president of South Dakota Nurses Association District 4, where she has been recognized as District 4 Nurse of the Year. She also serves as a board member for Northeast South Dakota AHEC and the Aberdeen Area Suicide Prevention Group. Her research on cardiac arrhythmia education for ED and ICU nurses was presented at the Avera McKennan Nursing Excellence Conference. Dr. Boettner’s commitment to excellence in teaching, ongoing clinical practice, and community engagement makes her a valuable asset to NSU’s developing nursing program. MS. CAYCEE BERTSCH is originally from Minnesota but now resides in Warner with her husband and two children. Her family has provided her with the support and motivation to continue making a difference in the lives of others. Caycee Bertsch is a dedicated educator, academic advisor, and passionate advocate for nursing students currently serving as the academic advisor for the Nursing Department at Northern State University (NSU). With a career spanning over a decade, she has spent 10 years teaching and guiding students to reach their academic and professional goals. Since starting at NSU, she has been learning the ins and outs of the nursing program and the advising team. She has been meeting our fabulous students who are either working on their pre-nursing courses or waiting to start digging into their nursing classes. Also, she donated blood for the first time at NSU’s Nursing Association blood drive. DR. LORI HENDRICKX joined Northern State University in May 2024 as a Professor in the new nursing program. With 44 years of experience as a nurse and 39 years teaching nursing, she brings exceptional expertise to curriculum development and course design for NSU’s nursing program. Dr. Hendrickx holds an Ed.D., M.S.N. and B.S.N. along with Clinical Nurse Leader certification. She maintains active clinical practice in emergency and critical care settings, ensuring her teaching remains grounded in current healthcare practices. At NSU, Dr. Hendrickx serves as faculty in residence in Great Plains West residence hall, where she conducts study sessions, organizes social events for nursing students, and provides individual guidance. She taught First-Year Seminar in fall 2024 and now teaches Pathophysiology using a HyFlex format. Beyond campus, Dr. Hendrickx serves as president of the national Rural Nurse Organization and has received recognition for NEW FACULTY AND STAFF MS. AMY JOHNSON, born and raised in Aberdeen, brings both local roots and extensive healthcare expertise to our nursing program. Amy and her husband Jamie have been married for 22 years and have two children: Olivia, a senior at USD; Axton, a freshman at NSU. Amy received her B.S.N. from SDSU in 1997 and developed a diverse clinical background in intensive care unit, cardiac catheterization lab, and Emergency Department settings. Prior to joining NSU as the simulation lab/clinical coordinator, she served in a similar role at SDSU College of Nursing, where she honed her skills creating realistic clinical environments for student learning. Currently, Amy is immersed in the exciting work of outfitting our under-construction simulation center. She is carefully selecting cutting-edge technology and equipment that will create realistic learning scenarios for our students. Simultaneously, she is building essential relationships with local healthcare agencies throughout the region, establishing clinical placement opportunities that will give our nursing students hands-on experience in diverse healthcare settings. MS. KYLIE WALDO, joined our team as nursing program assistant this year. Kylie has focused primarily on essential marketing initiatives and preparation of orientation materials for our incoming nursing cohort. Drawing on her background in business management, Kylie has developed promotional materials aimed at attracting qualified candidates to our new program. Kylie has contributed to several key startup projects, including coordinating the selection of program scrubs and assembling essential items needed to launch our first cohort. Her work on application materials and student resources has helped establish basic organizational systems that will support our program’s initial phase. While balancing her new professional role with family life in Aberdeen, where she resides with her husband Aaron and their six children, Kylie’s contributions have helped set the stage for welcoming our inaugural class of nursing students.
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