Gretchen M. Wiersma, DNP, RN, CNE, CHSE

Biography

When I began my career as a nurse in 1987, serving in the United States Army Nurse Corps, I had no idea I would one day become a DNP-prepared nurse educator. I began teaching nursing in 2001 and have taught nurses at the level of licensed practical nurse, associate degree, traditional BSN-prepared nurse, and second-degree BSN. When the RN to BSN program expanded to Northern Virginia in the fall of 2021, I began teaching the RN-to-BSN students at the University of Virginia School of Nursing.

My teaching philosophy focuses on building a supportive relationship between learner and educator, recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of learners, building on their strengths, and supporting them in overcoming weaknesses and other barriers to their learning. As an educator, I guide and mediate student learning based on their unique needs. I provide accurate information and challenge students to think more critically or through a different perspective as they try to find meaning and application to the content. I am passionate about creating a course curriculum and content that respects the learner. Respect for the learner creates an environment of trust and collaboration. Nursing education should address the needs of the healthcare arena and the learners. To do this,, I must remain aware of current trends or issues, such as the pandemic, its impact on healthcare, and the needs of my learners. My role as an educator is in service to the learner, the profession, and our next generation of nurses, as I provide information, experience, respect, and trust to lead the learner to growth and development in the profession.