Dr. Helen Hurst

Department Head and Associate to the Dean for the Department of Nursing

"You will never regret choosing to further your education as it will provide you with so many opportunities. You may not want to think about a graduate degree today, but completing the BSN has you ready for that option."

Degrees Held:

  • DNP – Case Western Reserve University, 2008
  • MSN, Nurse Midwifery – Case Western Reserve University, 1999
  • BSN – University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1992
  • B.S.B.A. – University of Southwestern Louisiana, 1989

Career Highlights:

  • BORSF/LGMC Endowed Professor in Nursing
  • Fellow, Leadership in Academic Nursing Program, American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • Editorial Board Member for Nursing for "Women's Health", a peer—reviewed journal of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN)
  • Editorial Advisory Board Member, Nurse Expert and Author for AWHONN's "Healthy Mom and Baby" (including www.health4mom.org, and www.health4women.org)

In which online degree program do you teach?

RN to BSN

  • Links to share?

    Cross, P. (Director/Producer).

    Retrieved from:

    http://www.health4mom.org/Am-I-At-Risk-For-Preterm-Labor
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27287356
    https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(15)00796-5/fulltext
    https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(14)00637-0/abstract
    https://www.npjournal.org/article/S1555-4155(13)00049-4/fulltext
    https://nwhjournal.org/article/S1751-4851(15)00005-7/fulltext
    https://nwhjournal.org/article/S1751-4851(15)30799-6/fulltext

  • What advice would you give to those considering the RN to BSN program online?

    Be organized and focus on your goals.

  • What do you want students to learn in your classes?

    I want them to think critically and utilize evidence-based practice. I want them to also think deeper about why and how we deliver care to our patients and how can we improve outcomes. And last, remember that we shouldn't just do things because "that's the way it's always been done."

  • What is the value of a BSN?

    You will never regret choosing to further your education as it will provide you with so many opportunities. You may not want to think about a graduate degree today, but completing the BSN has you ready for that option when you are ready.

  • What do you think is the biggest challenge that nurses face today?

    I think the biggest challenge is the complexity of the health care environment and the constant changes that are taking place.

  • Why did you start teaching?

    In my BSN program I loved my maternity clinical instructor and I remember thinking, "I want to be like her." As a labor and delivery nurse I really enjoyed having students with me, and I knew I wanted to continue to pursue a career in academia. It is so rewarding to watch students learn and grow whether they are learning to be brand new nurses or finishing their doctorates.

  • What is the one book you think everyone should read?

    "Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond" by Sonia Shah

  • Tell us something interesting about yourself that your students may not know about you.

    I am originally from England and am a certified nurse-midwife (APRN). I also love to cook and my newest challenge is mastering the French macaron!

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