UW-Eau Claire teaching next generation of nursing leaders

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. grant, along with changes in the program designed to increase flexibility, make it feasible for working nurses to obtain their master of science in nursing degree. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more about the MSN program and the application process.

UW-Eau Claire redesigned its MSN nurse education program this academic year and moved to a hybrid schedule, allowing students more schedule flexibility and expanded opportunities for online learning.

Through funding from the WEDC grant, UW-Eau Claire was able to institute a tuition support program to fully fund the tuition of accepted students into the fall 2023 cohort for the MSN, nursing education and nursing administration programs.

For those looking to apply now and start the program in the fall, the deadline for applications has been extended through the end of April. The program hopes to fill three more fully funded spots.

As part of the MSN program, faculty member Dr. Meg Lagunas shows students classroom teaching and brings them into the world of clinical learning in the skills laboratory or simulation lab. Lagunas, a 2008 graduate of UW-Eau Claire’s undergraduate nursing program, is among the many UW-Eau Claire faculty who are available to be preceptors, licensed clinicians who supervise nursing students during clinical rotations.

“I think with nursing education, the things that I want to see in my students are the things I want to see in my colleagues,” Lagunas says of the program. “I want to see someone who wants to do it, who is not afraid to ask questions, who is not afraid to collaborate and be a teammate. I want somebody who brings their experience and their desire to be here, but is also willing to learn and grow and be part of a team.” 

Karen Sohn earned her master of science in nursing degree from UW-Eau Claire so she could teach nurses to work in small, rural communities. Sohn is an instructor in the associate degree nursing program at Northwood Technical College’s Rice Lake campus.

“People in the small, rural communities really need nurses as well as other health care professionals who are competent, confident, understanding and have that compassion to care for patients,” Sohn says. 

“It warms my heart thinking that I am able to help educate the future nurses and the people who are going to take care of me and my family, and my friends, when we need health care.”

Talitha Korn, who will graduate in May with her master of science in nursing degree, became inspired to become a nurse after watching nurses care for her son as he underwent six open-heart surgeries before the age of 5. Now Korn wants to help educate future nurses.

“It’s great to see the full circle from the patient experiences that propelled me into nursing, then seeing that transition now as the educator, seeing those same bright eyes of students coming in,” says Korn, who already has begun her teaching career as an adjunct nursing instructor at Chippewa Valley Technical College. “They have that same desire and passion to learn as I did.”