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Mennonite College of Nursing

Dr. Sandy Nielsen PhD, RN-BC

Assistant Professor
Office
EDW Edwards Hall 219
Office Hours
By appointment, varies each semester.
Office Phone
(309) 438-0177office
phone
Email
sdknigh@ilstu.eduemail
  • About
  • Education
  • Awards & Honors
  • Selected Research

Biography

My nursing career began in 1989. I worked for critical access, small and medium-sized hospitals and clinics in Illinois. I have enjoyed a number of clinical experiences, Medical -Surgical, Telemetry, ICU, Community and Population Health.

Current Courses

NUR 339.003 Pathophysiology & Pharmacotherapeutics Nursing II:Prelicensure

NUR 526.001 Residency In Research

NUR 390.001 Student Success Senior Seminar

NUR 325.002 Adult Nursing III Clinicals

NUR 223.091 Concepts Of Professional Nursing I: RN To BSN

NUR 225.012 Health Assessment Of The Adult Lab

NUR 339.003 Pathophysiology & Pharmacotherapeutics Nursing II:Prelicensure

NUR 339.093 Pathophysiology & Pharmacotherapeutics Nursing II:Prelicensure

NUR 526.001 Residency In Research

Teaching Interests & Areas

Open Lab, Leadership clinical, Health Assessment Lab, Adult 1 Clinical, Adult 2 clinical, Adult 2 Course

Research Interests & Areas

Community Health, Immunizations, Meeting Healthy People 2020 goals, achieving affective learning goals through clinical experiences

PhD

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

MS Nursing Education

Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ

BS Nursing

Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, IL

AA Nursing

Parkland College
Champaign, IL

Mennonite College of Nursing Outstanding College Service Award

Mennonite College of Nursing
2025

Best Research Abstract Award

Sigma Xi Pi Chapter
2025

Nurse Educator Fellow

Illinois Board of Higher Education
2021

University Research Grant Program: Mennonite College of Nursing Research Assistance Grant

Mennonite College of Nursing
2021

RISE to the COVID Challenge Award

2020

Carle Professional Nurse Excellence Award

2015

Guest Speaker 2016 Annual Carle Evidence Based Practice Conference

2015

Carle Level 4 RN

2015

Presentations

Hands-On Manipulative Teaching Tool Demonstrating Fluid Imbalances Improves Exam Scores
Janet LoVerde, Sandy Nielsen
2026 National Nurse Educator Summit, Tucson, AZ, April, 2026
Pilot on exam wrappers, metacognition, and retention: Initial study to improve education access and quality
Patricia L Pence, Sandra Nielsen, Megan Rappleyea
State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, Social & Structural Determinants of Health, Washington, DC, September, 2022
The NCSBN Clinical judgment Model Presented for MCN Faculty
Megan Rappleyea, Sandy Nielsen
Monthly Course Leader Meeting MCN, Normal, July, 2020
Implementing a new capstone leadership clinical; One Midwestern nursing program experience.
Nancy Novotny, Melissa Jarvill, Sandy Nielsen
Mennonite College of Nursing Research Symposium, Normal, IL, March, 2020
Finding Balance: Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Trading Final Semester Undergraduate Acute-Care Hours for Leadership Clinical Activities
Nancy L Novotny, Sandra Nielsen
Sigma 2019 Congress: Theory to Practice Catalyzing Collaborations to Connect Globally, Calgary, Canada, July 29, 2019
Finding Balance: Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of Trading Final Semester Undergraduate Acute-Care Hours for Leadership Clinical Activities
Sandra Nielsen, Nancy Novotny
Mennonite College of Nursing Research Symposium, NORMAL, March 21, 2019
Research as pedagogy: Collaborative faculty-student research
Mary J. Dyck, Nancy Novotny, John Blakeman, Crystal Bricker, Ashley Farrow, Janet LoVerde, Sandy Nielsen, Brenda Johnson
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Education Conference, San Diego, CA, January, 2019
Research as pedagogy: Collaborative faculty-student research
Mary J. Dyck, Nancy Novotny, John Blakeman, Crystal Bricker, Ashley Farrow, Janet LoVerde, Sandy Nielsen, Brenda Johnson
Doctoral Education Conference, Coronado, CA, January, 2019
Research as Pedagogy: Collaborative Faculty-Student Research
Mary J Dyck, Nancy L Novotny, John Blakeman, Crystal Bricker, Ashley Farrow, Janet Loverde, Sandra Nielsen, Brenda Johnson
AACN Doctoral Conference, Coronado, CA, January 17, 2019
Ambulatory Evidence Based Practice: Electronic Notifications as a Trigger for Immunizations
Sandy Nielsen
2015 Carle Evidence Based Practice Nursing Conference, Urbana, IL, December 1, 2015