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Mennonite College of Nursing

Dr. Sandy Nielsen PhD, RN-BC

Assistant Professor
Mennonite College of Nursing
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
  • 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 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

Journal Article

Blakeman, J., Baur, K., Nielsen, S., LoVerde, J., Carls, C., & Cross, R. Addressing the nurse educator shortage: Transitioning bedside nurses to clinical faculty by demystifying roles and responsibilities. Journal of Professional Nursing (2025)
Adelman-Mullally, T., Nielsen, S., Ford, C., Astroth, K., & Chung, S. Y. (2024).
Lessons learned: Using a Three-Step Model of Planned Change for nursing curricular revision. Journal of Professional Nursing, 53, 140-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.05.009. Times cited (1).
Adelman-Mullally, T., Nielsen, S., Ford, C., Astroth, K. & Chung, S. Y. (2024, July-August). Lessons learned: Using a three-step model of planned change for nursing curricula revision. Journal of Professional Nursing. 53. 140-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.05.009
Cossio, A., Cobb, W., Fugit, A., Nielsen, S., Hesson-McInnis, M., & Prasun, M. Examination of Nursing Staffs' Perceptions of the COVI-19 Vaccine Using the Health Belief Model. Western Journal of Nursing Research 46.3 (2024): 229-235.
Cossio, A., Cobb, W., Fugitt, A. Nielsen, S., Hesson-McInnis, M., & Prasun, M. A. (2024). Examination of Nursing Staffs’ Perceptions of the COVID-19 Vaccine Using the Health Belief Model. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 46(3). 229-235. https://doi.org/10.1177/01939459241230383

Presentations

Pilot on exam wrappers, metacognition, and retention: Initial study to improve education access and quality. State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research, Social & Structural Determinants of Health. Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science. (2022)
Implementing a new capstone leadership clinical; One Midwestern nursing program experience.. Mennonite College of Nursing Research Symposium. Mennonite College of Nursing, Illinois State University. (2020)
The NCSBN Clinical judgment Model Presented for MCN Faculty. Monthly Course Leader Meeting MCN. MCN. (2020)
Research as pedagogy: Collaborative faculty-student research. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Education Conference. (2019)
Research as pedagogy: Collaborative faculty-student research. Doctoral Education Conference. AACN. (2019)

Novotny, N., & Nielsen, S. (2019).Finding balance: Quasi-Experimental evaluation of trading final semester undergraduate acute-care hours for leadership clinical activities. Sigma 2019 Congress: Theory-to-Practice Catalyzing Collaborations to Connect Globally. Retrieved from: https://sigma.nursingrepository.org/handle/10755/17691

Dyck, M. J., Novotny, N. L., Blakeman, J., Bricker, C., Farrow, A., Loverde, J., Nielsen, S., & Johnson, B. (2019). Research as pedagogy: Collaborative faculty-student research. AACN Doctoral Conference, January 17, 2019, Coronado, CA.
Novotny, N., & Nielsen S. (2019 March 21). Finding balance: Quasi-experimental evaluation of trading final semester undergraduate acute-care hours for leadership clinical activities. Poster session presented at Mennonite College of Nursing Research Symposium, Normal, IL.
Ambulatory Evidence Based Practice: Electronic Notifications as a Trigger for Immunizations. 2015 Carle Evidence Based Practice Nursing Conference. Carle Foundation. (2015)