November 17, 2025
Vanessa Pierce, Mayville State University MSN Nurse Educator graduate student, presented preliminary work on her collaborative project with Mayville State University and Essential Health at a conference hosted by the North Dakota Nurses Association Friday, Nov. 7, 2025. The conference, “Strengthening Healthcare Through Interprofessional Collaboration,” was intended to bring multiple disciplines together to learn from each other and provide discussion opportunities to improve patient care outcomes. Attendees came from across the state of North Dakota and western Minnesota and included Mayville State faculty members Dr. Collette Christoffers and Dr. Carey Haugen.
Vanessa Pierce’s presentation was titled “Intention to Leave and Sleep Quality.” As a former ICU nurse and current clinical instructor, she has experienced the difficulty in rotating shift work and wants to explore the impact of rotating shift work and retention of ICU nurses.
“Vanessa has completed a strong literature review, prepared an exceptional instrument, and earned IRB approval for implementation of her project,” stated her advisor, Dr. Collette Christoffers, AssociatieProfessor of Nursing and Division Chair. “I am excited to see her continue the research process with this timely topic as she completes her master’s degree.
Christoffers shared her poster titled “Teaching the Patient: How to Engage the Adult Learner” at the conference. She said adult patients are increasingly expected to participate actively in their healthcare decisions, making patient education a critical skill for healthcare professionals. Her poster addressed how adapting teaching approaches based on health literacy, cultural background, and readiness to learn can impact achievement of patient health goals.
Dr. Carey Haugen, Mayville State University Associate Professor of Nursing and Division of Nursing Dean, attended the conference to promote Mayville State University’s RN-to-BSN and MSN programs.
Learn more about nursing at Mayville State at https://www.mayvillestate.edu/future-students/make-it-mayville/nurse/.
