This content was published: May 24, 2012. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Sylvania nursing instructor Sherer recognized with national award
Photos and story by Kate Chester
Peggy Sherer, a nursing instructor at the Sylvania Campus since 1995, was awarded with the first-ever ATI Nursing Education Nurse’s Touch Award. Nominated by one of her students, Tiffany Scheel, Sherer was specifically selected for her holistic method to teaching which helps her students build the skills needed for a patient-centered approach.
Tiffany Scheel (left), a second year graduating student nurse, nominated Peggy Sherer (right), for the ATI Nursing Education’s Nurse’s Touch Award.
Kristin Burch, a local ATI Healthcare Education consultant, presented the award to Sherer at a ceremony on May 17.
“We are honored to recognize Peggy for her commitment to developing communications, professionalism and similar ‘soft skills’ in future nurses,” said Sheryl Sommer, director of nursing education and curriculum at ATI Nursing Education. “Nursing programs have limited time and resources, which means these skills are rarely a top priority in the classroom. Under Peggy’s guidance, nursing students at PCC are receiving exposure to abilities that will help them function as leaders of the healthcare team and be a patient advocate.”
Sherer began teaching at an early age as a swim instructor and always had a passion for guiding and helping others learn. After 17 years in the emergency department at a hospital, she saw her calling to teach nurses as a unique opportunity to blend her extensive emergency experience with teaching.
“Receiving this award affirms that my passion to teach is received by others which feels very satisfying,” said Sherer. “The PCC faculty truly advocates for our students which will translate to our students advocating for their patients. If you teach through modeling these soft skills, then nursing students will see and learn how to truly be patient centered.”
Celebrating Peggy Sherer (third from left) and her award were (from left to right) Alisa Schneider, interim Sylvania Campus nursing director; Linda Gerber, Sylvania Campus president; nursing student Tiffany Scheel; Jeff Triplett, Sylvania Campus Dean of Instruction; Jen Piper, interim division dean, Sylvania Health Professions; and Kristin Burch, ATI Healthcare Education consultant.
Highlights from the nomination included the following:
- “Peggy has nearly limitless technical knowledge and skills from her academic background, but she always emphasizes the patient and how to holistically care for them, integrating caring into all nursing tasks. She teaches effective leadership and teamwork strategies, and always encourages us to break out of our comfort mold to embrace leadership opportunities. She is knowledgeable about all the new technology available and readily shares it, taking personal time to do so.”
- “Peggy also understands the demands on nurses and nursing students acutely, and knows the research on nurse burnout, hostility and work environments. She is always leading by example, modeling the appropriate behavior and professionalism expected in nursing, even in the face of sometimes unprofessional conduct by others.”
Linda Gerber, Sylvania Campus president, added that, “Peggy is a remarkable nurse educator. She is compassionate, dedicated, tireless, and enthusiastic – qualities picked up on and appreciated by her students, as well as her colleagues. I am thrilled that her professionalism and leadership is being honored in this way by a national organization.”
ATI Nursing Education is the leading provider of online learning programs that are instrumental in improving faculty effectiveness and student and program outcomes in nursing schools across the country. Currently the company works with more than 20,000 nurse educators, approximately 2,100 colleges and universities nationwide, and over 225,000 students.