Teaching Spotlight: Tammy Courtney & Carole Haurylko
“Being so hands-on in the classroom has taken our student-teacher relationship to the next level. Everyone truly enjoys each other’s company, and the friendly environment stimulates exceptional growth in our students,” says Tammy Courtney, MSN, RN, CNE.
Courtney and Carole Haurylko, BSN, RN, are two of three faculty members who teach the lab portion of NUR 201: Assessment and Health Promotion Across the Lifespan. Tricia Rogers (not pictured), MS, RN, rounds out the trio, who work hard on a daily basis to ensure the success of their students.
NUR 201 is the first lab students take when they enter the nursing program. It is located on the fourth floor in the College of Nursing building inside the Clinical Simulation and Learning Center. Courtney and Haurylko teach vital signs, physical assessment, medication math and the art of taking a nursing history. The semester culminates at Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital with a real-life clinical experience, which allows students to apply the skills they have learned.
With high expectations and standards to which professors hold students accountable, it is often a shock for those entering a professional program for the first time.
“There is always some pushback from the students, but the end product is well worth it,” says Haurylko. Haurylko also notes the great thing about having a “dynamic trio” is that if a student does not connect well with one instructor, chances are they will connect with one of the other two.
“Nursing is all about relationships, and we mentor that early on in our lab,” she says.
This mindset has encouraged students to build relationships with each other as well. They’ve been known to hold annual Thanksgiving potluck dinners to foster a strong sense of community within the group.
Courtney and Haurylko also facilitate First Aid Fridays, a free mentoring/tutoring service for nursing students. Additionally, students have the option to utilize peer tutors as well as teaching assistants for support.
“We do whatever we can to help any College of Nursing student obtain the resources they need to succeed,” says Courtney. “It takes a village to build a toolkit for success.”
Haurylko graduated with her BSN from the College of Nursing in 2009, joining the faculty in 2011. Courtney came to the College in 2013 after receiving her BSN and MSN from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2013 and 2015.
