Joni Pyle

Nursing is so diverse, the roles so varied. I like to interact with people in a helpful way. As a student, I always liked talking to patients and hearing about their lives, their healthcare struggles, and how health intervention has helped. I especially like to help patients develop plans of interventions that work in real-life to improve health. Little did I realize at the time; I was setting up a lifelong interest in public health.

The ever-changing landscape. Some aspects of nursing are the same, and that is good. Nursing is founded on both art and science. However, technology requires nurses to keep adapting – to be flexible! People’s expectations change, as well. I am also keenly interested in the intersection of healthcare and politics or health policy.

I read a lot and attend virtual and real-life conferences to learn what others are doing in other places. I also listen to podcasts to keep current. I love healthcare science. The COVID crisis has certainly provided interesting science! Understanding the new vaccines and how scientists were able to pivot science to meet urgent needs is fascinating.

The hands-on approach of Penn College's pre-licensure programs and the real-life courses in the RN-to-BSN and new MSN program work together to provide real-life experience and education for nurses. Nursing faculty understand the rigor of nursing programs and work with students to help them to be successful.

I love teaching research. Students often believe research to be cut and dry, not exciting. Nothing could be farther from the truth. In our undergraduate research class, I take students from a basic research question to a full research proposal that, if they continue to the master's level, might be moved forward in some way. Students do not often realize that nursing must be founded in science, nursing science. For that to happen, we must train nurses to be research scientists.

There have been two recently. One was in a research class. After two classes, a senior student approached me, commenting that the idea of research, as a nurse, was new to them. The link from student to nurse scientist had simply not been on their radar yet. It was exciting to expose a student to a new facet of nursing. The other, less education-focused, was that I had the opportunity to be involved in vaccinating for COVID. It was an emotional experience.