Associate Professor & Director Undergrad Prog in Nursing, Director RN to BSN
Office: WY 216B
Phone: (574) 535-7376
Email: vickysk@goshen.edu
Education
BSN, Goshen College, 1973
MN, Ball State University, 1983
Current Projects
Preparation for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation report with a scheduled visit for March 12, 13, and 14th, 2012.
Revision of nursing curriculum in response to the new General Education proposal.
Courses
- Philosophy and Theories of Nursing
- This course is a bridge course that prepares adult learners for upper-level college study. The metaparadigm of nursing is utilized as the organanizing framework for exploration of self nursing. The evolution of nursing science, theory, research, and practice are studied. Caring is discussed as a central ethic of nursing practice.
- Health-Care Ethics
- Students will actively reflect on ethical issues which are present in health care for practitioners and consumers. The focus will be on the process of ethical inquiry rather than decision outcomes. In the process of analyzing bio-ethical issues, student will be introduced to ethical thoery and modes of ethical analysis informed by the Christian faith.
- Nursing Senior Seminar
- A focus on integration of current professional practice issues. Students articulate their own philosophy of health care and nursing including their faith beliefs, rights of clients and responsibility to deliver quality nursing care. Preparation for the NCLEX exam, interviewing, and job search are also included.
- Issues Seminar
- Focuses on integration of current issues in the practice of professional nurisng. Students articulate their own philosophy of health care and nursing including their faith beliefs, rights of clients and responsibility to deliver quality nursing care.
Lectures & Presentations
Presented “Information on the CNL Role” at the Nursing 2000 North faculty seminar- 2007.
Presented “Why I Teach at Goshen College,” at donor’s Christmas dinner- 2006.
Presented “Nurse Theorists” at Goshen Health System to leadership team.
Presented “Spirituality and the Nursing Shortage” at Mennonite Health Assembly.
Presented “Why I Teach at Goshen College” to GC Board of Directors.
Panel Member at the Faculty Role Seminar, IUSB, South Bend, Indiana- 2005.
Presented, “Why I Teach at Goshen College” at spring chapel service.
The Discipline of Nursing: An Education for Life, Goshen College Faculty Retreat
Featured speaker at Mock Convention on Goshen College campus, “Recreating the Puzzle of Nursing”
Presented, “Teaching Core Values at Goshen College” to pastors group.
Served on a panel of faculty to discuss the fall play, “A Plague of Angels.” – 2004.
Faculty leader at “Celebrate Service Day” for Goshen College.
Presentation at Afternoon Sabbatical at Goshen College, “Health Care’s Future.”- 2003.
Presentation, “Where Have All the Nurses Gone?”, Goshen Rotary Club, Goshen,Indiana.
Presentation, “Indiana: A Workplace of Choice for Nurses,” sponsored by the Indiana League for Nursing in conjunction with Central Organization of Nurse Executives and Nursing 2000. Topic presented was on the nursing faculty shortage and strategies for addressing the nursing faculty shortage. Discussed strategies for education and service partnering to address the nursing faculty shortage (2002).
“Leadership in the New Millennium,” at the Sigma Theta Tau Induction, XI Nu Chapter-At-Large at University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana- 1998.
Facilitator for “Surviving Nursing: Assertiveness and Other Skills,” Fort Wayne, Indiana- 1992.
Nursing Research: A Caring Essential, Lutheran College, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Series on Dealing with Change in Academia – Presenter/Facilitator, Fort Wayne, Indiana- 1989.
Improving Your Self-Esteem, Reach for Health Programs, Fort Wayne, Indiana- 1987.
Honors & Awards
- 2005
- Goshen Health System’s Community Benefit Fund – $10,000
- 2004
- Goshen Health System’s Community Benefit Fund – $20,000
- 2000
- Goshen Health System’s Community Benefit Fund – $12,000 Scholarship for Hispanic Students
- 1999
- Indiana Campus Compact Scholarship of Engagement Mini-Grant
Grants & Fellowships
- 2005
- Goshen Health System’s Community Benefit Fund – $10,000
- 2004
- Goshen Health System’s Community Benefit Fund – $20,000
- 2000
- Goshen Health System’s Community Benefit Fun - $12,000
- Scholarship for Hispanic Students
- 1999
- Indiana Campus Compact Scholarship of Engagement Mini-Grant
Memberships & Associations
Sigma Theta Tau, International, Nu Omicron Chapter at Large
Transcultural Nursing Society
Nursing Research Consortium North Central Indiana
Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship
American Nurses Association
Indiana State Board of Nursing
Northeast Indiana Organization of Nurses
National League for Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Nurses Strategic Action Team (N-STAT)
Hobbies & Interests
I enjoy entertaining, especially with my children, grandchildren and extended family. I also enjoy reading, travelling and spending at our lake home.
Personal Information
Vicky Kirkton is the director of the undergraduate nursing program. Vicky teaches courses in the basic and RN to BSN Program. One of her primary responsibilities is coordination of the RN to BSN program. Vicky was the chair of the department of nursing from 1998 until 2011 providing leadership and direction for the faculty and students. Prior to coming to Goshen College Vicky was Associate Professor of Nursing and Dean of the Department of Nursing at Lutheran College in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Vicky has been a nurse educator for over 36 years. She is passionate about preparing nurses who care for the whole person, bio-psycho-social-spiritual-cultural aspects. Her professional career has also included active involvement in numerous professional organization to promote the autonomy and improvement of the profession. Vicky appreciates the learning environment at Goshen College that promotes critical thinking and problem solving, and an environment that nurtures the student in a caring and spiritual environment.
