Cheryl Caffee

Lutheran College of Health Professions – ASN – 1996

Purdue University-BSN – 1998

Ball State University – MSN – 2005

Nursing Care of the Adult I – Theory & Clinical (306)

The nursing process is used with adults and families experiencing illness. Content areas include nursing care of adults with fluid and electrolyte and acid/base imbalances, gastrointestinal disorders, musculoskeletal problems, chronic neurological problems, urinary/genital conditions, and autoimmune disorders. Clinical experiences consist of providing holistic nursing care to adults in medical/surgical clinical areas, with emphasis on perioperative nursing.

Leadership in Nursing – NUR 409

Leadership and management principles are applied to clinical practice.  Content includes management and leadership theories, as well as knowledge of complex organizational systems.  An emphasis is placed on the role of the nursing leader as creator and manager of a culture of caring, safety, and quality.  Clinical practice component of the course will be arranged with each student and preceptor.

Leadership in Nursing – NUR 449 (Online)

Leadership and management principles are applied to clinical practice.  Clinical practice component of the course will be arranged with each student.  This nursing course is designed to further develop leadership skills in the management of health and illness care resources within a theoretical framework that guides one’s practice.  In this era of changes in the healthcare system, management of client care incurs multiple and complex challenges.  In their practice settings, nurses also encounter opportunities to implement creative changes in care delivery.  This climate of change requires the individual nurse to assume various formal and informal leadership roles. The clinical project planned and implemented by the student, targets one or more of the learning outcomes for this course.  Students exercise the qualities of effective leadership in clinical nursing practice, functioning as change agents. This experience is designed to give students the opportunity to implement a change that will improve an assessed problem or explore a new opportunity thereby enhancing the practice environment and improving patient care.

I was born and raised in Adams County, IN and grew up on a farm.   I went to Lutheran College of Health Professions in Fort Wayne, IN – I was a student the same time that Vicky Kirkton was a professor and Dean of the Department of Nursing.  I received my ASN (Associate’s Degree) and passed my boards Dec 1996 and started my first RN job at a nursing home in Lafayette, IN.  I completed my BSN at Purdue University in 1998 and enjoyed working at Home Hospital – cardiac and oncology floor.

I married my 4-H sweetheart – Joe Caffee Dec of 1997.  Upon his graduation from Purdue we relocated to Richmond, IN for his teaching job and I worked for Reid Memorial in the home care department.  I worked with both home care and hospice patients.  I started my MSN through Ball State’s online program.

A job opportunity came up back in Adams County for my husband and at the same time a wonderful career advancement for me at Adams Memorial Hospital.  I was asked to be the Manager on the Med/Surg floor.  I enjoyed leadership and the opportunity to continue hands on care.

As my career continued to advance and I finished my MSN, my heart as a Mom of 2 little girls (at the time age 2 and 11 months) decided to give up my career path and seek an opportunity to allow me to stay at home more.  I resigned from management and accepted a position in the outpatient oncology unit where I worked one day a week.

Over the next 8 years my hours continued at the oncology unit and we added a little boy to our family.  I also volunteered and led mom’s groups and even spent an interim position (18 months) at First Missionary Church in Berne as their Children’s Director.

Joe’s desire for leadership led him to apply for the CEO/President position at First State Bank in Middlebury.  With my youngest heading to kindergarten at the time I also felt the desire to search for a position for myself.  I love teaching, education and displaying my passion for caring and was very excited to find a open position at Goshen College.  So in 2014 – we were faced with – new jobs, new community, new home, new school, and new church.

Sidenote 2021:  I am currently in a cancer journey – I am fighting stage 3 metastatic melanoma.  You can follow my story at caringbridge – search for Cheryl Caffee.  Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota has become very familiar to us and we are very appreciative of their expertise and care.  I hope to continue to combine my love for Christ along with this new appreciation for advances in the medical field and my personal experiences to educate and inspire future nurses.

Currently my focus is on healing and my family

My previous loves and ways to serve in the community included: serving on school boards, coaching girls basketball and leading kids worship.