Occupation(s), Career Details
I've been an RN since 1971 (PCC). I have a BSN from Univ. of Phoenix in 1988, and an MHA from Univ. of La Verne in 1996. My nursing career has been primarily spent in Maternal-Child health, mostly in Labor & Delivery. In 1996 I started teaching nursing, and have been prof of nursing at Citrus College in Glendora since 1999. I also teach a bit--when time allows--with UOP.
I never imagined that I'd one day be a teacher. Helping my kids with homework was the pits. I even remember saying out loud once, "I could NEVER be a teacher!" It seems that it's a bit easier when the students aren't your own kids.
My claim to fame as a professor is that I'm known as "the rapping professor." I write & perform raps that are designed to be study guides. The fact that I have NO singing ability--and only minimal rhythm--actually seems to help make the performance even more fun. The students love to see their old prof rapping and "dancing" to hip hop music. Funny how they think someone my age should have no music appreciation and limited ability to groove to the tune!
On the first day of class I try to prepare them for the reality that some of them will not pass a class, but quickly tell them that they can survive it. To do this I share with them that I really do understand the stress and frustration and shame of failing a class because I, too, have failed (but look at me now!). I tell them how when I first went away to college (to that party school San Diego State) I ended up dropping out and consequently had a GPA of 0.75 which I had to overcome and build back up before I could enter the nursing program at PCC. Thanks to the sage advice of a counselor I pulled up my GPA and entered the nursing program.
My husband Tony is retired from the US Postal Service, then went into teaching. He taught full time for 3 years, then has worked as a substitute since 1999. He's still subbing today (2016).