Nursing faculty gives student confidence to reach her goals

“I always say that GWU changed my life. This University helped to write an important part of my story that I never dreamed possible. I am forever grateful for every person who was placed in my path while I was a student there.”

As a young nursing student, Dr. Allison Abernathy was unsuccessful at a local community college and started looking for another school. Her mother-in-law had heard positive comments about the School of Nursing at �۶�ֱ�� University, so Abernathy contacted Dr. Shirley Toney, the dean in 1995. “Dr. Toney reviewed my coursework and admitted me into the ASN (Associate of Science in Nursing) program immediately,” she recalled. “She believed in me, and I knew I was where God wanted me to be in order to finish my nursing degree in such a nurturing environment.”

That was 22 years ago, and Abernathy has since earned two more degrees from GWU—completing a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2007 and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2013. She is employed as a nursing instructor and the dean of Health & Human Services at Gaston College in Dallas, N.C. A resident of Cherryville, N.C., Abernathy has also been honored as a NC Great 100 Nurse, an award presented to Registered Nurses in North Carolina for their commitment to excellence.

“I always say that GWU changed my life,” Abernathy shared. “This University helped to write an important part of my story that I never dreamed possible. I am forever grateful for every person who was placed in my path while I was a student there. I love teaching students and giving back to this wonderful profession by igniting a passion in them through my past experiences.”

She treats her students with the same respect she was given from Toney and other GWU faculty members. “Not only did I gain the knowledge I needed to be a successful nurse educator and dean, but I also learned things that were not in the curriculum, such as compassion, integrity and how to bring glory to God in the way I carry myself,” Abernathy offered. “I want all the students I come into contact with to feel like they matter and can do anything with the right support and encouragement.”

Abernathy especially appreciated the freedom to express her faith. “We were allowed to pray before tests and during difficult times throughout the semester,” she offered. “I learned how to be bold in my faith and pray anywhere that I felt led to lift up a need to the Lord. The weekly Dimensions series provided a foundation for weekly Christian connections through speakers, music, etc. I also appreciated my professors sharing their faith through prayer and encouragement in class. I respected the way they communicated to my fellow students and me.”

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“The instructors were always available and always supportive. They encouraged and guided along the way. They kept you motivated and the coursework made you challenge yourself.”

Theresa Trivette, a 2010 alumna of �۶�ֱ�� University, is chief nursing officer of Florida Hospital Tampa. Her responsibilities at the 536-bed hospital focus on providing quality nursing and meeting patients’ needs. “For nursing, this means creating an environment where nurses have educational opportunities that help build on the professional development of our nursing corps,” she explained. “For our patients, my role ensures we are bringing the best practices to the hospital that would ensure high quality care. For patient outcomes, my role is to ensure our clinical teams deliver on the promise that we give the right care every time to every patient.”

Trivette began her nursing career in emergency and trauma services. After nine years in the field, she desired to have a greater influence on the quality of her profession. The first step to pursuing her goal was earning her Master of Science in Nursing from GWU. She enrolled in the online program, because it allowed her to work full time and complete assignments on her own schedule.

“The self-directed learning really helped me dig deep into areas that were of interest to me and build my own knowledge,” Trivette observed. “We had certain assignments, but I could learn more about topics that interested me. The instructors were always available and always supportive. They encouraged and guided along the way. They kept you motivated and the coursework made you challenge yourself.”

The curriculum prepared her to continue her educational journey, earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the Medical University of South Carolina where she graduated with top honors. Her first administrative position was director of Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina. She also served as associate vice president of Quality, Evidence-Based Care and Health Information Management at Tidelands Health in South Carolina.

She currently serves on the board of examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation’s highest recognition awarded to organizations for performance excellence. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and American Organization of Nurse Executives. “I’ve always been service oriented and wanted to help people,” Trivette acknowledged. “I want to inspire other nurses to do their very best.”

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Desires to serve her community by caring for others

“I knew �۶�ֱ�� would become my ‘home away from home,’ a place that would allow me to grow in my faith and my education.”

Motivated by her earnest desire to help people, Kaitlynn Watts Smith ’15, of Kannapolis, N.C., chose a career in nursing. When she visited �۶�ֱ�� University, she experienced a campus that integrated education and Christian values. The school’s motto, Pro Deo et Humanitate (For God and Humanity) aligned with her own ideals.

“Being a nurse allows me to serve and care for others, which is something that gives me great joy,” Smith affirmed. “I feel that by serving my community and making a difference in the lives of others, I am able to grow closer to God and live out what he has called me to do.”

She also knew �۶�ֱ��’s intimate and supportive classroom setting would be valuable during her studies in a rigorous nursing program. Besides academics, Smith was also looking for an opportunity to cheer in college. “When I got my acceptance letter to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and made the cheerleading squad, I knew �۶�ֱ�� would become my ‘home away from home,’” Smith shared, “a place that would allow me to grow in my faith and my education.”

The hands-on simulation nursing lab and the clinicals offered at various hospital and healthcare settings prepared her to competently care for patients. “I learned interpersonal skills, team-work, assessment skills, critical-thinking skills, how to interact and communicate with patients and other professionals, and so much more,” she reflected. “My nursing professors truly cared about my success in the program. It meant a lot to me that my professors knew me by name, and that we had a relationship that involved both my studies and things that were going on in my everyday life. Their guidance and support were critical to my success.”

She was also grateful for the anatomy classes she took. “They allowed me to learn, in depth, about the human body,” she asserted. “I also learned the value of time management and the importance of having a strong work ethic to succeed in these challenging courses.”

While preparing to become a nurse, Smith developed friendships and gained experiences to remember. “I went to �۶�ֱ�� to further my education to prepare me for the professional world,” she observed. “After four years quickly flew by, I realized I got so much more during my time spent as a Runnin’ Bulldog. The memories I made at �۶�ֱ�� are some that I will forever hold close to my heart.”

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“�۶�ֱ�� has caring, tough and highly motivated professors to help you be the best you can be.”

Since earning her Associate of Science in Nursing from �۶�ֱ�� University in 2014, Lyndsey Couch, of Kings Mountain, N.C., has been honored every year with an award or recognition for the care she provides to patients. Couch also has bachelor’s (2015) and master’s (2017) degrees in nursing from GWU.

She began her career at Carolinas Healthcare System in Lincoln County, N.C., where she is now a critical care charge nurse. Couch also works as an oncology nurse at the infusion center. Her honors include Notable Nurse, Peoples Award for Research Project, Pinnacle Award nomination, Great 100 Nurses nomination, Great Catch Awards, Values in Actions and Daisy Award. She has earned Clinical Nurse II and Oncology certification. She’s working to obtain her certification in Critical Care and is completing a new project for Clinical Nurse IV. Couch also has served as a preceptor (instructor) for new nursing graduates and students since 2016.

Couch always felt a need to care for others and decided the best way to do that was to follow her grandmother’s footsteps in nursing. When she began her college search, �۶�ֱ�� was high on the list, because it was her grandmother’s alma mater. “I felt like I was at home when I visited the campus the first time,” Couch reflected. “I wanted to attend a Christian school and not just be a number in a classroom.”

She appreciated how closely the professors worked with her as an undergraduate and graduate student to help develop her skills as a nurse. “Dr. Tracy Arnold was such a huge asset in helping me complete my thesis for my master’s degree through many emails and phone calls since it was not a traditional class environment,” Couch shared. “Linda Wines, her wisdom and being so tough on students has made me much appreciate her great efforts and helped make me a better nurse. Dr. Kathy Williams, the real experience that she had shared with our class was quite beneficial for learning and understanding not only the material, but how on-the-floor nursing could be for us. And, I will always remember Dr. Nicole Waters, her Assessment Skills class benefits me daily on each patient I assess.”

A highlight of her education was being able to go on a mission trip to Hawaii with other nursing students and staff. They presented the gospel, and 19 children accepted Jesus as their savior. She was also grateful to be in a college where the nursing professors prayed for their students on exam days and prayed with students individually when asked.

“�۶�ֱ�� has caring, tough and highly motivated professors to help you be the best you can be,” she observed. “If you desire to be in a positive environment where students can easily reach out to professors for guidance, this University will prepare you for your adventure in becoming the nurse you would like to become.”

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