by Sarah Trask
Class of 2025

Background

Since earning her Bachelor of Arts in Nursing degree at St. Olaf College, Dr. Joy Pieper has worked in a variety of healthcare settings and specialties, including surgical, trauma, neurological, perioperative, orthopedic, and psychiatric nursing. Early on in her clinical experience, she developed a desire to impact systemic change within her field. This prompted her to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a major in Nursing and Healthcare Leadership at Duke University. After receiving this education, she worked in various leadership roles within multiple healthcare organizations. Pieper then joined the faculty at the Purdue University School of Nursing and fell in love with teaching. She taught there while completing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at Vanderbilt University. She spent five years at Purdue before moving to Minnesota and joining the faculty at Crown College.

Combining Faith and Nursing 

Pieper specifically sought out Crown because she was looking for an environment where she could incorporate her faith in the classroom and in her interactions with students. “I love that I am able to talk about how my faith impacts me now as a caregiver and how it has for my 22 years of being a nurse,” says Pieper. “My faith and my daily work go together, there is no separation between them.” She also says she truly treasures the ability to help students consider how their understanding of Jesus and the Bible can inform their clinical practice

Creating Competent and Compassionate Nurses

In preparing students for roles in healthcare, Pieper aims to come alongside them and point them toward high standards and expectations of service and care. “I want our program to produce nurses that make patients feel that not only are they getting competent, quality care, but also compassionate, loving care.” Pieper also says she is passionate about being a part of creating and setting those goals with students.

Q&A

Question: What class/classes are you most passionate about teaching and why? 
Answer: “Foundations of Nursing Practice and Nursing Leadership! I love Foundations because it’s for those brand new nursing students. I love being able to help them feel confident in their skills early on and set high standards of excellence. Leadership is one of the last courses our students take, and it is a where they get to complete their understanding of their role in the healthcare industry, particularly related to quality improvement.”

Question: What is your teaching style and how does it inspire academic excellence in your students?
Answer: “I like to bring real-world practical examples of what I’m teaching to make it relevant to the nursing field and our current culture.”

Question: What advice would have been helpful when you were a student?
Answer: “Find a way to focus because there are so many things competing for your attention. Nursing school is demanding and you’ve got to find effective study habits early on. Try different methods and see what works for you.”

Question: What is your favorite thing about being a professor at Crown College?
Answer: : “I’m so blessed to work with students who are bold in their faith. It is such a privilege to teach in a Christian community with people who are passionate about living their faith through their profession.”