Alumna and faculty, Lisa Robertson is preparing her nursing students for their future in nursing

Lisa Robertson Published June 18, 2013

Lisa Robertson enrolled in Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical’s nursing program in 2002. Like so many students at Southeast Technical she enrolled after a lay off at her previous employer. A career change was in order and healthcare was booming. According to the U.S. Department of Labor a 26 percent increase in nursing jobs is predicted this decade. “I enrolled and it clicked,” said Robertson, adding, “Students should have a backup plan, more than one interest. This was my third time as a student at Southeast Technical.”

Robertson previously earned a bachelor’s degree from Winona State in 1988. In the 90s she earned a diploma in Southeast Technical’s Aviation program. After completing the practical nursing program at Southeast Technical she immediately went on to earn an associate degree in nursing in 2004. Robertson completed her Master of Science in nursing, with a focus in education, from Walden University in 2012. While she worked towards her master’s degree Robertson worked as a nurse at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital and part time at the college.

Robertson has been adjunct faculty in the Nursing program at Southeast Technical since 2007. Last year she joined the faculty full time and assisted in the transition process to concept based learning. This is a new philosophy of learning for the nursing program; students learn general concepts, giving them the tools to learn and succeed. The philosophy of the nursing department incorporates conceptual learning within three domains: nursing, the individual and healthcare systems.

As an alumna and faculty, Robertson has a unique perspective of the program. “I take pride in being a graduate of Southeast Technical; we are a top quality technical college,” said Robertson. Her advice to students considering nursing: “I encourage students to step up their studying and recognize their own accountability for their education.”

Teaching nursing and working as a nurse are quite different, “The biggest difference is specializations. As a nurse I specialized in ortho and neurology. Here at the college I have to have a little of everything to help all of my students prepare,” said Robertson. Faculty members continue to learn every semester by attending conferences and taking classes.

“A former student recently emailed me to say she passed the board exam,” said Robertson adding, “It is so rewarding to see students accomplish their goals because I was able to help them.”