faculty
My name is Tina Barney, and I am excited to participate in a portion of your nursing journey! I know the sacrifices it takes to continue your education and want to encourage you in this area. I am the Simulation Coordinator here at PVCC and you will interact with me throughout your program. I am always available as a resource to you and my door is always open. As the faculty advisor for the PVCC Student Nurses Association I encourage you to join and get involved! I love nursing and the ability to do a vast number of jobs with one degree!
My clinical background includes working in a Level 1 Trauma/Neuro ICU, PACU, inpatient detox and residential substance use disorder. I have enjoyed teaching since 2014 in multiple roles including lab, clinical, simulation, and the classroom. I teach CPR and Stop the Bleed and am a huge advocate for patient safety. I currently work at Valleywise Health Medical Center and keep my Advanced Trauma Care for Nurses ACLS & PALS current. I hold certifications in Critical Care (CCRN) and am a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). My peers recognized my work at Honor Health John C. Lincoln Medical Center ICU for “Exceeding the Care Standards” in 2013 and in 2017 research I conducted regarding early mobilization of intubated patients in the ICU was published in the Society for Critical Care in Nursing Journal.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2017.06.005
Encouraging scholars to consider topics beyond their own concerns, and recognize ways they can positively impact their family, friends, communities, and profession, is an influential way to foster the servant leader, my vision for the nurse of the future.
Hello! My name is Jessica Bruhn. I am the Nursing Division Chair/Director for the nursing program here at PVCC. I have been nursing faculty with Maricopa Community Colleges since 2016. I was a nursing faculty at SCC from 2016-2020 and transferred to PVCC in the fall of 2020. I am proud to say that I am a graduate of Maricopa Nursing Programs. I was part of the initial concurrent enrollment program (CEP) for Maricopa nursing students and obtained my BSN from Northern Arizona University. Three years later, I completed my MSN with an emphasis in Nursing Education from Grand Canyon University. In 2022, I completed my DNP in Nursing Education from Regis College.
Working as a Registered Nurse (RN) for the past 10 years, my clinical background includes Telemetry and Neuro/Trauma ICU. I have also worked as a registry nurse in the Telehealth/I-care and Transfer Services department.
My passion for nursing remains strong to this day. Of the countless options available to all nurses as a profession, nursing education is where my heart is. Teaching as a profession is timeless. It is the foundation of all other professions. I have had the honor of practicing and being mentored alongside many courageous, knowledgeable, and capable nurses who have impacted the trajectory of my career path in a myriad of ways. The relationships I have developed with each of these individuals has been foundational to the who and where I am today as a nurse, a nurse educator, and leader amongst my peers.
My philosophy of teaching is fluid and ever changing as I continually learn and grow. Over the years, I have found that students learn best when they are nurtured by those who teach them. I strongly believe that caring is an essential component to teaching and learning. Not only to nursing, but to any form of education. The act of caring is integral to the art of nursing practice and therefore should be the foundation for nursing students as they begin to develop their craft. Caring is a universal need, it is active and reflective in nature, and therefore must be handled respectively.
Hello,
I am Jocelyn Goodwin, but my Paradise Valley Community College students affectionately refer to me as Professor J. Currently, I serve as the Psych Lead Faculty for Block 2 at PVCC.
My roots trace back to the great state of Michigan, where I spent a significant portion of my life. However, I've proudly called Arizona my home for over a decade now. My journey in nursing education began with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in 1982. The quest for knowledge didn't stop there; I earned a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Systems Teaching in 2007 and a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in 2009, both from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Within the vast landscape of nursing, my heart beats for two areas: psychiatric nursing and neurosurgery. My career has been a tapestry woven with diverse nursing experiences. My nursing path took me to medical-surgical general practice; I served as a public health nurse for the City of Detroit and have worn the hats of a staff nurse in neurology and neurosurgery general practice, Neuro Stepdown ICU, Neuro ICU, Stroke Specialty Services, Epilepsy Specialty Unit, Adult Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Dialysis, and now a nursing educator.
Through the years, I've donned various roles in the nursing world, including that of a staff nurse, supervisor, unit manager, and Chief Nurse Officer. However, it's in the realm of nursing education that I've found my true calling. I'm deeply convinced that I play a small yet significant role in nurturing the next generation of nurses who will deliver outstanding care to our communities and contribute to positive health outcomes. My genuine care for the well-being of others fuels my passion, and what better way to pass the torch of knowledge?
In my philosophy, education is a partnership, a collaborative journey between the professor and the student. For this partnership to flourish, trust must be the foundation with roles defined, and the rewards for hard work should be tangible. Reading and comprehension are the cornerstones of understanding the complex concepts that define the world of nursing. I encourage students to read carefully, as reading is fundamental to understanding.
I’m excited to teach future nurses, beginning with Block One. The journey to becoming a Registered Nurse requires passion, dedication, and courage. I am proud to say that I graduated from the esteemed PVCC nursing program in 2004 as part of its inaugural cohort. Prior to nursing, I earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Arizona State University, followed by a Masters in Nursing from Grand Canyon University, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Old Dominion University.
Nursing is my second career; I first worked as a pre-K to kindergarten teacher before transitioning into healthcare as a Cardiovascular Tech (PCT) in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at John C. Lincoln Medical Center. Upon graduating from PVCC, I began my RN career in the CVICU and later shifted to the Trauma ICU. My passion for the business and operational side of nursing led to various leadership roles including Director of the ICU, CVICU, Dialysis, and Central Monitoring. In 2021, I became the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at HonorHealth Thompson Peak Medical Center, and by spring 2023, I assumed the role of Chief Nursing Officer.
Although I loved my leadership roles, my true passion lies in teaching, which motivated me to pursue my doctorate. I am dedicated to empowering others and creating a safe, supportive environment for learning and growth. I believe our future nurses should feel respected, valued, and free to explore their education in a space where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. My goal is to shape future nurses into compassionate, confident, and skilled professionals who can navigate the complexities of patient care with both competence and care.
The Critical Care Theory Model, grounded in Watson's caring science and Florence Nightingale's legacy of social activism, resonates deeply with me. It emphasizes the importance of building a helping-trusting relationship and practicing critical care as a way of being, knowing, and choosing.
Hello,
My name is Doug Martin, I am the advanced medical surgical lead faculty for Block 3. I graduated from Glendale Community College with my ADN in 1997, my BSN from Grand Canyon University in 2000 and my MSN from University of Phoenix in 2005. I obtained my CNE in 2014. I have been adjunct faculty with the community colleges since 1995 teaching in the EMS/EMT program. I became nursing adjunct faculty in 2000 doing clinicals and became full time faculty in 2005.
My work experience in healthcare started at the age of 20 when I was working in EMS and progressed into ER/ICU nursing. I became a bedside ICU/ER educator in 2000 with Maricopa Medical Center and Banner Health in 2003. In 2005, I started the amazing journey of becoming a nursing faculty with Maricopa Community College.
I have taught Blocks 1-2 at Estrella Mountain Community College/Southwest Skill Center from 2008-2014, and started teaching block 3 medical surgical nursing at PVCC since 2014
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Education is not the filling of a pail (passive learning), but the lighting of a fire (active learning) - - William Buttler Yeats. Nursing is not a passive profession and neither is learning. Nursing is a lifelong active learning process that requires students and professional nurses to take responsibility for their learning and to be actively participating in presented learning opportunities that will prepare them to enter the nursing profession and to become a licensed professional nurse that continues on with the spirit of enquire, scholarship and service. My teaching philosophy is aligned with Paradise Valley Community College philosophy of being a learning college and engaging students in authentic, deep learning experiences.
Hello I am Dr. Kathy Miller,
I have had the pleasure of teaching with the Maricopa Community Colleges since 2005. My experience in teaching in the nursing program is from fundamentals to critical care.
My experience in healthcare began when I was 14 years old. I was a “candy striper” or now known as a junior volunteer at a local hospital. Then I began the journey as an Emergency Medical Technician “EMT” and Paramedic while I was going through nursing school.
I am a graduate of Mesa Community College’s nursing program and began my career as a new graduate at Banner University Medical Center Phoenix (formally Good Samaritan). My background is in Intensive Care (ICU), Trauma, the Emergency Department (ED), and Telehealth.
Education and Nursing are both of my passions. Guiding students to help them succeed in their dreams is my pleasure. I will always remember what it was like being a nursing student and I use these memories to help you through the program. Being an RN is such a gift and honor.
Florence Nightingale stated, “ the nurse must use their brain, heart and hands to create healing environments to care for the patient's body, mind and spirit”.
Welcome to Paradise Valley Community College nursing!
Welcome!
"Your profession is not what brings home your paycheck. Your profession is what you were put on Earth to do with such passion and such intensity that it becomes spiritual in calling." - Vincent Van Gogh
I came across the above quote at an annual Association for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses national conference and it resonated deeply within me. I was made to be a nurse. I was also made to be an educator. I have the honor of teaching students to become excellent nurses with a heart for their profession. It is the best of both worlds!
As an alumnus of Paradise Valley Community College, I have the privilege of now being a colleague of the very professionals that were my instructors. It was during my nursing program that I developed my career path and have followed it. After graduation from PVCC, I then obtained my Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Grand Canyon University and then my Masters in Nursing Education at Western Governor's University. During that time, I also worked at Phoenix Children's Hospital as a clinical nurse, chemotherapy/biotherapy instructor for the hospital, a safety coach, relief charge nurse, and created a peace room for our floor in order to help prevent compassion fatigue and burnout. Highlights of my nursing career are two medical mission trips: one to India and one to Honduras. I also earned certifications as a Certified Pediatric Nurse, a Certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurse, and was nominated as the March of Dimes Pediatric Nurse of the Year in 2019.
My classroom is specifically designed to be a place of positive energy and belonging for all my students. Every student is welcome and is given the opportunity to learn and grow. In the words of my son describing his favorite teacher, I want to be "hard but fun". My students will have the academic rigor in order to properly prepare them for the NCLEX and for the nursing field, but they will have relaxed learning environments that are safe to make their mistakes and grow from them.
I look forward to getting to know you over the course of your nursing school career and beyond!
Professor Barbara
I am Janice Podwika and I have had the privilege of being a part of the nursing faculty team at PVCC since 2008. I have had the opportunity to participate in student learning and development in all 4 Blocks. I was the lead instructor for theory, lab and clinical in Block 1 for 13 years. I also had the opportunity to teach theory, lab and clinical in Block 2 and the Paramedic to RN program. I had the honor to work with the Blocks 3 and 4 students as a clinical instructor.
I received my BSN from Aurora University in Illinois. Immediately after receiving my BSN, I enrolled in Rush University in Chicago for my MS in Gerontological Nursing. My passion for nursing has always focused on the Geriatric individual. My first professional experience as a nurse was at Rush University Hospital in the Medical/Surgical Unit. With my degree in Gerontological Nursing, my love for the elderly population and Medical/Surgical experience, I decided to continue my career in Long Term Care. I had positions as a Nursing Supervisor, Director of Nursing and Administrator. During my 20 years in Long Term Care, I had the opportunity to meet a multitude of residents, their families and the Long Term Care Team.
In 2005 we relocated to Arizona. While working at Boswell Hospital as part of the float pool, I was asked to be a mentor and to precept new graduates and nurses new to our organization. It was at that time that I realized that teaching was the avenue that I wanted to pursue. I enjoyed teaching, guiding and precepting new nurses. While at Boswell, I was also asked to work as an adjunct faculty for the Mesa/Boswell nursing program. I began faculty assignments as a clinical instructor and felt that it is a privilege to mentor and guide nursing students. A faculty position opened at PVCC and I had the opportunity to take a position in Block 1. I thought that Block 1 would be my only love, but now as the Coordinator for the CNA program, I have found a new opportunity to facilitate learning, to include safety considerations, communication, skills and professionalism in preparing students to enter the nursing profession. It has been an honor to provide the tools necessary for students to build a strong foundation to further their nursing career.
My favorite theorist is Jean Watson. She promotes the Science of Caring and addresses how nurses express care to patients and that caring provides health better than a medical cure. She also promotes holistic care for clients. This philosophy is what I promote to my students. I explain how each person has individual needs. We, as nurses do need to consider the medical aspect of patient care, but also include their spiritual, financial, and cultural aspects and how that promotes healing. Furthering our knowledge base, communication skills and promoting professionalism is a lifelong activity.
Hello, I am Dr. Mari Poledna. My nursing journey began in 1990 as a certified nursing assistant. As I earned my Bachelor’s degree in nursing from San Diego State University, I worked in Alzheimer care, Spinal cord injury and a multitude of medical surgical areas at UCSD medical center.
I received my BSN in 1993 and began working in medical-surgical and neurological step down units. After 5 years, I moved into the critical care arena, my true love! I have worked in critical care and critical care tele-ICU for over 25 years. I am passionate about teaching my students safe, patient-centered, evidence-based care.
I began teaching for Maricopa Community College at Scottsdale Community College in 2009. My primary teaching areas included, lecture, clinical, lab for fundamentals and advanced medical-surgical areas. I enjoy teaching in the clinical areas where I can really see how the students are applying their newly-learned skills.
I am a new faculty at Paradise Valley Community College and am very excited to be teaching in the block one area. I earned my PhD in Nursing and Health Care Innovation from Arizona State University in May 2023, and along the way learned a great deal about teaching clinical judgment and cue recognition. I am thrilled to incorporate my own research findings into nursing education, teaching the next generation of nurses how to “think like a nurse”.
In nursing education, I look at my role as simply one nurse sharing her knowledge and experience with a future nurse and colleague. I have worked more than 20 years in a variety of specialties (critical care, emergency, trauma, triage, peds, OB, AZ Burn Center, special procedures/SWAT, preop/PACU, home health, hematology/oncology, and medical esthetics) and agencies (Valleywise, Honor Health, Banner, Dignity, registry, and travel). For over 16 years, I have taught a variety of healthcare classes (community childbirth and lactation, NRP, ACLS, PALS, TNCC, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Tech, Blocks 1 and 2, Block 3 OB, and Block 4 peds and complex med-surg). I enjoy meeting students where they are in their educational journey, and rejoicing with them as they reach the finish line and receive their hard earned nursing license.
I am passionate about creating a safe, fun, and effective learning environment in my classroom. NUR283 is taught in alignment with the Paradise Valley Community College philosophy of active learning. I utilize evidence based learning centered classroom teaching strategies that are consistent with active learning and engaging the learner as an equal participant learning. As evidenced by our effective exit HESI and NCLEX results, active learning is accomplished through collaborative learning team (CLT) activities in the classroom, which include a variety of teaching and learning modalities: clarification and emphasis lectures, simulation, vSIMs, role play, docucare, escape rooms, games, case studies, etc. In other words, every learning activity and interaction is focused on not only preparing students to pass the course and the NextGen NCLEX, but also providing students with the tools to have a long successful career in nursing.
My driving passion is safe patient care, clinical excellence, lifelong learning, and the education of future generations. I will emulate and teach you how to THINK and ACT like a professional nurse.
Question: If you were the patient, would you expect anything less from a nurse?
Hello! I am Professor Julie Robertson. I have been working in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. I started at Phoenix Baptist Hospital in 1995 as a Patient Care Technician while attending nursing school at Grand Canyon University. After graduation in 1997, I was commissioned into the US Army as a Nurse Corp Officer, where I proudly served for 8 years at Tripler Army Medical Center from 1997-2005. I fell in love with obstetric nursing at the hands of some of the kindest guru's in the nursing world.
From my early days in the maternal-newborn area, I grew into other roles such as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Labor & Delivery RN and Perinatal Bereavement Coordinator. I transitioned from working full time as a Nurse Navigator in Labor & Delivery at Scottsdale Shea Medical Center into my new role as Residential Faculty at Paradise Valley in September 2022.
I imagine when I consider my philosophy of instruction for the prelicensure nursing student, I am drawn to the work of nursing theorist Patricia Benner. Her model focuses on skill acquisition and clinical judgment as the developing nurse grows through five developmental levels:
novice -> advanced beginner -> competent -> proficient -> expert
In this model, I find working with students who are entering into the intensive six weeks of obstetrics in block 3 are novice to this material. I can appreciate, though, that they are more advanced beginners as they have been in the nursing program for over a year by the time we meet. They have acquired many skills and are working on identifying clinical cues and expanding their potential in clinical judgment.
My role as your faculty is to provide rich classroom, lab and clinical experiences focused largely around the inpatient population in the Nursery/NICU, L&D and the Mother/Baby Unit. My driving force is safe patient care, clinical excellence, and upholding nursing as a distinguished profession. The overwhelming goal of this course is safeguard the professional standards, and my hope is to emulate professionalism, ethical behavior, and clinical excellence to all who know me both at the college and in the community.