Nursing at EWU

About

Donna Bachand came to EWU in 2018 to develop a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program.  She previously served Concordia University-Portland as inaugural Professor and later, Director of the undergraduate traditional and accelerated nursing programs.  In addition to clinical and classroom teaching, Dr. Bachand led student trips to Mexico and Nicaragua for international experiences in health promotion and community health.

Dr. Bachand earned a BSN from Arkansas State University and started her career as a registered nurse at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.  Later, she worked in the adult oncology and bone marrow transplant services at Baylor University Medical Center and as a clinical nurse specialist at Medical City Hospital in Dallas, Texas.  She earned both MS and PhD degrees in nursing at Texas Woman’s University, where she started her teaching career.

Outside of teaching, Dr. Bachand has worked in cardiothoracic surgery research and has led medical mission teams to India and Haiti.

About

Denise Beck brings more than 27 years of nursing experience to the EWU nursing program.  She earned her Bachelor of Nursing degree from Northeastern University.  She received her Master of Science degree in Nursing Education from Western Governor’s University.  Denise has previous teaching experience at Washington State University and Spokane Community College.

Denise’s background is in neonatal intensive care, pediatric trauma intensive care, pediatric cardiac intensive care, pediatric trauma emergency department, and geriatrics.  She has held a variety of nursing roles that include; staff nurse, travel nurse, case manager, utilization review, nurse delegation, lactation consultant, legal nurse consultant, home health nurse, director of nursing, and massage therapist.  She also received Case Manager of the Year award in New Mexico.

Denise is passionate about nursing education and working with students.  She also enjoys working with women, children, elderly, and homeless.

About

Brenda Hulett earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Gonzaga University before attending Spokane Community College to achieve her Associate degree in Nursing, followed by earning a master’s degree in nursing education from Gonzaga University. She has worked in a large urban hospital, a critical access rural hospital, and ambulatory care, with specialties in adult oncology and general adult medical-surgical care. She has experience precepting new RN hires, precepting students as well as educating in the classroom and skills labs.

Brenda is interested in holistic care of the person, both in the classroom and in the clinical settings. Holistic care is considering all aspects of an individual’s situation and working with the individual toward success. Faculty and students work together toward graduation, just like nurses and patients work together toward health.

About

Pam Orebaugh comes to EWU Nursing with previous experience in nursing education of prelicensure students in the Spokane region. She also has a lengthy clinical nursing career in this region prior to teaching including working in NICU, PICU, ED, Pediatric ED, LD, home health and public health, and flight nursing for pediatric, neonatal, and high risk maternal patients.

She was born and raised in Missoula, MT and attended most of her undergraduate at University of Montana and Montana State University before transferring to University of Hawaii. She moved to Spokane after graduation and has worked in numerous areas and facilities in the region.

She is passionate about the science, practice, and art of nursing. This passion includes teaching, fostering, and supporting the next generation entering the nursing profession to ensure they have the highest level of knowledge, skills, and abilities enabling them to have a lengthy and successful nursing career.

About

Russell comes to the EWU nursing program with nearly thirty years of registered nurse experience. He obtained his original RN from Shoreline Community College, where he returned twenty-five years later and taught senior nursing students. Russ holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a master’s degree from Seattle Pacific University in nursing administration & leadership. Russ has worked in public health for eighteen years serving clients in prevention, infectious disease, jail, addiction, and occupational health. For the next twelve years Russ taught as adjunct nursing faculty and specialized in juvenile mental health. “Making a difference in such harsh and challenging environments is an honor and humbling at the same time.”

Russ believes candid and meaningful interaction with nursing students promotes a robust and thoughtful graduate. “These graduates will be the future of a very complicated healthcare system, seems imperative to give them our best.”

Outside of nursing Russ was a deckhand on a commercial longline schooner in the Bering Sea many years ago. While enjoying all types of recreational fishing, navigating a mountain river with a flyrod is his first choice. Russ is slowly learning Korean from his wife and appreciates mid-century art & architecture. “A genuine thank you to EWU for having me, Go Eags!”

About

Lori Tochterman brings more than 35 years of nursing experience to the EWU nursing program. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Medical University of South Carolina, a Master of Science in Nursing Education from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and her PhD in Higher Education and Leadership from Washington State University.

She comes to EWU with vast clinical experience in pediatrics, high risk obstetrics, labor and delivery, home health, and previous teaching experience at Spokane Community College and Gonzaga University. She has practiced nursing in several states across the country and internationally.

She is passionate about nursing, cultural awareness, and influencing changes in healthcare systems to reduce barriers for vulnerable populations. She led nursing students in study abroad programs to Zambia to increase their understanding of global health experiences and cultural competencies. She is excited to contribute to a nursing program dedicated to creating a culture of success for undergraduate nursing students and educating nurses that will improve the health of individuals, families, and communities.