INSPIRING TEACHER
Kolby Schaeffer Fraase, lecturer of nursing
Published August 2016
Schaeffer Fraase loves to teach, and it shows in her personable, one-on-one style of instruction. She teaches the Nursing Skills Lab for two courses: Skills and Concepts for Nursing Practice and Foundations of Clinical Nursing.
Schaeffer Fraase is a registered nurse with the Resource Team at Sanford Health in Fargo, and she earned her bachelor's and master's degree in nursing from NDSU.
How did you decide to pursue your profession?
I didn’t know I wanted to be a nurse until my senior year of high school. I had always been drawn to the medical field, watching television shows like “Rescue 911” and “ER." I also spent a great deal of time helping my grandmother when she was going through chemotherapy treatments. I started work as a certified nursing assistant and EMT-B and fell in love with the nursing profession.
I chose to become a nurse educator for a few reasons. I love to educate my patients and their families, as well as share my knowledge with other nurses through precepting new employees and student nurses. I work with a resource team and essentially float throughout many unique adult units. This gives me the opportunity to share what I know with colleagues, ranging from cardiac to neurology to oncology.
What do you like best about teaching?
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to share my passion for nursing. I continue practicing as a Registered Nurse once a month. I am able to tie real-world experience with the content that I am teaching. I hope to inspire and empower future nurses through sharing my personal experiences.
What is your favorite class or topic to teach?
I absolutely love teaching skills. I get to know the students on a one-on-one basis and am able to share tips that I’ve gained throughout my nursing career. It is extremely rewarding to observe the students’ progress and watch their confidence grow.
How would you describe your teaching style?
My teaching style is interactive and high energy. I try to engage the students by creating analogies that have some humor. I ensure the foundational knowledge of what I am teaching can be related to what the students will see in practice.
What is the most common trait or traits of successful students?
Successful students are never afraid to ask questions. Nursing is a profession where you never stop learning, and should never stop asking questions.
What have you learned from your students?
I learn something from my students every day. With their feedback, the students have assisted me in tailoring my teaching style to capture their attention and assist their learning. I look forward to learning more from them in future semesters.
Who is a teacher who inspired you as a student and why?
Every nursing professor I had at NDSU was inspiring. I remembered sitting in awe of their knowledge, their poise and how passionate they were about nursing. It inspired me to be an excellent nurse in practice but to also pursue a degree in nursing education.
What is something every student should experience before they graduate from NDSU?
Every student should experience a Bison athletic event. The atmosphere during Bison football or basketball games is unlike any other.
Students should also take part in the many cultural events on campus. I have attended the Woodlands and High Plains Powwow a few times and have been fortunate enough to partake in the celebration of Diwali. It is so awesome that NDSU has students from across the globe that share their cultural celebrations with the campus community.
