Sara Berger, assistant professor of practice in the NDSU School of Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck, was named state Nurse Educator of the Year by the North Dakota Nursing Students’ Association during the group’s convention in January.

“My philosophies of nursing and teaching are rooted in my favorite quote from Mother Teresa: ‘Do small things with great love,’” Berger said. Her nearly 30-year career in healthcare has included success as a medical-surgical nurse, case manager and nurse educator.

“I am committed to fostering student engagement in my classroom. I begin by building relationships. On the first day of class, I call each student by name, and ask why they chose nursing school. Understanding why students have chosen the profession helps me to adapt my lessons to highlight the reasons they are here,” said Berger, who is also a certified nurse educator and medical-surgical nurse. “I appreciate the opportunity to role model competent, compassionate, holistic care in the clinical setting.”

Berger calls nursing the most rewarding profession.

“It is an honor and a privilege to care for people during the best and most heartbreaking times. My goal as a nurse educator is to assist nursing students in becoming not just competent, but also compassionate nurses who are worthy of the title registered nurse. The reason why I teach is to help students become the nurse they want to be, the nurse they want to work with and the nurse they want taking care of family members,” Berger said.

Berger is the sixth NDSU faculty member to receive the state Nurse Educator of the Year award. Previous faculty recipients in the NDSU School of Nursing include: Trish Strom, Abigail Vetter, Kolby Schaeffer Fraase, Becky McDaniel and Julie Ketterling.

Berger previously received the Mary J. Berg Award for Excellence in Teaching from the NDSU College of Health Professions in 2019.

The NDSU School of Nursing provides bachelor’s and graduate nursing education at sites in Bismarck and Fargo, North Dakota. Programs are available for part- and full-time students, working professionals and those seeking online educational opportunities.

As a student-focused, land-grant, research university, we serve our citizens.