Garren-Grubbs honored for inspiring students

It is very apparent she truly cares about each and every one of us and wants us all to be successful nurses.” – Fourth-semester student Allison Bauer

The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurse Educators celebrates nursing educators who inspire their students. The 2023-24 recipient of that award from South Dakota State University certainly fits that description. 

Theresa Garren-Grubbs was honored at the College of Nursing’s retirement and awards reception May 8 at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center. 

Garren-Grubbs, a faculty member since 2016, was cited for her inspiration by colleagues and students. 

Annette Ray, a lecturer, wrote, “It has been my experience when students hear Theresa’s names, their faces light up as they share how much they enjoy her teaching and feel she cares about their learning. I often hear that her activities and feedback are instrumental in their learning. They enjoy the classes she teaches and find her approachable, supportive and fair.” 

Brooke Easland, a fourth-semester nursing student from Pierre, recalled an example of Garren-Grubbs’ approachability. 

“During one of the first weeks of school, I went into her office to ask a question about an assignment. I remember being nervous to go in as it was the beginning of the year and I hadn't really met her yet. She was so welcoming and so helpful to me regarding my question although it was something silly. 

“She actually even thanked me for getting my assignment done early. She is the best!” 

Open-door policy puts students first 

Garren-Grubbs, a clinical assistant professor, said her open-door policy is part of what makes her an effective teacher. “No matter when it is, I’m happy to help them, whether it is topics related to the class or something outside of the classroom. I’m open, I’m engaging. I’m happy to help. I don’t ever feel a question is too silly. I am willing to spend time with them outside of class to help them be successful.” 

Allison Bauer, a fourth-semester nursing student from Aberdeen, agrees. “She took the time to learn how to help me be successful as a student, which I'm confident will make me a better nurse.” 

Started on pre-med path 

Garren-Grubbs’ path to the nursing classroom wasn’t direct. 

The North Carolina native started in the pre-med program at Auburn University. She did job shadowing of physicians and decided nursing was a better job. “In my senior year I decided I wanted to go to nursing school.” So she graduated in 2006 with a degree in nutrition and immediately entered Auburn’s accelerated nursing program, from which she graduated in 2007. 

Garren-Grubbs’ first full-time academic position came when she arrived at SDSU, but she had teaching roles through much of her career. 

She began her career at a renal unit in Alabama, where she taught patients about kidney disease and peritoneal dialsysis for two years. Later she worked as a nurse educator for nurses on a medical-surgical unit in Iowa. When she and her husband, Kyle, an animal science associate professor, moved to Brookings, where there was a nursing school, Garren-Grubbs shifted her focus to education. 

She began as an instructor and worked as needed in the inpatient unit at the Madison hospital. 

Directs PREPARE-RNs grant 

In August 2020, she was promoted to clinical assistant professor. However, she continued practicing until becoming the education project director for a $1 million, three-year federal grant in September 2022. The PREPARE-RNs project partners to address the critical nursing shortage in South Dakota by training and recruiting Bachelor of Science in Nursing students for careers in rural, acute care settings. 

Garren-Grubbs explained, “PREPARE-RNS is an academic-clinical partnership between the College of Nursing and Avera Health. 

Students apply to be a part of this program as a part of the fourth and fifth semester of the nursing program. 

“In fourth semester, students complete their acute med-surg clinical rotation at Avera Queen of Peace in Mitchell. In fifth semester, the students complete their preceptor hours at an Avera rural acute care facility in South Dakota. Additionally, students participate in sessions each semester with experts from across the country, focusing on social determinants of health, health equity and health literacy.” 

SDSU instructor Megan Veldkamp, who wrote a letter of support for Garren-Grubbs’ award, stated, “My students who have worked with Theresa in this grant project have communicated to me how much they enjoy Theresa’s teaching style, organization and attention to detail. Students report being heard and respected by Theresa.” 

Appreciates student interaction 

Hayden Carlson is a fourth-semester nursing student from Brainerd, Minnesota, who has had Garren-Grubbs for first-year seminar as well as a 300-level course. 

“She is open-minded and receptive to feedback from her students on her class materials,” Carlson said. 

Garren-Grubbs said what she most enjoys about teaching is the student interaction. 

“There are days I learn as much from students as what I am able to teach them. They always have very good questions. It’s fun to watch their journey from first semester to fifth semester,” said Garren-Grubbs, who catches students during their first semester as well as connecting with some in fourth semester and in graduate school. 

She teaches three courses per semester as well as overseeing the PREPARE-RNS grant. 

Extending a welcome to newcomers 

Garren-Grubbs also has become an informal mentor to new faculty on the Brookings campus. 

“When I came from Ames, Iowa, my background was not very heavy on education. It was very much on being a clinical nurse. It’s important to create a welcoming environment to new faculty, so they feel welcomed and feel like we’re providing them an opportunity to grow in their own careers,” Garren-Grubbs said. 

She didn’t waste any time assuming that role. 

Ray wrote of her colleague: “When I started at SDSU’s (College of Nursing), I was unsure and struggling to navigate the college in my new role. I was not a novice nursing faculty as I had taught at another nursing program for 15 years prior to coming to SDSU in August 2017. 

“Theresa was one of the first faculty members I met, and she herself only had a year of experience (at SDSU). Yet I learned right away I could go to her with questions. Her expertise in nursing education surpassed her experience.” 

Following footsteps, inspiring others 

When Garren-Grubbs thinks back to her days as a nursing student, she remembers Teresa Gore, “one of my clinical instructors as a nursing student at Auburn. She was caring and compassionate as a teacher as well as when she interacted with patients. She was someone I always wanted to be like.” 

Likewise, Garren-Grubbs has left an indelible mark on her students, according to current student Bauer. 

“I will never forget about the extra time and encouragement that Theresa personally put into me and my nursing education continuously throughout the school year. If there was a time in her schedule that didn’t line up with my schedule, she made time to meet with me. 

“When I needed some help with class, she was there; when I needed some encouragement, she was there; when things got overwhelming, she was there and knew exactly what to say. It is very apparent she truly cares about each and every one of us and wants us all to be successful nurses.”