Practical Nursing

Instructors

	Robin Brown nursing Robin Brown is the LATI/USD Nursing Director. She has a BSN and a MS degree obtained from South Dakota State University. She has worked as a staff and charge nurse in a neurology, medical, and surgical unit and a clinic. Robin also was a director of nursing in a long term care facility, and was a nursing instructor for the University of South Dakota for five years.
	Doreen Endres nursing Doreen received her Bachelor's degree in nursing from SDSU in 1996 and completed her Master's degree through Regis University in 2007. Her professional background consists of medical, surgical, and pediatric nursing. She began teaching at LATI 2001 where her focus is clinical and classroom instruction in peds and med/surg. Doreen enjoys country living with her husband and three children.
	Cheryl Fischbach nursing Cheryl Fischbach, MSN, RN, started teaching at LATI in 1996 as a shared faculty member between the Practical Nursing program and the USD nursing program. Cheryl graduated from Sioux Valley Hospital School of Nursing with a Diploma degree in 1981, received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2001 from Mount Marty College, and earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Phoenix in 2005. She is currently an assistant professor with USD Department of Nursing and instructor with LATI Nursing. Her clinical expertise includes critical care nursing.
	Patty Foley nursing Patty has been teaching in the Practical Nursing Program since October 1989. She received her B.S. in nursing from SDSU in 1985 and her Master's degree from Regis University in 2008. Patty's teaching duties include basic nursing lectures, basic skills and advanced skills lab, obstetrics lectures and clinicals, summer medical/surgical clinicals, and leadership and legal/ethical lectures. In her spare time, Patty enjoys living in the country with her husband and five children. Patty enjoys horseback riding, watching sports and collecting antiques.
	Shelly Freese nursing Shelly Freese, RN, MSN received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Huron University and her Master’s degree in Nursing with a specialization in Heath Care Education from the University of Phoenix. Her professional background consists of medical, surgical and geriatric care. She has taught previously in community health and med-surg nursing. Shelly was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International and she is a member of the American Nurses Association. Currently, she teaches in the part-time online program for LATI. Shelly enjoys spending time with her husband and two children at the lake cabin during the summer and she spends her spare time attending school and sporting events for her children and traveling.
	Laurene Larson nursing Laurie graduated from the Practical Nursing program at Lake Area Tech in 1971 and earned her B.S. in Nursing from SDSU in 1988. She started at LATI in August, 1999, as a classroom and clinical Practical Nursing Instructor. Her nursing experience includes Pediatrics, Medical Sugical Nursing, Home Health and Hospice. Laurie is married and has two sons. She enjoys horseback riding, walking, gardening, and spending time with her pets.
	Kim Nerud nursing Kim is a graduate of LATI Practical Nursing/USD 1+1 programs; she earned her BSN from SDSU and her MSN/Ed from UOP. She currently has a shared faculty position as an assistant professor with USD and a clinical/online instructor with LATI. Her nursing experiences include working in rural hospitals, geriatric care, and critical care. Kim is married and has 3 children. Kim enjoys teaching, camping, riding motorcycles and spending time with her family.
	Heidi Pelzel nursing Heidi Pelzel, RN, BSN, received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from South Dakota State University. Her work experience has been in small rural hospitals that care for a multitude of different patients, including med-surg, pediatrics, obstetrics, orthopedics, and emergency room care. She has taught previously in general nursing care clinicals. Currently, she teaches in the practical nursing program for LATI. Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and son, horseback riding, rodeos, camping, gardening and working on their farm.
	Heidi Schmidt nursing Heidi Schmidt, RN, MSN., is the Lab Coordinator for USD Nursing. She is also an assistant professor who teaches theory and clinical instruction. She began teaching in October 1999. She earned her BSN from South Dakota State University in 1993 and her MSN from the University of Phoenix in 2002. Heidi previously worked at Prairie Lakes Hospital for 8 years on the Med/Surg floor where she worked as a staff nurse and charge nurse. She is married and has 4 children. She enjoys being with her family and doing all outside activities in her spare time.
	Michele SeatonBertsch nursing secretary Michele grew up in Sioux Falls. She graduated from Augustana College with a BS in Government/International Affairs in 2001. She joined USD in 2005 as a part of Admissions on the main campus. In August 2009, she became part of the Watertown Nursing Department. Michele is married with one child. She enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time with her family.
	Rhonda Stangl nursing Rhonda graduated from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. She has worked in a variety of settings, with the last 5 years in a management position at Mallard Pointe Surgical Center. Rhonda joined Lake Area Technical Institute in October 2004 as a Clinical Practical Nursing Instructor. Rhonda is married and has 3 children. Any spare time is spent at her children's sports events, taking care of her 2 dogs, and helping her husband run his business.
	Robin York nursing Robin began teaching classroom and clinical experiences for the Practical Nursing Program at Lake Area in 1994. She has extended her interests into teaching practical nursing online. She received a diploma in practical nursing in 1976 from LATI, a B.S. degree in nursing in 1984 from South Dakota State University and a MS/Leadership in Health Care Systems with an education focus in 2006 from Regis University. Robin is married and has three step-children, 3 step-grandchildren, one dog, and one horse. She enjoys traveling. by air, land, and sea.
	Kris Zobel nursing Kris Zobel is the instructor for the Online Part-time Practical Nursing program. She graduated from SDSU in 1984 with a BS degree in nursing. She has worked at Prairie Lakes Hospital most of her career with the majority of that time spent working in the Critical Care Unit. She holds certifications as an Instructor for PALS, and a provider for ACLS and TNCC. Kris is married with three children. She enjoys attending her children's activities, reading, camping with her family and going for walks.