Baker Proud Summer 2018 - 4

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BAKER PROUD | Summer 2018

Graduate degree prepares Shippee
to shape next generation of nurses

L

ife contains
a lot of firsts:
first day of
school, first
kiss, first job. Jessica
Shippee, BSN '10, will
forever have a unique
first attached to her
name: first graduate
of Baker University's
Master of Science in
Nursing program.
"Baker's nursing
program has a long history and the thought of
Jessica Shippee
being part of the first
graduating class was really exciting," Shippee said. "Additionally, my great aunt Juanita Harrison attended Baker
for a semester and my mother, Sherry Shippee, MSM
'02, got her master's from Baker, so being able to continue
my education at the same institution as my family makes
me proud."
A native of Shawnee, Kansas, Shippee's first exposure
to the thought of nursing as a profession came during a
health careers class at Shawnee Mission Northwest High
School. During her time as a student pursuing a bachelor's
degree in psychology from the University of Kansas, the
idea of incorporating nursing into her career remained in
Shippee's mind, leading her to consider options for a nursing education and, ultimately, to find Baker's Bachelor of
Science in Nursing program.
"When applying for schools, it was an easy decision for
me to choose Baker," Shippee said. "I was motivated by the
smaller class size and campus being located at Stormont
Vail. Coming from a larger university, I was looking for
more individualized instruction and strong nursing leaders to show me how to be a successful nurse."
What Shippee found at Baker's Topeka campus did
not disappoint. She graduated in December 2010 and
developed such a positive relationship with the Stormont
Vail Health staff that she was hired as a nurse and was
promoted to her current position as a charge nurse two
years later.
"The leadership and knowledge I gained from Baker is
the reason I believe I have been successful in my career
thus far," Shippee said.

Having struck educational gold once with Baker, Shippee found inspiration and motivation to earn her master's
degree by looking to her three daughters, ages 2, 3, and
5. Citing her drive to be a successful and positive role
model and influence as her children continue to grow,
Shippee also realized that her most joyous moments at
work included helping others develop their skills to better
themselves as health care providers, which eventually led
her to the nurse educator track of the MSN program.
"I often think about my first year of nursing and everything I have learned since being a new nurse. I cannot
wait to pass along what I have learned to others," Shippee
said. "Some of my instructors for the graduate courses
were the same ones I had in my undergraduate courses.
Having their instruction and support continued to motivate me to be an educator."

"I often think about my first year of nursing
and everything I have learned since being a
new nurse. I cannot wait to pass along what I
have learned to others." -Jessica Shippee
According to Dr. Carol Moore, associate dean of the
School of Nursing and director of the MSN program, Shippee has more than lived up to the persistent and goal-directed reputation she developed during her time in the
BSN program.
"She did not waver from the original plan of study we
developed when she enrolled in the first MSN class in
spring 2016," Moore said. "Jessica is a master time manager, and it has been a pleasure to work with her and see her
achieve her goal."
In time, Shippee hopes to join Moore in the ranks of
Baker faculty and pass along the knowledge that Baker
instilled in her. She also plans to pursue a doctoral degree
in nursing.
"There is a nurse educator shortage and with many
of the current nurse educators reaching the age of retirement, the need of nursing faculty is ever present. I would
like to work for a baccalaureate program," Shippee said.
"Ideally, I would work for Baker if there was a position
available. I have really enjoyed working at Stormont and
going to school at Baker. I respect the mission and values
of both organizations and I can't imagine working for
another facility."



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http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Summer2019
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Summer2018
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Fall2017
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/Spring2017
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/fall2016
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/spring2016
http://www.brightcopy.net/allen/bakp/fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/allen/bakp/spring2015
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