Western Nevada College is proud to introduce Dr. Audrey Auer as the new Nursing and Allied Health director. With 17 years of experience in higher education and 30 years in the nursing field, Dr. Auer brings invaluable expertise to WNC's esteemed program.
"Dr. Auer's nursing journey began with a community college associate degree, inspiring her to pursue a BSN, MSN, and PhD," said WNC Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs Dr. Dana Ryan. "Having worked in both urban and rural settings, she has designed culturally responsive education programs tailored to community needs. This background equips Dr. Auer to connect with and support our diverse students, faculty, and region."
Before joining WNC, Dr. Auer was the Assistant Dean of Nursing at Arizona College of Nursing's Las Vegas campus, overseeing an accelerated BSN program with more than 500 students and 50 faculty members. Returning to a community college setting was a natural fit for her.
"I started my career as a nurse educator at a college very similar to WNC in a rural community in the Midwest. I was very interested in working in a similar campus and program setting," Dr. Auer said.
WNC's rigorous nursing program is known for producing highly skilled graduates ready to excel in healthcare settings or continue their education. Students achieve high pass rates on the national licensure NCLEX-RN exam after earning their Associate of Applied Science Degree in Nursing. In 2020, Nursing Process ranked WNC's program as No. 1 in the West Region, which included 426 nursing schools.
"I am so impressed by the wealth of knowledge and experience among the nursing faculty," Dr. Auer said. "Each one brings expertise from working as a nurse, and together they are doing a fantastic job as educators. Nursing education is a specialty that must be learned and practiced to gain proficiency. The strength of the nursing faculty is evident in the program outcomes. I am honored to work with them."
Dr. Auer's plans for the program include several exciting development projects and curriculum enhancements.
"My vision for the nursing program is to further develop the Fallon and Douglas sites to better serve rural communities," she said. "Additionally, we are working on completing the Certified Nursing Assistant and RN-Bachelor of Science in Nursing curriculums, with plans to launch these programs by the end of 2025. The foundation of the nursing program is solid, and there are many opportunities for expansion."
Dr. Auer's career highlights include teaching, developing curricula, supervising clinical sites, and creating nursing programs such as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), Practical Nursing (PN), and Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nursing. She has also built tribal partnerships and supported nursing students in achieving their goals, according to Dr. Ryan.
"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Auer to the WNC team," said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. "Dr. Auer brings a vast amount of professional and educational experience to this position, which will definitely benefit our students and the program overall. I also want to thank Deborah Ingraffia-Strong for overseeing the program as the interim director the past several years."
For the past three years, Nursing and Allied Health has been led by Interim Director Ingraffia-Strong, who plans to return to her full-time role as Professor of Nursing.
For more information about WNC's nursing program, visit wnc.edu/nursing-and-allied-health or call 775-445-4425.
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