Laura Nugteren EdD, RN, CCRN

Job title

• Associate Professor of Nursing
  Nursing, College of Arts and Sciences

Highlight

Laura has over eighteen years working bedside in adult critical care and cardiovascular care with a special interest in cardiac surgery. She maintains certification in critical care nursing. Laura teaches in the classroom, skills lab, and clinical settings.

Started at Bethel

2017

Education

• South Dakota State Univerity - B.S. in Nursing, 2003
• Bethel University - M.A. in Nursing Education, 2008
• Bethel University - Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership, 2025

Biography

Laura began her nursing jouney at small long-term care center in rural South Dakota. She graduated from South Dakota State University in 2003 and began practice in an ICU in Sioux Falls, SD. Moving with her husband, she continued working ICU at Mercy Hospital, part of Allina Health, in Coon Rapids, MN. She gained diverse experinces in caring for patients with medical, surgical, cardiac, neurological, and trauma conditions. Precepting new nurses and students, Laura realized her gifts in teaching by explaining complex concepts in understandable terms and drawing pictures for visual learners.  Laura obtained a Master of Arts in Nursing Education through Bethel University in 2008.  She began as a adjunct clinical instructor at Bethel in 2010, joining the department full-time in 2017. Laura continued to work bedside ICU through the COVID-19 pandemic. Laura recently completed her Doctorate of Education with a focus on Higher Education Leadership through Bethel University. She enjoys exploring creative methods for teaching and led a pilot study integrating the clinical judgment model into the clinical setting. She teaches in the classroom, skills lab, and clinical settings.  She recently co-developed the Pharmacology for Nurses course. Laura's passion is to offer the light of Christ through care of others.  She continues to volunteer with people with housing insecurity through her church. 

Publications

Nugteren, L. B. & Holland, A. E. (2025). Rolling through the complications with the Clinical Judgment Model. Journal of Nursing Education, 64(5):e26–e29. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20240429-02

Nugteren LB, Sandau KE. Critical review of health-related quality of life studies of patients with aortic stenosis. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 2010;25(1):25Y39.

Presentations

Nylin, S., De Haan, J., Dahl, D., Nugteren, L. Redesigning Orientation to the Nursing Department [poster]. Accepted to the Nurse Tim Nuts and Bolts Conference, Minneapolis, MN, August, 2025

De Haan, J.A. & Nugteren, L.B. Scrambling the classroom and gamification in pharmacology for nurses: Engaging the learner [poster]. Accepted to the Nurse Tim Nuts and Bolts Conference, Minneapolis, MN, August, 2025

Nugteren, L. B & Solomon, D. Integration of social determinants of health education in undergraduate nursing [poster]. Bridging the Gap Symposium: Empowering Change Through Advocacy & Initiative. Minneapolis, MN, April 25, 2025.

Gerdin, B., Nugteren, L. B. Holland, A. M. Safe and effective team communication: Utilizing virtual simulation to apply IPASS and ISBARR [poster].  Midwest Interprofessional Conference, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN, May 23, 2024.

De Haan, J.A. & Nugteren, L.B. Scrambling the classroom and gamification in pharmacology for nurses:  Engaging the learner [poster]. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Transform Conference, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, November 30, 2023.  

De Haan, J.A., Holland, A.E., & Nugteren, L.B. Nurses as Expert Thinkers: Developing the clinical judgment of the next generation. Presented virtually at Chi at-Large Sigma Annual Education Day, April 9, 2022. 

De Haan, J.A., Holland, A.E., & Nugteren, L.B.  Integrating NextGen.  Presented at Faculty Workshop  Day, Nursing Department, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN, November 5, 2021.

Certificates and licenses

CCRN

Professional organizations, committees, and boards

American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Sigma Theta Tau Interational

Hobbies and interests

Biking, reading historical fiction, and baking

Research interests

Clinical Judgment Model Gamification in the classroom

Teaching specialty

Clinical Simulation Skills Lab