Congratulations Dr. Tracey Merworth, New Traditional BSN Program Director
The UTEP School of Nursing is proud to announce that Dr. Tracey S. Merworth is the new director of the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Dr. Merworth is a graduate of UTEP’s BSN and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. She has taught at the School of Nursing since 2009. Congratulations, Dr. Merworth!
Name: Tracey S. Merworth, DNP, RN
Current job titles: Clinical Assistant Professor; Director Undergraduate program
Degree(s) earned: BSN (1982) and MSN (1998) from UTEP; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from American Sentinel University (2018).
What sparked your interest in nursing?
I grew up in a family where my father was an MD and my mother was a diploma nurse. As you can probably imagine, conversations at the dinner table revolved around patients that they both took care of (before HIPAA, of course).
Why did you become an educator?
While I was employed at a local hospital as a nursing director, I found that the role wasn’t a good fit for me. I applied for an educator position, and after I was transferred to that position, I fell in love with clinical education.
How long have you been teaching?
In the hospital for 15 years and 11 years at UTEP.
What background and experience do you have in the field of nursing that benefits your students?
My background is trauma, emergency, and critical care nursing. I was a clinical educator for 15 years with SPHN where I also served as trauma program manager, stroke center coordinator, and chest pain center coordinator.
What are your goals for UTEP’s BSN program?
My goal is to simply provide a supportive learning environment that promotes understanding, enthusiasm and fosters caring and critical thinking. And, of course, to keep those NCLEX pass rates high!
My philosophy of teaching can be summed up with a quote from William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
What advice would you give nursing students?
Be the nurse that you would want your loved ones entrusted to their care. Stay humble. Just when you think you know it all, something else will come along that you have never encountered.
Name: Tracey S. Merworth, DNP, RN
Current job titles: Clinical Assistant Professor; Director Undergraduate program
Degree(s) earned: BSN (1982) and MSN (1998) from UTEP; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from American Sentinel University (2018).
What sparked your interest in nursing?
I grew up in a family where my father was an MD and my mother was a diploma nurse. As you can probably imagine, conversations at the dinner table revolved around patients that they both took care of (before HIPAA, of course).
Why did you become an educator?
While I was employed at a local hospital as a nursing director, I found that the role wasn’t a good fit for me. I applied for an educator position, and after I was transferred to that position, I fell in love with clinical education.
How long have you been teaching?
In the hospital for 15 years and 11 years at UTEP.
What background and experience do you have in the field of nursing that benefits your students?
My background is trauma, emergency, and critical care nursing. I was a clinical educator for 15 years with SPHN where I also served as trauma program manager, stroke center coordinator, and chest pain center coordinator.
What are your goals for UTEP’s BSN program?
My goal is to simply provide a supportive learning environment that promotes understanding, enthusiasm and fosters caring and critical thinking. And, of course, to keep those NCLEX pass rates high!
My philosophy of teaching can be summed up with a quote from William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
What advice would you give nursing students?
Be the nurse that you would want your loved ones entrusted to their care. Stay humble. Just when you think you know it all, something else will come along that you have never encountered.