News

Research Highlights Public Health Role in Infrastructure and Emergency Planning 

WSU College of Nursing assistant professor Claire Richards has published new research in Environmental Research: Health examining cross-sector collaboration around energy infrastructure, wildfire and public health and safety needs emergency planning, energy disruption, infrastructure risk and public health needs in Alaska communities.

Claire Richards, WSU College of Nursing

Using Wearables to Improve Health Outcomes  

Ross Bindler, PharmD, Research Investigator at the WSU College of Nursing, is studying how wearable technology can help researchers, clinicians and patients better understand health outside the clinic. His work includes projects focused on chronic pain, sleep, substance use recovery, wildfire smoke, stress, activity, and workforce readiness.

Dr. Wilson (center), pictured with the RELIEF team, consisting of Mike Coriasco, MNE RN, Ross Bindler, PharmD, Beth Feustel, BSN, MHP, RN, and Fionnuala Brown, DNP, MSN, FNP-C, RN.

Federal Loan Program Helps Build Nurse Faculty Pipeline 

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program helps WSU graduate nursing students pursue advanced education and prepare for full-time faculty roles. For Angela Brittain, PhD, RN, the HRSA-funded program is both professional and personal: she now helps steward the program after using NFLP support during her own path from patient care to academia.

Angela Brittain at 2023 WIN Conference

How Instructional Design Supports Student Success 

The Nurse Faculty Loan Program helps WSU graduate nursing students pursue advanced education and prepare for full-time faculty roles. For Angela Brittain, PhD, RN, the HRSA-funded program is both professional and personal: she now helps steward the program after using NFLP support during her own path from patient care to academia.

Megan Connolly

Nursing in the Family: Joshua and Veranica Alexeyenko 

For Joshua and Veranica Alexeyenko, nursing school has been a shared journey shaped by family, service and the example of Joshua’s father, Robert “Bob” Jackson. As part of WSU College of Nursing’s “nursing in the family” series, their story shows how one person’s call to care can influence the next generation.

Veranica Alexeyenko, Robert 'Bob' Jackson, and Joshua Alexeyenko at the Spring 2025 Celebration of Giving. Photo: Cori Kogan.

Tracy Klein advances safer prescribing through nursing education and policy

WSU College of Nursing professor Tracy Klein connects research, teaching, clinical practice and policy to advance safer prescribing. Her recent national work on benzodiazepine tapering guidelines, along with her teaching in pharmacology and rational prescribing, helps prepare future nurse practitioners to reduce harm and make evidence-based decisions.

Dr. Tracy Klein, WSU's next faculty regent (2025).

One Door at a Time: How Dean Anne Mason Found Her Path in Nursing

Anne Mason never planned to become interim dean of the Washington State University College of Nursing. What began with Running Start classes and a CNA program in Walla Walla evolved into a nursing career spanning clinical practice, advanced education, teaching, and leadership. Along the way, mentors, family influences, personal challenges, and a commitment to lifelong learning helped shape her path from ADN student to interim dean.

Anne Mason: now and then.

Finding Strength by Asking for Help: Taek Huh’s RN-BSN Journey

Taek Huh’s path to nursing wasn’t a straight line. After two attempts at an RN program, personal hardships nearly led him to leave WSU’s RN-BSN program just before graduation. A simple question from a faculty member—”Are you okay?”—changed everything. Today, Huh is preparing to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, carrying forward a lesson that transformed both his life and his nursing practice: empathy begins with understanding.

Taek Huh, pictured with his brother, mother, and father.

WSU College of Nursing Expands Rural Nursing Pathway with Arbor Health Partnership

Washington State University College of Nursing is expanding its Rural Nursing Pathway through a new partnership with Arbor Health in Morton, WA. The collaboration will provide rural clinical learning experiences for nursing students while supporting workforce development in East Lewis County and surrounding communities.

WSU COllege of Nursing rural nursing pathway students with faculty and staff from Arbor Health at Morton Hospital in Morton, WA.

‘It didn’t really matter who said no’

James created a novel training program to combat inherent bias in decision-making by police officers, which hundreds of officers have taken at departments around the country. That program began in the research lab as James was working on her PhD; she had developed simulations to study officer responses, and potential biases, when making decisions in encounters involving the use of force and other situations.

Dr. Lois James

Livingstone Chronicles

Our time at Kafakumba Clinic pushed us beyond the classroom and headfirst in to the realities of global health where each day brought us new challenges, lessons, and moments of self reflection. As we unwind in Livingstone, Zambia, it’s safe to say we’re taking the time to not only decompress but process an experience that has been both demanding and incredibly meaningful.

Kafakumba Clinic and More: A Weekly Recap

As their time at Kafakumba Training Center comes to an end, WSU nursing students are reflecting on the clinical experiences, community outreach, and cultural connections that have defined their time in Zambia. From helping at a rural village clinic to building friendships with local students, the experience has left a lasting impact.

Kafakumba Clinic, located on the Kafakumba Training Center grounds in Zambia. Photo: Kendra Lentz.

A Village Outreach Clinical Day

WSU nursing students traveled to Kanyenda, a small village, and spent the day establishing and managing a clinic for locals who rarely have access to medical care. From checking vital signs to helping identify and treat illnesses like malaria, the experience provided a powerful view into the difficulties and resilience of rural Zambian life.

Nursing students visited a small village in Zambia called Kanyenda to help run a pop-up clinic.