While a practicing nurse, Kathy Wilkinson enjoyed taking extra time with her patients and their families to fully explain the medical procedures, treatments and medications the patient was receiving. This love for patient education soon led her to teach nursing students to become professional nurses.

She first served as a nurse preceptor where she transitioned "straight-out-of-college" nurses into the hospital setting. In that role, she helped them apply the skills they learned in college to the hospital environment, oversaw their progress, and mentored them as they became seasoned nurses.

"Training nurses showed me a whole new side of teaching," she said. "Soon, I knew I wanted to be in classroom because it is a great way for me to share nursing skills with those who sincerely want to learn."

At King College, Kathy teaches the Fundamentals of Nursing course where nursing students experience hands-on nursing for the first time. The students begin in the nursing skills laboratory where they learn to the basic nursing skills and practice on mannequins before advancing to patients.

"I teach them the basic skills that they will build upon when they take their advanced nursing courses and for when they will practice out in the medical field," she said. "I know the skills and level of professionalism that is demanded from nurses, and I convey that to the students so they will be successful."

One of the most important lessons she teaches her students to care for patient's physical and spiritual needs.

"Regardless of the advancing medical technologies or the increasing time burdens nurses must face, the underlying need for patient care remains unchanged," she said. "For me, fulfilling their needs is one of the most satisfying aspects of nursing."