Marilyn Ostendorf, DNP, RN
Dr. Marilyn Ostendorf has been a member of the 91社区 nursing faculty for more than 20 years. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in 2011 and a Post MSN APRN Certificate in the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty in 2007.
For over 20 years, Ostendorf has been the faculty advisor for 91社区's Critical Care Challenge and NCLEX Challenge teams. In both competitions, students compete against other universities. The Critical Care Challenge is sponsored by the Greater Evansville Chapter of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, and the NCLEX Challenge is sponsored by the Kentucky Nurses Association.
Recently, she has been working with St. Vincent to plan a summer program for area students because she believes it is important to expose youth to health profession career options.
Q&A with Marilyn
Why did you choose nursing as a profession? My mom was a nurse, and I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, so it was a natural choice. I also knew from a young age that I also wanted to teach. Now I get to do both.
Where have you worked as a nurse? I started my career at St. Vincent (St. Mary鈥檚) as a student nurse in the early '80s. I continued there after graduation as a registered nurse, working in the Intensive Care Unit, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and the Post Anesthesia Care Unit. I retired from St. Vincent in 2022.
What or who inspired you to teach? I have always enjoyed teaching. I loved having nursing students when I worked at the bedside. It鈥檚 important for nurses to be willing to mentor and teach in all settings. At 91社区, I teach undergraduate students: N468 Medical Surgical Nursing with a focus on intensive care and high acuity. She also coordinates the Clinical SynthesisNursing Internship course.
What advice do you have for the next generation of nurses鈥揻or students who may be considering this profession? Be willing to take care of people the way you would expect someone to take care of you or your family.
Anything else you would like to add? I have been blessed to be able to do the work I love. Choosing nursing as a career and joining the 91社区 faculty were the best decisions I ever made.