Welcome to a new season of growth and opportunity in the Presentation Sisters Department of Nursing! As we continue our commitment to providing exceptional nursing education, we are excited to share some important updates.

One of the most significant developments shaping our future is the recent merger between St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University. This partnership combines the strengths of two mission-driven institutions, creating a unified academic experience rooted in faith.

As a result of this merger, we will have the opportunity to offer a broader range of nursing pathways, designed to meet learners where they are. These program offerings include:

1. LPN to BSN (Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
2. RN to BSN (Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing)
3. Pre-licensure BSN 
4. MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) 
5. DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) 

As we move forward at a dizzying pace, the Department of Nursing remains focused on growth and collaboration. We’re excited to announce that a new clinical simulation will debut in Spring 2026, giving students hands-on experience in large-scale disaster response, working alongside local emergency management professionals.

We are grateful to our community partners who share our vision of collaboration and innovation. Together, we are shaping the future of nursing - one student, one innovation, and one partnership at a time.

Dr. Danielle Hoffman, DNP, MPH, RN, TNS, EMT-P, CNE
Ann Hinkhouse Endowed Chair - Interim & Associate Professor

St. Ambrose University, with a mission rooted in Catholic tradition and values, has long been committed to providing affordable, accessible education to both rural and urban communities across Iowa and the Midwest. 

This mission began in 1882 when Bishop John McMullen established a seminary in Davenport, Iowa. Originally known as St. Marguerite’s School, the institution became “St. Ambrose College” in 1908 and obtained university status in 1987. 

Across decades of Catholic service, St. Ambrose University has built meaningful relationships with organizations and institutions that share our values of courage, wisdom, justice, and service, to further Catholic education. Among these relationships is St. Ambrose’s relationship with the Presentation Sisters and Presentation College. 

Founded in 1775 by Nano Nagle, the Presentation Sisters brought their mission to the Dakota Territory in 1880, opening their first school in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Through Presentation College, they provided nurses across the Dakotas and Midwest with an opportunity to advance their education while continuing to meet the healthcare needs of their communities. 

Today, St. Ambrose University honors and continues the mission of the Presentation Sisters through the St. Ambrose University Nano Nagle Online Nursing Programs, ensuring that their legacy of compassionate service in Catholic education lives on. 

To learn more about Nano Nagle and the history of the Presentation Sisters, click here. 

Nurses, often voted the most trusted profession, are the heartbeat of healthcare. However, even the strongest of hearts need care. At St. Ambrose University, we believe that nurturing nurses means supporting their well-being from their first day in nursing school through every stage of their career. 

Nurses spend their whole careers caring for others, often neglecting their own self-care in the process. Today, with an ever-increasing number of stressors both in and outside of the hospital, self-care is more important than ever before.  

While there is no one-size-fits-all to wellness and self-care, St. Ambrose University Department of Nursing recommends visiting the Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation site for ideas on how to bolster self-care, recharge and remain resilient: Healthy Nurse Healthy Nation.

As a passionate and patient-centered Registered Nurse with a strong background in perioperative care, I am honored to share my journey into nursing education with the St. Ambrose University community. My path has taken me from surgical suites across two continents to the front of a classroom, where I now have the privilege of guiding the next generation of nurses.

Click the button below to learn more about Magdalena Gjeleva Hasley, MSN, RN. 

It’s been more than 15 years since I graduated from the nursing program at St. Ambrose University in 2008, but I still think often about how that experience shaped the path I’m on today. The lessons I learned—both in and out of the classroom—continue to influence not just my career, but the way I live, lead, and serve. 

I began my nursing career right after graduation at Genesis in the Emergency Department. It was the kind of high-intensity, fast-paced environment that I knew I wanted to attempt. I became a Certified Emergency Department Nurse (CEN) in 2010, which was a big milestone early on, affirming my commitment to excellence and continued learning in emergency care. 

After a few years, I took a bit of a professional detour—I stepped away from the ER for about a year and a half to serve as the Director of Nursing at a home health agency. It was a valuable experience and gave me a broader perspective on healthcare delivery, but I quickly realized how much I missed the emergency department setting. 

In the fall of 2012, I returned to Genesis as a staff nurse and by the Spring of 2013 moved into the role of interim Emergency Department Nurse Manager and officially stepped into the manager role that summer. I held that position for five years, and during that time, my career and personal growth accelerated in exciting ways. I earned my Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership, which expanded my ability to lead with both vision and practical strategy. During that time I got to assist in leading a multi-million dollar department expansion. In what little free time I had, also served part-time as a flight nurse for MedForce—a role that was as humbling as it was exhilarating. 

In the fall of 2018, I transitioned into my current role as Director of the Ambulance Service for Genesis. It’s a position that’s allowed me to merge clinical expertise with leadership and system-level impact. I love the opportunity to work with first responders and bridge pre-hospital care with the broader healthcare system in ways that improve outcomes and service to the community. 

Outside of work, life is full—in the best way. I’m blessed with a wonderful wife and two very active kids who keep us on our toes. I’ve been coaching wrestling since my days at St. Ambrose and still do today. Wrestling has always been a passion of mine, and coaching gives me a chance to invest in the next generation, both on and off the mat. 

Service and involvement have become a big part of my identity, and I owe much of that to the foundation built at St. Ambrose. I currently serve as an Elder at New Life Baptist Church, and I’m active on the board of a local Christian-based nonprofit focused on substance abuse recovery. I’m also deeply engaged in healthcare education in the Quad Cities—I sit on several advisory councils, including the Nursing and Health Sciences Advisory Councils at St. Ambrose, and the EMS Advisory Council at BlackHawk College. Every year, I return to St. Ambrose to speak to the senior nursing class about how to thrive in their first year on the job. It’s a full-circle moment I look forward to every time. 

Looking back, my time at St. Ambrose wasn’t just about earning a degree—it was about discovering a calling. The values instilled in me there—service, leadership, and always putting forth my best effort—still guide me every day. Whether I’m making strategic decisions for our service line, helping someone in a crisis, or coaching young athletes, I carry with me the lessons learned from a university that cared about shaping both competent professionals and compassionate people. 

To the current students and recent grads: dive in, the only way to get comfortable is to do the uncomfortable, and never underestimate the power giving your best effort. You’re being equipped not just to do a job, but to truly make a difference. 

With gratitude and purpose, 
Adam Haut, MSN, RN, CEN
Class of 2008

After graduating with a nursing degree from Presentation College in 1975, Gloria served our country as an operating nurse for active duty in the United States Air Force for 10 years, followed by 18 years for the United States Reserves and 30 years with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs. Now retired, Gloria is a dedicated philanthropist, supporting today's nursing students in the Presentation Sisters Department of Nursing at St. Ambrose. 

Thanks to the generous contributions from the Presentation Sisters and Gloria Shean 75', we are excited to expand our simulation lab to include an emergency department exam room, along with an accompanying control room and viewing room. Additionally, all simulation rooms will feature updated technology to take our learners into the future. This expansion will better prepare students to care for complex, critically ill or injured patients through enhanced hands-on learning. 

Yore Uniform Shop is a local, family-owned and operated business that has been serving the Cedar Valley since 1980! They offer inclusive, fashion-forward scrubs for all professionals.

Need new scrubs? Want to check out the latest gear (yes, even stethoscopes!)? The Pop-Up Scrub Shop is coming to SAU!

Date: 10/22/25
Time: 10AM to 3PM
Location: Center for Health Sciences Education, LL Cafeteria Area

Stop by, visit online, or contact them today for all of your scrub wear needs!

🌐Web: yoreuniform.com
📞 Phone: 319-235-6601
📍 Address: 912 Laporte Rd, Waterloo, IA 50702

Please note: These scrubs are for work outside of clinicals (employment, volunteer, or personal use). 

As a Chief Nursing Officer, my daily focus revolves around quality, safety, and upholding the highest standards of care. But above all, I think about people. The people who are entrusted into our care and you, my nursing colleagues, who compassionately connect with and care for our communities. Behind every chart, protocol, and policy lies the human element that makes nursing not just a profession, but a sacred calling. And it is this human element that compels me to reflect more deeply on how our profession is perceived—not only by those outside of it, but by ourselves as well.

Scrolling through social media, I often find myself examining how nursing is portrayed in the public eye. There are influencers who use humor to cope, which can be light-hearted and relatable. But there are also portrayals that are concerning—depictions that reduce our work to a punchline or, worse, use language that disrespects the profession. These portrayals can chip away at the integrity of our image. For 23 consecutive years, nursing has been rated as the most ethical and honest profession in the United States. We must be mindful to protect and elevate that image, ensuring it aligns with the values we embody in practice every day.

When I think about the image of nursing, I’m reminded of why I chose this profession in the first place. I was a teenager when I first felt called to nursing, and I remember the care my grandmother, Letha, received during her final days. One nurse, Tracy, stands out in my memory. Tracy wasn’t just completing tasks—she was creating sacred encounters. Every touch was gentle, every word was tender. She didn’t rush or treat her care as routine; instead, she brought presence, dignity, and grace to each moment with my grandmother. That’s when I realized that nursing is so much more than clinical competence—it is about being deeply present with another human being during their most vulnerable moments.

This presence is what Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, refers to when he speaks of life as sacred and every moment as holy. He invites us to truly see each person—looking into their eyes and recognizing the sacredness within. Whether it's joy, fear, pain, or hope, every interaction is a gift, an unrepeatable moment of connection. If we embraced this perspective more often, both in our care for patients and our relationships with each other, we would transform not only how we practice, but how we see ourselves and our colleagues.

Recently, I’ve been inspired by Nurse Krypton, an influencer whose post Before TikTok, There Were Bedpans reminds us of the core of nursing—the quiet, devoted care that existed long before digital distractions. It was a time when nurses focused fully on their patients and each other, rooted in a shared commitment to healing and human connection. His message is a powerful call to return to the essence of our work, where care isn’t something we broadcast, but something we live.

So how do we find our way forward today? Each of you was drawn to nursing for a reason. You bring unique gifts and a compassionate spirit that cannot be replaced. Let us commit to honoring our sacred work—not just in private rooms and hospital corridors, but in how we represent our profession to the world. Let us choose reverence, kindness, and presence. In doing so, we not only restore the image of nursing—we elevate it.

The simple answer to why I wanted to be a nurse is to help people and honestly, it's not much more complicated than that.

I grew up with big dreams to save lives and cure cancer, so in other words I wanted to be a doctor. As I got older it was evident I loved people, talking to them, and getting to know them. I realized along with the help of my parents that as a doctor I would not be able to get to know my patients as much, so I fell in love with nursing. I want to be able to talk to my patients, learn about their lives, and figure out how I can go above and beyond for them.

St. Ambrose has only reinforced that nursing is the right path for me in so many ways. From the friends I have made and grown closer to in the nursing program, to the faculty and staff, to the class content, and the clinical experience, everything has reinforced that nursing is the right choice for me. Nursing school is challenging but I enjoy these challenges.

St. Ambrose has given me the opportunity to find my family and a community that will always be there for me. One of the biggest blessings about the SAU nursing program is my peers. I know my peers will always have my back and I will always have theirs.

As for my future in the profession, I honestly don’t know. This summer I kept getting asked where I will be after graduation, what floor I want to work on, and where I want to live. I should probably start figuring that out but I haven't yet. All I know for sure is I want to help people by working as a nurse. Whether I am working on a med/surg unit, with newborn babies and moms, or in the emergency department, I will do everything to help my patients.

If you're someone who simply wants to help people and make a real impact, nursing might be the path for you, too. Come find your people, your purpose, and your passion at SAU—you never know where it might lead, but you’ll never walk it alone.

Grace Tallman, Future Nurse
Presentation Sisters Department of Nursing BSN Student

We’re proud to share that St. Ambrose University has been recognized as one of the nation’s Nursing Hidden Gems in Rachel Graham’s new book, From High School to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing: A Complete Guide to BSN Program Admissions.

This honor highlights affordable institutions with strong nursing traditions, direct admit, excellent NCLEX pass rates, and lasting community relationships. We’re grateful for the recognition and for the opportunity to continue preparing the next generation of nurses.

👩‍⚕️Visit the SAU nursing page here: Nursing

📖Submit an inquiry today to be connected with an advisor! 

🎧Listen to our podcast: Institute for Person Centered-Care

Interested in partnering or submitting an article? Contact Justin Prelewicz, Business-Workforce Development Officer, at PrelewiczJustin@Sau.edu.

Special thanks to the students, faculty, alumni, clinical partners, and many others who helped contribute to this newsletter. Your ongoing support makes our mission possible.