Lori
Tisdale
May 2023
Lori
Tisdale
,
MSN, RN, CPN, CNE
Charleston Southern University
North Charleston
,
SC
United States

 

 

 

She made me start thinking about my “why,” my reason for choosing nursing. Those words keep me motivated to this day to treat every patient and family member that I encounter with grace, compassion, and respect. Because that should be every nurse's “why.”
I’ll never forget my first day of lecture with Professor Tisdale in Pediatric Nursing. Her passion for ensuring the well-being of others shined through each shared experience during her introductory speech. I learned one thing very quickly, her abilities go beyond teaching nursing students skills and procedures. On my first day, Professor Tisdale shared her “why” for choosing nursing as a career. That “why” being her young daughter, who sadly passed away far too soon. She made me start thinking about my “why,” my reason for choosing nursing. Those words keep me motivated to this day to treat every patient and family member that I encounter with grace, compassion, and respect. Because that should be every nurse's “why.” Each following day, she inspired me to fully embrace and appreciate the world of Pediatrics, especially in children with cancer and hematological disorders. I don’t think Professor Tisdale realizes the impact that she truly has on us, students, by sharing her personal experiences as a parent who faced dreaded days in hospital waiting rooms. Her experience and knowledge as a parent fueled her, and it shows every time she steps foot on the clinical floor. She challenges nursing students to tackle uncomfortable conversations head-on and to integrate faith into every patient and family interaction; to be the nurses that comfort a child while the parents step out to get morning coffee, to be the nurses to offer parents breaks throughout the day to de-stress, to be the nurses that hold the parents' hands after hearing unexpected news about their child’s prognosis. With great confidence, I can say that Professor Tisdale has positively impacted her colleagues and students. We could all benefit from discovering our “why,” as Professor Tisdale has. 

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Professor Tisdale has a passion for nursing and educating unlike anything I’ve ever seen. She makes students excited to learn because she’s excited to teach. Whether it is in the classroom or the clinical setting, she goes above and beyond to make every student feel confident in their abilities and pushes us to improve every day. She’s a role model and has inspired dozens of students. I am lucky to have had her for Lifespan Development, Pediatrics, and Pediatrics clinical because she has guided me through caring for such a unique population. 

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Mrs. Tisdale has been such an inspiration to me in the classes I have taken with her. I have taken Lifespan Development and Pediatric Nursing with her and she has given me something special to look forward to each class period. Nursing school is not easy and Mrs. Tisdale is aware of that, she strives to make learning fun and easier to grasp. She shows great enthusiasm for the topics she teaches and has a passion for her students to learn and truly understand the subjects. She shows appreciation for questions asked in class and encourages her students to explore each topic. She has inspired me to want to learn more and appreciate the care for pediatrics on a deeper level. Not only is she leading by example as a professor and an instructor in the clinical setting but she is also a strong leader in her faith. She is excellent in integrating faith into her lectures and the care she shows for both students and patients alike. 

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Mrs. Tisdale always shows enthusiasm for teaching. She has extensive knowledge about nursing that she constantly uses to educate and guide students. Her enthusiasm rubs off on everyone she comes in contact with. She is always a kind, compassionate, and patient instructor. She personally connects with her students and always lets them know they are supported. She prioritizes collaboration and encourages students to collaborate as often as possible. She is an amazing nurse mentor for students. She has always made me feel supported and has continually encouraged my learning even since I have left her class and clinical.

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Mrs. Tisdale has impacted me in many ways throughout my time at CSU. She has taught me so much, and is so intentional to get to know her students. You can tell she cares deeply about her students and has a passion for teaching future nurses. 

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Mrs. Tisdale is an incredible teacher and clinical instructor. She is full of kindness and knowledge that she is always ready to share. The genuine excitement she gets for her students when she can see the gears turning in our minds is so encouraging. I don't know how many times she has helped me talk through different situations and was just as excited as me, if not more, once I was able to connect all of the dots. She is currently my teacher and clinical instructor for my Pediatrics course. I was incredibly nervous coming into this course, but she has truly helped to grow my confidence, especially in the clinical setting. She makes it a priority to get as much hands-on experience as possible and has been the first person to jump in if I needed help or didn't understand something. There is no way to explain all of her qualities in one story because she brings this positive, encouraging, and kind attitude to every interaction, lecture, and clinical. Mrs. Tisdale is without a doubt the best instructor I have ever had. 

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Professor Tisdale shows compassion to the children she cares for in clinical. I’ve experienced the love and compassion that she shows toward her students as well. Professor Tisdale is a tender hearted person all the way around. 

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Mrs. Tisdale has made such a difference in my life. Her enthusiasm and excitement for her profession show in her lectures and clinical instruction. She is patient and kind and helps you every step of the way. She is always encouraging and supportive of us as her students and she is intentional. She checks on us and cares about us outside of the classroom or clinical. I don’t really have it in me to be a Pediatric nurse and she knows that and she knew how nervous I was going into this clinical. She always checks on me and allows me to express my feelings. She does such a good job of explaining things and she is so knowledgeable. Regardless of what kind of nurse you want to be, you can’t help but be intrigued by Pediatrics because of how much passion and knowledge Tisdale has and how much she loves sharing that with us. She is an incredible professor and Nurse and she has made a huge impact on my career. I will always be thankful for her.