Janis Barner
Before becoming a faculty member in the Department of Nursing, Janis Barner worked in the field. Now she shares her experiences with her students, helping them get into one of the country’s most needed professions. Learn more about her in this week’s installment of Meet Our Faculty.
What is it about the nursing field that initially drew you in—and ultimately keeps you interested?
Honestly, I never thought about nursing until I worked with an occupational health nurse in a previous career. I liked the idea of being able to make a difference and the added bonus of working in so many different areas of practice. Now, I continue to hold a casual direct patient care position (hospice) and love that every day is different. Some days challenge me in skill or knowledge, and other days a patient/family teaches me something about life. It truly is a rewarding career.
Why do you enjoy teaching in this discipline?
I love nursing, and it is my pleasure to share the profession with the students. I enjoy getting to know them through the process.
What advice would you give students about how to succeed in college?
Three words: organization, discipline, and perseverance!
Tell us something most of your students may not know about you.
Students may not realize that nursing school was difficult for me. I got as frustrated as many of them do. I used those three words of advice (organization, discipline, perseverance) to get me through.