Today we want to celebrate a milestone achieved by a member of our Dorsey College family that truly exudes our mission. Mrs. Salena Neal, Associate Vice President of Nursing Programs recently earned her PhD in Nursing Education from Capella University. In nearly a decade, Dr. Neal has impacted countless nursing students, faculty, and staff here at Dorsey College. She joined the Dorsey College family in 2018 as the Campus Support Center Director of Nursing for the Practical Nurse program and later assumed leadership over our nursing programs at all campus locations. In addition to her responsibilities at Dorsey, and her work as a nurse, Dr. Neal is a proud wife, mother, and grandmother.
Dr. Neal lives our mission daily here at Dorsey College through her tireless efforts to serve our students. She also lives the mission of our parent organization, Lindenwood Education System, through her commitment to lifelong learning. We recently sat down with Dr. Neal to talk about her nursing career, her PhD program, and her advice for those who may want to pursue a career as a nurse educator. Continue reading below for more information from our conversation.
Pursuing a Career in Nursing
Dr. Neal was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and is a proud graduate of Finney High School. After graduating from high school, she joined the Air Force. After serving our country and earning an honorable discharge, she began nursing school at Henry Ford College (formerly Henry Ford Community College) in 1997. Dr. Neal always knew she wanted to become a nurse, and after earning her Associate Degree in Nursing, her dream was manifested.
Jokingly, Dr. Neal shared that she grew up at Henry Ford on the Boulevard in Detroit, even before she became a nurse. She began working at Henry Ford as a Clinical Services Representative, and later as a Surgical Technologist and a Nurse Assistant.
Once she became licensed as a Registered Nurse, Dr. Neal became a Labor and Delivery Nurse at Henry Ford. Over time, she served as the Charge Nurse, and the Educator for Labor & Delivery. When Henry Ford Hospital transitioned to electronic medical records, she also led the charge for “Epic Stork” system for Labor and Delivery. She has also worked in the OBGyn Clinic and played a role in the delivery of prenatal classes.
Furthering Her Education
Dr. Neal had a desire early on to pursue her education in nursing, describing that she never wanted to miss out on an opportunity because she didn’t have the required education or credentials. It was this drive that led her to complete her BSN at Wayne State University in 2010, and to then earn her MSN from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2012, in pursuit of another goal she set for herself, becoming a nurse educator.
Dr. Neal relocated to South Carolina from 2014-2018. During her time in the Palmetto State, she served as a traveling Labor and Delivery Nurse and later became an Assistant Nurse Manager in Labor and Delivery. It was also in South Carolina, where Dr. Neal first became a nurse educator, when she taught in the Practical Nurse program at ECPI.
Pursuing her PhD
In 2017 and early 2018, Dr. Neal began looking for an academic position in Michigan. At the time, she noticed that many of the opportunities required candidates to possess or they strongly preferred candidates with a PhD. It was this moment that led her to the decision to go back to school once again. Being a woman of strong faith, her Pastor would later confirm for her that this was in fact, her path. She began her program at Capella University and joined the team at Dorsey College (then Dorsey Schools) in 2018.
Dr. Neal’s dissertation focused on minimizing health illiteracy among patients. Dr. Neal shares that some patients may struggle with traditional literacy and others may struggle with health illiteracy (such as not understanding medical terminology or a doctor’s instructions). In fact, research supports that millions of people suffer from health illiteracy and 25%-70% of Americans lack basic health literacy. Since nurses are the largest profession for educating patients (whether it be at doctors’ appointments or in a hospital), it’s CRITICAL for nurses to meet patients where they are and understand that some patients may not be able to fully comprehend the information that is being presented. Dr. Neal hopes that her research (among other studies) will help nursing schools adjust curriculum further, emphasizing health literacy in an effort to bridge the gap with patients while enhancing nursing education.
Q&A with Dr. Neal
What was the most challenging part of your PhD program?
“Time and balancing everything.” Dr. Neal also shared that she saw her students in her journey, because nursing school is demanding, and it requires every nursing student to find balance and juggle among life’s various commitments and gave her a greater level of empathy for her students because “life happens” to all of us.
What feedback would you give to your younger self?
“The world of nursing is vast. Get into the field so you can experience different things, determine your niche, seek out a mentor (someone who can guide you – so they can help you identify where your gift is) – find your superpower!”
What advice would you give to a nurse who is thinking about becoming a Nurse Educator (and wants to pursue an MSN and/or a PhD)?
“Know your goals. Shadow someone. Find a mentor. Really determine if this is something you want to get into. You have to be able to connect with your students. Don’t go into it for the money. In some ways, you are often (your students) mom, dad, counselor, psychologist, big sister, etc. Being a nurse educator isn’t always easy. You have to know the good, bad, and the ugly to really understand if this is for you. You have to have a heart for educating and for students.”
How do you want to be remembered as a Nurse Educator?
Dr. Neal shares that she doesn’t want to be remembered for any of her degrees, rather, she wants to be remembered as a Nurse Educator that was fair, and consistent, but also compassionate.
