Cheryl Petersen

Professor Petersen practiced in the field of pediatrics for over two decades. She has clinical experience in the areas of critical care, medical/surgical nursing, urgent care, and oncology research. She has worked in administration as a director of cancer patient support services, as a head nurse preceptor, a staff nurse, and an oncology research nurse.

Her passion for nursing education has led her to a role in nursing administration, where she is excited to serve as a leader in the RN-to-BSN Program. She inspires students to find their calling and provide compassionate care that will truly impact the lives of the patients whose lives they touch. She greatly enjoys mentoring students as they develop as nursing scholars, leaders, and clinicians. Prof. Petersen believes that students learn most effectively through case studies and real-life experiences that bring to light how holistic care of a patient’s mind, body, and spirit often brings healing, hope, and meaning from the experience of life-threatening illness.

Prof. Petersen’s doctoral program, which focused on the effects of a spiritual care educational program for pediatric oncology nurses on their knowledge, attitudes, and level of spiritual care competence, was funded with two grants from the American Cancer Society and several national scholarships. Her current program of research is focused on assisting students to find a greater sense of vocation, as well as meaning and purpose in their nursing practice. She has recently conducted research evaluating her Carthage Symposium course with Professor Sandie Biscilglia called Communication Strategies to Improve Spiritual Care of Patients Facing the End of Life.

Prof. Petersen has been honored with a multitude of national awards including the prestigious Tylenol Future Care Scholar Award, the Sigma Theta Tau International Rising Star in Research and Scholarship, and a Schmitt Leadership Fellowship, for her academic excellence, exemplary leadership in nursing, community involvement, and dedication to caring for others. She was honored to receive the 2019 and 2020 Carthage College Department of Nursing Excellence and Innovation in Academic Teaching Award, as voted upon by the graduating undergraduate classes. She was recently awarded funding through a competitive national process to attend both the NetVUE Teaching Vocational Exploration Seminar and the American Academy of College of Nursing’s Elevating Leadership in Academic Nursing year-long leadership fellowship.

• B.S.N. — Marquette University
• Ph.D. — Nursing, Marquette University

• NSG 2010 Pathophysiologic Concepts for Nursing Practice
• NSG 3014 Nursing Practice II: Improving Children’s Health Outcomes
• NSG 3024 Clinical Scholarship: Applying Evidence to Improve Health Outcomes
• SWK 2330 Applied Statistics for Health and Human Services
• Communication Strategies to Improve Spiritual Care of Patients at the End of Life
• Advanced Clinical Synthesis
• Capstone

Nursing education; spiritual care of children with cancer at the end of life and their families; calling and vocation

Petersen, C.L. Dalton, D., & Munk, D. (In press). Finding your calling: An online program for undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Christian Nursing

Petersen, C.L., & Schiltz, S. (2020). ‘Care of the Spirit’: Effects of an interdisciplinary undergraduate end-of-life course on knowledge, competence, and response empathy. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 22(4), 298-304. Doi: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000660

Petersen, C.L. (2020). The vulnerability of parents of children facing the end of life. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 37(2), 285-298. Doi:10.1177/1043454219887509

Petersen, C.L., McCarthy, D., Hughes, R., White-Traut, R., & Callahan, M.F. (2017). Effects of an online spiritual care educational program for pediatric oncology nurses on knowledge, attitudes, and spiritual care competence. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 34(2) 1130-139. Doi 10.1177/1043454216646542

Taylor, E.J., Petersen, C.L., & Haase, J. (2015). Spirituality and spiritual care of adolescents and young adults with cancer. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 31(3), 227-241

Petersen, C.L., Breakwell, S., & Callahan, M. (2014). Palliative and end of life care: Precepts and ethics for the orthopaedic population.  Orthopaedic Nursing, 33(3), 127-134

Petersen, C.L., Spiritual care of the child with cancer at the end of life: A concept analysis. (2013). Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(6), 1243-1253. Doi:10.1111/jan.12257

Petersen, C., Jacobson, R., Warwick, A., Jaradeh, S., & Kelly, M. (2013) Wilms’ tumor presenting with Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic syndrome. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 35(4), 267-270. Doi:10.1097/MPH.0b013e31828d46a7