GREAT FALLS – Russell Motschenbacher, Nursing Program Director at Great Falls College MSU, has been awarded the 2017 Outstanding Nurse Educator Award from the Montana Center to Advance Health through Nursing.
Every year, the Montana Center to Advance Health through Nursing requests nominations for Outstanding Nurse, Nursing Student, Preceptor, and Nurse Champion. This year, the group added Outstanding Nurse Educator. Motschenbacher is the inaugural recipient of the new award. The Outstanding Nurse Educator Award was officially presented at MTCAHN’s annual conference in Helena June 5-6.
“Russ, affectionately called ‘Mr. M’ by his students, is most definitely an agent of change for nursing education in Montana,” said Frankie Lyons, Health Sciences Division Director at GFC MSU. “Under his leadership and guidance, the Practical Nursing program at GFC MSU launched its inaugural distance education cohort in January of 2017.”
The new distance education option allows practical nurse students to join in classes from remote sites in Choteau, Conrad, and Big Sandy, where they are completing precepted clinicals and practicing nursing skills to achieve competencies. Motschenbacher was integral in making that program a reality.
“Thanks to Russ, the LPN program is up and running via technology, which helps meet a longstanding need in our rural communities,” said Casey Blumenthal, vice president of the Montana Hospital Association and co-leader of MTCAHN. “We know this was not easy to make happen, and was new for everyone involved, so that is a major accomplishment. Clearly, the nurses of the future and those for whom they care will reap the rewards of Russ’ commitment.”
“I am very thankful to be working with such wonderful people who make a challenging project seem easy,” Motschenbacher said.
For more information, contact:
Erin Granger
Marketing Specialist
Great Falls College MSU
Phone: 406.771.4314
[email protected]
Frankie Lyons
Health Sciences Division Director
Great Falls College MSU
Phone: 406.771.4361
[email protected]
