June 1, 2022
Erin Ricker, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN Mission Champion June 2022
Erin Ricker, MSN, RN, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, joined the St. Joseph School of Nursing Instructor Team in 2019. Erin earned her Master’s Degree in nursing from Rivier University coupled with 17 years of Emergency Room Nursing experience. After this, she was ready to share her passion and experience with students in the classroom.
Erin has always been passionate about being a nurse. At the age of 5, Erin told her mom that she was going to be an Emergency Nurse. She couldn’t imagine doing anything else with her life. When the opportunity presented, she wanted to share her experience and help others fulfill their own passion. Erin tells her students, “I’m not teaching you to pass the test, I’m teaching you to do the best for your patients.” Erin enjoys working with each student and loves to see the moment when the “light bulb” goes off and the skills they have been learning, finally click while working with their patients.
One of Erin’s most memorable moments working in the School of Nursing was during a clinical rotation with students on 3 North. One of their patients who had respiratory issues coded, and Erin stood with her student with the patients wife for 2 hours talking them through what was going on as well as explaining the whole process. Erin left that day feeling like she had abandoned he other students and spent too much time on this one situation. The next day she received a note from a different student that said, “You were a great example of what a nurse is.” This made Erin feel like she did the right thing for her students at that moment, leading and teaching by example. She creates unique bonds with each student who comes through the program, making it special for her as an instructor.
Christina Ducharme, fellow instructor at the St. Joseph School of Nursing says, “Erin sets high standards for students, as she has significantly increased the NXLEX pass rate and inspires her students to improve caring standards. She is always honest with her students and herself. Erin has strong moral principles and is always teaching the right way of care.”
When Erin is not teaching, you will find her spending free time with her family. She enjoys board games with her husband Dan and her 12-year-old twins, Joshua and Emily. You might also find Erin in the kitchen baking cookies or even making her kid’s birthday cakes! They also spend time on the water in Essex, Massachusetts, on her parents’ boat. We can’t forget the most important member of the house, who thinks he rules the house – Erin’s family has a rescue Pitbull named Bradley who is well-loved!
Erin, we congratulate you for being our Mission Champion of the Month and look forward to meeting the many new nurses you help train!