Katie Fransen

Katie Fransen serves as a Simulation and Lab Coordinator and Instructor in the Department of Nursing at the University of South Dakota.

Her educational background includes:

• RN-MSN in Nursing Education from Western Governors University (2020)
• ADN in Nursing from the University of South Dakota (2010)
• Associates of Arts in Business Administration from AIU Online (2008)

Fransen's research and professional interests center on innovative nursing education methodologies, with a focus on simulation-based learning for clinical skills development. She is particularly active in integrating emergency nursing protocols and Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) into pre-licensure curricula to address substance abuse issues. Her work emphasizes evidence-based practice and student preparedness for real-world healthcare challenges.

She currently holds two significant grants: the Registered Nurse Training Program (RNTP) funded by the Health Resources & Services Administration (2022-2025) and an SBIRT implementation project funded by the South Dakota Department of Social Services Division of Behavioral Health (2022). These grants support the enhancement of nursing education and training at USD.

As Simulation and Lab Coordinator, Fransen oversees the nursing simulation laboratories, ensuring state-of-the-art training environments for students. Her role involves coordinating lab sessions, managing simulation equipment, and developing scenarios that reflect current clinical practices, particularly in emergency and behavioral health contexts.