Deborah Stokes
Dallas,NC
Summary
Compassionate and results-driven Registered Nurse with over 40 years of progressive experience in diverse healthcare settings, including acute care, community health, educational institutions, and military. Proven expertise in delivering patient-centered care, coordinating interdisciplinary teams, and implementing evidence-based practices. Recognized for leadership, critical thinking, and dedication to improving health outcomes. Seeking a leadership role as Director of Nursing within a pre-licensure nursing education institution, where I can contribute to the development of high-quality academic programs, foster student success, and uphold standards of excellence in nursing education and clinical preparation.
Proactive and goal-oriented professional with excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Known for reliability and adaptability, with a swift capacity to learn and apply new skills. Committed to leveraging these qualities to drive team success and contribute to organizational growth.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ADN Nursing Faculty
ECPI University
Charlotte, NC
10.2025 - Current
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Delivers student-centered instruction using hands-on teaching methods, instructional technology, and active learning strategies to support student success.
- Assess student performance using a variety of evaluation methods while fostering an engaging, inclusive learning environment that supports diverse learning styles.
- Participate in academic activities and ongoing professional development to maintain subject matter expertise and support instructional excellence.
Faculty/Student Learning Specialist
Chamberlain University
07.2022 - 07.2025
- Supports instruction, remediation, and evaluation in didactic and clinical learning concepts, including patient care.
- Demonstrates current, detailed, accurate knowledge of concepts tested by the NCLEX-RN as well as currency in nursing practice to provide academic.
- Demonstrates current, detailed, and accurate knowledge of university programs and accurately communicates academic policies and regulations to
- Demonstrates effective behaviors and accountability in meeting the following standards of service excellence to students, fellow team members, and external agencies: Friendliness and courtesy, professional environment, effective communication, and first-class service.
- Communicates and documents (reporting) students’ academic and co-curricular progress toward achievement of student and program learning outcomes to educational leadership.
- Prepares and maintains labs and simulated patient care environments with equipment, supplies, media, computers, and materials needed to replicate a simulated healthcare setting.
- Collaborates with course coordinators and faculty to ensure preparation of lab supplies and equipment based on faculty requests and course schedules.
- Assists in developing and implementing detailed, clinically based scenarios for the simulated learning experiences, including the use of high-fidelity patient simulators.
- Operates and maintains computerized and non-computerized simulations.
- Contributes to and attends national academic and clinical learning conferences (either University or External Organizations/Associations).
- Coordinates and supervises lab experiences to ensure that students can meet course objectives.
- Provides individual oversight to students during practice and/or remediation of technical nursing skills as requested by the course.
- Participates in planning and scheduling learning spaces for students and faculty by ensuring open lab and structured lab utilization times are available, communicated, and appropriately resourced.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Comply with all policies and standards.
- Campus support as primary tutor support for student success in classes, labs, and NCLEX review preparation.
Public Health Nurse
Pitt County Public Health Dept.
01.2022 - 07.2022
- Offered information and answered questions from the public while advising on protective safeguards.
- Performed assessments for each case to determine the best fit for materials and services.
- Entered client records in centralized database for progress tracking.
- Collaborated with local health departments and other community partners.
- Promote healthy habits and practices in outreach materials and presentations.
- Initiated programs to address the health needs of families with an emphasis on women and children.
- Gathered, organized, and disseminated information from various sources that included health plans, hospitals, providers, and government entities to appropriate individuals.
- Attended functions within the community and spoke with the public and local officials to promote methods that reduce illness, food contamination, and obesity.
- Assessed clients' eligibility for federal and state benefits programs.
Adjunct Faculty Nursing Clinical Instructor
ECU College of Nursing
Greenville, NC
03.2018 - 12.2021
- Observed and evaluated student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects, and examinations.
- Guided and supervised nursing students in classroom, lab, and clinical learning activities.
- Committed passionately to student development through hands-on training.
- Participated in planning, implementing, and evaluating assigned courses for the continued development of the nursing curriculum.
Program Manager and Nurse Educator for the Mobile Simulation Unit
Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance
Wilmington, NC
01.2013 - 03.2018
- Developed curriculum and competency tools by evaluating the educational needs of trainees and researching trends in clinical instruction.
- Conducted needs assessments to identify and fill staff knowledge gaps.
- Maintained detailed records of training activities and staff progress against targets.
- Assessed new nursing staff with fair and consistent evaluation tools to determine knowledge and quality of care delivery.
- Delivered industry-leading educational experiences by integrating theoretical knowledge, evidence-based principles, and expertise in clinical nursing.
- Helped staff achieve patient care goals and outcome standards by implementing regular training courses.
- Rolled out newly established standards to direct patient care staff and provided educational opportunities to promote the development of staff members.
- Planned and implemented extra-curricular educational programs such as workshops or lectures that address special topics.
- Co-implemented newly established standards to direct patient care staff and provided educational opportunities to advance staff development.
- Enhanced training delivery by incorporating new technologies and techniques alongside proven methods.
- Performed equipment demonstrations covering tools and provided operational guidance.
- Observed and evaluated student performance in meeting course objectives and student learning outcomes through assignments, projects, and examinations.
- Committed passionately to student development through hands-on training.
- Participated in planning, implementing, and evaluating assigned courses for the continued development of nursing curriculum.
Nurse Education Specialist
Vidant Medical Hospital
Greenville, NC
07.2010 - 04.2012
- Served as a manager and leader to six staff development employees.
- Assessed organizational needs and priorities in collaboration with organizational leaders.
- Assisted Vidant Medical Center (VMC) and Vidant Health System (VHS) hospitals in evaluating the current nursing orientations process in the development of a new graduate nursing orientation that included using simulation.
- Coordinated student placement and orientation at VMC.
- Served as a facilitator and/or faculty for selected educational activities.
- Participated in the organization's development, planning, and implementation of educational activities.
- Participated in organizational long-term planning.
- Part of the pilot planning and research team of the evidence-based program, 'First Five Minutes,' to implement in the clinical setting.
Division Director
Roanoke-Chowan Community College
Ahoskie, NC
09.2006 - 08.2010
- Managed and coordinated six designated programs (Nursing, Cosmetology, Barbering, Health Information Services, Criminal Justice, and Early Childhood Education) in the Allied Health Division within the Ahoskie Community College system.
- Analyzed team performance every week through review of in-depth reports.
- Created and executed long and short-term strategic plans.
- Identified and brought on board new employees who added value and talent to the assigned health science division programs.
- Mentored employees in tried-and-true methods to successfully boost customer service.
- Devised strategies to orient, train, and direct staff to achieve corporate objectives.
- Improved training to reduce knowledge gaps and enhance performance.
United States Naval Reserves
05.1986 - 03.1991
- Served in the USNR as a Navy Corpsman.
- Completed Navy Corpsman's 'A' School
- Completed Navy Field Hospital training, Camp Pendleton, CA
- Served one year of active duty under Operation Desert Storm.
- Division Director for Immunization Clinic - Portsmouth Naval Hospital
- Assisted Flight Physicians with flight physicals for pilots and flight personnel.
- Served in multiple clinical areas in Balboa Naval Hospital.
Education
Doctorate of Nursing Practice - Nursing Education
Chamberlain University
Chicago, IL08-2025
Continuing Education - Foundations of Faith Community Nursing
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
12-2021
Certificate - Leadership and Management
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN05-2010
Master of Science - Nursing Education
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN12-2009
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Regis University
Denver, CO05-2003
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Fort Morgan Community College
Fort Morgan, CO05-1999
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Pensacola State College
Pensacola, FL12-1977
Skills
- Care Coordination
- Attention to Detail
- Compassionate and Caring
- Creative Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Pre-op Procedure Nurse – GI & OR
- Team Oversight-Military
- Certified Healthcare Simulation Specialist (CHSE)
- Evidence-Based Practice
- Leadership & Team Development
- Electronic Health Records (EHR)
- Quality Improvement Initiatives
- Regulatory Compliance
- NCLEX Coaching
- Cultural Competency
- Problem-solving
- Teamwork and collaboration
Certification
Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE)
Scholarly Work
- Speaker at the 13th Annual Senses Southeastern Nursing Staff Education Symposium
- Poster Presentation at the 2018 Annual Conference of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
- Intalere Healthcare Innovation Achievement Award 2017
Timeline
ADN Nursing Faculty
ECPI University
10.2025 - Current
Faculty/Student Learning Specialist
Chamberlain University
07.2022 - 07.2025
Public Health Nurse
Pitt County Public Health Dept.
01.2022 - 07.2022
Adjunct Faculty Nursing Clinical Instructor
ECU College of Nursing
03.2018 - 12.2021
Program Manager and Nurse Educator for the Mobile Simulation Unit
Coastal Carolinas Health Alliance
01.2013 - 03.2018
Nurse Education Specialist
Vidant Medical Hospital
07.2010 - 04.2012
Division Director
Roanoke-Chowan Community College
09.2006 - 08.2010
United States Naval Reserves
05.1986 - 03.1991
Certificate - Leadership and Management
Walden University
Master of Science - Nursing Education
Walden University
Bachelor of Science - Nursing
Regis University
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Fort Morgan Community College
Associate of Applied Science - Nursing
Pensacola State College
Doctorate of Nursing Practice - Nursing Education
Chamberlain University
Continuing Education - Foundations of Faith Community Nursing
Saint Anthony College of Nursing