Shamra Fritsch Lundeen first stepped on College of Saint Mary’s campus as a student seeking her bachelor’s degree in nursing. The University’s message of women empowerment spoke to her.

“Every person I talked to was a strong, individual woman,” she said.

Today, Shamra uses her experience in the nursing field to educate new nurses as director of the Practical Nursing Certificate (PNC) program.

While in college, Shamra was a certified nurse’s assistant in the float pool at CHI Creighton University Medical Center - Bergan Mercy. After graduating in 2018, she transitioned to the nursing float pool.

“I would go to oncology one night, trauma ICU another and the cardiac unit the next,” she said. “I would find out where I'd go 30 minutes before my shift, giving me much experience.”

Eventually, Shamra became a charge nurse in the progressive care unit. She also worked as a forensic nurse as needed around the Omaha metro area. In that role, she would be called in when there was a sexual assault, human trafficking or domestic assault case.

“I gained a lot of experience before coming to the teaching role,” she said.

Shamra had known that she wanted to teach even before graduation. She remained in contact with some of her professors, which led to the opportunity to serve as an adjunct instructor in the spring of 2020. In August 2020, she was named a full-time instructor in the BSN program.

“It’s the most rewarding feeling to know you helped a student develop into a great nurse. They truly know how to care for the whole person,” she said. “Watching their confidence grow from Day 1 until the day they graduate is so cool.”

While working on her master’s degree, Shamra shadowed the former PNC program director for her preceptorship.

“I loved it,” she said.

When a position became available in the PNC program in the spring of 2022, Shamra jumped at the chance. The program allows students to become licensed practical nurses in just one year in a small setting.

“It’s very much one-on-one. We make you stronger. We have those relationships. We don’t just support you in the classroom, we support you in life. That doesn’t just make you a better person, it can make you a better nurse,” Shamra said. “It gets them into the field, too. We need nurses, and we need caring nurses who are good and know what they are doing, and that’s exactly what our program does. We prepare them very well.”

Shamra was promoted to director of the PNC program in the spring of 2024.