Kim Copeland, MSN, RN, CHSE

Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

Kim Copeland began her nursing career with a giant leap from nursing school into the emergency department (ED) and stayed for 25 years. Copeland found the excitement and variety of a fast paced working environment a perfect fit for her personality. Bored easily, Copeland found the ED was never boring. Copeland worked in ED patient care for many years, and eventually took the position of charge nurse over a 32 bed ED.
Copeland adheres to the lifelong learning model and demonstrated this belief by going back to school after raising a family of three children and three dogs. Graduating summa cum laude, she earned her Master’s in Nursing specializing in nursing education. With a new degree, many doors opened allowing Copeland to teach and mentor RN students in an RN undergraduate program.

Copeland made the decision to leave the ED in 2010 and pursued teaching in a full time capacity. She found patient care nursing and teaching nursing similar in nursing application but found teaching very much a career change and enjoys the journey from the bedside to the classroom. Again, believing the lifelong learning model, she embraced new challenges in academia and enjoys the interaction with student nurses.

In 2014, Copeland accepted a position working for the Portland Oregon Veterans Hospital and Oregon Health Sciences (OHSU). Copeland was tasked with working collaboratively with other nurse educators to develop veteran centric care with the intent to introduce curriculum changes in RN-BSN programs such as OHSU. Answering a mandate on the Federal level, Copeland served on the Veteran Affairs Nursing Academic Partnership committee. Here she found a new appreciation and understanding of the plight of the United State Veteran upon returning from active duty.
Not to miss a new adventure, Copeland moved with her husband to Boise after accepting a nursing educator position with Boise State University. Here she works in simulation and is finding Boise State a wonderful, warm campus to be affiliated with.

Copeland is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Basic Life Support and will certify in Healthcare Simulation Educator this spring. Copeland earned recognition while working in the ED by earning the Nursing in Excellence – Legacy Health in 2008 and 2009.

Contact Information

Office: NNHS 317
Phone: (208) 426-3580
Email: KimCopeland504@boisestate.edu