Tara Hovda, MSN

About Me
I started in health care as a first responder for my local ambulance squad at 15. When I was 16, I took and passed the National Registry Exam to become an EMT-Basic. I advanced into my career in nursing after high school and began my professional nursing career in Rochester, MN, in the Medical ICU. I moved back home to the Bismarck area in 2009 and began my career in the Emergency Department, where I was asked to teach the trauma nurse core course. I fell in love with teaching, and the rest is history!
I currently teach Adult Health 3 theory, which discusses critical care concepts and nursing care. I also teach the second Clinical Judgment course in the 4-part series, where we apply critical care and mental health nursing concepts to patient scenarios in the classroom and simulation environment. I enjoy teaching CPR classes for our nursing students in preparation for clinical practice and advising our local UMary Nursing Student Association. I have previously taught pathophysiology, medical/surgical nursing I and II theory & nursing practice, critical care nursing theory & clinical practice, NCLEX Review I, and NCLEX Review II.
Why I’m At MaryI am at the University of Mary to help foster the critical thinking skills of our next generation of registered nurses, helping them become our future health care leaders. I consider myself a coach in the field of nursing, fostering professional growth.
Expertise
My career has seen years of critical care but also medical nursing in the emergency department. I received the North Dakota Legendary Nurse Award: Preceptor in 2017, beginning my career into nursing education.
Education
MSN (Nurse Educator): University of Mary, 2018
BS (Nursing): Jamestown College, 2007