Nursing Faculty

Frederika (Fredi) de Yampert, MSN, RN
Nursing Department Chair
Associate Professor

Teaching:
As Nursing Department Chair and tenured faculty member, Ms. de Yampert currently teaches Nursing Research and Statistics and the RN to BSN introductory course: Transition to Professional Nursing. Prior theory and clinical teaching duties have included theory and clinical components for Pediatric Nursing, Comprehensive Nursing, Introduction to Nursing, Issues in Nursing, Pharmacology, Medical Terminology, Fundamentals of Nursing, and Adult Medical-Surgical Nursing.

Education:
Ms. de Yampert received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from the University of Texas at El Paso in May 1989. She completed her Masters in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in nursing education from Saint Joseph's College in Maine, May 2002. Ms. de Yampert is currently working on her PhD from Capella University, Minneapolis, MN with a concentration in Leadership for Higher Education. Her academic areas of interests include leadership, assessment in higher education, and issues facing the direction of nursing education and practice.

Clinical/Academic Areas of Interest:
Prior to joining the faculty at Finlandia University, Ms. de Yampert's clinical areas of practice included neonatal intensive care, pediatrics, and pediatric intensive care. Upon entering academia, Ms. de Yampert has concentrated on curriculum and program development for nursing applying such concepts as competency-based education to professional nursing education.

Professional Development:
Ms. de Yampert is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Michigan Organization of Nurse Executives, the LWVCC Board of Directors, and is the Chairperson of the Children and Youth Portfolio for the League of Women Voter's of the Copper Country.

Committee Assignments:
Assessment
Planning and Budget
Nursing Curriculum

Personal Areas of Interest:
In her spare time, Ms. de Yampert is interested in reading, needlework, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Personal Perspective ~ Based on a quote from Anatole France:

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards.” Being a natural human characteristic, without curiosity humanity would remain quiescent, never developing, never growing. Curiosity fuels human exploration, discovery, creativity, culture, and wisdom. To reach the heights of curiosity, one must have questions that need answers; and a place in which to help find these answers ~ places called learning communities.

Gladys Polzien, MSN, RN
Assistant Professor of Nursing

Teaching and Interests:
Gladys currently teaches Health Assessment and Interviewing and Pathophysiology. She also is a Clinical Instructor for Mental Health Nursing and Introduction to Nursing Practice. Gladys is interested in Home Health and Hospice, Family Practice, and Geriatric nursing.

Professional Development:
Gladys is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.

Personal Perspective:
Teaching nursing is very rewarding and enjoyable to me. I feel that it is a privilege to be preparing excellent nurses to care for the increasing health care needs in our world.

Education/Experience:
• Labor and Delivery, post partum care 1 year
• Family Practice Clinic nursing 12 years
• Home Health nursing 16 + years
• Staff nurse, Home Health Coordinator, Total Quality Manager, Clinical Reimbursement Coordinator
• Associate Degree in Nursing from MTU in May 1976
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree in August 1991
• Masters in Nursing (MSN)-concentration in Family Practice/Advanced Practice Nursing in 2000

Personal Interests:
Gladys enjoys running, cooking, reading, kayaking, and spending time with family.

Heidi Kaarto, BSN, RN
Clinical Instructor of Nursing

Teaching and Interests:
Heidi currently instructs sophomore students in NUR 204 Introduction to Nursing Practice, NUR 202 Health Assessment and Interview, and NUR 205 Application to Nursing Practice. Heidi is interested in Geriatrics, Hospice, and Medical/Surgical Nursing.

Professional Development:
Heidi is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International

Personal Perspective:
I believe Nursing is a dynamic profession that brings endless rewards, challenges, and opportunities to the individuals who choose to enter it. I feel fortunate to be able to share my educational background and clinical nursing experiences with students to advance the profession of nursing through teaching.

Education/Experience:
• BSN from the Bellin College of Nursing, Green Bay, WI
• Over 11 years of experience as a Clinical Nurse II and preceptor at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, MI; responsible for adult patient care on a Medical/Surgical unit that specializes in liver and kidney transplantation.

Personal Interests:
Heidi enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons golfing, ice skating, snowmobiling, downhill skiing, and watching the Detroit Red Wings.

Debbie Karstu
Associate Professor of Nursing

Teaching and Interests:
Debbie currently teaches sophomore level classes: Fundamentals: Introduction to Nursing Practice and Clinical Applications. Debbie is interested in Hospice, Oncology, Home Health, and Family Practice Nursing.

Professional Development:
Debbie regularly attends nursing and educational conferences in her areas of interest and on the subjects she teaches. Debbie has published an article and her Thesis. She has also given multiple professional presentations on a variety of topics. Debbie is Hospice certified.

Personal Perspective:
“When one teaches; two learn” by Robert Wolf

“This life is yours
Take the power to choose what you want to do and do it well
Take the power to love what you want in life and love it honestly
Take the power to walk in the forest and be a part of nature
Take the power to control your own life
No one else can do it for you
Take the power to make your life happy”
By Susan Polis Schutz

Education/Experience:
Before coming to Finlandia University and developing the Finlandia Connection study abroad course, Debbie worked as a Nurse Practitioner in Hematology/Oncology and Otolaryngology in Hancock and Marquette, and:
• As a Staff Nurse, Private Duty Nurse, and Case Manager in Home Nursing and Hospice in Hancock, MI
• As a Recovery Room Nurse in Helsinki, Finland
• As a RN on an Intermediate Care Unit in Marquette, MI, and as an On-Call/General Home Nurse in Marquette, MI
• Earned her BSN-Minor in Human Biology in 1986
• Earned her MSN-Advanced Practice Nurse in Family Health in 2001

Personal Interests:
Debbie enjoys skiing, hiking, hockey, sailing, kayaking, and anything in the outdoors-especially with her kids.

Stewart McCabe, MSN, RN
Associate Professor of Nursing

Teaching and Interests:
Stewart currently teaches Pharmacology, Mental Health Nursing, and is an Adjunct for other courses as needed. She is interested in Psychiatric, Medical/Surgical, and Labor & Delivery Nursing. Stewart is also interested in Nursing Education and the Army Nurse Corp.

Professional Development:
Stewart is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Military Officers of America, Army Nurse Association of America, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, and American Red Cross.

Personal Perspective:
Teaching allows me to trade experiences, both knowledge and experiential with others. I learn and grow as and individual and professional from these interactions.

Education/Experience:
• Labor & Delivery /Obstetrics 8 years
• Medical/Surgical 20+ years
• Psychiatric Nursing 12 years
• Officer in the Army Nurse Corps assigned to the 452ne combat hospital in Milwaukee, WI
• American Red Cross Instructor and Instructor Trainer for Health and Safety classes
• American Red Cross Instructor of Disaster Services and Disaster Nursing

Personal Interests:
Stewart enjoys arts & crafts, carpentry & handyman work, and horses.

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