Rachel Helms, a new assistant professor, joined AUCON in June this year.
An Auburn nursing graduate (’09), Helms received her master’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University in 2014 and her doctoral degree from Auburn in 2021.
A certified emergency nurse practitioner, Helms has worked in emergency nursing for the past 13 years. She began her career as an ER nurse and later as a nurse leader in the emergency and trauma center at Columbus Regional Medical Center (now Piedmont Midtown) and at Atlanta Medical Center. Her stint as an emergency and trauma nurse included 3 years as a flight nurse for a rotor-wing critical care transport service (AirEvac Lifeteam). Helms has also served as an emergency room nurse practitioner at Piedmont Fayette Hospital. She has added a certified family nurse practitioner and adult gerontological acute care nurse practitioner to her credentials.
She comes to AUCON with an extensive background as a preceptor at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her primary focus will be to teach adult critical care to senior level nursing students, and at the graduate level with the nurse practitioner and DNP programs.
Helms’ Teaching Philosophy “is to facilitate personal and professional growth in my students so that they leave Auburn with the tools they need to be successful in all walks of life. I believe there is more to being a nurse educator than simply providing the fundamental knowledge our students need to become nurses. I strive to cultivate their analyzing, critical thinking and socialization skills so that they become strong, well-rounded nurses. Becoming a nurse was one of the greatest decisions I ever made, and I can only hope they learn to love the nursing profession as much as I do.”
“I enjoy utilizing case-based learning to ensure that students are not simply memorizing information but are learning practical applications too. Starting this thought process in the classroom facilitates a deeper understanding of concepts thereby promoting a smoother transition into the clinical setting.
“More than anything, I want my students to leave my class with a strong foundation for their nursing career, confident in their knowledge and abilities to positively impact not only their patients, but our healthcare system as a whole,” she added.
Her research interests include implementation of evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes and professional development.
We welcome Dr. Rachel Helms to the AUCON faculty.
