Chris Purfeerst has been a faculty member of the nursing program since January of 2008, and before that, as an adjunct clinical instructor beginning in 2003. She has taught several nursing fundamentals and clinical courses in the department, most recently in N3800, N3291, N3810, N3292, and N4200, and has practice expertise in adult medical-surgical nursing. She has ten years of experience working as an RN at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Hospital on an adult medicine unit (2002-2012). She has been recognized as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) specializing in knowledge, skill, and excellence in practice (2012-2017). She was awarded the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses (May 2015). She has been nominated as a Faculty Mentor at the University's Honors and Awards Ceremony. She received the 2020-2021 Nursing Faculty Excellence Award, which exhibits courage by fostering student questions and compassion through unconditional acceptance and creativity in teaching/administrative roles. She is pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and will complete her terminal degree in May 2024!