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Campus News

New Nursing Instructor


nursing instructor ps9/10/13
Pipestone Campus

The Pipestone Campus of Minnesota West Community & Technical College welcomes a new nursing instructor, Tracy Hansen, who just started this fall semester as the lead instructor for the Pipestone practical nursing program. 


Hansen is a graduate of the Pipestone Campus practical nursing program and states "serving the students of Minnesota West will be an honor.  I love having the opportunity to give back to the college."  Hansen completed her Associate Degree of Nursing at the Worthington Campus then continued on to South Dakota State University for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which she completed in 2012.  She has a passion for learning and is furthering her education in SDSU’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Program with a family nurse practitioner focus.


Her work experience includes the Sanford Tracy Medical Center in Tracy, MN and Prairie View Health Care Center, Tracy, MN.  She hopes that her fairly recent education and her work experience will help her be relatable to her students.


Pipestone Campus Dean, Jackie Otkin said, “Tracy’s excitement for learning and dedication to education is a wonderful asset to the nursing program.  We are very happy that she is joining our campus and believe she will fit well with the needs of the program.”


Hansen, a farm girl from Garretson, SD started her education journey by earning a degree in agronomy, but found that she wanted to grow in a different direction, which led her to the nursing field.  She stated, “My husband, Matt is a farmer and really there should only be one farmer in the family at a time.”  She and her husband live on a farm outside of Currie, MN and they have a 9 month-old son Christian.


Minnesota West’s nursing program has kept pace with the needs of our students and the ever-changing healthcare industry. The nursing programs at Minnesota West Community & Technical College are part of a pathway system, starting with the basic patient care of the nursing assistant class, continuing on to the practical nursing, followed by the associate in science degree to become a registered nurse.  The nursing programs at Minnesota West do have a competitive entrance and are accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Minnesota Board of Nursing.


Minnesota West’s nursing program offers a quality education at an affordable price, with the flexibility that appeal to today’s learners. The program includes classroom theory, laboratory experience and supervised clinical experience in area hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and community health care agencies.