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Nursing
Department
103 Schwab Hall
814-472-3027
Fax: 814-472-3849
Email
Mailing Address
Saint Francis University
P.O. Box 600
Loretto, PA
15940-0600
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Nursing Faculty 
Rita Trofino, DNP, MNEd, RN
Assistant Professor
Department of Nursing Chairperson
| The Saint Francis University Nursing Department welcomes Rita Trofino as Department Chairperson. I received my BSN and MNEd from the University of Pittsburgh, and my DNP from Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA. My dissertation focused on the correlation of admission and nursing program criteria with first time passage of the NCLEX-RN®. The focus for my master’s degree was nursing education with clinical components in burn and pediatric nursing. My clinical background is in Pediatrics and Burn Nursing. I have published a book on Burn Nursing, and written numerous chapters for Medical-Surgical textbooks on various nursing topics. I have taught nursing for over 20 years at various area colleges and universities. | 
Cindy Drenning, MSN, CRNP
Assistant Professor of Nursing | I graduated with a BSN from Penn State University in 1975, and a MSN from West Virginia University in 1999. I am certified by the ANCC as a Family Nurse Practitioner, with clinical practice expertise in hospice and palliative care. during my nursing career I have worked primarily in community health home health, hospice, school health, public health, and parish nursing. I taught for 10 years at West Virginia University as full time faculty and have taught at Penn State University as adjunct faculty. | 
Kim Forst, MS,
Instructor of Nursing | I received my Associates Degree in Nursing from Mount Aloysius and worked at Conemaugh Hospital in Telemetry for 2.5 years, then the Cardiac Cath Lab for 2.5 years. After my time at Conemaugh I took a job with Home Health as a field nurse and was promoted to team leader for the next 15 years. While I was working in Home Health I went back to school and received my BSN from UPJ, and my MS in Nursing Education from IUP. I now teach the sophomore and junior levels here at Saint Francis University and will be helping to prepare the seniors for their NCLEX - RN exam. | 
Thomas Beavers, MSN, RN
Instructor of Nursing | I graduated with a BSN from Saint Francis College in 1995 having just finished active duty with the United States Air Force as an inpatient psychiatric technician. I was ordained a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown in 2003, and currently serve at St. John the Baptist Parish in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania. I received my MSN from University of Phoenix in 2011; my emphasis was in education. I have enjoyed an eclectic clinical practice with experience in inpatient psychiatric nursing, addictionology, outpatient counseling, and psychiatric home health. For the last six years prior to coming to Saint Francis full time I worked for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in its unique inmate care facility at Somerset, Pennsylvania in hemodialysis, its chronic/skilled-care units, and acute medical services. I have served SFU as adjunct clinical instructor of the psychiatric nursing component of the since 2005. | 
Judy Pallone, MS,RN,LCCE
Instructor of Nursing
| My educational background includes a Diploma from Altoona Hospital School of Nursing, a B.S.N. from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s Degree in Nursing Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. My clinical experience includes medical-surgical nursing, operating room, recovery room, labor, delivery, and newborn nursery. I have been a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator for many years. I have been an adjunct instructor at Mt. Aloysius for several years as well as for Saint Francis during the fall semester. My focus has been maternal and child nursing as a staff nurse, nursing instructor and childbirth educator. I have attended many seminars on women and children’s issues as well as Lamaze International Conferences. As an instructor, I enjoy observing students evolve into confident, capable, caring nurses who will become tomorrow’s leaders. | 
Heather Vitko, BSN
Skills Lab Coordinator | I graduated from Saint Francis University, when it was still Saint Francis College, in the Nursing Program and have worked in Pittsburgh and Johnstown. My areas of experience include, Hospice, Home Health, Rehabilitation, Case Management, Medical/Surgical, and Telemetry. Currently I am the part time Skills Lab Coordinator here at Saint Francis University. I have been employed for the past 10 years at Conemaugh in the Trauma/Critical Care Unit and teach in the Sim Lab. I also teach injury prevention programs and junior acheivement in my children's schools. | 
Camille Wendekier, MSN,RN,CRRN
Instructor of Nursing
| Prior to working in the nursing department, I worked at Saint Francis University for the past six years as a Telehealth Research Specialist at CERMUSA (Center of Excellence for Remote and Medically Under-Served Areas). I served as the primary investigator on diabetes and wellness research protocols, focusing on improving access to healthcare education for patients residing in rural and medically under-served areas. I have 14 years experience in various nursing roles, including community outreach, rehabilitation admission liaison nursing, acute rehabilitative nursing, school nursing, medical surgical nursing, and oncology nursing. I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and School Nurse Certification from Saint Francis University and my Master of Science in Nursing from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. |
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