Melissa Kachaturoff Awarded the 2023 Institute of Professional Nursing Education Award

Melissa Kachaturoff

Melissa Kachaturoff has been awarded the 2023 Institute of Professional Nursing Education Award. This award recognizes nursing excellence and leadership and will be presented at the organization's awards ceremony this spring. Kachaturoff, EMU’s RN-to-BSN Program Coordinator, spoke about her path to Nursing and gave some advice for those preparing to enter the Nursing field.

Originally from Livonia, Michigan, Kachaturoff knew she either wanted to be a teacher or a nurse. She ultimately focused on nursing, coming to EMU for her BSN, then working at Detroit Receiving in the Neuro ICU. After a couple years at Detroit Receiving, Dr. Williams, the Director of Nursing at the EMU School of Nursing, reached out to invite Kachaturoff to teach clinicals. Thus began a long path with EMU teaching clinical courses, lecture courses, completing her MSN at EMU, working as staff at the School of Nursing, and the beginning of her journey to her PhD with EMU.

Kauchaturoff, who enjoys quilting, gardening, and traveling in her free time, has some advice and words of wisdom for prospective nursing students: “Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” she says. “No one has all the answers and new nurses are expected to have lots of questions.” She also advises students take care of themselves because “it is harder to take care of others if you do not take care of yourself.”