How Boise State’s nursing community draws alumni back

Tracee Chapman graduated from the on-campus Bachelor's of Science in Nursing program in 2015. She returned to the School of Nursing in 2021 as a faculty member.

A diehard Bronco her whole life, nursing clinical assistant professor Tracee Chapman fondly remembers attending Boise State basketball games as a teenager, meandering around the court with her friends and cheering on the team. But she didn't always know she wanted to pursue nursing or teaching, much less attend Boise State.

Originally interested in European history, Chapman changed paths before earning a degree. With both parents working in healthcare, she thought she'd give nursing a try.

Chapman wasn't a "traditional" undergraduate when she applied to nursing school; she had a family at home and was attending the College of Western Idaho part time. As she looked into schools, she found them either too expensive or with unrealistically high expectations for admissions, such as extensive volunteer hours and extra certifications (like CNA or EMT).

Chapman wasn't optimistic about her chances. "I'm a hair stylist going to school part time," she thought. "It's not gonna happen."

So after finishing her prerequisites, she "put all the eggs in one basket" and applied to her most affordable option: Boise State.

Tracee Chapman on her first day of nursing school

Chapman was accepted and graduated in 2015 with her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing. Before she returned to the program as faculty, she worked in the emergency department, as a school nurse for the Boise School District and as a forensic nurse.

"I've just had the coolest jobs," Chapman said. "I haven't had any of those 'I hate nursing, I don't want to be a nurse anymore' type roles."

Strong relationships shape a career

After several years as a bedside nurse, Chapman returned to school for graduate education, earning her master's in nursing education in 2021. As she was nearing the end of her program, she needed to complete student teaching hours and reached back out to one of her professors from undergrad, Max Veltman. With his help, she completed her hours at Boise State.

"And then Max was like, 'Have you thought about applying for a full time job? Because we have two openings,'" Chapman recalled.

Nursing faculty (left to right) Paula Molina-Shaver, Tammie Sherner, Tracee Chapman and Kelley Connor represented Boise State at a simulation education conference in 2023.

"We love welcoming alumni from our nursing program back to help educate future nurses," said Kelley Connor, divisional dean of the School of Nursing. "Tracee is a wonderful role model for students to see how a career can evolve through lifelong learning and curiosity."

Strong relationships have shaped Chapman's career. Before she was faculty with clinical associate professor Paula Shaver or professor Kelley Connor, she was Shaver's hair stylist, participated in Connor's research surveys and Connor's daughters babysat her children.

Chapman (right) with one of her student clinical groups at Boise State.

Chapman also credits Veltman for launching her now-specialty practice as a forensic nurse by helping secure an internship during nursing school.

"They were really supportive professors," she said. "The relationship with them is really what I remember. And when one of those two says, 'Do you want to come back?' Heck yeah, I do."

Transitioning to teacher

Chapman wasn't expecting to come full circle so quickly, but she got the job. And although she knew she was an experienced nurse and had relevant academic preparation, she still battled imposter syndrome.

"For the first two years, I was like, 'How are they letting me do this?'" she said. "You do all those classes, but then when it comes to implementing all that in real life, you're like, 'Oh my gosh, they let me get paid for this?!'"

As she transitioned away from primarily bedside care, Chapman also found herself experiencing a new perspective that she says is common for nurse educators.

"It really changes how you look at nursing," she said. "I had to shift to: what does the student need and how can I help support them, just like I would support a patient?"

"As a student, Tracee was always inquisitive and deeply engaged in her studies," Connor said. "Now, as a faculty member, she brings that same energy and commitment to her work."

The student experience: Then and now

Chapman now serves as Boise State's Director of Simulated Learning and Research. While a lot has changed in the Simulation Center over the years, some things remain the same. Take Hal the manikin, for instance. Chapman remembers interacting with him when she was a student.

"We have a little connection, manikin Hal and I," Chapman laughed.

Student nurses learn and practice skills with various manikins, including Hal.

Some things are dramatically different, too. Chapman remembers "the old way of how we did lab check off: professor in the white coat, getting really stressed," she said. "If you don't get all the check boxes, then you fail and have to redo it."

Today's scaffolded curriculum focuses less on a long list of required skills and more on competencies that can be widely applied to a range of situations. Students still learn skills through deliberate repetitive practice throughout the program instead of over a short period of time with a high stakes exam. The result? Students are much less stressed.

"They're supported and coached through 15 weeks of growth," Chapman said. "We want them to build muscle memory for very specific skills that will make them successful as a generalist nurse, versus checking them off on 50 skills that they may never use again."

Tracee Chapman (right) and her study group before graduation.

Chapman explained that today's priority is the student's learning journey - their ability to come to class prepared, reflect after class on their experience, and identify what they're going to do differently next time that will help them grow as a nurse.

"If it takes them three weeks in lab practicing and failing and feeling like they're not getting it, and then in that third week, the light bulb kicks on and all of a sudden they've mastered their sterile technique? Then that's a win," she said.

Passion for the community and students

Chapman built connections during nursing school that she still has today. One of her students in 2025 conducted his clinical placement in Chapman's previous emergency room unit, with a nurse from her original study group. She received email updates on his progress every week, even though that's not required.

Chapman was a member of the Student Nurses Association (SNA) at Boise State. She is pictured here (right) participating in an activity with SNA to raise money for St. Luke's Cancer Institute.

Chapman believes strong relationships and the rapport Boise State has built in the Treasure Valley helps current students get clinical placements.

"It's this tiny little nursing community," she said. "I think we care more about people, because we know our neighbors and we know who we're working with. And when I send a student somewhere and I say, 'You're going to my people,' they really are going to take care of that student, because they are my people, and they know me."

A Bronco from the beginning, Chapman's passion is fueled by both her care for the local community and the students she teaches.

"I want [students] to know that when they come here, they belong with us; we care about them, mind, body, soul," Chapman said.

"We want them to be good nurses; we want them to be strong nurses," Chapman said. "So yes, we challenge them, and it feels hard and ugly through part of school. But we do that because we know how important it is to be challenged every day as a nurse and to build that skill. It's so much easier with people who love and support you."

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