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| Kate Nickel, PhD |
Kate Nickel, PhD, died Monday in her home surrounded by family. Dr. Nickel was a retired assistant professor in the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division.
Dr. Nickel, who was 74, had a combined 36 years with the institution.
Dr. Nickel was part of a group of core faculty who helped build Kearney State College School of Nursing in the 1980s and led to becoming part of UNMC College of Nursing in the early 1990s, said Cathrin Carithers, DNP, assistant dean of the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division. "Her vision and passion for nursing will be missed by our faculty, staff and graduates," she said.
Stephanie Burge, DNP, clinical assistant professor in the division, was a longtime UNMC colleague of Dr. Nickel. She said Dr. Nickel mentored many nursing students and faculty.
"I will miss her considerably, and I’m forever grateful for the influence she has had on me," Dr. Burge said. "She was a colleague, mentor and most of all, friend. She and others held a big dream for nursing in central Nebraska that led to becoming part of UNMC College of Nursing in the early 90s.
"If you were a faculty member during Kate’s teaching tenure, you were in her backyard on Friday nights, enjoying burgers and thinking about all the ways improvements could be made to nursing education."
Dr. Nickel earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1980 from Kearney State College and a PhD in 1997 from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Though there will not be a funeral service, those wanting to send a note to her family, can send it to the college at 1924 8th Ave., Kearney, NE, 68845, to be delivered to the family.