Christine Coughlin '78, Ed.D.: A Passion for Teaching

by Rebecca Endres

Christine Coughlin, Ed.D ’78, is passionate about teaching. An Adelphi University graduate and an Adelphi associate professor for 10 years, she relishes sharing her expertise and experiences with students in Adelphi’s College of Nursing and Public Health.

Dr. Coughlin’s interest in education was piqued when, after earning a master’s degree in nursing, she held a joint appointment as an educator in the coronary care unit at North Shore-LIJ Hospital and assistant clinical professor at Adelphi. Motivated to continue teaching, she earned a doctorate in education at Columbia University and began teaching as an adjunct there. When she was offered a full-time job at Adelphi, she seized the opportunity. “I really got into teaching,” she said, “and I loved doing it full time.”

At Adelphi, she has taught multiple nursing courses, with an emphasis on the ethical component of the profession. She tends to focus on accountability and the fact that, “You’re a nurse all the time, not just while you’re working.”

In the classroom and in clinical sessions, Dr. Coughlin ensures that her students understand that their simple presence in the hospital often makes a world of difference. “I think one of the most important things is the nurse’s presence, to really be engaged in the situation, and to be focused,” she said.

She works hard to instill these values in her students through videos and discussion as well as sharing stories from her own nursing practice. “I really enjoy sharing my experiences with them, and I hope that brings life to the class,” she said