Professional Overview
Dr. Pleshkan joined the faculty of the Loewenberg College of Nursing in 2019. Originally from Moldova, she earned her first nursing degree from the Moldova Nursing College before continuing her education in the United States. Practicing nursing in two countries has given her a broad, multicultural perspective on healthcare delivery and nursing education, deepening her understanding of how culture influences patient care and professional practice.
She began her career at an infertility clinic in Moldova, where she practiced for four years, supporting women through complex reproductive health challenges. After relocating to the United States, she completed her Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) in 2000 and 2003, respectively. She later earned her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree from the University of Saint Francis (USF) in Indiana, gaining extensive clinical experience in pain management, occupational health, primary care, women’s health, and walk-in care. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Nursing with a concentration in higher education, along with a graduate certificate in Online Higher Education.
Dr. Pleshkan’s research focuses on advanced nursing workforce development and nurse practitioner (NP) role transition. She developed and published an NP preceptorship model designed to strengthen mentorship and support for NP students and early-career practitioners. Her most recent study examined how NP students cultivate professional autonomy as they move into practice, emphasizing the value of interprofessional education (IPE) as a catalyst for successful transition.
Her work demonstrated that integrating interprofessional learning experiences into nursing curricula enhances NP students’ professional confidence and readiness for clinical roles. In collaboration with the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Memphis, she established interprofessional partnership opportunities to prepare both advanced nursing and nutrition students for collaborative practice.
Dr. Pleshkan is also deeply committed to advancing Lifestyle Medicine within NP education. She advocates for integrating evidence-based lifestyle interventions into nursing curricula to equip future NPs with practical tools for managing chronic conditions and promoting holistic, patient-centered care. By incorporating these principles, she aims to ensure that NP graduates are not only clinically proficient but also prepared to lead transformative change within the evolving healthcare landscape.
PhD-Walden University, Minneapolis, MN
MSN, FNP, University of Saint Frances, Fort Wayne, IN
BSN, IPFW, Fort Wayne, IN
ASN, IPFW, Fort Wayne, IN
- Families
- Holistic care
- Active Member of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) 2006-present
- Member of Greater Memphis Area Advanced Practice Nurses 2016-2019
- Active member of National League for Nursing 2019- Present
- Active Member of The American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2019- Present
- Women’s Mentorship. University of Memphis. 2021- Present
Goal: Share knowledge and best practices about retaining women+
at all levels in academia. - Southern Nursing Research Society member 2024-Present
- AANP Network for research member 2019-Present
Hardgrave, B. (February 22, 2024). First time PI Award: Research Celebration: Highlighting
Research Achievements. Honoring First Time PIs and new PI Millionaires at the University
of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology.
Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database and Recognition Award 2006
Nominated for the Chancellor’s List for the highest academic achievements 2004-2006
Honor Society of Nursing Sigma Theta Zeta International 2000
Honors Convocation-Dean’s List 1996- 2003
- Pleshkan, V. (2025). Standardizing nurse practitioner clinical education: The Cognitive Preceptorship Model. Journal of Professional Nursing. 57, 26-42 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.12.009
- Pleshkan, V., & Lee, S. (2024). Facilitating Nursing Students' Transition to Scholar: Embedded Writing Tutor Project. The Journal of Nursing Education, 63(6), 409. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20240404-11. The importance of this article lies in its exploration of an innovative approach to enhancing scholarly writing skills among nursing students, a critical aspect of nursing education and scholarship.
- Pleshkan, V. (2024). A systematic review: Clinical education and preceptorship during nurse practitioner role transition. Accepted and published in electronic format in 2023. Journal of Professional Nursing, 50, 16-34. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.10.005
- Pleshkan, V., & Boykins, A. D. (2022). Cognitive preceptorship: An emerging nurse practitioner role transition to practice model. Part I (Model Development). Part II (Model Application). Journal of Professional Nursing, 39, 194-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.02.002
- Pleshkan, V., & Singarella, I. (2022). Advancing nursing students' transition to scholarship: embedding a librarian into the Advanced Nursing Research course. Journal of the Medical Library Association: JMLA, 110(2), 228.Lee, S. & Pleshkan V. doi: 10.5195/jmla.2022.1227
- Lee, S., & Pleshkan, V. (2022). Collaborative Group Writing in Nursing Research Courses: Role Assignment and Peer Evaluation. Journal of Nursing Education, 61(4), 224-224. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20220209-10
- Abstract: Redmond, A., Bullough, G., Gray, A., Bruen, T., van der Merwe, M., Foley, S., Schallert,M., Cook, K Petersen M., Pleshkan V. & Gill, M. (2022). The Development of Nutritional Literacy Curriculum with Practical Application on Middle School Students. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 122(10), A118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2022.08.078
- Pleshkan, V. & Hussey, L. (2020). Nurse practitioners’ experiences with role transition: Supporting the learning curve through preceptorship. Nurse Education in Practice, 42, 1-6. Doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2019.102655
- Pleshkan, V. (2018) Nurse practitioners' experiences with role transition: Supporting the learning curve through preceptorship. Dissertation Thesis. Walden University, Minneapolis, MN. Dissertation full text
- Pleshkan, V., Umberger, R., S., & Jiang, Y. (Ongoing). Evaluating Professional Autonomy Development in Preparing Nurse Practitioner Students: Longitudinal Retrospective Study of Clinical Education Data. Ongoing. The University of Memphis
- Pleshkan, V. (2023-2025//funcded). Phenomenological Study of Preceptors’ Experiences with Preparing Nurse Practitioner Students for Autonomous Practice. Funded. Ongoing.
Pleshkan, V., Umberger, R., S., & Jiang, Y. (Ongoing). Evaluating Professional Autonomy
Development in Preparing Nurse Practitioner Students: Longitudinal Retrospective Study
of Clinical Education Data. Ongoing. The University of Memphis
Pleshkan, V. (2023-2025//funcded). Phenomenological Study of Preceptors’ Experiences
with Preparing Nurse Practitioner Students for Autonomous Practice. Funded. Ongoing.