Dr. Cheri Kovalenko received her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Minnesota in 2012. She received a B.S.N. from The Ohio State University in 1997 and an M.S. from Ohio State in 2001. She is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has practiced in both primary care and inpatient/critical care areas, caring for patients across all age groups. Particular interests include family practice, pediatrics, pediatric sedation and critical care.
Kovalenko has lived in the Sioux Falls area for the past 20 years with her husband, Lyle, and their four children. She enjoys reading, traveling, running and spending time with her family.
Education
- D.N.P., Nursing, University of Minnesota , 2012
- M.S., Nursing, The Ohio State University , 2001
- B.S.N., Nursing, The Ohio State University , 1997
Courses Taught
- NUR231 - Fundamentals of Nursing
- NUR323 - Applied Pathophysiology
- NUR354 - Evidence-Based Nursing Practice
- NUR431 - Capstone. Led trips to Haiti 2012, 2013.
- NUR441 - High Acuity Nursing
- NUR447 - Pediatric Nursing
Scholarly and Creative Work
Presentations
- Kovalenko, C. (2012, May 2). Evaluating the Implementation of a Nitrous Oxide Protocol at Avera Children’s Hospital [Conference presentation], The Sister Patricia Miller Research in Action: Theory, Education and Practice Conference, Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA, United States.
- Kovalenko, C. (2012, May 17). Nitrous Oxide: Safe, Conscious Sedation for Kids [Professional presentation]. Training provided to Avera Marshall Emergency Room RNs via telehealth, Sioux Falls, SD, United States.
- Kovalenko, C. (2013, October 17-18). Evaluating the Implementation of a Nitrous Oxide Protocol at Avera Children's Hospital [Poster presentation]. Mayo Advanced Practice Nursing Conference, Rochester, MN, United States.
- Kovalenko, C. (2015, December 12). The Basics: Implementing a Nitrous Oxide Program for Managing Pediatric Pain and Anxiety [Professional presentation]. Milbank Area Hospital, Milbank, SD, United States.
- Thelen, M., & Kovalenko, C. (2024, December 5-7). Reimagining Competency-Based Undergraduate Nursing Student Assessment [Poster presentation]. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Transform Conference, New Orleans, LA, United States.
Publications
- Kovalenko, C., & Vellenga, B. A (2021). Descriptive Analysis of the Experiences of Nursing Students Who Participated in an International Service-Learning Project in Haiti. Journal of Professional Nursing,37(6), 1071-1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.08.003
Clinical Application
Maintain clinical skills by working as Nurse Practitioner for the Pediatric Critical Care and Hospitalist Services 2-3 shifts per month, Avera Children’s Hospital. Working as Family Nurse Practitioner at Falls Community Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center providing care to underserved populations, 1-2 shifts per month.
Service/Volunteer Work
- Active member of Central Church Downtown where she organizes a meal/hospitality ministry.
- Fall 2022-present: Sioux Falls School District Wellness Committee Representative
- Fall 2022-present: Roosevelt High School Cross Country Parent.