Cheryl Besse BScN, RN, MN, PNC(C), CCCI, CCNE
Associate Professor - Academic Programming | Undergraduate Academic Lead - Saskatoon

​​Cheryl Besse is an Associate Professor (Academic Programming) and the Undergraduate Academic Lead – Saskatoon at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) College of Nursing.  She received her BScN in 1992 from the USask College of Nursing.  After working for a few years in Calgary at Foothills Hospital, she returned to USask and in 2000 completed her Master of Nursing Degree. Her thesis was titled: “Caring in Palliative Care: A family perspective”. She also holds advanced certifications from the Canadian Nurses Association in Perinatal Nursing (PNC(C)) and from the Canadian Nurse Educator Institute as a Clinical Instructor (CCCI) and Nurse Educator (CCNE).  

​Cheryl’s practice experience as a Registered Nurse is mostly in acute care medical/surgical, burns/microvascular plastic surgery, and obstetrics.  She has taught with the College of Nursing since 1994. Over the years, Cheryl has taught a variety of courses through all years of the BSN and PDBSN programs. Her areas of interest are health assessment, obstetrical nursing, and teaching.  

​By combining her knowledge of perinatal nursing and expertise as a clinical teacher, Cheryl has been able to develop an academic field of specialization in nursing education and scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) with an emphasis on teaching strategies and evaluation in the clinical setting.  She has disseminated her scholarly work via publications in reputable peer reviewed nursing education journals and presentations at numerous regional, national, and international conferences. 

​Cheryl Besse is passionate about nursing, caring, students, maternal and infant health, and teaching. She feels privileged to be a part of the students’ journey and to have the opportunity to share her passion with students at the USask College of Nursing.​ 

• Nursing Education
• Feedback and evaluation in the clinical setting
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
• Maternal Newborn Nursing
• Anti-Racism in Nursing Education

• Qualitative

• NURS 202: Assessment and Components of Care I
• NURS 203: Assessment and Components of Care II
• NURS 330: Maternal Child and Adolescent Family Centered Nursing
• NURS 331: Maternal Child and Adolescent Family Centered Nursing Practice

Orcid Profile

• Baby Friendly Initiative Coalition, Saskatchewan Health Authority, July 2010 to present
• Board of Directors, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, July 2010 to present
• Program Advisory Committee, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, July 2013 to present
• Member of the Corporation, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, July 2015 to present
• Executive Committee, Saskatchewan Prevention Institute, July 2020 to present

• Nominee - USSU Teaching Excellence Award, University of Saskatchewan Students' Union, University of Saskatchewan, March 2023
• Recipient - 2020 SRNA Elizabeth Van Valkenburg Award of Excellence in Nursing Education, Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association, September 2020
• Recipient - USSU Teaching Excellence Award, University of Saskatchewan Students' Union, University of Saskatchewan, January 2015
• Nominee - USSU Teaching Excellence Award, University of Saskatchewan Students' Union, University of Saskatchewan, January 2012
• Recipient - Provost's College Award for Outstanding Teaching, University of Saskatchewan, January 2012