Erica Timko Olson, PhD, RN

Erica Timko Olson, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her area of research focuses on integrative nursing and wellbeing with a particular interest in the role of technology and nature and forest therapy on the psychological and social well-being of pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. She advocates for environmental and social justice for the wellbeing of all living things and the planet through her work with the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing, the Center for Planetary Health and Environmental Justice and the Institute on the Environment. With extensive experience in nursing education across multiple levels and programs, she advises undergraduate honor, DNP and PhD students. Her teaching expertise includes curriculum development, simulation lab instruction, and online learning. 

Academic Interests and Focus

• Research and Evidence Based Practice, Nursing Interventions, DNP Project
• Advising, Nursing Across the Lifespan, Curriculum Development

• Integrative Nurse Faculty Fellow, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2017
• Best Media Presentation, Overall Best Presentation Award: NURS 726, 2015

• American Nurses Association
• International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning
• Sigma Theta Tau, Faculty Counselor
• Present Midwest Nurse Research Society
• National League of Nursing

Bliss, D. Z., Timko Olson, E., Flaten, C., Bradley, C. S., Gurvich, O. V., Jantraporn, R., Conway, M., Weinberger, A., Kirchschlager, C., Hayden, A., Sund, L., Garcia, A., Mullen, N., Condon, J., & Becker, A. (2024). Development and evaluation of a bariatric mannequin simulation system. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 43(4), e01231. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000001231

Bradley, C. S., Bliss, D. Z., Becker, A., Olson, E. T., Flaten, C., Gurvich, O. V., Muehlbauer, M., Condon, J., & Bauer, J. (2023). Development and evaluation of a wearable simulator system. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 81, 101428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2023.101428

LeClair, J. M., Luebke, J. M., Gingerich, S., Oakley, L. D., Timko Olson, E. R., & Potter, T. M. (2024). The future of nursing for planetary health is today: Essential transitions for education and research. Quality Advancement in Nursing Education - Avancées en formation infirmière, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.17483/2368-6669.1464

Olson, E. T., Mathiason, M. A., Vermeesch, A., & Bliss, D. (2024). A nature-based intervention to support the well-being of baccalaureate nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(2), 116–119. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20231205-07

Tess, L., Timko Olson, E., & Schafhauser, E. (2022). Nurse-initiated constipation education (NICE) protocol: Improved health outcomes in the outpatient oncology setting. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 40(28_suppl), 237. https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2022.40.28_suppl.237

Timko Olson, E. R., Hansen, M. M., & Vermeesch, A. (2020). Mindfulness and shinrin-yoku: Potential for physiological and psychological interventions during uncertain times. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9340. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249340

Timko Olson, E. R., Olson, A., Driscoll, M., & Bliss, D. Z. (2024). Psychosocial factors affecting wellbeing and sources of support of young adult cancer survivors: A scoping review. Nursing Reports, 14(4), 4006–4021. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep14040293

Timko Olson, E. R., Olson, A. A., Driscoll, M., & Vermeesch, A. L. (2023). Nature-based interventions and exposure among cancer survivors: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(3), 2376. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032376

Timko Olson, E. R. (2024, November). Nature heals: An introduction to nature-based therapeutics. Paper presented at M Health Fairview Employee Engagement, Minneapolis, MN.

Timko Olson, E. R. (2024, October). Nature: A vital component in supporting wellbeing. Paper presented at Sa`ng Community Series, Vietnam.

Timko Olson, E. R. (2024, July). Planetary health and wellbeing. Paper presented at Emotional Well-Being and Physical Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Research Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London.

Timko Olson, E. R. (2024, June). Planetary health and well-being: Healing people and the planet. Paper presented at Sustainable Development Goals Training Week in Finland, Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, University of Eastern Finland.

Timko Olson, E. R. (2024, March). Nature: A vital foundational component in supporting wellbeing. Paper presented at APOS 2024: 21st Annual Conference American Psychosocial Oncology Society, Albuquerque, NM.

• Integrative nursing
• Nature-based interventions
• Wellbeing and self-care