Erica Timko Olson, PhD, RN

Erica Timko Olson is an Assistant Professor at the 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

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​​​​​​

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): 1-13. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249340

Timko Olson, E. R. "An Innovative Research Design: A Nature-Based Intervention to Decrease Stress and Anxiety and Improve Spirituality, Resilience and Well-Being in Undergraduate Nursing Students", 2020 SHIFT Conference: Equity, Access and the Mental Health Benefits of Time Outside, SHIFT, October 14, 2020.

Timko Olson, E. R. "Nursing Education: Applying the Science of Learning to Promote Student Metacognition in the Active Learning Environment,", NLN Education Summit, National League of Nursing, September 23, 2020.

Timko Olson, E. R. "The Relationship between Spirituality, Resilience, and Anxiety in Nursing Students", Midwest Nursing Research Society 43rd Annual Research Conference, MNRS, Kansas City, Kansas, March 01, 2019.

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