Skip to main content

COVID-19: Campus Updates and Information

Ranelle Nissen

Ranelle Nissen

Chair, Occupational Therapy

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

SCSC A363

Phone: (605) 658-6378

Email: Ranelle.Nissen@usd.edu

Bio:

Ranelle earned her master's degree at the University of South Dakota and a PhD in occupational therapy through Texas Woman's University. The focus of her dissertation was in the area of telehealth use for clients with dementia and their caregivers to receive occupational therapy services at home. Her primary areas of clinical practice include skilled nursing facility, acute care, sub-acute care, and inpatient rehabilitation.

Teaching Interests:

Mental health, Leadership, Research, and Capstone

Research Interests:

OT role in Dementia care and Sensory-based interventions for adult clients

Education:

  • Ph D, Occupational therapy, Texas Woman's University, 2017
  • MS, Occupational Therapy, The University of South Dakota, 2006
  • BS, Psychology, The University of South Dakota, 2004

Licensures and Certifications:

  • Saebo certified clinician, Saebo Inc.
  • We Need to Talk Facilitator , AOTA and AARP
  • South Dakota licensure to practice Occupational Therapy, South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners
  • Occupational Therapist Registered, The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.

Research:

  • Participation in Psychologically Rewarding Occupations: Implications for Well-Being, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, (2020)
  • Characteristics of Daily Activities for People with Lifestyle Diseases: Implications for Preventive Interventions, Sanford Data Collaborative, (2020)

Grants:

  • Health Utilization and Needs of Caregivers, USD School of Health Sciences Research Committee. Grant Role: Principal. (2021 - 2022)
  • School of Health Sciences Research and Scholarship Seed Grant, USD School of Health Sciences. (2015 - 2015)

Publications:

Citations listed below are presented in a standardized, modified format for display purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the preferred style and conventions of the faculty member or discipline.

  • Nissen, Ranelle, and Serwe, Katrina. Survey of Occupational Therapy Education in Telehealth. Vol. 5, Iss. 2. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2021.
  • Lucas Molitor, Whitney, and Nissen, Ranelle. Correlation between use of high fidelity simulation and fieldwork performance. Vol. 4, Iss. 2. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2020. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2020.040209)
  • Nissen, Ranelle. Telehealth. In Occupational Therapy in Community and Population Health Practice, edited by Marjorie E. Scaffa & S. Maggie Reitz. Iss. 3rd. Philadelphia, PA: FA Davis, 2020.
  • Nissen, Ranelle, and Serwe, Katrina M.. Occupational Therapy Telehealth Applications for the Dementia-Caregiver Dyad: A Scoping Review, 366-379. Vol. 36, Iss. 4. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics, 2018. (DOI: 10.1080/02703181.2018.1536095)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Hersch, Gayle, Tietze, Mari, and Chang, Pei-Fen. Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers' Perceptions About Occupational Therapy and Telehealth: A Qualitative Study. Vol. 36, Iss. 6. Home Healthcare Now, 2018.
  • Naber, Allison, Berg-Poppe, Patti, Lucas Molitor, Whitney, MacCabe, Angela, and Nissen, Ranelle. USD Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Service Learning. In Heathcare Workforce Collaborative..
  • Lucas Molitor, Whitney, and Nissen, Ranelle. Clinician, educator, and student perceptions of entry-level academic degree requirements in occupational therapy education, 23. Vol. 2, Iss. 1. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2018. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2018.020102)
  • Berg-Poppe, Patti, Karges, Joy, Nissen, Ranelle, Deutsch, Susan, and Webster, Kendra. Relationship between occupational and physical therapist students' belongingness and perceived competence in the clinic using the Ascent to Competence Scale. Vol. 1, Iss. 3. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2017. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.26681/jote.2017.010303)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, and Brockevelt, Barbara. The Effect of Education on Student Perceptions about Telehealth, 5-10. Vol. 4, Iss. 4. International Journal of Health Sciences , 2016.
  • Nissen, Ranelle. Delivering Occupational Therapy Services Through Telehealth to Older Adults: Current Considerations, 20-22. Vol. 1, Iss. 4. Bethesda, MD: SIS Quarterly Practice Connections, 2016.
  • Ikiugu, Moses, and Nissen, Ranelle. Intervention strategies used by occupational therapists working in mental health and their theoretical basis. Edited by Marie-Louise F. Blount, 109-129. Vol. 32, Iss. 2. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, 2016. (DOI: 10.1080/0164212X.2015.1127192)
  • Ikiugu, Moses, Westerfield, Madeline, Lien, Jamie, Cerny, Shana, and Nissen, Ranelle. Empowering People to Change Occupational Behaviours to Address Critical Global Issues. Edited by Helen J. Polatajko. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 2015. (DOI: 10.1177/0008417414567529)
  • Ikiugu, Moses, and Nissen, Ranelle. Pragmatism: A Transactional Perspective of Occupational Therapy. In Philosophical Foundations for Occupational Therapy Education, Research, and Practice. Thorofare, New Jersey: Slack.
  • Nissen, Ranelle. Best Practice Considerations for the use of Telehealth to Deliver Occupational Therapy Services to Older Adult Clients. Hoffman Estates, IL: OnCourse Learning.
  • Ikiugu, Moses, Nissen, Ranelle, Bellar, Cali, Maassen, Alexya, and Van Peursem, Katie. Clinical Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: A Meta-Analysis. Edited by Lorie Richards. Bethesda, Maryland: American Journal of Occupational Therapy.

Awards and Honors:

  • Dorothy Anne Elsberry Award of Merit, South Dakota Occupational Therapy Association, 2015

Presentations:

  • Nissen, Ranelle, Ikiugu, Moses, Herdman, Brenna, Johnson, MaKenzie, Oorlog, Ariana. Designation of Occupational Therapy Practitioners as Qualified Mental Health Professionals: Educational Preparation. Presented at the OT Research Symposium, Virtual. (May 2020)
  • Lucas Molitor, Whitney, Nissen, Ranelle, Naber, Allison. Fostering Student Confidence & Engagement Through Mentored Experiential Learning & Community Engagement. Presented at the American Occupational Therapy Association Education Summit, Las Vegas, Nevada. (October 18, 2019)
  • Naber, Allison, Lucas Molitor, Whitney, Nissen, Ranelle. Community Partnerships in Action: Development of Mentored Service Learning Opportunities. Presented at the Innovation in Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Education Summit 2019, Omaha, NE. (June 27, 2019)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Serwe, Katrina. Telehealth Applications for the Caregiver Dyad in Dementia Care. Presented at the AOTA National Conference & Expo, Salt Lake City, UT. (April 20, 2018)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Almanza, Jacob, Brandner, Chase, Conway, Stephanie, Mather, Cody. Effect of an occupation-based activity program on older adult's quality of life. Presented at the 8th Annual Occupational Therapy Research Symposium, Vermillion, SD. (May 4, 2017)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Holbeck, Michelle, Johnson, Riley. Student perceptions of an entry-level occupational therapy doctorate. Presented at the 8th Annual Occupational Therapy Research Symposium, Vermillion, SD. (May 4, 2017)
  • Nissen, Ranelle. Delivery of Telehealth Occupational Therapy Services for Clients with Dementia and Their Caregivers. Presented at the TWU Doctoral Research Symposium , Dallas, TX. (September 17, 2016)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Ikiugu, Moses. Intervention Strategies Used by Occupational Therapists Working in Mental Health and Their Theoretical Basis. Presented at the AOTA National Conference , Chicago, IL. (April 9, 2016)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Brockevelt, Barbara, Bailey, Scott, Jackson, Brianna, Mentzer, Amanda. Student Perceptions of Telehealth. Presented at the USD 6th Annual Occupational Therapy Research Symposium, Lee Medical Building, Vermillion, SD. (May 6, 2015)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Bailey, Scott, Jackson, Brianna, Mentzer, Amanda. Student Perceptions of Telehealth. Presented at the School of Health Sciences Research Conference, Lee Medical Building, Vermillion, SD. (April 24, 2015)
  • Karges, Joy, Berg-Poppe, Patti, Gilkerson, Susan, Webster, Kendra, Nissen, Ranelle, Zimney, Kory. Examining Relationships Between Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapy Students' Belongingness and Perceived Competence in the Clinic Using the Ascent to Competence Scale. Presented at the 2015 Combined Sections Meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, Indianapolis IN. (February 6, 2015)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Bourland, Chris, Buxell, Linda, Grabau, Angie, Graves, Cherie, Hanson, Debra, Welke, Kara, . Maximizing the Benefits of Fieldwork Supervision. Presented at the MOTA 2014 Annual Conference, Bloomington, Minnesota. (November 7, 2014)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Braden, Kristin, Kroupa, Melissa, Rolfes, Amanda, Parish, Theresa. Ready approach: Identifying sensory deficits in adults with developmental disabilities. Presented at the University of South Dakota Occupational Therapy Research Symposium, Vermillion, SD. (May 8, 2014)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Chrestiansen, Sarah, Sharkey, Blane, Olson, Beryl, Smallfield, Stacy, Drealan, Samantha, Miller, Amanda. The effectiveness of a community-based program for implementing exercise into daily life with diabetes. Presented at the University of South Dakota Occupational Therapy Research Symposium, Vermillion, SD. (May 8, 2014)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Chrestiansen, Sarah, Olson, Beryl, Smallfield, Stacy, Sharkey, Blane, Drealan, Samantha, Miller, Amanda. Effectiveness of a community-based program for implementing exercise into daily life with diabetes.. Presented at the 2014 AOTA Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD. (April 3, 2014)
  • Nissen, Ranelle, Bourland, Chris, Buxell, Linda, Fleming, John, Grabau, Angie, Hanson, Debra, Harris, Leah. Fieldwork forum: Aligning your fieldwork program with AOTA's centennial vision. Presented at the MOTA 2013 Annual Conference, Bloomington, MN. (November 8, 2013)
  • Ikiugu, Moses, Cerny, Shana, Nissen, Ranelle. The Effectiveness of Intervention based on an Occupation-Based Theoretical Model in Promoting Occupational Performance Change to Help Resolve Global Human Concerns. Presented at the 12th Annual Research Conference "Occupation & Education", Lexington, KY. (October 18, 2013)
  • Ikiugu, Moses, Cerny, Shana, Nissen, Ranelle, Kranz, Robyn, Neukirch, Alex. The Effectiveness of Intervention based on an Occupation-Based Theoretical Model in Promoting Occupational Performance Change to Help Resolve Global Human Concerns. Presented at the 2013 Society for the Study of Occupation (SSO):USA Research Conference, Lexington, Kentucky. (October 18, 2013)