She joined the Department of Nursing in August 1998 after teaching at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Westmoreland Area Community College. She teaches junior level students. Her subject areas include adult health, geriatric assessment, prevention, care and management of cardiac and pulmonary problems, client education, pain management, and the use of high fidelity simulation in nursing education. Dr. Thomas is a member of the American Nurses Association, Pennsylvania Nurses Association, the Sigma Theta Tau, the International Nursing Honor Society. Her current research interests include high fidelity methods to increase student confidence, skills, and decision making.