SCHOLAR DIRECTORY

I am the Accreditation Coordinator for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS). In this role, I am involved with system-wide performance improvement activities. I am frequently involved with Behavioral Health providers and have developed an interest in the care of Veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), especially how caring for this population affects the mental and physical health of the healthcare worker. I believe this is an area of research that has not been fully explored. I have a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Nursing Leadership from Samford University, as well as an MSN and BSN from the University of North Alabama. Recently, I was recognized as Nurse Scholar at CAVHS and also recently successfully passed the national examination as a Certified Joint Commission Professional. I have experience in Nursing Leadership as well as Quality and Performance Improvement, and am a Certified Green Belt in Lean Healthcare. I am currently in my second year of the PhD program. I am pursuing a PhD in order to devlop the skills to conduct research. My immediate research goal is to examine the experiences of healthcare professionals who work in the Veterans Healthcare Administration and provide care on a routine basis to Veterans diagnosed with PTSD, and explore the impact on their own mental and physical health. By identifying and treating PTSD in providers, I hope to be able to increase retention of providers and promote continuity of care for Veterans.