Application deadline
Credits and costs
CCNE Accredited
A Doctoral Degree in Nursing from World Campus
The online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a professional, practice-focused doctoral degree designed to prepare highly qualified nurses to be leaders who deliver expert nursing care and ultimately improve health care outcomes. This degree is designed for you if you are a nurse who plans to continue in a practice role, and who has already earned a bachelor's or master's degree in nursing.
Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership at Penn State
Providing quality nursing education since 1964, Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, in partnership with Penn State World Campus, can help you update your knowledge and skills to meet the demands of the constantly changing health care field. Based on your previous education and nursing experience, the DNP–Leadership degree has two entry pathways:
- post–Bachelor of Science in Nursing for nurse administrators
- post–Master of Science in Nursing for nurse administrators and advanced practice nurses
Your Online DNP–Leadership Courses
Built on the DNP Essentials developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the curriculum will focus on the translation of research into practice, transformational leadership, and advanced expert nursing practice. To support these Essentials, your course work will also include nursing/change theory, foundations of advanced nursing practice, health policy, informatics, and population-based health.
Total credits required will vary depending on your educational background and the number of practicum hours you need to meet the requirement.
MSN to DNP entry pathway: 38–46 credits
BS to DNP entry pathway: 61 credits
While providing you with the convenience and flexibility of an online program, the online DNP–Leadership program will include the same rigor you would expect from a traditional doctoral-level nursing program. In order to properly prepare you for the highest level of clinical nursing practice, you will be required to attend in-person intensive sessions and complete other doctoral benchmarks, including your Qualifying Examination, Comprehensive Examination, and DNP project with an oral presentation.
As a student in the online DNP–Leadership program, you can expect to take at least two courses per semester in fall and spring, with additional courses offered during the summer semester. Students entering through the B.S. to DNP pathway will be considered full-time students and can expect to take at least three courses per semester in fall and spring.
The Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. The baccalaureate degree program in nursing, master’s degree program in nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice program, and post-graduate APRN certificate programs at The Pennsylvania State University are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791. Further information can be found at www.ccneaccreditation.org.
Courses
The core essentials of the online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP–Leadership) program include translation of research into practice, transformational leadership, and advanced expert nursing practice. To support these essentials, other course work will include nursing/change theory, foundations of advanced nursing practice, health policy, informatics, and population-based health.
Depending on your educational background, the DNP–Leadership program has two entry pathways:
- Post–Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Nursing for nurse administrators (61 total credits)
- Post–Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) entry for nurse administrators and advanced practice nurses (38–46 total credits)
The culmination of the program is an evidence-based practice project. The goal of your DNP project is to produce an actual, deliverable product that has originated from practice experience. You will identify a problem and use evidence-based research to develop a proposal to implement and evaluate a practice change initiative.
DNP–Leadership Entry Options
The online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP–Leadership) program has two entry options:
- MSN to DNP — Curriculum will be composed of five components for a total of 38–46 credits. (Your total number of credits will depend on the number of practicum hours you need to meet the 1,000-hour requirement.)
- DNP core courses: 15 credits
- Other required courses: 17 credits
- Advanced practice clinical: 0–8 credits (The number of required credits depends on the number of hours completed in your MSN program; if you have completed 550 hours, additional clinical practice hours are not required.)
- DNP project requirement: 6 credits (minimum)
- B.S. to DNP — Curriculum will be composed of seven components for a total of 61 credits.
- Master's core courses: 9 credits
- Nurse administrator option courses: 13 credits
- DNP core courses: 12 credits
- Other required courses: 14 credits
- Advanced practice clinical: 4 credits (needed to meet the 1,000-hour requirement)
- DNP project requirement: 6 credits (minimum)
- Electives: 3 credits
Practicum Hours
A total of 1,000 hours of post–B.S. practicum are required in the DNP–Leadership program. You may transfer 550 hours of practicum (if applicable) from the master's program. The remaining hours are accomplished through various courses in the DNP curriculum that include practicum hours as part of the course work. Practicum hour plans will be developed in consultation with the course faculty member and with the approval of the DNP faculty adviser. Development of the plans for practicum experiences begins with your admission to the program. The practicum planning process involves establishing a site affiliation agreement with the practicum site and identifying a preceptor(s). You will be responsible for identifying potential practicum sites and preceptors and working with the Assistant Dean for Online Education and Outreach at the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing to accomplish the affiliation agreement process. Some students choose to complete practicum requirements at their place of employment and other students identify alternate practicum sites.
MSN to DNP Curriculum
DNP Core Courses (15 credits)
Other Required Courses (17 credits)
DNP Project (6 credits)
Master's Core Courses (9 credits)
Nurse Administrator Option Courses (13 credits)
DNP Core Courses (12 credits)
Other Required Courses (14 credits)
Advanced Practice Clinical (3-4 credits)
DNP Project (6 credits)
Electives (3 credits)
Students can choose from a diverse list of online courses preselected by the program to satisfy this requirement.
DNP Project
The DNP project is an important aspect of the program. You and your advising team will meet prior to the beginning of the first semester to begin planning your DNP project. Project identification and development progress along with coursework will align with evidenced-based practice and quality improvement initiatives. You will present project related presentations at varying points during the program. Please see the Benchmarks section for more details. The culmination of the program is an evidence-based practice project. The goal of the DNP project is to produce an actual, deliverable product that has originated from practice experience. You will identify a problem and use evidence-based research to develop a proposal to implement and evaluate a practice change initiative.
Course Availability
If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.
Costs and Financial Aid
Graduate Tuition
Graduate tuition is calculated based on the number of credits for which you register. Tuition is due shortly after each semester begins and rates are assessed every semester of enrollment.
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,017 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,203 per semester |
| How many credits do you plan to take per semester? | Cost |
|---|---|
| 11 or fewer | $1,027 per credit |
| 12 or more | $12,325 per semester |
Financial Aid and Military Benefits
Some students may qualify for financial aid. Take the time to research financial aid, scholarships, and payment options as you prepare to apply. Military service members, veterans, and their spouses or dependents should explore these potential military education benefits and financial aid opportunities, as well.
How to Apply
Deadlines and Important Dates
Your degree application, including receipt of all transcripts, must be received by the following deadlines to be considered complete:
Admissions Help
If you have questions about the admissions process, contact our admissions counselors.
Admission Requirements
The decision to pursue the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) is a serious one. It is highly recommended that you contact the program office to discuss your potential program of study with the program team prior to submitting your application. The online DNP program will be a rigorous, competitive program, and you should thoroughly understand the level of time and commitment that will be expected of you through the course of your studies.
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in nursing from a U.S. regionally accredited institution or a postsecondary degree in nursing that is equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree earned from an officially recognized degree-granting international institution. Students entering from the post-master's route must have earned a master's degree with a major in nursing from a program accredited by a national accrediting agency for nursing.
Applicants to the DNP–Leadership program must also have a current license to practice professional nursing in at least one state in the United States or a foreign country. You are also expected to have a grade-point average (on a 4.0 scale) meeting the requirements for your track:
- BS to DNP: cumulative undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.5 and B+ or better on subsequent course work
- MSN to DNP: cumulative graduate GPA ≥ 3.5 and B+ or better on subsequent course work
What You Need
Applications are submitted electronically and include a nonrefundable application fee.
You will need to upload the following items as part of your application:
A copy of an official transcript from each institution attended, regardless of the number of credits or semesters completed. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Penn State alumni do not need to request transcripts for credits earned at Penn State, but must list Penn State as part of your academic history. Upon admission and your acceptance of admission, you will be asked to send an additional official transcript. You will receive instructions at that time.
Statement of Purpose — You should submit a personal statement not to exceed 300 words, which should describe your relevant work experience; clearly articulated reasons for applying to the selected option; long-term goals or career aspirations; and other information that may be useful to the admissions committee.
English Proficiency — The language of instruction at Penn State is English. With some exceptions, international applicants must take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum test scores and exceptions are found in the English Proficiency section on the Graduate School's "Requirements for Graduate Admission" page. Visit the TOEFL website for testing information. Penn State's institutional code is 2660.
Please note that for entrance into a Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing graduate-level program, the minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 580 for the paper-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 25 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 7.0.
References (3) — obtained from academic and professional perspectives. If you completed college-level courses over the last five years, an academic reference is required. Other references should be from a nursing supervisor, preferably holding a degree higher than yours. You will need to initiate the referral process through the online application by entering names, email addresses and mailing addresses of three references. Upon submission of your application, those individuals will each receive an email asking them to complete a brief online recommendation specifically regarding your commitment to the health care profession and potential for success in an online program. Please inform all references that they must submit the form for your application to be complete.
Program-Specific Questions/Materials
Vita — listing your professional experience and other qualifications
Writing Sample — A published or unpublished scientific paper, thesis, or other scholarly writing sample
Interview — You will be asked to participate in an interview, via Internet-based video conferencing or in-person
Start Your Application
Begin the graduate school application
- Choose Enrollment Type: "Degree Admission"
- Choose "WORLD CAMPUS" as the campus
Checking Your Status
You can check the status of your application by using the same login information established for the online application form.
Technical Requirements
Review the technical requirements for this degree program.
Get the resources you need to make informed decisions about your education. Request information on this program and other programs of interest by completing this form.
Advance Your Career
Advance Your Career
You can use the knowledge gained from this program and the support of Penn State career resources to pursue careers in a variety of fields, depending on your goals.
Contact Us
To learn more about the Doctor of Nursing Practice – Leadership (DNP–Leadership) program, offered in partnership with the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, please contact:
World Campus Admissions Counselors
Phone: 814-863-5386
Email: [email protected]
Cody Hoffman
Student Enrollment Recruiter
Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Phone: 814-865-0865
Email: [email protected]
To learn more about additional, highly respected nursing programs from Penn State, visit the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing website.
Faculty
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Diane Berish, PH.D.
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DegreePh.D., Miami University
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DegreeM.A., University of Virginia
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DegreeB.A., University of Notre Dame
Dr. Diane Berish is an assistant research professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Her research interests include statistics and research methods, long-term services and supports, aging and health care policy, and health care quality.
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Barbara Birriel, PH.D., ACNP-BC, FCCM
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DegreePh.D., Nursing and Bioethics, Penn State
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DegreePost-Graduate ACNP, University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeMSN, Thomas Jefferson University
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DegreeBSN, Bloomsburg University
Dr. Barbara Birriel is an assistant research professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She is a participant on a Penn State Strategic Initiative led by Dickinson Law — The Pennsylvania Adult-Fiduciary Project: Developing Statewide Online Education in Support of Aging and Vulnerable Adults. Her contribution is in development of content related to family member surrogate decision-making. She is working with the Hershey Medical Center’s Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council, advising clinical nurses on current projects. Her research interests lie at the intersection of critical care and bioethics, including decision-making and cognitive impairment and recovery following critical illness.
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Kristen Bransby, DNP, CRNP, CPNP-PC
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DegreeDNP, University of Maryland
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DegreeMSN, Drexel University
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Kristen Bransby is an associate teaching professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She is a pediatric nurse practitioner and a pediatric mental health specialist who teaches the pediatric course work in the Family/Individual Across the Lifespan Nurse Practitioner track and mentors and facilitates learning for DNP students. Her practice interests include pediatrics, pediatric mental health, community health and health disparities, breastfeeding, health policy, and nurse practitioner full practice authority.
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Cara Exten, PH.D., MPH, B.S.
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DegreePh.D., The Ohio State University
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DegreeMPH, Emory University
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DegreeB.S., East Tennessee State University
Dr. Cara Exten is an assistant teaching professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She is an infectious disease epidemiologist, focusing on health disparities affecting sexual and gender minority populations, with an emphasis on sexual health (specifically HIV and other sexually transmitted infections) and substance use. She has extensive experience in survey data collection, data analysis, and working with high-risk populations, and she is passionate about the examination of diseases in their entirety, including biological, sociological, and epidemiological factors.
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Sandra Halbruner, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC
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DegreeDNP, Wilkes University
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DegreeM.S., Penn State
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DegreeBSN, Johns Hopkins University
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DegreeB.S., Franklin & Marshall College
Dr. Sandra Halbruner is an assistant teaching professor for the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She has more than 21 years of experience in the field of medicine. Her research interests include active learning techniques in the multi-site or online classroom.
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Judith E. Hupcey, CRNP, FAAN
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DegreeEd.D., Nursing Education, Columbia University Teachers College
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DegreeM.Ed., Nursing Education, Columbia University Teachers College
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DegreeM.S., Adult Nurse Practitioner, Columbia University School of Nursing
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DegreeBSN, Columbia University School of Nursing
Dr. Judith Hupcey, professor of nursing, medicine, and bioethics, is the associate dean for graduate education and research in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at Penn State University Park. She is also a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Her present research focuses on persons with heart failure at end of life, and their family caregivers. She recently completed a study investigating the palliative care needs of persons with heart failure and their family caregivers. From this study, a cutting-edge model of palliative care for heart failure was developed.
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Sheri Matter, Ph.D.
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DegreePh.D., Leadership and Administration, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
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DegreeMSN, Wilmington University
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DegreeMBA, University of St. Francis
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DegreeBSN, Wilkes University
Dr. Sheri Matter is the director of online MSN programs and is an assistant teaching professor for Penn State's Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. She has more than 30 years of nursing leadership experience, including serving as chief nursing executive of a multiple-hospital system. Her dissertation focused on the nurse characteristics of a highly reliable organization. Her research interests include leadership, nurse characteristics and their effects on quality, and qualitative methods.
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Madeline Mattern, DNP, FNP-C, CNE
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DegreeDNP, Carlow University
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DegreePost-Masters FNP Certificate, Penn State
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DegreeM.S., Penn State
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DegreeB.S., Penn State
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DegreeRN Diploma, Citizen’s General Hospital School of Nursing
Dr. Madeline Mattern is the director of nurse practitioner options and an assistant teaching professor for the College of Nursing. Her dissertation focused on current management strategies of Pennsylvania primary care nurse practitioners for persons diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Her research interests include reducing anxiolytic use in primary care and primary care of underserved and rural populations.
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Nicole Peterson, DNP, A/GPCNP-BC, CRNP, RN
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DegreeDNP, University of Iowa
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DegreeMSN, University of Iowa
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DegreeBSN, University of Iowa
Dr. Nicole Peterson is an assistant teaching professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and an Emeritus associate professor of instruction at the University of Iowa College of Nursing. She is a Respecting Choices® first steps and advanced steps facilitator. She has experience teaching in undergraduate and graduate nursing, including master's and doctorate level, as well as serving as geriatric nurse practitioner preceptor to numerous students, including family medicine residents. Her teaching experience includes lecture, online, clinical/practicum, and simulation with emphasis on utilizing active learning strategies in the classroom. As an enrolled member of the Menominee Nation of Wisconsin and a first-generation college student, she strives to be a supportive resource for underrepresented students in higher education. Her clinical research interest includes advance care planning. Her DNP project involved advance care planning conversations and completion of an Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (IPOST) when applicable with nursing home residents in a mid-size town when the medical orders were first available statewide in Iowa.
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Andrea Yevchak Sillner, PH.D., GCNS-BC, RN
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DegreeDNP, Penn State
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DegreeMSN, Penn State
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Andrea Sillner is an assistant professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a board-certified gerontological clinical nurse specialist. Her 2017 Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Early-Career Investigator Award in Patient and Family Engagement supports her work to develop a new subscale of the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory, to be known as the P-TAC. This new subscale is being designed to strengthen technology-assisted communication among older adults receiving community-based home health services and their formal and informal caregivers, and will also address current gaps in support needed to improve transitions in care for older adults with multiple chronic conditions. Her research interests include person-centered, preference-based interventions focused on improving communication among health care providers, patients, and family members; technology-based communication strategies; and communication and care transitions for persons with delirium and delirium superimposed on dementia.
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Mariya Tankimovich, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C, CNE
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DegreeDNP, University of Texas Health Science Center
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DegreeMSN, University of Texas Health Science Center
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DegreeBSN, University of Texas Health Science Center
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DegreeB.A., University of California
Dr. Mariya Tankimovich is the director of the DNP program and an associate teaching professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. Her practice improvement project is Implementation Plan of a Family Clinic–Based Pilot Study for a Smartphone-Based Short Message System Text-Messaging Intervention to Improve Dietary Practices among Adult Patients with Hyperlipidemia. Her DNP Fellowship Project was Connection to Care: Perceptions, Readmission, and Reality — a research project to study unwanted readmissions of pediatric patients at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston and to design and implement a plan to reduce such unwanted readmissions. Her research interests include health promotion and disease prevention, improving patient outcomes, and transitions-of-care challenges.
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Kimberly Van Haitsma, PH.D.
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DegreePh.D., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
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DegreeM.A., Clinical Psychology, Bowling Green State University
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DegreeB.A., Psychology, Calvin College
Dr. Kimberly Van Haitsma's research interests include developing observational methodologies to assess behavior and emotion in dementia, developing evidence-based education programs to enhance the skills of formal caregivers, advancing the understanding of person-centered care — "knowing preferences for everyday living" — and developing measurement tools for research, clinical practice, and evidence-based interventions for formal caregivers.
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Britney Wardecker, PH.D.
DegreePh.D., Psychology, University of MichiganDr. Britney Wardecker is an assistant professor for the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and a faculty affiliate for the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging. Prior to her faculty position, Dr. Wardecker began training (funded by the National Institutes of Health) as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Center. Her research examines lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) older adults' psychological and physical health outcomes. She also loves to teach in the areas of health, discrimination, health disparities, and research methods. Her research interests include promoting health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults; examining health disparities and individual differences in health (such as age, gender, and sexual orientation); and biomarker measurement.
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Kelly Wolgast, RN, FACHE, FAAN
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DegreeDNP, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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DegreeM.S., Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College
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DegreeMSN, Vanderbilt University
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DegreeBSN, Penn State
Dr. Kelly Wolgast teaches both nurse administrator/management courses and nurse educator courses in Penn State's MSN and DNP Programs. Her research interests includes nurse leadership, health care delivery models, distance learning, and military/veterans' health.
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