Karin Polifko, PhD, RN, CNE, NEA-BC
Dr. Polifko’s career has spanned both the academic and service fields of health care. Along with teaching experience at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels, she has held leadership positions in higher education, including Department Chair, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Academic Director, Campus President and Vice President, Operations and Academic Affairs.
Dr. Polifko has extensive administrative experience in various acute care health settings, in the roles of Vice President of System Development and Research, Administrative Director for Critical Care Services, Director of Nursing and Clinical Nurse Specialist. Past consulting projects include college and program development, strategic planning and prioritization, accreditation preparation, organizational change assessment and evaluation, change management and leadership assessment. Her first textbook, Case Applications in Nursing Leadership and Management was published in 2004, Concepts of the Nursing Profession, was published in 2007 and The Practice Environment: Issues and Trends was published in 2010. Dr. Polifko has presented in a wide variety of workshops and seminars both nationally and internationally.
Dr. Polifko received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, her PhD in Public Administration / Urban Health Services and a certificate in Advanced Policy Analysis from Old Dominion University. She is certified as Nurse Executive-Advanced through ANCC and holds a certification as a nurse educator through NLN.
Karin Polifko, PhD, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, Program Chair
660.626.2420
karinpolifko@atsu.edu
Jodi Gamm, MBA, Academic Advisor
660.626.2998
jodigamm@atsu.edu
Laura Lipke, MS, MLIS, AHIP, Nursing Librarian
660.626.2336
lauralipke@atsu.edu
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The Department of Nursing focuses on the development of strategic organizational leadership skills applying student-centric teaching-learning methods in an online course delivery format. Graduates will apply critical thinking skills with a quality analysis and improvement focus. We are committed to acknowledging care of the whole person, including those who are underserved, using evidence-based practice as a foundation for change.
The Nursing Program seeks to prepare graduates who are:
The DNP Program prepares the graduate to achieve the following program outcomes:
Essential I: Scientific Underpinnings for Practice
Essential II: Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Improvement and Systems Thinking
Essential III: Clinical Scholarship and Analytical Methods for Evidence-Based Practice
Essential IV: Information Systems/Technology and Patient Care Technology for the Improvement and Transformation of Health Care
Essential V: Health Care Policy for Advocacy in Health Care
Essential VI: Interprofessional Collaboration for Improving Patient and Population Health Outcomes
Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation's Health
Essential VIII: Advanced Nursing Practice
In the final module of your courses, you will be asked to reflect on the above essentials. Essentials specific to your course will be noted at the back of the syllabus and will be listed under each of the corresponding course competencies with the DESS designation. For example, a course competency with DESS III-4 addresses Essential III, the fourth item.
Reference
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2006, October). The essentials of doctoral education for advanced nursing practice. https://www.aacnnursing.org/DNP/DNP-Essentials