UNC Charlotte School of Nursing Faculty Awarded 2024-2025 AACN Faculty Scholars Grant

Two of our amazing School of Nursing faculty members, Kelly Powers, PhD, RN, CNE, FNAP and Katherine Shue-McGuffin, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, have been awarded the AACN Faculty Scholars Grant for the 2024-2025 academic year! This grant was awarded by the Foundation for Academic Nursing under the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and supports nurse educators who are developing innovative teaching strategies designed to enhance the transition from student to professional practice.

Dr. Kelly Powers currently serves the our School of Nursing an Associate Professor, where she teaches in the DNP and MSN programs and develops innovative simulations to enhance student learning. She specializes in interprofessional education (IPE) and has researched IPE across various educational settings. Dr. Powers serves on the North Carolina Interprofessional Education Leaders Collaborative and co-chairs the Academy for Clinical Research and Scholarship (ACRS). Additionally, she is on the editorial boards of the Journal of Professional Nursing and Dimensions in Critical Care Nursing, and was recently inducted as a Distinguished Scholar Fellow of the National Academies of Practice.

Dr. Katherine Shue-McGuffin, is a Clinical Associate Professor and Program Coordinator for our DNP Program. She is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and has over a decade of experience in primary care and community health. Her work centers on simulation-based education, developing scenarios to train FNP and AGACNP students in assessment and clinical reasoning. Dr. Shue-McGuffin is an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and advocates for advanced nursing practice and healthcare access. She co-chairs the School’s Academy for Clinical Research and Scholarship alongside Dr. Powers.

Supporting the Transition to Practice Through Simulation

The collaborative project developed by Dr. Powers and Dr. Shue-McGuffin exemplifies UNC Charlotte’s dedication to enhancing student readiness for community-based roles. By leveraging the AACN Faculty Scholars Grant, their work will not only foster interprofessional collaboration among students but also help them build the confidence and competence needed to address complex patient needs in community settings.

As recipients of the AACN Faculty Scholars Grant, Dr. Powers and Dr. Shue-McGuffin reinforce UNC Charlotte’s leadership in innovative nursing education and its commitment to preparing nursing students for meaningful, impactful careers.

To read the full article, click the following: AACN’s Foundation for Academic Nursing Awards Funding to Study the Impact of Simulation on Student Transition to Practice.