Dr. Deedra Harrington isn小蝌蚪APP檛 one to sit still.
As an associate professor in the 小蝌蚪APP College of Nursing and Allied Health, Dr. Harrington serves as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing coordinator while teaching in the Doctor of Nursing Practice online program and the Graduate Certificate in Cardiovascular Nursing online program.
Meanwhile, she continues her nursing practice as an acute care nurse practitioner through the .
小蝌蚪APP淚 think it小蝌蚪APP檚 the best of both worlds,小蝌蚪APP Dr. Harrington says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 haven小蝌蚪APP檛 gotten to the point where I can give up my nurse practitioner practice. Maybe one day.小蝌蚪APP
Following her Heart
Dr. Harrington didn小蝌蚪APP檛 initially pursue nursing; she earned a certificate in computer programming, which she quickly realized would not be her long-term career.
She began working in the medical field, first as a courier for a pathology group, then with a gynecologist, and finally as a transcriptionist for a surgical facility. Those experiences sparked Dr. Harrington小蝌蚪APP檚 interest in nursing.
The first-generation college student finished her bachelor of science in nursing at UL Lafayette at 30 years old and within a few months joined the cardiovascular unit at Lafayette General Medical Center.
Since then, cardiovascular care has remained at the heart of Dr. Harrington小蝌蚪APP檚 practice and research.
As part of her Master of Science in Nursing, Dr. Harrington小蝌蚪APP檚 thesis examined the readmission rates of cardiac bypass patients readmitted for sternal wound infections; her DNP synthesis project was the implementation of an anticoagulation Warfarin protocol at LGMC.
In 2016, Dr. Harrington was recognized as serving on the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards Committee and her contribution to the national , a procedural guide for nurses.
Becoming a Nurse Educator
Dr. Harrington began teaching at UL Lafayette in 2005 once she小蝌蚪APP檇 earned her MSN degree.
She says it was a natural progression from her clinical experience as manager of cardiovascular telemetry and pulmonary units.
小蝌蚪APP淚n that leadership role, you小蝌蚪APP檙e always a mentor, you小蝌蚪APP檙e always a teacher. To transition from practice as a team leader and preceptor for those new nurses into academia wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 that much of a difference,小蝌蚪APP she says.
小蝌蚪APP淵ou小蝌蚪APP檙e still educating new nurses, you小蝌蚪APP檙e still teaching them what they need to know.小蝌蚪APP
That can include how to assess a patient, knowing when to react and intervene, and anticipated recovery timelines and outcomes.
As in her clinical practice, Dr. Harrington has been honored as an educator, as well.
In April 2019, Dr. Harrington was honored as an Eminent Faculty member. She received the Dr. Ray P. Authement Excellence in Teaching Award, named for the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 fifth president. The award recognizes faculty commitment to teaching and innovation.
小蝌蚪APP淚 always remember that I was once a student 小蝌蚪APP I think you小蝌蚪APP檙e always a student,小蝌蚪APP Dr. Harrington says. 小蝌蚪APP淪o to treat the students in our program as I was treated as a student. You don小蝌蚪APP檛 know what you don小蝌蚪APP檛 know as a new nurse.小蝌蚪APP
Dr. Harrington says her relationships with students rarely end at commencement, as they become colleagues or reach out as they advance their education.
小蝌蚪APP淚 have several students who have stayed in touch throughout the years just to update me on their progress and what they小蝌蚪APP檙e doing with their career,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭o me, that小蝌蚪APP檚 the most rewarding 小蝌蚪APP to see them grow professionally.小蝌蚪APP
Creating New Opportunities
Dr. Harrington is the faculty of record for the three courses that comprise the six-month online Graduate Certificate in Cardiovascular Nursing.
The program prepares nurses who already have a graduate degree for specialized practice.
Dr. Harrington says cardiovascular care can be intimidating for nurse practitioners. One of the goals of the cardiovascular certificate is to help nurse practitioners understand the dynamics of cardiovascular health and disease processes.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 just like anything else 小蝌蚪APP caring for diabetes, or hypertension. If you learn and understand the system and the diagnostic tools you have to care for the patients, it doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 have to be a scary patient focus group,小蝌蚪APP she says.
小蝌蚪APP淭hey can feel comfortable when they go out to practice, or, hopefully, pursue cardiovascular care so that we have nurse practitioners who are skilled and seasoned and have a passion to care for that population.小蝌蚪APP
With the addition of the specialized graduate certificate, Dr. Harrington says she hopes the 小蝌蚪APP will be able to create additional opportunities for other specializations.
小蝌蚪APP淲hat I hope is that the cardiovascular certificate will open doors for the department to offer more certificate programs in different specialties 小蝌蚪APP oncology, emergency room nursing 小蝌蚪APP so we can provide that education and students can get clinical experience in those focused populations.小蝌蚪APP