Professor
Nursing
Office
Nicolaus Copernicus Hall
22516
Biography
Dr. Christensen has worked as an Adult Nurse Practitioner since 1989. Her areas of expertise include women's health, adolescent health, and population based care. She has worked in a wide variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, OB-GYN, prison, community health, college health, and geriatric homecare. She has volunteered at numerous free health care events over the years and has a passion for working with vulnerable populations, which aligns well with her academic specialty courses taught within the Central Department of Nursing. Dr. Christensen is currently pursuing a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate at Western Connecticut State University.
Education
Areas of Expertise
Adult Health, Community Health, Prison Health, Adolescent GYN Health, OB-GYN
Publications, Research & Presentations
PUBLICATIONS
Christensen, S. & Wagner, L. (2021). Disaster relief nurses: Exploring the impetus to respond to multiple efforts. Nursing Science Quarterly, 35 (2), 244-255.
Christensen, S. & McKelvey, M. (2021). Sight and sole: Partnering to enhance the health of the New Britain homeless. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement. 20, (2), 164-175.
Christensen, S. (2021). Seeing beyond the theory: Empowering novice nursing students in their ability to save lives through primary and secondary prevention. Creative Nursing. 27, (2), 112-117.
Christensen, S. (2020). Inside and out: Overview of common female genital infections on the ambulatory care setting. Viewpoint: American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, 42, (1), 3-7.
Christensen, S., Desrochers, R., Langevin, K., & Espelin, J. (2020). Evaluation of a wellness clinic in assessing knowledge synthesis among BSN students. Journal of Nursing Education, 59 (1), 26-29.
McKelvey, M., Langevin, Konieczny, L., Espelin, J., Peer, N., Christensen, S., & Thomas, C. (2018). Nursing faculty coaches: Uncovering a hidden resource for success. Creative Nursing, 24 (4), 225-230.
Christensen, S., Coleman, M., Wagner, L., & Appell, D. (2016). The Lived Experience of having a rare medical disorder: Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome. Chronic Illness, DOI:10.1177/1742395316655854
Wagner, L. & Christensen, S. (2015). Impact of global health experience on nursing practice. Journal of Nursing Education. 54 (5), 295-299.
Christensen, S. (2014). Evaluation of a nurse designed mobile health education application to enhance knowledge of Pap testing. Creative Nursing Journal, 20 (2), 137-143.
Christensen, S. (2014). Enhancing nurses’ ability to care within the culture of incarceration. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. 25 (3), 223-231.
Christensen, S. & Morelli, R. (2012). MyPapp; A mobile app to enhance understanding of Pap testing. CIN: Computers, Informatics, and Nursing, 30(12), 627-631. doi: 10.1097NXN.0b013e318278b860
Christensen, S. (2011). Use of high fidelity simulation in lower level nursing courses. Journal on Nursing 1, 41-45.
Christensen, S. (2011). Health promotion and human right protection; Finding a balance for HIV testing policies in U.S. state prisons. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS care, 22, 238-243.
Christensen, S. (2000). Birth Control after Baby. Health Education Pamphlet written for Kaiser Permanente, Northeast Region.
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Christensen, S. (2012). “MyPapp” A free mobile health education application created to educate women about Pap testing. English version and Spanish version created. Published March 2012 and previously available for free download on the Google Play Android Marketplace. July, 2012- “MyPapp” named to “100 Best of 2012: Nurse Practitioner Round-Up.”
Awards & Grants
2021-CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Semi-Finalist
2020- CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Semi-Finalist
2019-CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Honor Roll
2016-CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Honor Roll
2015-CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Honor Roll
2014- State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education Community Service Award
2014- CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Honor Roll
2014- Beverly Koerner Research Award, Sigma Theta Tau
2013- Terry Bosworth Global Nursing Award
2013- CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Honor Roll
2012- CCSU Excellence in Teaching Awards, Honor Roll
2012- “MyPapp” named to “100 Best of 2012: Nurse Practitioner Round-Up.”
2011- Recipient, Nightingale Award for Nursing Excellence
1994- Rated among the “Top 10” out of more than 80 MDs and NPs by patients in the Kaiser Permanente Patient Satisfaction Survey.
1989- Recipient, Nurse Achiever Award, University Hospital, Boston, MA
Grants:
March 2020. Awarded $7,380 CCSU Innovation grant with professors Tamara Holland, Kerri Langevin, and Laurie Walter to undertake project titled, “Development of Empathy and Social Justice Through a Poverty Simulation.”
October 2019. Awarded $550.00 School of Education Collaboration Initiative with professors Tamara Holland, Thomas McCarthy, and Kathy Pirog to purchase a Stop the Bleed kit and begin campus trainings.
April 2019. Awarded $750 Terry Bosworth Global Nursing grant with Dr. Linda Wagner to assist with research on Disaster Nurse volunteerism
April 2018. Awarded $2,500.00 Community Engagement grant with Professor Michele McKelvey to undertake project titled, “Sight and Sole: Partnering to Enhance the Health of the New Britain Homeless” February 2014. Recipient of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Novo Nordisk Hemophilia Grant in the amount of $2,500 to support research study on Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome.
January 2013- Received the “Terry Bosworth Global Nursing Award” in the amount of $1,600 for course abroad activities in Jamaica March 2013. As a result of this grant, approximately 400 Jamaica residents were provided with health education and items to promote health. In addition, approximately 30 students from Jamaica and Central were able to share a meal and discuss healthcare issues within their culture.
July 2011- Awarded $8,134.00 Community Engagement Grant to undertake project titled “Partnering for Health Promotion of the New Britain Homeless Population” As a result of this grant, over 250 underserved patient encounters have occurred and approximately 100 students have participated in related events.
April 2011-Faculty Development Grant in the amount of $1,700 to attend the Transcultural Nursing Society’s 37th Annual Conference; Exploring the World of Transcultural Nursing : Coming Together to Transform Health Care, October, 2011, Las Vegas, NV.
April 2010-Faculty Development Grant in the amount of $2,000 to attend the American Public Health Association’s138th Annual Meeting on Social Justice and Public Health, held November 2010, Denver, CO.
September, 2003-Awarded $5,200 state grant to initiate a Fall Prevention Program for Glastonbury residents overage 65, the first such program offered with a home safety assessment component. Created in-depth fall assessment tool and patient education packets. 69 home safety assessments completed; 192 hazards identified and corrected (69.8%); $1900 in grant-funded safety equipment awarded to town residents
Memberships & Affiliations
Sigma Theta Tau, National Nursing Honor Society
Connecticut Association of Public Health Nurses, Inc.
Connecticut Nurse Practitioner Group, Inc
American Nurses Association
Connecticut Nurses Association
American Holistic Nurses Association
American Nurses Credentialing Center, Adult Nurse Practitioner Certification, 1989- present
National Commission on Correctional Health Care, Certified Correctional Health Professional, 2013
Stop the Bleed Certified Instructor
Courses Taught
Dr Christensen currently teaches Nursing 210- Health Assessment, Nursing 492- Leadership, Nursing 250- Nursing Care of Well Populations, and Nursing 413- Community Health. She has been involved in arranging a variety of community health experiences for students, including the establishment of Community Central, the nursing wellness clinic in downtown New Britain.