Kathryn A Parke, DNP, RN, CPNP
Associate Professor/Clinical
I have been a pediatric nurse practitioner since 2001. Currently I am the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Course Track Coordinator at UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing. I actively participated in the redesign of the BSN to DNP curriculum and have redesigned six courses in the PNP program and participated in the redesign of a core DNP course. My teaching focuses on providing experiential learning and meeting the individual learning needs of my students. I envisioned and co-created a pediatric telehealth simulation experience for PNP and FNP students to increase student exposure to essential pediatric diagnoses. I practice in a school based clinic caring for adolescents and their children from the school day care. I am interested in improving the health and future health outcomes of under-served children by improving access to healthcare and addressing social and behavioral determinants of health which impact their current and future health.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2012 - Doctor in Nursing Practice - Nursing - University of Alabama at Huntsville
- 2001 - Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 2001 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 1979 - DPL - Nursing - North Down Group School of Nursing
Highlights
Licensures and Certifications
- Registered Nurse (Texas)
- Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Honors and Awards
- 2020 Presidential Teaching Award
- 2020 AACN Excellence in Innovation and Teaching Award Nominee
- 2020 The Dr. Patty Hawken Faculty Award, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2017 Presidential Teaching Award Nominee
Appointments
- 2016 - present - Clinical Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2013 - 2019 - Assistant Professor/Clinical - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2012 - 2013 - Clinical Instructor - Schreiner University, Kerrville, TX
- 2015 - 2017 - Lead Nurse Practitioner - UT Health San Antonio
- 2013 - 2016 - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Avance Head Start/UTHSCSA Clinic, San Antonio, TX
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Instruction & Training
- 2021 - present, NURS 6421 PNP-PC Dx & Mgmt: Concepts and Theory 1, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019, NURS 7323 Design and Analysis for EBP Translational Science II, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 - 2020, LAB Nsg Clt Acute/Min Prob, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2019 - present, NURS 7304 Sci of Knowl Trans and Implem II, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2018 - 2020, NURS 7312 DNP Practice Inquiry Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2018 - present, NURS 7313 DNP Practice Inquiry: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2017 , NURS 7111 Advanced Nursing Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2017, NURS 6071 Supervised Teaching, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2016, NURS 4403 Disease Mgmt III: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2016 - present , NURS 6615 PNP-PC Diagnosis & Management I: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2015, NURS 6130 Nurse Practitioner Conceptual Basis, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2015 - present, NURS 6616 PNP-PC Diagnosis & Management II: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2015 - 2016, NURS 4210 CHILD AND FAMILY HEALTH: THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2015, NURS 4403 DISEASE MANAGEMENT III: CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS 6128 PNP DX & MGT III: SEMINAR, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS 6130 Nurse Practitioner Conceptual Basis, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS6828 PNP DX & MGT III: PRECEPTORSHIP, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS 4403 Disease Mgmt III: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS 6128 PNP DX & MGT III: SEMINAR, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS6828 PNP DX & MGT III: PRECEPTORSHIP, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2014, NURS 4211 CHILD & FAMILY HEALTH: CLINICAL APPLICATION, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2013 - present , NURS 6428 PNP DX & MGT: CNCPT & THRY II, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
- 2013 - present, NURS 6423 PNP DX & MGT : CNCPT&THRY I, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
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Research & Grants
Grants
Currently Funded:
- 2018 - 2019, Funding Agency: Nursing Advisory Council. Title: Improving Health Literacy in an at Risk Adolescent Population. Status: Active. Role: Co-Investigator. Grant Detail: Awarded $4050 to implement a program to improve health literacy in an adolescent population.
Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects:
- 2017, Title: Designing a Model of Care to Address Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health. Role: Co-Investigator, % Effort: 10%. Grant Detail: No funding was awarded for this grant. I was given 10% effort for 1 semester.
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Service
Department
Departmental Projects
- 2016 - 2017, Standing Orders for Adolescent School Based Clinic, Created parent permission forms and standing orders for the Healy Murphy Center Adolescent school clinic. This allowed the RN to administer medications to the students for minor ailments such as headache and menstrual cramps allowing them to stay in school and optimize their school performance.
School
Teaching Projects
- 2020-Present, Pediatric Telehealth Simulation, Conceived and co-created a pediatric telehealth simulation to expose FNPs and PNPs to essential pediatric diagnoses. Obtained a certification in simulation to inform design and measurement of this project. Applied for grant funding to expand the project
- 2015, Guatemala Medical Outreach Clinic, Supervised 2 FNP students who provided medical care to Guatemalans in rural underserved locations of Guatemala. We provided care to over 200 Guatemalan children during the week long medical outreach clinic.
- 2015 - 2019, Interprofessional Fluoride Varnish Clinic Day, Certified all PNP students in fluoride varnish application. Organized an interprofessional team (DHHS dentist, UTHSCSA dental hygienist and PNP students and PNP faculty) to provide fluoride varnish to 250 elementary school children.
- 2012, Changing Illness Beliefs in Adolescents with Asthma, Using a questionnaire to reveal adolescents beliefs constructed an educational intervention to change false illness beliefs.
Student Mentess/Trainees
- 2019 – 2020, Chair of Tiffany Deal DNP Project to improve HPV vaccinations in a military Pediatric clinic
Institutional
- 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, Chair of Committee on Graduate Studies
- 2020 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, Search Committee, Member
- 2019 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, Committee on International Programs (CIP), Chair
- 2016 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, DNP Project Committee Chair
- 2018 – 2020, UT Health San Antonio, Search Committee, Chair
- 2017 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, BSN to DNP Committee, Member
- 2016 – 2017, UT Health San Antonio, MSN Curriculum Committee, Co-Chair
- 2016 – 2017, UT Health San Antonio, Graduate Admission Working Group, Member
- 2016 – 2017, UT Health San Antonio, Committee to Revise the Admission Process to the Graduate Program, Committee Member
- 2015 – 2016, UT Health San Antonio, MSN Review Committee, Member
- 2014 – Present, UT Health San Antonio, Faculty Practice Plan Executive Committee, Member
- 2014 – 2015, UT Health San Antonio, Faculty Mentor to Dr. Rebecca Fenton – DNP Project
- 2013 – 2014, UT Health San Antonio, DNP Curriculum Committee, Member
Service to the Profession
- 2003 – 2006, Pediatric Asthma and Management, Dr. Lee Kirchner, San Antonio, TX. I taught classes to local day care centers about pediatric asthma and management in day care setting.
- 1998 – 2001, Inpatient and Outpatient, Methodist Children‘s Hospital, San Antonio, TX. I taught inpatient and outpatient classes to parents of asthmatic children.
- 1996 – 2002, Pediatric pacemaker, Methodist Children‘s Hospital, San Antonio, TX I taught a quarterly pediatric pacemaker class for pediatric ICU RNs in cardiovascular section of critical care tutorial.
Professional Affiliations
- 2020 – Present, TNP: Texas Nurse Practitioner Association
- 2017 – Present, AANP: American Academy of Nurse Practitioner
- 2014 – Present, NONPF: Organization for nurse practitioner faculty
- 2013 - Present, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF), Member
- 2013 - Present, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), Member
- 2001 – Present, STAC NAPNAP: Local chapter of pediatric nurse practitioner program
Community Service
Other Projects
- 2018- 2019, "Improving Health Literacy in an At-Risk Adolescent Population", Improve the health literacy of students attending health and parenting classes at a local alternative high school and those students who attend the school clinic.
- 2016- 2018, Improving Care by Addressing Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health, I combined my seed grant award and a student DNP project to implement screening for social and behavioral determinants of health at a school clinic and then referred for intervention for adverse social and behavioral determinants of health.
- 2015- 2019, Pediatric Clerkship Experience, I created partnerships with sub-specialty clinicians to enhance the pediatric nurse practitioner clinical experience and expose them to specific sub specialty disorders that are relevant to primary care.This experience will be allow the future PNP to provide many services which are often referred but could be cared for in primary care.
Community Service
- 2020 – Present, Volunteer at the San Antonio Covid-19 testing call center Clinician
- 2014 – Present, Volunteer,Community Annual Sports Physcial Fair with Dr. Rettig at Edgewood School District
- 2005 – Present, Volunteer, FCC licensed radio operator
Global
Dr. Parke is the Track Coordinator of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program. In 2015, she partnered with a local organization called the San Antonio Guatemalan Endeavor (SAGE). This organization coordinates an annual interprofessional medical trip to travel to Guatemala. She precepted two nurse practitioner (NP) students to provide pediatric medical care as part of the medical outreach team. This team travels to different rural communities in underserved areas of Guatemala over a one-week period of time. Students work with RN nursing students, physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, optometrists, dentists, local officials, and student interpreters to stand up a medical clinic and provide care to a different community every day for five days. The trip included a three-day rest and recovery trip to Antigua, Guatemala, where students can explore and enjoy different aspects of Guatemala and Guatemalan culture.
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Publications
Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.)
- *Worabo HL, Parke KA, Muck A, Farokhi M. Refugee Healthcare Needs: Perceptions of Health and Social Service Professionals in South Texas Texas Public Health Journal 2019 Oct;71(4):13-18.
- *Parke, K. A., Meireles, C. L., Sickora, C.. A Nurse-Led model of Care to Address Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health at a School-Based Health Center Journal of School Health 2019 May;89(5):423-426.
- *Barton, L. R., Parke. K. A., White, C. L.. Screening for the Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health at a School-Based Clinic Journal of Pediatric Health Care 2019 Mar
Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)
- 2017, Nurse-led Model of Care to Address Social and Behavioral determinants of Health, Regional Healthcare Partnership Region 6: Learning Collaborative and Stakeholder Forum, Going Beyond Clinical Care: Addressing Social & Economic Health Factors to Improve Health, Regional Healthcare Partnership Region 6, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker). Details: Presented the nurse-led model of care that our team is currently implementing at a non-traditional high school in an underserved area of San Antonio Texas.
- 2017, A Nurse-led Model to Address Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health, Sustainability and Innovative Models for Nurse-led Care and Clinics, Exemplars of nursing models of care, University of Tennessee Knoxville- The Center for Nursing Practice and the College of Nursing, Nashville, TN (Invited Speaker) Details: Our presentation was chosen as an exemplar of a model of nurse-led care. We discussed a holistic model of care based on social and behavioral determinants of health that we introduced at a local non-traditional high school.
Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations
- 2019, Refugee Healthcare Needs: Perceptions of Health and Social Service Professionals in South Texas, 6th Annual Cultural Inclusion Conference, UT Health Department of Lifelong Learning, San Antonio, TX (Co-Presenter). Details: Discussed the results of a qualitative study conducted to elucidate the perceptions of the healthcare needs of refugee as perceived by the healthcare community
- 2019, The Impact of Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health and the Role of the School Nurse, State of Texas School Nurse‘s Conference, School Nurses, State of Texas School Nurse Association, San Antonio, TX (Sole Presenter). Details: Discussed the impact of social and behavioral determinants of health on future health outcomes. Provided examples of how school nurses can play a role in mediating social and behavioral determinants of health and discussed how school nurses could address this on their campuses.
- 2016, A Discussion on the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Monthly meeting, Local pediatric nurse practitioners, South Texas Alamo Chapter of NAPNAP, San Antonio, TX (Panel). Details: Presented an overview of the DNP terminal degree to include the Doctoral Essentials and its implications for practice.
Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations
- 2019, A Model of Healthcare Including a Nutrition Program to Promote Well-being of High-risk Teenagers, Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Conference, Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dallas, TX (Co-Author). Details: This poster described how a nutrition program was integrated into a holistic approach to healthcare at a high school-based clinic.
- 2019, Precepting on the Move: Facilitating Graduate and Undergraduate Nursing Student Learning Utilizing NP Faculty Practice Opportunities, Pedaitric Nursing Certification Board CEU, N/A, Pedaitric Nursing Certification Board, National (Co-Author). Details: A poster presentation describing innovative ways to expand clinical experiences for graduate and undergraduate nurses at a faculty practice clinical experience.
- 2017, Evidence-based Comprehensive Analysis of Obesogenic Risk Factors in the First 1000 days of Life, 8th Annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day Confirmation, Translational Science Research Day, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX (Co-Author). Details: A poster presentation describing a review of literature and the utilization of a theoretical framework to identify known risk factors for obesity in the first 1000 days of life and after categorization, identify gaps in the literature
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Clinical
Board Certifications
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board