Paula  Christianson-Silva, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, ANP-BC

Paula Christianson-Silva, DNP, FNP-BC, ANP-BC has been a primary care nurse practitioner and NP educator since 1989, working in Michigan, California, Arizona, and overseas.  She has been a leader in professional organizations focused on health policy, was President of the Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council, and received the 2020 AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence, Arizona.  Dr. Christianson-Silva was a clinical faculty member at University of California, Los Angeles and at the University of Arizona was Clinical Lead on a HRSA funded Interprofessional Collaborative Faculty Practice Program.  In August 2019 she started her current position as Assistant Professor, Clinical at UT Health School of Nursing.  She has been active in BSN-DNP Program curriculum and course development, on the SON Committee on International Programs, is Co-PI on two LINC Seed Grants, and is SON Bylaws Committee Chair. 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2015 - Doctor in Nursing Practice - Nursing - University of Arizona
  • 2013 - Post- Master Certificate - Family Nurse Practitioner - University of Arizona
  • 1988 - Master of Science - Adult Nurse Practitioner - University of Michigan
  • 1983 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - University of Arizona
  • 1983 - BSN - (University Scholarship Honors) - University of Arizona

  Highlights

  Licensures and Certifications

  • Registered Nurse  
  • Texas Adult Nurse Practitioner
  • DEA License
  • ANCC FNP Certificate 
  • ANCC ANP Certificate

  Honors and Awards

  • 2020, AANP Advocate State Award for Excellence, Arizona 
  • 2020,  UT Health Clinical Safety and Effectiveness (Quality Improvement) Program and Project “Removing Barriers to Appropriate Post-Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure Care for UT Health San Antonio Students”.

   

  Appointments

  • 2019 - Assistant Professor/Clinical - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2016 - Adjunct Clinical Professor - University of Arizona
  • 2015 - Assistant Professor, Clinical - University of Arizona

• Instruction & Training

  • 2021, NURS 6454 FNP Diagnosis and Management: Concepts & Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2021, NURS 6620 FNP Dx and Mgt of Aging Families: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 7322 Healthcare Policy Analysis and Advocacy, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 7312 DNP Project: Seminar and NURS 7313 DNP Project: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 6110 Advanced Health Assessment and Clinical Reasoning: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 6250 Advanced Health Promotion, Health Protection, & Disease Prevention, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 7111 Advanced Nursing Seminar and NURS 7511 Advanced Nursing Seminar: Clinical Application , UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 6620 FNP Dx and Mgt of Aging Families: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 6210 Advanced Health Assessment & Clinical Reasoning, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 6620 FNP Diagnosis & Management for Aging Families: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 3305 Foundations of Clinical Nursing Practice: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2019, NURS 3305 Foundations of Clinical Nursing Practice: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2019, NURS 6250 Advanced Health Promotion, Health Protection, & Disease Prevention, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

• Research & Grants

  Grants

  Currently Funded:  

  • 03/2020 - 03/2021 Funder: UT Health, $5,000.00. Title: LINC Seed Grant: Interprofessional Training with Advanced Practice Nurse, Dietetic, and Pharmacy Students using Nutrition-focused Case Studies. Role: Co-Principal Investigator. Grant Detail: Hypothesis: Nursing, dietetic, and pharmacy students who participate in a case-based interprofessional education(IPE)workshop will improve their understanding of each other‘s roles in the healthcare team and enhance their attitudes toward future IP collaborations to improve patient care.Page Break 

  Pending Submissions: 

  • 03/2021 - 03/2022 Funder: UT Health, $5,000.00. Title: LINC Seed Grant: Interprofessional Training with Family Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant students using Interprofessional Education Objectives Structured Clinical Examination. Role: Co-Principal Investigator 

  Completed Research/Projects: 

  • 2014 - 2015, Funding Agency: Sigma Theta Tau, $1,000.00. Title: “The Influence of Doctor of Nursing Practice Education on Nurse Practitioner Practice”. Role: Principal Investigator. Grant Detail: DNP Project, Sigma Theta Tau International, Beta Mu Chapter Student Research Grant

   

• Service

  School

  Student Mentees/Trainees, UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing 

  • 2020 - 2021, Co-Chair for DNP Student Hetta Atkins DNP Project “Medication Adherence for Cholesterol (Statins) for a Managed Care Patient Population in an Internal Medicine Office: A Quality Improvement Project” 
  • 2020 - 2021, Global Health Distinction Program Mentor for BSN-DNP student Temitayo Ojo 

  Institutional

  • 2019 - Present, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Faculty Practice Plan Professional Affairs Committee, Member  
  • 2020 - Present, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Bylaws Committee, Chair 
  • 2020 - 2020, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Committee on International Programs, Member 

  Service to the Profession

  • 2020 – Present, Texas Nurse Practitioners PAC Advisory Council Member 
  • 2020 – Present, Texas Nurse Practitioners Rural Health Interest Group Member 
  • 2017 - 2019, Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council  President 
  • 2016 – 2019, Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council Legislative Chair; Expansion Committee Chair; Reimbursement, Membership, and Conference Committees; Abstract Reviewer for Symposium and Scholarship Awards 
  • 2017 – 2019, Arizona Nurses Association Public Policy Committee Member 
  • 2019, Arizona Nurses Association Public Policy Committee Leadership Team 
  • 2015 – 2019, Arizona APRN Coalition Member and Strategic Leadership Group Member working on AZ APRN Consensus Model Legislation  
  • 2017 – 2019, AZ Medical Advisory Board for Opioid Crisis Member 
  • 2018 – 2019, SAZAPN/NPS Legislative Chair  

  Professional Affiliations

  • 2019 - Present, San Antonio Nurses in Advanced Practice 
  • 2019 - Present,Texas Nurse Practitioners 
  • 2010 – Present, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 
  • 2007 - Present, American Association of Nurse Practitioners 
  • 1983 - Present, Sigma Theta Tau 

  Community Service

  • 2019 – 2019, Volunteer Nurse Practitioner STAND: The Haiti Project service trip to Haiti 
  • 2014 – 2016, Volunteer Nurse Practitioner Clinica San Juan (free clinic), Tucson, AZ 

  Global

  Dr. Christianson-Silva has been a primary care nurse practitioner and nursing educator since 1989 in several US states and Germany. She currently teaches in the FNP Program and practices at the Wellness 360 Clinic.  She has provided primary care in homeless and low-income health clinics. She is an advocate for expanded healthcare access. In Germany, Dr. Christianson-Silva was the School Nurse and Community Service Program Coordinator, Bavarian International School. She led projects involving Caritas Refugee Camp residents and organized a student trip to Zimbabwe.  She was a UNICEF volunteer and a USA Consulate Roundtable Group member. At UCLA (University of California Los Angeles), Dr. Christianson-Silva worked with students in an Underserved Subspecialty and served as Faculty Advisor of Global Action In Nursing (GAIN). She precepted students at Cold Weather Shelter Clinics and the Union Rescue Mission nurse-managed health center. She led students on a medical service trip with “Floating Doctors,” serving Ngobe people on Panama’s remote islands. Dr. Christianson worked with STAND: The Haiti Project. She was responsible for the general medical clinic and provided clinical instruction to nursing and medical students. At UT Health, she organized a trip for FNP/PNP students to Haiti in 2020 (canceled due to COVID).

• Publications

  Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

  • Christianson-Silva, P., Russell-Kibble, A., & Shaver, J. (2021). An NP-led care bundle approach for primary care of patients with complex health needs, Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; submitted 2/18/21; editorial revisions completed.  (currently under review) 
  • “The Influence of Doctor of Nursing Practice Education on Nurse Practitioner Practice” – available at http://arizona.openrepository.com/arizona/handle/10150/556445 
  • “Nurse Practitioners” – chapter in Introduction to Clinical Medicine (medical student textbook), 1995 

  Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations  

  • 2020, “Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury: A Hidden Challenge” – American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) National Conference, 60 minute presentation, conference cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 
  • 2019, “Low Back Pain: By the Guidelines” - AANP National Conference, 60 minute presentation, Indianapolis, IN 
  • 2018, “Low Back Pain: By the Guidelines” - Arizona Nurse Practitioner Council (AZNPC) Southwest Regional Nurse Practitioner Symposium, Phoenix, AZ 
  • 2017,  “Implementation of the AEI0OU Bundle of Practices in the Primary Care of Complex Patients” – AANP National Conference 
  • 2016, “Health 360 South: An Interprofessional Collaborative Practice” – Arizona State University Annual Conference on Integrated Healthcare, Chandler, AZ 
  • 2015, “Update on Arizona APRN Consensus Model Legislation” – Southern Arizona Advanced Practice Nurse / Nurse Practitioner Society (SAZAPN/NPS) Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ 

  Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations  

  • 2018, “Medication Assisted Therapy for Opioid Use Disorder” – SAZAPN/NPS Annual Conference 
  • 2015, “Bundling Practices to Improve Care of Patients at High Risk for ED or Hospital Readmissions” - AANP National Conference, New Orleans, LA - featured in The Clinical Advisor (http://www.clinicaladvisor.com/aanp-2015-annual-meeting/primary-care-bundle-reduces-ed-readmission/article/420566/) and AANP Smartbrief 
  • 2015, “Bundling Practices to Improve Care of Patients at High Risk for ED or Hospital Readmissions” - SAZAPN/NPS Annual Conference, Tucson, AZ