Colleen Walters
Associate Professor
Academic Appointment(s)
College of Nursing
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing
College of Nursing
Department of Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program
The Graduate School
Medical College of Georgia
Department of Family Medicine
Administration
Department of The Graduate School
Bio
Dr. Colleen Walters has been a nurse and faculty for over ten years. As a registered nurse, she worked on an adult medical surgical unit and in women's health at a pregnancy resource center, and as a nurse practitioner at a school of nursing clinic at Clayton State University and Augusta University's Family Medicine Clinic (FMC). She is currently an associate professor of nursing and family medicine at AU, and serves as the director of the DNP program. Dr. Walters is an expert in providing health services to vulnerable populations locally and internationally, and initiating projects to improve health outcomes and enhance student learning. She created and/or directed community engagement service learning projects to Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, and most recently to rural areas of Scotland. Dr. Walters also served as advocate, nurse, and member of the board of directors at the Pregnancy Resource Center in Henry County, Georgia, where she developed an evidence-based group prenatal education and social support program to address issues of high maternal mortality. She continues her advocacy for maternal health on a state funded grant to improve access to care coordination and remote maternal health monitoring in Georgia. She continues to serve patients across the lifespan at AU Family Medicine Clinic where she facilitates an evidence-based intensive lifestyle medicine clinic. In 2022, the lifestyle medicine clinic was recognized for the AUMC team award.
Education
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DNP, NursingAugusta State University, 2017
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MSN, NursingClayton College & State Univer, 2014
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BSN, NursingClayton College & State Univer, 2012
Certifications
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Certified Nurse EducatorNational League for Nursing, 2015
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Registered NurseState of Georgia, 2012
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Family Nurse PractitionerAmerican Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2017
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BLSAHA, 2020
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BLSAHA, 2018
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RNState of Georgia, 2012
Awards & Honors
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Augusta University Provost FellowshipAugusta University, 2024
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Augusta University Service AwardAugusta University, 2023
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Augusta University Teamwork Award 2022Augusta University, 2023
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Nurse Clinician of the Year 2022Augusta University CON, 2022
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Legacy Donor RecognitionPregnancy Resource Center of Henry County, GA, 2019
Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year
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NURS 9051
DNP Project Inquiry & Change
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NURS 7985
Independent Study - DNP
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NURS 7150
Evidence Based Practice
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NURS 9050
Strategies for Eff Prac Change
Teaching Interests
Graduate courses in nursing and study abroad
Scholarship
Selected Recent Publications
- A Mixed-Method Pilot Project: The Evaluation of Telehealth Training in a College of Nursing, 2024
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Maternal Mortality, 2023
Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
- Teaching NP students advanced health assessment skills during COVID-19, 2022
Journal Article, Academic Journal
- Faith-based pregnancy center education: Bridges the maternal health gap, 2021
Journal Article, Professional Journal
- Quantifying worsened glycemic control during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021
Journal Article, Professional Journal
Research Interests
Maternal mortality and morbidity, preterm birth, lifestyle medicine, and international community engagement.
Department Service
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DNP Admission Committee2024 - Present
Role:Committee Chair
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DNP Program Committee2024 - Present
Role:Committee Chair
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DNP FNP Curriculum Revision2019 - 2021
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Variable Part-time Faculty Ad Hoc2018 - 2019
Role:Committee Member
College Service
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DNP FNP Admissions Committee2019 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Study Abroad Committee2018 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Telehealth Charter Committee2019 - 2023
Role:Committee Member
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DNP Project Task Force2020 - 2022
Role:Committee Member
University Service
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Quality Enhancement Plan Core Team2024 - Present
Role:Special Institutional Assignment
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AU Faculty Development Committee2022 - 2024
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Lyceum Committee2019 - 2023
Role:Committee Member
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Academic Focus Areas Steering Committee2019 - 2019
Role:Committee Member
Professional Service
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Georgia Leadership Coalition2022 - Present
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Georgia Association of Nurse Educators2021 - Present
Role:Officer, President/Elect/Past
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UAPRN of Augusta2018 - Present
Role:Committee Member
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Christian Medical and Dental Association2019 - 2021
Role:Committee Member
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Sigma Theta Tau International Xi Rho Chapter2016 - 2018
Role:Officer, Other Officer
Public Service
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Costa-Layman Health Fair at Augusta University2019 - Present
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Augusta Pregnancy Resource Center2022 - 2022
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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Savannah Riverkeeper--River Beautification Project2021
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Augusta Pregnancy Resource Center2021 - 2021
Role:Attendee, Meeting
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COVID19 Vaccine Clinics at Augusta University2021 - 2021
Role:Attendee, Meeting