Nurse of the Week: UT Arlington Nursing Professor Kathryn Daniel Declares Mission to Prepare Nurses to Care for Older Adults

Our Nurse of the Week is Kathryn Daniel, an associate nursing professor at the University of Texas at Arlington’s (UTA) College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CoNHI) and director of the Adult and Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner Programs who has a mission of preparing nurses to care for older adults.

Nurses make up the largest segment of medical workers in the US, and Daniel believes they are the backbone of the nation’s health care system. Daniel herself has been involved in the care of older adults for over 35 years, practicing in geriatric primary care, long-term care, and assisted living facilities. Daniel’s research in gerontology includes studies on emerging technologies to enhance safety, cardiac rehabilitation, palliative care, and an analysis of the present and future needs for nurses.

Daniel has also led UTA’s Smart Care program since 2015. Smart Care is a collaborative project between the College of Nursing and Health Innovation and the College of Engineering that develops technology to improve the independence, quality of life, and health of the elderly and those with disabilities. Daniel’s most current work is focused on facilitating healthy aging. Her professional mission is preparing nurses to care for a rapidly aging population.

Daniel tells eurekalert.org, “I believe nurse practitioners are vital health care providers who can play an important role in the future health of our populations. Through my work and research, I am thrilled to be part of the group building the science of nursing through future nurse practitioners and nurse scientists.”

To learn more about Kathryn Daniel, an associate nursing professor in the UTA College of Nursing and Health Innovation and director of the Adult and Gerontologic Nurse Practitioner Programs who has a mission of preparing nurses to care for older adults, visit here.