Laura Pruitt Walker, DHEd, MSN, RN, CNE, COI

Professor
Remote/Online Faculty
lpwalker@jsu.edu   

Dr. Laura Pruitt Walker is a Professor of Nursing in the College of Health Professions and Wellness, School of Nursing. She taught in undergraduate nursing (traditional and STEP programs) from January 2008 through May 2019. Dr. Walker joined the Graduate Nursing faculty in the Summer of 2019. She teaches in both the MSN and DNP programs. Dr. Walker has expert experience in psychiatric nursing, population health nursing, leadership, and nursing education. She has been a nurse for 28 years and has had professional nursing practice experience in various leadership roles as charge nurse, physicians nurse, house supervisor, and nurse manager. Additionally, Dr. Walker served in the role of MSN Program Coordinator from 2019-2023. She is a member of the Alabama League for Nursing (ALN), American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society, Alpha Tau Sigma Upsilon Honor Society (Alpha Chapter), International Council of Nurses, Online Learning Community, and the International Women’s Leadership Association.

Dr. Walker resides in Southside, Alabama with her husband Dannie. She spends most of her free time with her family which includes husband (Dannie), two grown children,( Corey and Megan), two grandchildren, (Henry Walker and William Arthur), and parents (Ralph and Laverne). Additionally, Dr. Walker enjoys reading, caring for her extensive collection of tropical plants; and painting with acrylics, watercolor, and oil pastels.

Laura Pruitt Walker

Courses Taught

MSN Courses Taught

  • NU 501: MSN Orientation
  • NU 504: Theories in Nursing
  • NU 522: Nursing Research
  • NU 527: Epidemiology
  • NU 542: Transcultural Nursing
  • NU 552: Practicum in Collegiate Nursing Education
  • NU 553: Issues and Trends in Nursing Education
  • NU 540: Population Health Nursing I
  • NU 545: Population Health Nursing II
  • NU 581: MSN Independent Study (1 SH)
  • NU 582: MSN Independent Study (2 SH)
  • NU 583: MSN Independent Study (3 SH)

DNP Courses Taught

  • NU 707: Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice
  • NU 708: Evidence-based Practice and Quality Improvement
  • NU 710 Health Policy and Finance in Advanced Practice Nursing
  • NU 713: Organizational and Systems Leadership for the Advanced Practice Nurse
  • NU 716: Interprofessional Healthcare and Informatics

Academic/Research Interests

Dr. Walker is dedicated to nursing research, faculty development, student success, population health, psychiatric nursing, nursing leadership, faculty mentoring, stress management, and work-life balance, and focuses much of her scholarship in these areas.

Walker, L.P., Helms, K.D. (2024). Using Storytelling to Promote Health Literacy in Children: Employing Self-Regulation as an Effective Coping Skill. International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Science (in press).

Helms, K.D., Walker, L.P. (2023). Filling the Barrel: Innovative Marketing Strategies in an MSN Program. International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 6 (10), 3 pages.

Helms, K. D., Walker, L.P. (2023). Zero to Hero: Creating an Innovative Approach to Track Program Outcomes in Graduate Nursing. International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 6, 1421.

Helms, K. D., Walker, L. P., Barrow, L. (2020). Taking the PULSE on Student Satisfaction in an Online Graduate Nursing Program, International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 3 (7), 6 pages.

Helms, K. D., Walker, L. P. (2020). The New GOALS (Graduate Orientation and Leadership Series). International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 3 (3), 6 pages.

Walker, L. P., Helms, K. D., Keith, L. A. (2019). Collaborative Testing in a Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Course. Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, 12 (1 April 2019).

Helms, K. D., Walker, L. P. (2018). Cultivating Perceived Self Efficacy Through a Flipped Classroom Approach to Teaching and Learning. International Journal of Nursing and Health Care Research, 2018 (2), 6 pages.

Walker, L. P., Helms, K. D. (2018). A Pilot Study: Promoting Understanding and Peer Success (PUPS) in the Campus Community. Building Healthy Academic Communities Journal, 2(1/2018), 25-35.

Walker, L. P. (2016). A Bridge to Success: A Nursing Student Success Strategies Improvement Course. Journal of Nursing Education, 55(8), 450-453.

Helms, K. D., Walker, L. P. (2015). Incorporating the QSEN Competency on Evidence-based Practice in a Mental Health Clinical Rotation. Journal of Nursing Education, 54(4), 232-234.

Education

  • A.T. Still University, DHEd, 2010
  • Jacksonville State University, MSN, & Nurse Educator Certificate, 2007
  • Jacksonville State University, BSN, 2006
  • Gadsden State Community College, ADN, 1996

Certifications

  • National Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), 2017 - current
  • National Certified Online Instructor (COI), 2014 - current

Honors/Awards

  • Alabama League for Nursing Lamplighter Award, 2024
  • Raymond and Ruth Ringer Faculty Development Award, 2019
  • Faculty Service Award, 2023, 2018
  • Faculty Research Award, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010
  • Care Award, 2015