Deborah Fern Behan

Dr. Deborah Fern Behan is a Clinical Associate Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at The University of Texas at Arlington. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she has instructed undergraduate and graduate nursing courses, including research, evidence-based practice (EBP), and doctoral programs (DNP/PhD). She advises DNP practicum students, chairs PhD dissertations, and mentors Honors students and Albert Schweitzer Fellows. As a Nurse Scientist at THR HEB since 2006, she supports bedside nurses in Quality Improvement and patient outcome strategies.

Education:

• PhD in Nursing (RN-BC), Texas Woman's University, 2010
• MS in Nursing, University of Oklahoma, 1996
• BSN, Missouri State University, 1993
• ADN, University of Arkansas Fayetteville, 1985

Research Interests: Focuses on improving nurse work environments via robotics, augmented reality (AR) for training, patient noise/sleep quality, staffing acuity systems (e.g., Vocera), and pandemic response. Also addresses hypertension, cardiac care, neurology, and vulnerable populations.

Awards:

• Research Mentoring Award (2024)
• Friends of the Division (2021)
• Nominations for GEM and Honors College Awards (2015)
• Great 100 Nurses in Texas (2009)

Advising & Leadership: Serves as UTA IRB Chair since 2017, mentors nurses in TCU EBP and THR research fellowships, and chairs PhD dissertation committees. Holds certifications in Nursing (since 1992) and Life Coaching (2013–2026).

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with TCU EBP Fellowship and THR research programs to advance evidence-based practice and nursing innovation.