معرفی
Dr. Joan Kuhnly is a Clinical Professor in the Nursing Department at Westfield State University. She is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner/APRN and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant specializing in Maternal Newborn and women's health.
Dr. Kuhnly's research focuses on perinatal topics, breastfeeding practices, empathy development in nursing students, and innovative nursing education methodologies. Her work explores factors related to sustained breastfeeding, particularly for late preterm and early term infants, and examines how simulation can enhance empathy and clinical skills in nursing education. She has developed prenatal education programs for expectant parents of multiples and investigated lactation assessment tools used by healthcare providers.
Her scholarly work demonstrates consistent focus on neonatal care, breastfeeding support, and simulation-based nursing education. Recent publications show increasing emphasis on lactation assessment tools and their implementation in clinical practice, while maintaining her longstanding interest in perinatal topics and nursing education methodology.
- 2015 University of CT Alumni Association DNP Award
- 2011 Nightingale Award
- 2011 Dean's Award for Caring
- 1998 St. Joseph's College, Clinical Mentor Award
Dr. Kuhnly teaches courses across the nursing curriculum including Accelerated Mat/NB Womens Health, Intro to Health/Discipline of Nursing, Maternal NB/Women's Health, and Simulation Clinical Content for undergraduate, accelerated and graduate NNP students. She serves on multiple university committees including the WSU Honors Advisory Council and Nursing Academic policy and standards committee. Beyond academia, she provides lactation consulting services, serves as an expert legal consultant on newborn and lactation issues, and participates in community engagement activities including annual fundraising for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and March of Dimes.
