Kayla Harvey

Kayla Harvey is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University's School of Nursing, where she also serves as part-time faculty in the BSN and DNP programs. With extensive experience as a pediatric nurse practitioner in critical and acute care settings, Dr. Harvey’s research focuses on understanding and supporting families during pediatric hospitalizations. She teaches courses in Nursing Research and Nursing Informatics, and leads clinical instruction in pediatric care.

Education:

• PhD in Nursing Science, University of Washington (2017)
• MSN in Pediatric Primary Care/Critical Care Nursing, University of California, San Francisco
• BSN, University of Florida, Gainesville

Her research interests include exploring the psychological impact of pediatric medical trauma on families, particularly parents and children undergoing hospitalization, and the role of attachment systems during life-threatening events. She emphasizes family-centered care and improving communication between healthcare providers and families.

Grants & Research: Dr. Harvey secured a 2017 Multicare Health Systems grant to study parent and nurse expectations of pain control in children post-heart surgery. Her publications in Journal of Pediatric Nursing and Journal of Heart & Lung highlight disparities in post-surgical comfort expectations and parental experiences during critical care.

Awards:

• Top Scholar Award, University of Washington (2017-2018)
• Allen Nursing School Term Scholarship (2019)

She advises students in clinical and research settings, though no advisees are listed. Dr. Harvey collaborates with Multicare Health Systems and presents at conferences, such as the 2018 Western Institute of Nursing Annual Conference.

Affiliated with the School of Nursing’s clinical and research teams, she advocates for evidence-based pediatric care and nurse-family partnerships.