Susan Barnason

Dr. Susan Barnason is a Professor in the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), holding the Christine Heide Sorensen Professorship in Nursing. She has been a full-time faculty member since 1998, contributing to both education and research in cardiovascular nursing and related fields. Her roles include teaching in graduate programs in Adult-Gerontology and Doctorate of Nursing Practice.

Education: Received her nursing diploma from Lincoln General School of Nursing, followed by a BSN and MSN from UNMC, and a PhD from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Research Interests: Focus on post-cardiac event care, including symptom management, self-management interventions, and transitions of care. Key areas include maximizing outcomes after PCI, nursing education quality, and improving cardiac patient recovery through evidence-based practices. She also investigates sexual health counseling for cardiovascular patients and rural healthcare challenges.

Grant Support: Notably includes the 2023–2025 REBOUND grant ($119,322) and the 2013–2016 AREA Program ($768,825) as co-investigator. Her work addresses rural emergency care for nurse practitioners and post-acute exacerbation interventions.

Awards: Recognitions include Fellowships from the Academy of Emergency Nursing (2013), American Academy of Nursing (2012), and American Heart Association (2007). She has received multiple teaching awards, including the Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award (2006).

Key Contributions: Developed interventions to enhance patient self-management, such as the PATCH randomized controlled trial for heart failure patients. Her research emphasizes rural health, telehealth applications, and interdisciplinary collaboration.