Tara Whitmire

Tara Whitmire serves as Professor and Director of the BSN-DNP Program at Nebraska Methodist College, where she is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (APRN-NP) with clinical expertise in critical care and adult cardiology. She is additionally a Certified Heart Failure Nurse through the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses and maintains a casual clinical practice at Nebraska Methodist Health System in Omaha.

Her educational background includes:

• BS in Psychology, Iowa State University
• BSN, Creighton University
• MS in Family Nurse Practitioner, Creighton University
• DNP, University of Iowa

Dr. Whitmire's research focuses on heart failure nursing and cardiovascular care, evidenced by her certification work and publications. She actively develops clinical guidelines for cardiac conditions while emphasizing evidence-based practice and specialty credentialing in acute care settings.

Her recent publications (2021-2024) reveal a concentrated effort to standardize heart failure nursing practices through scientific statements and certification curricula, bridging academic knowledge with clinical implementation in cardiopulmonary care.

Professional recognitions:

• AANP State Award for Excellence-Advocate (2024)
• Nebraska Methodist College Distinguished Educator (2023)
• Sigma Tau Tau Chapter Star Award for Nursing Contributions (2020)
• Nebraska Action Coalition's 40 under 40 award (2012)

As Director of the BSN-DNP Program, she shapes doctoral nursing education while holding leadership roles in major professional organizations. Her advocacy work with the Nebraska Nurses Association Legislative Committee (2013-2015) and volunteer service at the Mobile Diabetes Center demonstrate integration of academic leadership with clinical policy and community health.

Dr. Whitmire actively contributes to the Nebraska Methodist College Mobile Diabetes Center and holds current presidential leadership in the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (2023-2024), driving initiatives in heart failure certification and nursing practice standards.