Colleen Walters

Associate Professor

Colleen Walters

Associate Professor

Academic Appointment(s)

College of Nursing
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing

College of Nursing
Department of Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program

The Graduate School

Medical College of Georgia
Department of Family Medicine

Administration
Department of The Graduate School

Bio

Dr. Colleen Walters has been a nurse and faculty for over ten years. As a registered nurse, she worked on an adult medical surgical unit and in women's health at a pregnancy resource center, and as a nurse practitioner at a school of nursing clinic at Clayton State University and Augusta University's Family Medicine Clinic (FMC). She is currently an associate professor of nursing and family medicine at AU, and serves as the director of the DNP program. Dr. Walters is an expert in providing health services to vulnerable populations locally and internationally, and initiating projects to improve health outcomes and enhance student learning. She created and/or directed community engagement service learning projects to Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, and most recently to rural areas of Scotland. Dr. Walters also served as advocate, nurse, and member of the board of directors at the Pregnancy Resource Center in Henry County, Georgia, where she developed an evidence-based group prenatal education and social support program to address issues of high maternal mortality. She continues her advocacy for maternal health on a state funded grant to improve access to care coordination and remote maternal health monitoring in Georgia. She continues to serve patients across the lifespan at AU Family Medicine Clinic where she facilitates an evidence-based intensive lifestyle medicine clinic. In 2022, the lifestyle medicine clinic was recognized for the AUMC team award.

Education

  • DNP, Nursing Augusta State University, 2017

  • MSN, Nursing Clayton College & State Univer, 2014

  • BSN, Nursing Clayton College & State Univer, 2012

Certifications

  • Certified Nurse Educator National League for Nursing, 2015

  • Registered Nurse State of Georgia, 2012

  • Family Nurse Practitioner American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2017

  • BLS AHA, 2020

  • BLS AHA, 2018

  • RN State of Georgia, 2012

Awards & Honors

  • Augusta University Provost Fellowship Augusta University, 2024

  • Augusta University Service Award Augusta University, 2023

  • Augusta University Teamwork Award 2022 Augusta University, 2023

  • Nurse Clinician of the Year 2022 Augusta University CON, 2022

  • Legacy Donor Recognition Pregnancy Resource Center of Henry County, GA, 2019

Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year

  • NURS 9051

    DNP Project Inquiry & Change
  • NURS 7470

    Adv Health Assessment
  • NURS 8315

    FNP Practice II: DNP Program
  • NURS 3500

    Independent Study
  • NURS 7985

    Independent Study - DNP
  • NURS 8311

    FNP I: Hlth Prom. & Pri. Care
  • NURS 8312

    FNP Practice I: DNP Program

Teaching Interests

Graduate courses in nursing and study abroad

Scholarship

Selected Recent Publications

  • A Mixed-Method Pilot Project: The Evaluation of Telehealth Training in a College of Nursing, 2024
    Journal Article, Academic Journal
  • Maternal Mortality, 2023
    Book, Chapter in Scholarly Book-New
  • Teaching NP students advanced health assessment skills during COVID-19, 2022
    Journal Article, Academic Journal
  • Faith-based pregnancy center education: Bridges the maternal health gap, 2021
    Journal Article, Professional Journal
  • Quantifying worsened glycemic control during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021
    Journal Article, Professional Journal

Research Interests

Maternal mortality and morbidity, preterm birth, lifestyle medicine, and international community engagement.

Department Service

  • DNP Leadership Committee 2022 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • DNP Admission Committee 2021 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • DNP FNP Curriculum Revision 2019 - 2021

    Role: Attendee, Meeting
  • Variable Part-time Faculty Ad Hoc 2018 - 2019

    Role: Committee Member

College Service

  • DNP Project Task Force 2020 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • DNP FNP Admissions Committee 2019 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • Telehealth Charter Committee 2019 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • Study Abroad Committee 2018 - Present

    Role: Committee Member

University Service

  • AU Faculty Development Committee 2022 - Present

    Role: Attendee, Meeting
  • Lyceum Committee 2019 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • Academic Focus Areas Steering Committee 2019 - 2019

    Role: Committee Member

Professional Service

  • Georgia Leadership Coalition 2022 - Present

    Role: Attendee, Meeting
  • Georgia Association of Nurse Educators 2021 - Present

    Role: Director
  • UAPRN of Augusta 2018 - Present

    Role: Committee Member
  • Christian Medical and Dental Association 2019 - 2021

    Role: Committee Member
  • Sigma Theta Tau International Xi Rho Chapter 2016 - 2018

    Role: Officer, Other Officer

Public Service

  • Costa-Layman Health Fair at Augusta University 2019 - Present

    Role: Attendee, Meeting
  • Augusta Pregnancy Resource Center 2022 - 2022

    Role: Attendee, Meeting
  • Savannah Riverkeeper--River Beautification Project 2021

  • Augusta Pregnancy Resource Center 2021 - 2021

    Role: Attendee, Meeting
  • COVID19 Vaccine Clinics at Augusta University 2021 - 2021

    Role: Attendee, Meeting