Kathryn M. Shaffer, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
Contact
Kathryn M. Shaffer, EdD, MSN, RN, CNE
Assistant Professor
Research & Practice Interests
Empathy and Resilience
Population Health
Vulnerable and Marginalized Populations
Addiction Disorders
Curriculum Development
Education
EdD, University of Delaware
MSN, Mansfield University
BSN, Thomas Jefferson University
Publications
- Maternal Perspective of Inpatient Methadone Initiation: Opportunities to Increase Retention in Treatment
- Using Assessment and Evaluation Strategies
- COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice Supporting Preparedness in the Spheres of Impact
- Redesigning nursing education to build healthier communities: An innovative cross-sector collaboration
- Public health champions in the making: An innovative undergraduate nursing pedagogy
University Appointments
Assistant Professor, Jefferson College of Population Health
Assistant Professor, Jefferson College of Nursing
Biography
Dr. Shaffer received her Doctorate in Education from the University of Delaware in Educational Leadership. She received her Master’s in Education from Mansfield University focusing on Nursing Education, and her Bachelors in Nursing degree from Thomas Jefferson University, College of Nursing. She has been a nurse for over 25 years with expertise in neurology and community health. Dr. Shaffer has spent the last 13 years in academia at Thomas Jefferson University focusing on transitioning student nurses new to practice.
In her role as Associate Dean, Dr. Shaffer’s focus has been on implementing the mission and vision of the College of Nursing, by developing partnerships that advance nursing education and the profession of nursing. She reimagined, transformed, and disrupted the way nurses lead and impact society.
Dr. Shaffer served on the undergraduate curriculum committee charged with redesigning the BSN curriculum in 13 months. The curriculum framework: Promoting Health and Quality of Life Along the Care Continuum serves as a national model for the new direction of nursing education.
Dr. Shaffer also served as curriculum implementation committee chair, responsible for transforming clinical education and creating learning environments to facilitate student understanding and enhance their skill set in promoting and maintaining population health. Dr. Shaffer has collaborated with several health profession colleges at Jefferson to provide experiential learning opportunities for interprofessional health care students, serving some of Philadelphia's most vulnerable populations. Her innovative strategies have been presented at national conferences.
Her current area of interest is in further developing those innovative educational strategies and researching their impact on healthcare providers and population health. Her clinical work in the community has led to a workforce development grant, focusing on supporting Emergency Department staff while decreasing the stigma of care for those affected by the opioid crisis.