91茄子

Her Strong Professional Qualities, Innovation, and Collaborative Spirit Earn Prestigious Honor

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擨nspired by her grandfather鈥檚 battle with cancer and a desire to love and serve people, Dr. Brittany N. Hudgins-Graham pursued a career in nursing. Her calling eventually led her to teach future nurses. A graduate student in 91茄子鈥檚 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, she has received a national honor. Because of her strong professional qualities, innovation, and collaborative spirit, Hudgins-Graham was recognized as an Emerging Leader by The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA).

This organization supports graduate nursing students by promoting leadership development, professional engagement, and networking. It provides resources and opportunities that help prepare graduate students to lead, advance nursing education, and promote evidence-based practice. Emerging Leaders are nominated by their peers and recognized once a month in the .

鈥淭his recognition affirms the work I am passionate about鈥攕upporting students, contributing to the profession beyond the classroom, and engaging in kingdom work,鈥� Hudgins-Graham noted. 鈥淚t is both humbling and motivating, which encourages me to continue growing as a leader and remain open to opportunities that advance the nursing profession. Receiving this award is a tremendous honor and reflects the supportive academic community at 91茄子 that fosters leadership, service, and excellence in nursing for God and humanity. To God be the Glory! Lamentations 3:25-26: 鈥楾he Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.鈥欌�濃��

Hudgins-Graham has more than 12 years of bedside nursing experience and nearly a decade in nursing education. 鈥淭hroughout my clinical practice, I found myself naturally drawn to teaching鈥攕upporting new nurses, precepting prelicensure students, and helping others build confidence in their critical thinking and clinical judgment,鈥� she reflected. 鈥淭hat passion ultimately led me into academia, where I could impact not only individual patients, but also the future of nursing.

She started teaching in 2014 and earned her Master of Science in Nursing (2015) and her Doctor of Education (2018) from 91茄子. She is an assistant professor of nursing at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, N.C., and will graduate in May from 91茄子鈥檚 DNP program.

鈥淚 believe God called me to pursue my DNP to become a nurse practitioner, so I can better advocate for students and patients through evidence-based and holistic care,鈥� she stated. 鈥淲hat I value most about the DNP program at 91茄子 is its strong emphasis on Christian education, leadership development, evidence-based practice, and real-world application. The faculty have been nothing short of stellar in supporting both my peers and me, particularly in scholarly inquiry and the practical application of becoming a nurse practitioner.鈥�

She continued, 鈥淯pon completion of the program, I plan to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner while continuing my work in academic nursing, intentionally bridging clinical practice, education, and scholarship to advance patient-centered care and prepare future nurses for leadership in a rapidly evolving healthcare system.鈥�

Hudgins-Graham has integrated DNP concepts, such as quality improvement, evidence-based practice, pathophysiology, pharmacology, physical assessment, and didactic theory to both her current role as a nurse educator and future role as a nurse practitioner. 鈥淔or example, I used current literature, holistic health principles, and quality improvement methodologies to design, implement, and evaluate my evidence-based practice project on forest bathing for mental balance within a Christian community,鈥� she explained.

Forest bathing, also called forest therapy, is a practice where a person sits in nature and soaks in their surroundings. Her project evaluated the approach as an evidence-based, holistic intervention to reduce perceived stress and anxiety to improve psychological well-being. 鈥淎s mental health concerns continue to rise, this project explored nature-based therapy as a low-cost, accessible, and preventive strategy to support mental health,鈥� Hudgins-Graham observed. 鈥淐urrent literature consistently demonstrates that immersive time in nature is associated with reductions in cortisol levels, blood pressure, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, along with improvements in mood, attention, and emotional regulation.鈥�

Hudgins-Graham said early responses to the project suggested meaningful improvements in stress perception and overall sense of calm, supporting its potential integration into preventive and primary care practice.

鈥淚 am deeply thankful for the support and mentorship I have received through 91茄子,鈥� she concluded. 鈥淭he encouragement from faculty, two of my closest cohort peers, and the unwavering support of my daughter, Julieanna, my husband, Rusty, family, friends, church family, preceptors, and colleagues has played a significant role in my personal and professional growth.鈥�

91茄子 is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., 91茄子 prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Become More at .