by Nancy Wise
Vanderbilt’s Kanah Lewallen, DNP, MSN, has been recognized by two national organizations for excellence in gerontological nursing education.
The Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association awarded Lewallen its Excellence in Education Award for her teaching and design of gerontological nurse practitioner curriculum/course content as well as overall commitment to students and gerontological practice.
Lewallen teaches in the School of Nursing’s Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner academic specialty program. She has been responsible for revising the delivery of AGPCNP content using multiple modes of instruction and incorporating technologically advanced innovations. Most recently, she created lessons to make use of the school’s Wachtmeister Interactive Classroom, a newly opened facility equipped with high-definition displays that interact with students’ laptops and smart devices and other technologies. Student reaction included increased engagement and retention of information. The success of her teaching strategies resulted in adoption of those methods by other faculty.
Lewallen also recently received the Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Excellence award from the National Hartford Centers for Gerontological Nursing Excellence. The award honors nurse educators who combine nursing expertise in caring for older adults with teaching and fostering positive attitudes toward older adults.
