Kristen Overbaugh, Ph.D., RN

Kristen Overbaugh Ph.D., RN, is an Assistant Professor of Nursing. Prior to joining La Salle in 2018, she taught at University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio where her primary teaching role was as clinical faculty for adult acute care and leadership and management courses. She has previous teaching experience in similar clinical and didactic undergraduate courses, and in assisting with on-line graduate nursing courses focused on theory, research, and healthcare policy. She has over 20 years of experience in acute care settings as a nurse in practice, management, and educator roles. She has a special interest in improving outcomes, including quality of life, for individuals living with chronic illness and their family members. She completed an inter-professional palliative care fellowship in 2016 through the South Texas Veterans Health Care Administration in San Antonio. Her research has focused on personal growth in heart failure, integrating palliative care prior to end-of-life, and family caregiving in dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. She has received training to facilitate ELNEC (End of Life Nursing Education) courses, and Respecting Choices® Advance Care Planning.  In addition to further developing her own area of research, she hopes to continue to mentor nursing students in becoming successful, compassionate clinicians and leaders in a complex healthcare environment.

Areas of Expertise

Adult Health
Cardiovascular Nursing
Palliative Care and Hospice

Education

Ph.D., Nursing; University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
MSN Acute Care of the Adult, Clinical Nurse Specialist; Minor in Teaching
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
BS, Nursing; Minor in Geriatrics; Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Certifications

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN)
Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Health (ACNS-BC)
Certificate of Training Inter-professional Palliative Care Fellowship

Teaching

Adult Acute Care/Medical Surgical Nursing
Leadership and Management
Palliative and End of Life Nursing Education

Publications

Overbaugh KJ, Zaragoza G, White C. The formation of a community academic partnership to address health disparities and improve outcomes for Latino family caregivers living in a rural community. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 2018; 1-3. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2017.1398793.

White CL, Overbaugh KJ, Pickering, CEZ, Piernik-Yoder, B, James D, Patel DI, Puga F, Ford L, Cleveland, J. Advancing care for family caregivers of persons with dementia through caregiver and community partnerships. Research Involvement and Engagement 2018; 4(1):1-7. doi: 10.1186/s40900-018-0084-4

Overbaugh KJ, Parshall MB. Personal growth, symptoms, and uncertainty in community-residing adults with heart failure. Heart & Lung 2017; 46:54-60. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2016.09.002.

Overbaugh, KJ. Acute Coronary Syndrome. American Journal of Nursing 2009; 109(5): 42-52.

Book Chapters

Overbaugh, K. J. (2018). Assessment of Respiratory Function. In J. Hinkle & K. Cheever (Eds.) Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing (14th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

Overbaugh, K. J. (2013). Assessment of Respiratory Function. In J. Hinkle & K. Cheever (Eds.) Brunner and Suddarth’s Textbook of Medical Surgical Nursing (13th edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.

Poster Presentations

Molidor S, Overbaugh K, James D, White C. Palliative Care and Stroke: An Integrative Review of the Literature; 2018 Mar. (Poster presented at Annual Assembly of Hospice and Palliative Care, Boston, MA).

Overbaugh K, White C, Zaragoza G, Walker T, Ortiz N, Hernandez L. CARES: A Rural Community Partnership to Address the Health of Family Caregivers; 2017 Sept. (Poster presented at Community Engagement and Healthcare Improvement Conference, San Antonio, TX).

White CL, Pickering CEZ, Overbaugh KJ, Piernik-Yoder B, Puga F, Patel DL, Ford LA, James D, Cleveland, J. Advancing Care for the Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: Community and Caregiver Partnerships; 2017 Jun. (Poster presented at the San Antonio Military Health System and Universities Research Forum (SURF), San Antonio, TX).

Pickering CEZ, Overbaugh KJ, Piernik-Yoder B, Puga F, Patel DL, Ford LA, White CL. Developing the Caring for the Caregiver Program for the San Antonio Community; 2017 May. (Poster presented at the American Geriatric Society Annual Scientific Meeting, San Antonio, TX).

Overbaugh KJ, Healy J, Robinson P, Amdur S. Inpatient Palliative Care in Heart Failure: A Snapshot of Current Practice; 2017 April. (Poster presented at Western Institute of Nursing Research, Denver, CO).

Borgfeld J, Overbaugh KJ, Alvarado L. Integrating Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning into Chronic Disease Management; 2016 Sept. (Poster presented at Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association Clinical Practice Forum, Pittsburgh, PA).

Overbaugh KJ, Parshall MB, Haozous EA, Boursaw B, Decker I. Personal Growth, Symptom Burden, and Uncertainty in Heart Failure; 2016 Mar. (Poster presented at American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine/Hospice and Palliative Nursing Conference, Chicago, IL).

Amdur S, Overbaugh KJ, Sanchez-Reilly S. “You’re Killing your Father!” Overpromising and Underdelivering for the Family of a Dying Patient; 2016 Mar. (Poster presented at American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine/Hospice and Palliative Nursing Conference, Chicago, IL).

Overbaugh KJ, Parshall MB, Haozous EA, Boursaw B, Decker I. Exploring Personal Growth in Individuals Living with Heart Failure; 2014 April. (Poster presented at Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference, Seattle, WA).

Overbaugh KJ, Lobo M. Differences in Family Caregiving: with and without Palliative Care Support; 2013 April. (Poster presented at Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference, Anaheim, CA).

Podium Presentations

Overbaugh KJ. White CL, Ortiz, N, Hernandez ML, Zaragoza G, Walker T. Update on CARES: A Rural Community Partnership to Address the Health of Family Caregivers; 2017 Aug. Invited speaker, Community Health Advisory Board Meeting, San Antonio, TX.

Overbaugh KJ. White CL, Ortiz, N, Hernandez ML, Zaragoza G, Walker T. Overview of CARES: A Rural Community Partnership to Address the Health of Family Caregivers; 2017 Feb. Invited speaker, Mujeres West Community Meeting, San Antonio, TX).

Overbaugh KJ & Paparelli V. Optimal Heart Failure Care: Integrating Palliative Care into Standard Heart Failure Management; 2016 July. Invited speaker 6th Annual Geriatric Conference Building Partnerships for Geriatric Care, Theme: Ensuring Optimal Palliative Care: Together We Can Make a Difference, San Antonio, TX.

Overbaugh KJ. Differences in Family Caregiving: with and without Palliative Care Support; 2015 Aug. Research round table presentation at Mixed Methods International Research Association Regional Conference, San Antonio, TX.

Overbaugh KJ, Parshall MB, Haozous EA, Boursaw B, Decker I. Exploring Personal Growth in Individuals Living with Heart Failure; 2015 April. Presentation at Western Institute of Nursing Research Conference, Albuquerque, NM.