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Faculty and Staff Directory

Do you have a question or need assistance? Our directory provides a list of CU Anschutz Nursing faculty and staff members. Some faculty profiles include links to research and a brief biography, so you can learn more about their expertise.

Deborah Kenny PhD, RN, FAAN

Associate Professor Division Chair of Health Systems, Leadership, and Informatics

College of Nursing

Primary Phone:303-724-8527

View Research Profile

Mailing Address:

CU Anschutz

Education II North

13120 East 19th Avenue

Aurora, CO 80045

Deb Kenny received her BSN from the University of Northern Colorado; a Master’s in Education from Boston University; Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University; Master of Arts from Loyola University, and her PhD in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is an Associate Professor and HSLI Division Chair at the University of Colorado College of Nursing. Dr. Kenny is retired after 24 years from the US Army Nurse Corps and held various positions while in the military, including as a Nursing Scientist at the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center and as the Executive Director of the TriService Nursing Research Program. She is a member of the Order of Military Medical Merit. Dr. Kenny was awarded an Outstanding Alumni Award from the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2008) and was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2010. In 2017, Dr. Kenny was selected as an Ambassador for the Friends of the National Institute for Nursing Research. She also received a Nightingale Luminary award for the Pikes Peak Region for outstanding advocacy in nursing.

Her research interests include women veterans in the areas of homelessness and healthcare as well as moral injury and resilience. She has numerous publications in various topics in nursing and women veterans. She is currently on the Military/Veterans expert panel and Chair of the Bioethics expert panel for the American Academy of Nursing. She is the Vice Chair of the Colorado State Children’s Trust Fund Board of Directors. She also serves on the Ethics Education Subcommittee for the ANA Ethics Advisory Board, is part of the Colorado Health Ethics Resources group, is on the Board of Directors for the Innovations in Aging Collaboration, and the Colorado Veteran’s Engagement Advisory Group, working to ensure all Coloradans receive needed services. In her spare time, she rides and shows her Icelandic horses.

Areas of Expertise

Evidence-Based Practice, Leadership, Research Methods

Education, Licensure & Certifications

PhD, Nursing, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 1998
MA, Bioethics, Loyola University, Chicago, 2021
MS, Nursing, Vanderbilt University, 1986
EdM, Organizational and Systems Development, Boston University, 1984
BS, Nursing, University of Northern Colorado, 1975

Awards

2020 Johnson Beth-El College Research Award
2020 Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Fellow
2018 Western Institute of Nursing Scholar Award
2017 Colorado Springs Nightingale Luminary Award with State Recognition
2016 Outstanding Contributions to UCCS Pre-Collegiate Program for HRSA Boot Camp
2015 UCCS Million Dollar Club for obtaining >$1M in grant funding
2009 Legion of Merit, Uniformed Services University
2009 Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Uniformed Services University
2008 Distinguished Alumna Award for Graduate School 100th Anniversary, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

Publications and Presentations

Rosa, W.E., Buck, H.G., Squires, A.P., Kozachik, S.L., Abu-Saad Huijer, H., Bakitas, M., McGowan Boit, J., Bradley, P.K., Cacchione, P.Z., Chan, G., Crisp, N., Dahlin, C., Daoust, P., Davidson, P.M., Davis, S., Doumit, M.A.A., Fink, R.M., Herr, K.A., Hinds, P.S., Hughes, T.L., Karanja, V., Kenny, D.J., King, C.R., Klopper, H.C., Knebel, A.R., Kurth, A.E., Madigan, E.A., Malloy, P., Matzo, M., Mazanec, P., Meghani, S.H., Monroe, T.B., Moreland, P.J., Paice, J.A., Phillips, J.C., Rushton, C.H., Shamian, J., Shattell, M., Snethen, J., Ulrich, C.M., Wholihan, D., Wocial, L.D., & Ferrell, B.R. (2022). International consensus-based policy recommendations to advance universal palliative care access from the American Academy of Nursing Expert Panels (Part II). Nursing Outlook, 70, 36-46

Nguyen B, Torres A, Sim W, Kenny D, Campbell DM, Beavers L, Lou W, Kapralos B, Peter E, Dubrowski A, Krishnan S, Bhat V. (2022). Digital Interventions to Reduce Distress Among Health Care Providers at the Frontline: Protocol for a Feasibility Trial. JMIR Research Protocols,11(2):e32240

Rosa, W.E., Buck, H.G., Squires, A.P., Kozachik, S.L., Abu-Saad Huijer, H., Bakitas, M., McGowan Boit, J., Bradley, P.K., Cacchione, P.Z., Chan, G., Crisp, N., Dahlin, C., Daoust, P., Davidson, P.M., Davis, S., Doumit, M.A.A., Fink, R.M., Herr, K.A., Hinds, P.S., Hughes, T.L., Karanja, V., Kenny, D. J., King, C.R., Klopper, H.C., Knebel, A.R., Kurth, A.E., Madigan, E.A., Malloy, P., Matzo, M., Mazanec, P., Meghani, S.H., Monroe, T.B., Moreland, P.J., Paice, J.A., Phillips, J.C., Rushton, C.H., Shamian, J., Shattell, M., Snethen, J., Ulrich, C.M., Wholihan, D., Wocial, L.D., & Ferrell, B.R. (2021). American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel consensus statement on nursing’s roles in ensuring universal palliative care access. Nursing Outlook, 69, 961-968

Kenny, D. J. (2020).
Health Needs Associated with COVID-19, Journal of Health and Human Experience, 6(3), 25-40. Where to Begin? Healthcare Provider Stressors and Behavioral/Mental

Kenny, D. J., Graham, H., Simmons, A. M. (2020). Journal of Health and Human Experience, 6(2), 26-49. (Original work published 2018) Everyday heroes: Nurses working quietly behind the scenes saving lives and protecting their patients

Kenny, D. J., & Kelley, P. A. (2019). Heavy Burdens: Ethical Issues Faced by Military Nurses during a war. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(3). Manuscript 1

Wolgast, K., Marino, M. Speck, P., Kenny, D. J., & Moriarty, H. (2019). Nursing Outlook, 67(4), 486-491 American Academy of Nursing Policy Brief: Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

Kenny, D.J., & Yoder, L. H. (2019). Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 33(4), 400-406. A picture of the older homeless female veteran: A qualitative, case study analysis

Kenny, D.J., Graham, H., Simmons, A. M. (2018). Journal of Health and Human Experience, 4(2), 25-47. Everyday heroes: Nurses working quietly behind the scenes saving lives and protecting their patients

Kenny, D. J. (2017). Journal of Health and Human Experience, 3(2), 25-41. A time for paradigm shift? Revisiting the necessity for the human side of patient care

Kelley, P., Kenny, D. J., & Donley, R. (2017). Experiences of vulnerability and uncertainty during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: Stories of wounded service members and the nurses who cared for them. Nursing Outlook. 65(5s), S71-80

Eldh, A.C., Almost, J., DeCorby-Watson, K., Gifford, W., Harvey, G., Hasson, H., Kenny, D. J., Moodie, S., Wallin, L., & Yost, J. (2017). Clinical interventions, implementation interventions, and the potential greyness in between - a discussion paper. BMC Health Services Research, 17:16. DOI 10.1186/s12913-016-1958-5

Kelley, P. W., Kenny, D. J., Gordon, D. R., & Benner, P. (2015). The Evolving, Essential Roles of Case Manager for Servicemembers Injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Qualitative Healthcare Research. 24(3), 426-439. DOI:10.1177/1049732314553228

Sweeney. T. J, Kenny, D. J., & Schubert, C. C., (2013). Inpatient Insulin Pump Therapy: Assessing the Effectiveness of an Educational Program. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 29(2), 84-89

Kenny, D. J., & Jennings, B. M., (2010). Guest Editors. Uniformed Services Nursing. Nursing Clinics of North America, 45(2), xiii-xv

De Jong, M. J., Benner, R., Benner, P., Richard, M. L., Kenny, D. J., Kelley, P., Bingham, M., & Debisette, A. T. (2010). Mass casualty care in an expeditionary environment: Developing local knowledge and expertise in context. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 17(1), 45-58

Kenny, D. J., & Goodman, P. (2010). Care of the Patient with Enteral Tube Feeding: An evidence-based practice protocol. Nursing Research, 59 (one Suppl):S22-S31

Kenny, D. J., Richard, M. L., Ceniceros, X., & Blaize, K. (2010). Collaborating Across Services to Advance Evidence-Based Nursing Practice. Nursing Research, 59 (one Suppl):S11-S21

Kenny, D. J. & Hull, M. S. (2008). Critical Care Nurses’ Experiences Caring for the Casualties of War Evacuated from the Front Line: Lessons Learned and Needs Identified, Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 20(1), 41-49

Estabrooks, C. A., Kenny, D. J., Cummings, G., Adewale, A., & Mallidou, A. (2007). A Comparison of Research Utilization among Nurses Working in Canadian Civilian and American Military Healthcare Organizations, Research in Nursing and Health, 30, 282–296

Kenny, D. J. (2005). Nurses’ Use of Research in Practice at Three U.S. Army Hospitals, Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership, 18(3), 45-67