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Karen S. Kesten

Karen S. Kesten headshot

Karen S. Kesten

D.N.P., APRN, CCNS, CNE, FAAN

Program Director, Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Associate Professor (Tenured)

Contact:

Office Phone: (202) 994-6570
Mobile Phone: 301-275-5835
Remote

Karen S. Kesten, DNP, APRN, CCNS, CNE, FAAN is a Tenured Associate Professor and Director of DNP Scholarly Projects. Dr. Kesten is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and received the GW SON 2024 Excellence in Graduate Student Mentorship Award and the GWU 2019 Morton A. Bender Award on Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Kesten served on the AACN Competency-based Education for Doctoral Prepared APRN Work Group, the Implementation of the DNP Task Force, and the Task Force on Defining the Scholarship of Academic Nursing. She currently serves as the GWSON Essentials Champion. Dr. Kesten served as a member of the National Task Force on Quality Nurse Practitioner Education Standards, 6th Edition: A Report of the National Task Force, and past Chair on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses Certification Corporation. 

Dr. Kesten’s research and publications focus on advanced nursing practice, competency-based education, and doctoral practice scholarship. Recently, she published “Exploring the Scholarly Value and Impact of DNP prepared Nurses through the Lens of Nursing Leaders” in the Journal of Nursing Administration. In 2019, Dr. Kesten received the Nursing Outlook Excellence in Nursing Education publication award from the American Academy of Nursing for her publication on Retirements and Succession of Nursing Faculty 2016-2025.

  • GW Morton A. Bender Excellence in teaching Award (2021).
  • GW School of Nursing Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2020)
  • American Academy of Nursing, Excellence in Nursing Education Publication Award (2019)
  • Visionary Leadership Award, American Association of Critical Care Nurses (2018)
  • Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2017)
  • Sigma Theta Tau Honorary Society Excellence in Teaching Award (2013)
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honorary Society
  • Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing
  • Practice scholarship
  • Innovative teaching strategies
  • Competency-based education
  • Advanced nursing practice transition to practice
  • Kesten, K.S., Cox, C.W., & LeGrand, E.K., (2024) Factors impacting turnover among perioperative nurses as triggered by the pandemic. AORN Journal, (in press). 
  • Kesten, K., Moran, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Corrigan, C., & Manderscheid, A., (2025). Exploring the scholarly value and impact of DNP prepared nurses through the lens of nursing leaders. Journal of Nursing Administration, (in press, February 2025). 
  • Wallington, S., Kesten, K., Athey, E., & Kokkinogenis, K. (2024). What’s in your social determinants of health teaching tool box? Nursing pedagogical considerations. Journal of Professional Nursing, 54(Sept.-Oct) 29-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.06.004 
  • Fang, D., Zangaro, G. & Kesten, K. (2024). Assessment of nursing faculty retirements projections. Nursing Outlook, 72(2), 102135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102135 
  • Kesten, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Corrigan, C., Manderscheid, A., & Moran, K. (2024). Leveraging Doctor of Nursing Practice scholarship to meet organizational leaders’ expectations. Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, 17, 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/JDNP-2023-0052 
  • Williams, A. & Kesten, K. (2023). Engaging older adults in the discharge process using the IDEAL discharge protocol. The Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(10) 13-19. https:// doi:10.3928/00989134-20230915-04 
  • Kesten, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Corrigan, C., Manderscheid, A., & Moran, K., (2023) Alignment of DNP degree competencies with employer perspectives: The value of academic practice partnerships. Journal of Professional Nursing, 48, September-October, 112-118. https://doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.07.003
  • Kesten, K.S., Cox, C.W., Legrand, E.K., & Zhou, Q. (2024, March). Factors Impacting Turnover among Peri-operative Nurses as Triggered by the Pandemic. Poster Presentation. AORN Global Surgical Conference and Expo, Nashville, TN.
  • Kesten, K., Moran, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Burson, R., Manderscheid, A., Pohl, E. & Corrigan, C., (2022). Practice Scholarship Satisfaction and Impact as Perceived by DNP-prepared Nurses, Journal of American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 34(5)1–9,DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000707
  • Kesten, K. & Hoover, S. (2022) Doctor of Nursing Practice scholarship dissemination through an open access repository, Journal of Professional Nursing, 41(July-August) 19-25, doi:10.1016
  • Corrigan, C., Moran, K., Kesten, K., Conrad, D., Manderscheid, A., Beebe, S., & Pohl, E. (2022). Entrustable professional activities in clinical education: a practical approach for advanced nursing education, Nurse Educator, 47(5). doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001184
  • Corrigan, C., Moran, K., Kesten, K., Conrad, D., Manderscheid, A., Pohl, E. (2022) Competency-based education and entrustable professional activities: An electronic clinical tracking system solution, Computers, Informatics, Nursing (in press).
  • Kesten, K.  Moran, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Burson, R., Manderscheid, A., Pohl, E. & Corrigan, C., (2022). Impact of practice scholarship as perceived by nurses holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Journal of Nursing Administration 52(2), 99-105, DOI: 10.1097/NNA.0000000000001109
  • Kesten, K., Moran, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Burson, R., Corrigan, C., Manderscheid, A. & Pohl, E. (2022). Practice scholarship engagement reported by nurses holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 34(2) 298-309. DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000620
  • Kesten, K. & Beebe, S. (2022). Competency frameworks for nurse practitioner residency and fellowship programs: Comparison, analysis, and recommendations, Journal of American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 34(1) 160-168, DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000591.
  • Kesten, K., Moran, K., Beebe, S., Conrad, D., Burson, R., Corrigan, C., Manderscheid, A. & Pohl, E. (2022). Drivers for seeking the DNP degree and competencies acquired as reported by nurses in practice, Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 34(1), 70-78. DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000593.
  • El-Banna, M. & Kesten, K. (2022) Innovative and Diverse Strategies to Implement Inclusive DNP Projects to Meet Organization Strategic Goals and Advance Healthcare Equity, Nursing Research.
  • El-Banna, M. & Kesten, K. (2021). Generating nursing science to better understand nurse practitioner fellowship/residency programs, Nursing Research, 70(3), pp E 48-49.
  • Kesten, K. & El-Banna, M. (2021). Strategies to re-envision Doctor of Nursing Practice projects to meet organization goals during a pandemic, Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 52(2):61-63 https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20210114-03
  • Kesten, K. & Echevarria, M. (2021). Strategies for strengthening quality improvement projects in Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, Journal of Doctor of Nursing Practice, 14(01) DOI: 10.1891/JDNP-D-20-00034
  • Doelger, M., Kesten, K., & Sakallaris, B. (2021). Just in time orientation of non-critical care nurses to the critical care environment, Nursing Research. 70(3), pp E
  • Conrad, D. Burson R., Moran, K., Kesten, K., Corrigan, C., Hussey, P., Pohl, E., (2020). The practice doctorate approach to assessing advanced nursing practice in Ireland, International Nursing Review: The Official Journal of the International Council of Nurses, 67(4), 535-542. doi:10.111.inr.12624
  • Kesten, K., & El-Banna, M. (2021). Facilitators, barriers, benefits, and funding to implement postgraduate nurse practitioner residency/fellowship programs. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33(8) 611-617. DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000412
  • Kesten, K., El-Banna, M. & Blakely, J. (2021). Educational characteristics and content of postgraduate nurse practitioner residency/fellowship programs. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 33(2) 126-132. DOI# 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000341
  • El-Banna, M. & Kesten, K. (2020). Nurse practitioner (NP) residency/fellowship programs: Innovation in nursing education. [Abstract] Nursing Research. May/Jun2020; 69(3): E30.  DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000430
  • Junker, C., Kesten, K., & Lay, C. (2020). Time for Quiet: Reducing Nighttime Interruptions in the ICU (TURN IN-ICU). Nursing Research 69(3), pp. E 169-170.
  • Anderson, K., McLaughlin, M., Crowell, N., Fall-Dickson, J., White, K., Heitzler, E., Kesten, K., & Yearwood, E. (2019). Mentoring students engaging in scholarly projects and dissertations in doctoral nursing programs, Nursing Outlook, 67(6) 775-788.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j. outlook.2019.06.021.
  • Taft, S., Kesten, K., & El-Banna, M. (2019). One size does not fit all: Toward an evidence-based framework for determining online course enrollment size in higher education, Online Learning Journal 23(3)188-233. doi:10.24059/old.v23i3.1534.
  • Kesten, K., White, K., Heitzler, E., Chaplin, L, Bondmass, M. (2019). Perceived evidence-based practice competency acquisition in graduate nursing students: Impact of intentional course design, Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 50(2), 74-85.
  • Ursolino, G. & Kesten, K. (2019). The Association of Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) on Patient Outcomes in Medical-Surgical Units in an Academic Medical Center. Nursing Research, 68(2), pp. E172-172.
  • Depova, S., Guzzetta, C., & Kesten, K. (2019). Evaluation of patient throughput in outpatient pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone transplant clinic, Nursing Research 68(2), pp. E171-171.
  • Savage, C.L., Daniels, A., Kesten, K., Finnell, D.S., Seale, J.P. (2018). The inclusion of substance use-related content in advanced practice registered nurse curricula, Journal of Professional Nursing, 34(3), May-June, 217-220. https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1XEmfV6qXsQakE
  • Ellis, K., Wilkinson, M., Kesten, K., Anderson, K., Lyons, M., Bondmass, M.  (2017). Partnering to scale a graduate nursing program to increase the nurse practitioner workforce, The Journal for Nurse Practitioners 13(9). e423-e431.  DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2017.06.015
  • Fang, D., & Kesten, K. (2017). Retirements and succession of nursing faculty in 2016-2025, Nursing Outlook, 65(5), 633-642.
  • Alexander, M., Durham, C., Hooper, J., Jeffries, P., Goldman, N., Kardong-Edgren, S., Kesten, K., Spector, N., Tagliareni, E., Radke, B., Tillman, C. (2015) National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) simulation guidelines for pre-licensure nursing programs, Journal of Nursing Regulation, 6(3), 39-42. DOI: 10.1016/S2155-8256(15)30783-3
  • Kesten, K., Brown, H. & Meeker, M.  (2015). Assessment of APRN student competency using simulation: a pilot study. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36(5) 332-334.  DOI: 10.5480/15-1649
  • Anderko, L., Chalupka, S., Gray, W. and Kesten, K. (2013). Greening the “proclamation for change”: healing through sustainable health care environments nurses advocate sustainable design to transform health care. American Journal of Nursing. 113(4), 52-59.
  • Austin Gray, W., Kesten, K., Hurst, S., Duffy Day, T. and Anderko, L.  (2012). Using medical simulation centers to test design interventions: A pilot study on the impact of lighting and color modifications on nurses’ stress and alertness. Health Environments and Research Design, 5(3), 46-65.
  • Daly-Bowman, C., Tola, D. Kesten, K. (2012). Providing safe passage: rapid sequence intubation for advanced practice nurses, AACN Advanced Critical Care, 23(3) 1-14.
  • Kesten, K. (2011). Role-play utilizing the SBAR technique improves observed communication skills in senior nursing students.  Journal of Nursing Education, 50(2) 79-87. 
  • Gurzick, M. & Kesten, K. (2010).  The impact of the clinical nurse specialist role on clinical pathways in the application of evidence-based practice. Journal of Professional Nursing, 26(1) 42–48.  DOI: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2009.04.003
  • Freyling, M., Kesten, K. & Heath, J. (2008). The synergy model at work in a military ICU in   Iraq. Critical Care Clinics of North America, 20, 23-29. DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2007.10.004
  • Briggs, L., Brown, H., Kesten, K. & Heath, J. (2006). Benchmarking certification for critical care nurses. Critical Care Nurse, 26(6) 47-53.
  • Norton, C. and Kesten, K. (2005). An update on the treatment of heart failure using biventricular pacing and nesiritide therapy. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 31 (1), 76-79.
  • Wright, S. Norton, C., and Kesten, K. (1989). Retention of CPR knowledge in parents of high-risk infants. Pediatric Nursing, 15(1), 37‑41.
  • Kesten, K.S., Reuter, N.S., and Swisher, J.  (1984). Diltiazem: the latest calcium channel blocker. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 3(3), 154‑160.

Book Chapters

  • Kesten, K. & Conrad, D. (2022). Chapter 2: Defining the doctor of nursing practice: historical and current trends in K. Moran, R. Burson & D. Conrad (Eds.), The doctor of nursing practice scholarly project: a framework for success, (3rd Ed.) Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  • Kesten, K. & Burson, R. (2022). Chapter 3: Scholarship in practice in K. Moran, R. Burson & D. Conrad (Eds.), The doctor of nursing practice scholarly project: a framework for success, (4th Ed.) Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  • Kesten, K. & Conrad, D. (2022). Chapter 14: The value of practice doctorate scholarship in K. Moran, R. Burson & D. Conrad (Eds.), The doctor of nursing practice scholarly project: a framework for success, (4th Ed.) Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  • Kesten, K. & Conrad, D. (2019). Chapter 3: Defining the doctor of nursing practice: current trends in K. Moran, R. Burson & D. Conrad (Eds.), The doctor of nursing practice scholarly project: a framework for success, (3rd Ed.) Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  • Kesten, K. & Conrad, D. (2017). Chapter 3: Defining the doctor of nursing practice: current trends in K. Moran, R. Burson & D. Conrad (Eds.), The doctor of nursing practice scholarly project: a framework for success, (2nd Ed.) Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
  • Kesten, K. Brown, H., Hurst, S. Briggs, L. (2010). Chapter 12: Simulation in acute care advanced practice nursing, in W. Nehring & F. Lashley, High-fidelity patient simulation in nursing education, Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
  • University of Maryland, Doctor of Nursing Practice
  • University of Maryland, Teaching Certificate in Health Professions
  • Catholic University of America, Master of Science in Nursing
  • Emory University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing 
  • Acute Care
  • Educational Research
  • Quality Improvement
  • Health Care Workforce
  • Learner
  • Achiever
  • Maximizer
  • Responsibility
  • Intellection