Dr. Kristy Callahan, DNE, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE

Dr. Kristy G. Callahan serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Benedictine College. She teaches across the undergraduate nursing curriculum, including Introduction to Professional Nursing, Nursing Fundamentals, Professional Nursing Management, and Capstone Clinical Coordination. Her teaching emphasizes clinical judgment, professional formation, compassionate care, and preparing students to transition confidently into professional nursing practice.

Dr. Callahan earned her Doctor of Nursing Education (DNE) from The Ohio State University (2026), where she also completed a Graduate Certificate in Palliative and End-of-Life Care (2025). She holds a Master of Science in Nursing Education and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University, as well as an Associate Degree in Nursing from Highland Community College. She is a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) and maintains clinical practice as a PRN registered nurse in the medical-surgical setting.

Her clinical background includes medical-surgical nursing, home health and hospice, public health, and nursing leadership. These experiences inform her passion for educating future nurses to provide safe, evidence-based, and person-centered care. Dr. Callahan’s scholarly and professional interests include nursing education, clinical judgment development, simulation-based learning, palliative and end-of-life care, and student transition to practice.

Dr. Callahan is involved in professional nursing organizations, including the National League for Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, and the American Nurses Association. She also serves as a faculty sponsor for the Benedictine College Student Nursing Association (BCSNA) and supports student engagement through campus and nursing-focused activities.

Outside of her professional role, Dr. Callahan enjoys spending time with her husband and their five children. As a lifelong member of the small-town Atchison, Kansas community, she values faith, family, and meaningful connections. Dr. Callahan believes in the power of education and the importance of lifelong learning, both for herself and for the students she teaches. She also enjoys traveling and creating memories with her family.

Education

• Doctor of Nursing Education, Academic Nurse Educator, The Ohio State University, 2026
• Palliative and End-of-Life Care Graduate Certificate, The Ohio State University, 2025
• Master of Science in Nursing Education, Western Governors University, 2022
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Western Governors University, 2020
• Associate Degree in Nursing, Highland Community College, 2014

Areas of Expertise

• Undergraduate nursing curriculum and instruction
• Nursing fundamentals
• Fundamentals clinical coordination
• Capstone clinical education
• Care of Adult 1 clinical Education
• Professional nursing leadership and management
• Palliative and end-of-life care
• Introduction to professional nursing

Areas of Evidence-Based Practice

• Virtual reality simulation in nursing education
• End-of-life and palliative care education

Professional Initiatives and Memberships

• National League for Nursing (NLN)
• American Nurses Association (ANA)
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing (ANCC)