MUW Instructor Lands National Certification

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Dr. Kristi Acker, doctorate of nursing practice instructor at Mississippi University for Women, is the first Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (ACHPN®) in Mississippi and one of 10 in Alabama.

Palliative care is emerging as a specialty, according to Acker “With the restructuring of health care, anyone that has a life threatening or serious illness should be able to access palliative care services. Even patients who are in curative situations can benefit from the services offered through a palliative care program,” Acker explained.

According to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, advanced practice registered nurses are a subset of nurses prepared at the graduate level to provide patient care with licensure and credentialing reflecting this advanced preparation. APRNs, who have specialty preparation care through education and/or clinical practice, function as palliative care experts in the clinical nurse specialist or nurse practitioner roles. Certification as Advanced Practice Hospice and Palliative Nurse validates this specialization.

“Ninety million people are diagnosed with chronic and life treating illnesses. This number is only expected to grow,” said Acker. “I knew this was an area where I wanted to grow as a health care provider.”

In a 2011 report card released by the Center to Advance Palliative Care, Mississippi received an F, while Alabama received a D when states were graded by their percentage of hospitals with a palliative care program with more than 50 beds. The Center to Advance Palliative Care also found that only 20 percent of Mississippi’s hospitals offer palliative care.

“Although, over the last three years, Mississippi has made significant improvements implementing palliative care programs, the South still remains below the national average for palliative care access. Our health care system must value the role of palliative care and shared decision-making in order to improve patient outcomes,” said Acker.

“The health care culture concerning palliative care must change” said Acker. “In our DNP program we are creating future nurse leaders.  I feel that finding your niche and developing your expertise in order to promote evidence-based change is what the DNP program is all about. I felt that as an instructor, I must continue to model what we teach our students.”

Acker received her bachelor’s of science in nursing from the University of Alabama in 1992. In 1998, she completed her MSN and the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at The W. She then went on to be a part of the inaugural University of Alabama at Birmingham DNP graduating class in 2009.

She currently serves as co-coordinator of The W Doctor of Nursing Practice program and maintains clinical practice as a nurse practitioner with certification as an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse.