Dr. Deborah Zbegner

Deborah Zbegner was appointed dean of the first independent Passan School of Nursing at Wilkes University in January 2015. As the Passan School of Nursing’s first dean, Dr. Zbegner’s academic, clinical, and leadership experience provides a solid foundation for strategically positioning the Passan School of Nursing as an academic leader. Dr. Zbegner’s strategic plan fosters growth through innovative distance education programs, undergraduate and graduate curriculum development, and faculty/student scholarship. Dr. Zbegner has 21 years of teaching experience on the undergraduate and graduate level acting in various leadership positions. Experience includes didactic and clinical teaching, development of the DNP program, online course development, grant writing and numerous presentations at the international and national level. Dr. Zbegner served as Director of Graduate Programs and has been responsible for strategic planning, overseeing operations and supervising curriculum, faculty loading, and student enrollment and retention for the nurse practitioner concentrations and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Deborah Zbegner also has 30+ years of professional experience in nursing which includes obstetrical, gynecological, and infertility nursing, ultrasound, university teaching, and governance. She has 28 years of clinical practice as a nationally board certified women’s health nurse practitioner. Dr. Zbegner works in a collaborative physician practice caring for women across the life span and also serves as a clinical preceptor for nurse practitioner students within her practice site. She provides a dynamic learning environment that promotes high quality patient care from a holistic perspective. Dr. Zbegner’s academic knowledge, clinical expertise and national board certifications validates her commitment for promoting clinical excellence in all programs of the Passan School of Nursing. She is a member of the PA Coalition of Nurse Practitioners of Northeastern Pa., National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH), the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN), and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She earned her Doctorate at Widener University, Master's in Nursing at University of Pennsylvania, and her undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing from DeSales University.

 

Professional Education:

2003 Widener University, Chester, PA
Doctorof Philosophy

1987 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
Master of Science in Nursing, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

1980 DeSales University, Center Valley, PA
Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Professional Experience

August, 1993 – Present Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA. Passan School of Nursing

Dean (1/2015 – Present)

• Appointed as Dean of the Passan School of Nursing in January, 2015 after a national search. Continues the responsibilities of overseeing the comprehensive senior plan to increase board scores, collaborating with Hot Chalk , development of a strategic plan, and daily management of operations within the Passan School of Nursing.

Interim Dean (8/ 2014 – 1/2015)

• Responsible for implementation of a comprehensive action plan with emphasis to increase undergraduate board scores to above 90th percentile. Plan includes: psychometric analysis of course examinations, intensive review of NCLEX questions, curriculum content review and gaming strategies, redesign of senior course to include formal NCLEX review and comprehensive exam as part of course grade.
  
  
• Began partnership with Hot Chalk to market two distance education concentrations, Nurse Executive and Nursing Education, at a national level. Intense collaboration requiring close scrutiny of academic policies and procedures along with course content, student services, and admissions. Responsible for integration of Hot Chalk academic and operation services in the graduate nursing program; the first course offering is scheduled for October 27, 2014.
  
  
• Facilitate, with faculty, development of a strategic plan for the Passan School of Nursing congruent with the University’s Strategic Initiative.
  
  
• Management of budget, with specific focus to reduce reliance on adjunct faculty. Proposed plan for replacing adjunct with stable clinical staff positions. Associate Professor of Nursing (2003 – Present) Director of Nursing Graduate Program (2010-2014) Co-Director of Nursing Graduate Program (2007-2010)
  
  
• Co-developed the Doctor of Nursing Practice proposal approved by the PA Department of Education and Middle States for a 2010 program start.
  
  
• Assisted in coordination and presentation of proposals to the PA State Board of Nursing for approval of the distance education Adult-Gerontology Primary Care (AGPC) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) programs. Reformatted the existing Nursing Management concentration into the Nurse Executive concentration aligning content and competencies with the national certification examination.
  
  
• Instrumental in program development of the new AGPC and PMHNP concentrations for distance education delivery. The current student passing rate for national board certification in both programs is 100%.
  
  
• Responsible for graduate nursing faculty loading, maintaining budget, chairing graduate curriculum committee and serving on graduate student affairs, course sequencing and scheduling, as well as development and teaching MS and DNP courses.
  
  
• Assisted in development of the CCNE Self Study document and management of accreditation
  site visit for BS-DNP, MS-DNP, and Post Graduate Certificate programs. Preliminary report
  stated that programs were in compliance of all four standards without recommendations, final
  report pending 11/2014.

Assistant Professor of Nursing (1993 – 2003)

• Primary instructor for Obstetrics and Fundamentals. Theoretical content and clinical practice
  
  
• Served as Level II Coordinator responsible for management of sophomore clinical arrangement, orientation of adjunct faculty, advising of students and problem solving.
  
  
• Served on and chaired Student Affairs Committee for development of student policies and maintenance of student handbook. Developed and implemented “Experience in Nursing Day” as a recruitment strategy for the nursing department. Also, developed and implemented a “Nursing Camp” targeted at seventh through ninth grade students and conducted in the summer. Aimed at introducing nursing to young students to stimulate interest in the profession.
  
  
• Conducted a research project in NSG 305 focusing on the characteristics of mentoring from a student perspective. The classroom senior project resulted in 3 students attending the International Nursing Conference in Shanghai, China and delivering a podium presentation as undergraduate students.

January. 2003 – Present Douglas Coslett, M.D., Luzerne, PA

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner

• Provide direct patient care to women across the life span. Focus on annual physical exams, health promotion and management of acute and chronic conditions specific to women.
• Conduct infertility investigations including ultrasounds, ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination, and artificial insemination by donor for appropriate clients
• Collaborate with IVF sites to provide services when indicated. Valley GYN Associates
• Precept nurse practitioner and medical students from various local colleges and universities. January, 1988 – 2002 Martin Freifeld, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., Kingston, PA. OB-GYN Nurse Practitioner (Full-Time 1988-1994; later title change to WHNP)
• Provided direct patient care to normal and high risk obstetrical patients, normal gynecologic and abnormal gynecology patients. Performed OB-GYN Ultrasounds, Non stress tests, cryosurgery and other diagnostic procedures.
• Conducted patient hospital rounds, dictated history and physicals, discharge summaries, and provided on call service for weekends.

1981 – 1987 Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kingston, PA.

• OB- GYN RN Nursing Staff (L&D, Post Partum, Nursery)
• Charge Nurse

1980 Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut
1981 Community Medical Center, Scranton, PA.

• Medical Surgical RN Nursing Staff
• Charge Nurse

Licenses and Certifications

• 1981 – Present Professional Nurse - Pennsylvania
• 1987 – Present Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
• 2003 – Present CRNP Prescriptive Authority
• 1987 – Present Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) Certification through
• RN- 244167-L
• Pennsylvania - UP – 001274 – G
• 1989 – Present Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Nurse (REIN) Certification
• 1992 – Present American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS)
• National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecological, and
• Neonatal Nursing Specialties (NCC)
• through National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric,
• Gynecological, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties (NCC)
• Certification in OB-GYN Ultrasound
• Each certification requires continuing education hours (CEU) for renewal.
  • WHNP – 45 CEUs every 3 years
  • REIN - 45 CEUs every 3 years
  • ARDMS – 30 CEUs every 3 years
  • CRNP Prescriptive Authority – 16 Pharmacology CEUs every 2 year period of license renewal

Awards

• 2010 Wilkes University Innovative Faculty Teaching Award
• 2005 Wilkes University Outstanding Faculty Award
• Scholarship and Other Professional Activities
• Zbegner, D. (2013) Op Ed, Nurse practitioners valuable to health care. Times Leader, Wilkes-
• Barre, PA
• Zbegner, D. & Hirthler, K. (2011). Proposal for the Adult Nurse Practitioner, Submitted for
• Program Approval to Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
• Zbegner, D. & Hirthler, K. (2011). Proposal for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse
• Practitioner, Submitted for Program Approval to the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
• Zbegner, D & Zielinski, B. (2009). Proposal for the Development of a Doctor of Nursing
• Practice Program. Submitted for Program Approval to the Pennsylvania Department of
• Education.

Research Projects

• December, 2013 to present
  • The Effect of a Scholarly Project on Advancing Nursing Practice
  • After Graduation from a DNP Program
  • IRB approved through Wilkes University
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Kathleen Hirthler, Wilkes University
  • Co-Investigators: Dr. Deborah Zbegner, Wilkes University
  • Dr. Mary Jane Miskovsky, Wilkes University
  • Data Collection
  • October, 2013 to present The Use of Probiotics on Dyspareunia and Menopause
  • IRB approved through Wilkes University
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Ellen Neu
  • Valley GYN Associates: Dr. Deborah Zbegner (arm of study)
  • Data Collection

Book Review

• Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2009). The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique, and utilization (6th ed). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders. Chapter 3

Podium Presentations

• Culhane, N. & Zbegner, D. Bone-ing up on osteoporosis. Wilkes University CEU Presentation (podium), Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA.: April, 2008.
• Zbegner, D. Mentoring from a student’s perspective: A content analysis. Sigma Theta Tau 39th Biennial convention (podium), Baltimore, Maryland: 2007.
• Zbegner, D., Culp, E., Sromovsky, J., & Wilde, R. Mentoring from a student’s perspective: A content analysis. International Nursing Conference (podium), Shanghai, China: May, 2007.
• Zbegner, D. An exploratory retrospective study using the Roy Adaptation Model: The adaptive mode variables of physical energy level, self-esteem, marital satisfaction, and parenthood motivation as predictors of coping behaviors in infertile women. International Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor society (podium), Dublin, Ireland: July, 2005.
• Zbegner, D. An exploratory retrospective study using the Roy Adaptation Model: The adaptive mode variables of physical energy level, self-esteem, marital satisfaction, and parenthood motivation as predictors of coping behaviors in infertile women. Eastern Nursing Research Society Conference (podium), Boston, MA: May, 2004
• Zbegner, D. & Zielinski, B. No way baby program. International Family Nursing Conference (podium), Chicago, Il: July, 2000. Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997. Faculty Development Program, Lancaster Institute of Health (podium), Lancaster, PA: June, 2000. 
• Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997. Eastern Pennsylvania’s Regional AORN Meeting (podium), Harrisburg, PA: May, 2000. Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997. Eastern Nursing Research Society Annual conference (podium), March 30-31, 2000.
• Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997. Sigma Theta Tau International Conference, Scientific Sessions (podium), San Diego, CA: November, 1999.

Poster Presentations

• Zbegner, D. APN’s: Addressing the gaps in women’s health. Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Research Day, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA. May, 2001.
• Zbegner, D. & Zielinski, B. No way baby program. 17th Annual Pediatric Nursing Conference. Philadelphia, PA. 2001.
• Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997. Delaware Nurses’ Association Annual Research Conference. March 6, 1999.
• Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997.Pennsylvania League for Nursing Statewide Conference, March 18-19, 1999.
• Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997.Sigma Thetha Tau, Internations, Eta Beta Chapter, Widener University, March 26, 1999.
• Widener Writing Group. A critical review of the Journal of Nursing education research articles: 1988-1997. Lamba Delta chapter, Sigma Theta Tau Annual Research day, April 30, 1999 Poster won first prize. Nursing Education Conference, Philadelphia, PA. June, 1999.
• Zbegner, D. APN’s addressing the gaps in women’s health. International Women and Children’s Global Health Conference. Maui, Hawaii: August, 1999.
• Zbegner, D. & Zielinski B. No way baby program. Project Learn, Kings College, Wilkes-Barre, PA.: 1996
• Zbegner, D. & Zielinski, B. No way baby program. AWHONN District III Conference, Atlantic City, NJ: 1995.

Grants

• 2011 HRSA AENT Grant for $5,682.00
• 2010 HRSA AENT Grant for $8,000.00
• 2008 HRSA Grant- for $8,230.00
• 2007 Mentoring Grant for $1500.00 Co-written with Dr. Bridgette Zielinski Wilkes University
• 1996 March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
  • Second Funding for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
    Program
    Implemented at Bishop Hoban High School
    Ninth Grade Male & Female Student
• 1995 March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
  • HRSA Grant- for $7,000.00
  • Co-written with Dr. Bridgette Zielinski
  • Funding for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
  • Implemented at West Hazleton Junior High School

Academic Teaching and Leadership Experience

Passan School of Nursing

August, 2007 – Present Wilkes University Graduate Nursing Program

• Leadership
  • Interim Dean
  • Director of Graduate Nursing Program
  • Co-Director of Graduate Nursing Program
  • Academic Planning and Liaison to Hot Chalk
  • Extensive Program Development
  • Clinical Preceptor for NP students
• Developed Online Courses:
  • NSG 502: Application of Nursing Research
  • NSG 542: Evaluation in Nursing Education
  • NSG 601: Biostatistics
  • NSG 590: Scholarly Review
• Course Revision for Hot Chalk:
  • NSG 501: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
  • NSG 502: Application of Nursing Research
• Courses Taught: NSG 608: Scholarly Project
  • NSG 601: Biostatistics
  • NSG 501: Theoretical Foundations of Nursing
  • NSG 502: Application of Nursing Research
  • NSG 542: Evaluation in Nursing Education
  • NSG 544: Classroom Practice in Nursing Education
  • NSG 545: Clinical Practice in Nursing Education
• Leadership:
  • Penn State Leadership Academy, Penn State University
  • University Park, PA: July, 2010

August, 1993 – August 2007 Wilkes University Undergraduate Nursing Program

• Leadership:
  • Level II Coordinator
  • Student Affairs –Chairperson
• Courses taught:
  • NSG 201: Principles in Professional Nursing
  • Didactic and Clinical
  • NSG 202: Nursing of the Childbearing Family
  • Didactic and Clinical
  • NSG 305: Nursing Research
  • NSG 401: Nursing Practice I
  • NSG 406: Advanced Health Assessment (Practice)
  • FYF 101: A Wealth of Health
  • NSG 598: Dissemination of Nursing Research
• Course Development:
  • FYF101: A Wealth of Health
  • NSG 598: Dissemination of Nursing Research

University Service

• 2014 Interim Dean Passan School of Nursing
• 2013-Present University Academic Planning Committee
• 2010-2013 Passan School of Nursing Executive Committee
• 2010 -2014 Passan School of Nursing Graduate Student Affairs Committee
• 2010 -2014 Passan School of Nursing Graduate Curriculum Committee
  Chairperson 2010 - 2014
• 2010 -2014 Passan School of Nursing Director of Graduate Program
• 2009-2012 University IRB
• 2009 University Subcommittee on Governance
• 2007-2010 University Subcommittee on Freshman Year Foundations
  Teaching Learning evaluation
• 2008-2009 University Subcommittee on Governance
• 2008-2012 University Academic Planning Committee for Science
  Health & Engineering Building (SHE)
• 2007-2010 Graduate Program Committee
• 2007-2012 University Graduate Studies Committee
• 2007-2010 Nursing Department Co-Director Graduate Program
• 2000-2006 University Academic Standards Committee
• 1995-1997 University Teacher Recognition and Effectiveness
  Chairperson 1996 - 1997
• 1995-2008 Nursing Department Level II coordinator
• 1994-2010 Nursing Department Student Affairs Committee
  Chairperson 2003-2007

Community Service

• 1993-Present Fairview Elementary, and Crestwood JR and SR High School PTA
• 2005 – 2008 MountainTop Blitz Football Booster Club
• 2009- Present Crestwood High School Football Booster Club

Memberships

• 2012 – Present Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
• 1992 – Present American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
• 1990 – Present National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive Health
• 1988 – Present Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
• 1985 – Present Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses
• 1988 – 1996 American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• 1988 – 1996 Primary Care Practitioners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (AWHONN)

Scientific & Professional Meetings Attended

• 2014 American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Education Conference (AACN) Naples, Florida
• 2013 Drexel Doctoral Education Conference, Baltimore, Maryland
• 2013 National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF), 39th Annual Meeting Pittsburgh, PA.
• 2013 AACN Doctoral Education Conference,San Diego, CA
• 2012 18th Annual Conference on Challenges in Gynecology, Symposia Medicus, NY
• 2012 AACN Doctoral Education Conference, Naples, Florida
• 2011 AACN Doctoral Education Conference, San Diego, California
• 2010 Penn State Leadership Academy, Penn State University, University Park, PA
• 2010 AACN Doctoral Education Conference, Captiva Island, Florida
• 2009 Office Gynecology, Symposia Medicus, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
• 2009 AACN Masters Essentials, Baltimore, Maryland
• 2009 The 1st Annual Interprofessional Education Conference, Center for Professional Development, Misericordia University
• 2007 International Nursing Conference, Shanghai, China
• 2005 International Sigma Theta Tau Nursing honor Society, Dublin, Ireland
• 2004 Eastern Nursing Research Society Conference, Boston, MA.
• 2004 Adolescent Health Care Conference, Tarrytown, New York
• 2001 17th Annual Pediatric Nursing Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
• 2000 International Family Nursing Conference, Chicago, Illinois
• 1999 International Women and Children’s Global Health Conference, Maui, Hawaii
• 1998 Baltimore Ultrasound Education & Research, Inc.“Structural Fetal Problems – The Total Picture” Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Maryland
• 1996 Diagnostic Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Abdomen. Department of Radiology Division of Ultrasound John Hopkins Medical Institution
• 1996 Cape Cod Summer Institute: Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Associates for
• Continuing Education, N Falmouth, Massachusetts
• 1995 Breast Cancer: Beating the Odds Institute for National Resources, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
• 1995 Male Infertility: A Nursing Perspective, Serono Symposia, USA
• 1994 Advanced Ultrasound Techniques in Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Arizona College of Medicine, Scottsdale, Arizona
• 1993 Symposium: Building Families & Bridging the World, International Conference for the Patient and the Medical Team. Serono Symposia & Resolve, Arlington, Virginia
• 1992 Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Anomalies Conference, New York, New York
• 1991 Physics & Instrumentation. Obstetrical & Gynecological Sonography. Advanced Ultrasound Seminars Boston, Massachusetts.
• 1991 47th Scientific Annual Meeting American Fertility Society, Orlando, Florida
• 1990 46th Scientific Annual Meeting American Fertility Society, Washington D.C.
• 1989 45th Scientific Annual Meeting American Fertility Society, San Francisco, California
• 1989 Symposium: Serono Review Course for Nurses in Reproductive Endocrinology Infertility Edison, New Jersey
• 1989 Diagnostic Ultrasound Training Program Obstetrics & Gynecology Course – Department of Radiology Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA.