Faculty Practice & CCN Mission

nurse in white coat holding a stethoscope to a globe

At the Capstone College of Nursing, faculty practice is a valued and integral approach for fulfilling the college mission. Clinical faculty engage in various models of practice and promote expert care for Alabamians, the nation, and the world. Faculty with diverse expertise provide increased access to care in a variety of settings, such as acute care, primary care, and mental health. At the core of each faculty practice is the pursuit of promoting health and preventing disease. By supporting faculty practice, CCN ensures students are mentored by clinically competent faculty who achieve excellence and innovation in teaching, practice, and scholarship.

Kristi A. Acker, DNP, PhD, FNP-BC, AOCNP, ACHPN, FAANP

“I am passionate about increasing palliative care awareness, not only within our community and state but on a national level. I know that I can’t fulfill this objective alone. In banning together with other like-minded professionals, I can see how access to primary palliative care is expanding, as a result of advocacy in numbers.”

“My practice at Student Health promotes the mission of the Faculty Practice Committee by promoting health and managing diseases in the college population. Our student population attends the university from a variety of locations, including within the state of Alabama, out of state, and across the world.”

Jill R. Hobbs, EdD, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, ACNP-BC, AOCNP
Cheryl B. Hines, EdD, MSN, CRNA

“I believe every nurse needs to have an in-depth knowledge of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the medications we give. As a CRNA I have had the unique opportunity to publish and present at the local, state, national, and international level on various medications and the nurse’s role in administration. I hope to share my passion for pharmacology in nursing practice with the next generation of nurses, thus promoting health and safe nursing practices in our communities.”

Cheryl B. Hines, EdD, MSN, CRNA
Clinical Assistant Professor

“I am passionate about providing holistic care for patients in both the internal and the sleep medicine environments to promote long term quality health. The social and economic diversity within my practice allows me to see how clinical decisions and medical compliance affects patients on a broad spectrum. By breaking down the barriers with education, I have seen significant improvement in patient morbidity/mortality. Through my role at the CCN and support from the Faculty Practice Committee, I can disseminate this valuable knowledge to colleagues and CCN students, and in turn, our community and beyond.”

Kate McConathy, RN, BSN, MSN, FNP-C
Letisha S. Scott, DNP, CRNP, FNP-C

“I am an advocate of health care policies that positively impact the underserved and underinsured communities, and I am always looking for opportunities to expand coverage and access. It is my hope to continue to identify disparities and correct them. I am passionate about decreasing health disparities and insuring quality care starting in the community and expanding throughout the state, nation, and world. Collaborating with others in the clinical and academic settings helps to increase awareness, advance ideas, and make positive changes towards decreasing health disparities.”