Faculty practice provides faculty members with the opportunity to be engaged in their area of expertise. As leaders of exemplary, innovative, and culturally proficient faculty engagement, faculty members fulfill the mission of the UA Capstone College of Nursing’s Faculty Practice Committee. The Faculty Practice Committee strives to increase the visibility of the school of nursing by spotlighting the practice of faculty members as they practice in community agencies. Practice sites are diverse and represent the expertise and background preparation of faculty engaged in faculty practice. Faculty “spotlights” are updated multiple times annually to showcase the exceptional work of faculty practice members. Be sure to return to this webpage in the future to learn about the practice of other faculty members!
Kristi A. Acker, DNP, PhD, FNP-BC, AOCNP, ACHPN, FAANP
Clinical Associate Professor
“I have had the privilege of working at the Capstone College of Nursing since 2016. As a Clinical Associate Professor, I work to mentor students desiring to practice at their highest level. Working alongside other knowledgeable faculty, together we work to instruct students, design and revise curriculum, and serve the needs of the college, university, and our communities of interest.“
“I often describe my clinical practice as my professional mecca. I have worked in oncology since 1992 and I absolutely love serving in this population and working closely with phenomenal clinicians who dedicate their careers to improve quality of life for our patients at every point along the disease trajectory. Fortunately, there has been a myriad of novel therapeutics in managing cancer, which continues to add an element of excitement to the field and keeps me continuously motivated to remain current and engaged in the fast paced and complex healthcare environment.“
“Most patients that I care for are currently undergoing cancer treatment or are returning for cancer surveillance. Along with members of the oncology team, I help to manage the adverse toxicities of systemic therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and other targeted treatments. In addition to the oncology population, I also help to manage benign hematology conditions to improve quality of life for patients without cancer; although, my primary population is oncology. As one would surmise, I assume limited primary care management when needed, as many patients come to us without the benefit of primary care oversight.“
“In oncology, “typical” days are few and far between. Most practice days consist of managing outpatient antineoplastic treatments including treatment continuations, dose adjustments, toxicity monitoring and management, alongside a wealth of patient teaching opportunities. Likewise, I closely follow patients in cancer surveillance and promote strategies for managing the long-term effects of cancer treatments. As you can imagine, I develop longstanding relationships with not only my patients, but the family unit as well. Unfortunately, there are a few patients that become acutely ill from treatment or disease progression. I utilize my advanced assessment and management skill set to identify oncologic emergencies and severe acute syndromes requiring inpatient treatment. Communication with patients and caregivers is the most important skill that I utilize in my practice.“
“I can’t think of another specialty practice that relies more on EBP more that oncology. With the myriad of treatment options which have been introduced, along with agents in the pipeline, close monitoring of “best practice” is essential. I utilize journals and professional resources, such as the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, to help guide practice. Fortunately, my practice is a certified member of the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) which ensures that the providers adhere to EBP at every turn. Being a member of QOPI truly underscore the importance of interdisciplinary EBP.”
“I have experienced the evolving role for APRNs during my tenure. I recall starting the Oncology NP role within our outpatient practice without the physician providers understanding the true value of APRNs in outpatient settings. Though the true value of APRNs in practice is not fully recognized, I have personally experienced an appreciation of what APRNs can (and do) contribute to successful patient outcomes. My professional interests are now less focused on personal goals, and more on ensuring that APRNs are highly trained and equipped to provide safe and high-quality patient care. Further, I am focused on promoting future APRN providers to take the leadership reigns and to continue to guide our profession forward and assume more leadership on professional boards to ensure that nursing voices are recognized as an important part of quality and sustainable health care solutions.“
“I am in practice to care for patients and caregivers. I want to continue to realize that basic need, which can be small or extensive. In addition, I want to mentor upcoming APRNs. I still desire to grow my knowledge to ensure that patients receive quality and safe care. Moreover, I want to continue to be a small part of bringing legislative action on issues that impact APRNs and especially access to quality oncology and palliative health care. Over the last 5 years, I have been more engaged in health policy and advocacy, so I intend to continue this trend moving forward.“
“This question is almost impossible to answer in a brief statement. As mentioned, I have been working in oncology for 30 + years, and I am amazed with the remarkable changes that have evolved over the last decade. For example, in the past, patients with metastatic melanoma had a very typical disease trajectory, which is no longer the case. In some neoplastic disorders, we are witnessing prolonged remissions. In the past, clinicians rarely used the word “cured” however, with the advent of new therapies, including targeted therapies and immunotherapies, we are beginning to garner hopes for integrating the word “cure” into the conversation.“
“My practice resides in a rural satellite clinic located in northwest Alabama. By maintaining active faculty practice, I provide access to quality oncology services to underserved patients residing in rural settings. Through years of practice, I better understand the obstacles to access, especially in vulnerable populations; therefore, I am uniquely positioned to advocate locally, regionally, and nationally in removing such barriers in healthcare, especially for Alabamians.“