Care as a Child Inspired Recent DNP Grad JoLynn Deal to Return the Favor

Spending her childhood in and out of hospitals inspired JoLynn Deal, DNP, RN, AE-C, an assistant professor at Chamberlain University’s Irving campus to start volunteering at 12 years old. “I received great compassionate care from nurses, which was the initial spark to my love of the nursing profession. I always knew I wanted to give back to the medical community because of the care I received… I wanted to be the person who supported patients and families in their time of need.”

Today, JoLynn continues her lifelong mission of Stepping Forward by educating her church community on health promotion and healthcare issues. She helped develop Faith Community Nurse programs for the congregation as well as brown-bag pharmacies and other community-outreach programs. She also mentors other nurses.

Adding on the Degrees

JoLynn earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) as well as her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Chamberlain in 2017 and 2019, respectively. “After I finished my MSN, I realized I had such great support that I wanted to continue with my DNP,” she said. “My professors were so supportive and caring; they took the time to listen and encourage me even when I thought I could not do it.”

JoLynn joined Chamberlain one-and-a-half years ago and now teaches pediatrics, community health and collaborative healthcare. She is an ATI Champion and participates in nursing improvement processes. When asked the top three things she liked about working at Chamberlain, JoLynn said, “I love my coworkers, the way my leaders take the time to listen to my needs and hear my ideas, and watching a struggling student finally have that ‘ah’ moment.”

Representing Chamberlain at STTI Conference

Along with many other Chamberlain colleagues and alumni, JoLynn will present her abstract Nurse-to-Nurse Handoff Communication Using the TeamSTEPPS Approach for a podium presentation at the upcoming Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society’s 31st International Nursing Research Congress in Abu Dhabi this July. Honorees received congratulatory emails stating the submitted abstracts were exceptional and the accepted presentations “are an excellent reflection of current nursing trends and timely issues.”

Ready to earn your next degree? Learn more about Chamberlain’s MSN and DNP programs.

By Heather L Hurtado