Jennifer Graber
JENNIFER GRABER, EDD, APRN, PMHCNS-BC
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Practice Initiatives
Associate Professor
Office Location:
McDowell Hall
Dr. Graber graduated from the University of Delaware with her BSN and minors in Biological Sciences and Psychology. She then went on to the University of Pennsylvania where she received her MSN in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Jennifer is Board Certified by the ANCC as an Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialist. She finished her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Delaware State University and has worked for over twenty-five years as a psychiatric nurse in many roles, including teaching psychiatric nursing for graduate and undergraduate students. Currently, she serves as an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Practice Initiatives for the School of Nursing at the University of Delaware. She also is a Faculty Fellow in the ACHIEVE Program at the University of Delaware out of the Office of the Provost. Dr. Graber also serves as a Faculty Facilitator for the Harvard Macy Institute Program for Health Educators.
She is the current Regional Chapters Coordinating Committee Chair for Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society and the Northeast Regional Co-Coordinator for the International Society for Psychiatric Nursing. She was the recipient of Delaware Today’s Top Nurse in Behavioral Health in 2016 and 2017, Top Nurse for Academic Educator in 2021, and Top Nurse for Volunteerism and Service in 2023. She was also recognized in 2023 by the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing with the Nursing Educator Award and in 2024 she received the Award for Excellence in Education from the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Her decades of experience leading and mentoring nurses allows her to advance the education of diverse student populations through personalized, evidence-based programs while also incorporating mental well-being. She has multiple publications and presentations, both national and international, related to nursing education, nursing service, and psychiatric mental health nursing.
EDUCATION
- EdD, Delaware State University, 2013
- MSN, University of Pennsylvania, 1999
- BSN, University of Delaware, 1998
Graduate and Undergraduate
- Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing Courses
- Study Abroad
- Multicultural Healthcare Delivery
- Saylor, J., Graber, J., & Trivedi, J. (2025). Nursing Lunch and Learn Program (NLLP) to support new faculty transitioning to academia: A pilot study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v15n1p1
- Graber J., & Jackson, Z. (2024). Nurturing success: Empowering students with different abilities in nursing school for a healthy future. DNA Reporter, 49(1), 6-7.
- Graber, J., Ivory, R., & Saylor, J. (2024). Incivility and the faculty shortage in nursing academia. Nursing 2024, 54(8), 58-60. https://doi.org/10.1097/NSG.0000000000000043.
- Ivory, R., Graber, J., Frueh, C., & Cady, H. (2024). Operator Syndrome: Nursing care and considerations for military special operators. Nursing 2024, 54(8), 25-31. https://doi.org/10.1097/NSG.0000000000000001
- Jenkins-Barnard, P., Saylor, J., Graber, J. S., & Ruelens-Trinkaus, D. (2024). Educational outcomes in undergraduate nursing: A systematic review. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(6), 380-386. https://doi.org/ 10.3928/01484834-20240404-06.
- Glodstein, S., Graber, J., & Newton, M. (2024). Educational strategies to implement domains 2, 6, and 10 of the 2021 AACN core competencies. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 14(5). https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v14n5p10
- Saylor, J., Ruelens-Trinkaus, D, Graber, J. S., Clark, L. A., Jackson, Z., Creasy-Thomas, J., Heilferty, C. (2023). Acclimating Student Nurses After the Pandemic: It’s ASNAP! Journal of Nursing Education, 62(9), 516-518. https://doi.org/10.3928/0148434-20230712-08.
- Cowperthwait, A., Graber, J., Carlsen, A., H., & Cowperthwait, M. (2021). Innovations in virtual education for clinical and simulation learning. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(5), 1011-1017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.06.010
- Graber, J., Saylor, J., Jackson, A., & Hayes, E.R. (2021). A “living legacy” for nurses. Nursing Management, 52(9), 42-48. doi: 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000771736.07169.d1
- Graber, J., Saylor, J., Jackson, A., & Hayes, E.R. (2021). Building a nursing legacy. Nursing 2021, 51(8), 44-49. doi: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000753984.49583.a8
- Cowperthwait, A., Graber, J., Carlsen, A., Mekulski, H., & Cowperthwait, M. (2021). Innovations in virtual education for clinical and simulation learning. Journal of Professional Nursing, 37(5), 1011-1017. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2021.06.010
- Graber, J., Gaynor, B., Phillips, L., Haines, C., & Diefenbeck, C. (2020). Preparing the clinicians of tomorrow: Weaving integrated care across doctor of nursing practice education. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing: Special Issue: Future of Nursing, 34(5), 325-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.004
- Graber, J. (2020). Mental Health Disparities: Where Does Delaware Stand? DNA Reporter,45(2), 4. Iowa, Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.
- Alexander, R., Diefenbeck, C., & Graber, J. (2020). Psychiatric mental health nursing: Career choice and longevity of African American/ Black registered nurses. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing: Special Issue: Future of Nursing, 34(5), 337-3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnu.2020.07.003
- Bomboy, K., Graber, J.S., & Wallis, E.P. (2020). Improved prescriber adherence to guidelines on antipsychotic medication management through increased access to metabolic monitoring forms. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390320906196
- DiGregorio, H., Graber, J., Saylor, J., & +Ness, M. (2019). Assessment of interprofessional collaboration before and after a simulated disaster drill experience. Nurse Education Today, 79,194-197. https//doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.05.023
- Graber, J.S. (2019). Loneliness – An Epidemic of the 21st Century. DNA Reporter, 44(3), 1. Iowa, Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.
- Graber, J. (2018). Comparison of mental health nursing student academic achievement and satisfaction: Classroom versus online education in teaching therapeutic crisis management techniques. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39(7). https//doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2018.1505985
- Hertsenberg, L., Madiraca, J., Travers, S., Saylor, J. L., & Graber, J. S. (2016). Beta Xi Chapter Promotes Membership Engagement Through Boot Camp Programs. In Leadership Connection, Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society for Nursing. Indianapolis, IN.
- Saylor, J., Schell, K. A., Mandell, M. & Graber, J. (2015). Development of a clinical competency checklist for care of patients experiencing substance withdrawal delirium or and delirium: Use of a Delphi technique and expert panel. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 55(6), 29-36. https//doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20150526-01
- Graber, J.S. (2012). Incorporating a Simulated Psychosis Laboratory Experience into a Community College Psychiatric Nursing Course. DNA Reporter, 37(3). Iowa,
- Sigma Theta Tau International
- International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
- American Psychiatric Nurses Association
- Delaware Nurses Association
- National League for Nursing
- National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty
Supporting the Mental Health of Nurses in Academic Through a Relaxation Room
Granting Agency: University of Delaware School of Nursing
Dates: 1/1/23 to 12/31/24
Igniting a Fire for Nursing Research Through Peer Mentorship
Granting Agency: University of Delaware School of Nursing
Dates: 1/1/23 to 8/31/24
Veterans and College Athletes Together
Granting Agency: Highmark Delaware Blueprints for the Community Award
Dates: 9/16/20 to 9/15/21
APNA Substance Use Disorder Curriculum Training
Granting Agency: American Psychiatric Nurses Association Award
Dates: 1/1/20 to 6/30/20
Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing: African American/Black Registered Nurses Career Choice and Longevity
Granting Agency: Beta Xi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor for Nursing Award
Dates: 1/15/19 to 7/10/19
Virtual Reality Collaboratory and Equipment Grant
Granting Agency: University of Delaware, College of Health Sciences Award
Dates: 11/8/18 to 11/8/19
Currently in private practice as advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurse in Delaware.
Certifications:
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse – Delaware
- Registered Nurse – Delaware and Pennsylvania
- Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Mental Health – ANCC
Teaching:
- Award for Excellence in Education, American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Awarded 2024
- ISPN Educator Award, International Society of Psychiatric Nursing, Awarded 2023
- Nursing Academic Educator, Delaware Today’s Top Nurses, 2021
- University Faculty Senate Advisement, University of Delaware, 2019
- Excellence in Teaching, Delaware Technical Community College, 2013
Professional:
- Volunteerism & Service, Delaware Today’s Top Nurses, 2023
- Florence Nightingale, Beta Xi Chapter Sigma, Awarded 2023
- Elevating Leaders in American Association of Colleges, 2021
- Florence Nightingale Award, Beta Xi Chapter of Sigma, 2019
- Nursing Alumni Network STAR, University of Delaware, 2019
- CNS Behavioral Health, Delaware Today’s Top Nurses, 2017
- CNS Behavioral Health, Delaware Today’s Top Nurses, 2016
- Excellence in Nursing Professionalism, Delaware Psychiatric Center, 2003
- Psychiatric mental health
- Nursing education
- Veteran mental health
- Simulation in psychiatric mental health nursing education
- Nurse well-being
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Connect
Tower at STAR: 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE 19713 | Health Sciences Complex: 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 chs-info@udel.edu Phone: 302-831-1060