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Dr. Connie Lamb, director of Nursing at Asbury University, was recently awarded a $2,500 research grant from the Kentucky Nurse Foundation to support her study, “Measuring Psychological Workload Among Academic Nurse Educators: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study.” The grant will fund participant compensation for the nurse educators involved in the interview phase of the research.
“Nurse educators are foundational anchors in the nursing workforce pipeline,” Lamb said. “Any strategy to address the ongoing workforce shortage must reflect the voice of those in nursing education. This research seeks to amplify that voice, providing meaningful insight into the psychological workload experienced by nursing faculty, while informing policies and practices that foster well-being, resilience, and retention among nurse educators.”
This grant represents a strategic investment in addressing the nursing workforce shortage by focusing on a critical, often overlooked barrier: the shortage of nurse educators. Without nurse educators, efforts to expand enrollment and graduate more nurses are severely constrained. This research examines the psychological workload of nurse educators, offering evidence-based insights that can guide targeted strategies to reduce burnout, enhance job satisfaction, and strengthen faculty retention.
“Aligned with national nursing education and workforce priorities, the study addresses a key gap in the literature and supports the development of healthy, sustainable academic environments that are essential for preparing the next generation of nurses,” Lamb said.
Asbury University will welcome to campus its first class of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students for the fall 2025 semester, expanding the University’s offerings in the health professions under the Shaw School of Sciences.
“Nursing has long been discussed at Asbury University,” said President Dr. Kevin J. Brown. “I am so thankful for the leadership and vision of our provost, dean, and faculty to make this dream a reality. In addition to significant marketplace needs for a skilled nursing workforce, a BSN program at Asbury aligns with our desire for holistic and rigorous head and heart education so our students can effectively serve the spheres they come to inhabit. We are very excited to get started!”
In August 2024, Asbury welcomed Lamb as the new Nursing Program Administrator and Associate Professor, and her leadership culminated in the successful BSN development for undergraduate students. Lamb previously served at Eastern Kentucky University, Berea College, and Bluegrass Community and Technical College, most recently as Associate Dean & Director of Nursing.
“We are on course and committed to delivering an exceptional program, preparing our graduates to lead lives of compassionate service to others through the ministry of professional nursing,” Lamb said. “Inspired by Galatians 5:13, ‘Serve one another humbly in love,’ we are committed to cultivating nurses who exemplify excellence, empathy, and a Christ-centered approach to nursing care. It is truly a privilege to be a part of this great work.”
Prior to launching its own program, Asbury had a pre-nursing program with nursing partnerships in BSN and Accelerated BSN with University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University and Indiana Wesleyan University. Those program partnerships remain in place.
Learn more about the new program at asbury.edu/nursing, and the other health professions programs at Asbury, including programs in Pre-Medicine, Pre-Dental, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, and Pre-Physical Therapy.