Directory

Kristen A. Bransby
DNP, CRNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS

Associate Teaching Professor

90 Hope Drive, ASB-1300, Penn State Hershey

Phone: 717-531-1341

Email: kad925@psu.edu

Bransby is an Associate Teaching Professor at the College of Nursing at Penn State University. She received her BSN from Penn State University, her MSN as a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner from Drexel University, and her DNP at the University of Maryland, completed in 2015.  In addition to academia,  Bransby has a wide range of leadership and pediatric clinical experiences extending from inpatient to her favorite, pediatric mental health. She enjoys educating a mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Bransby is board certified as a pediatric nurse practitioner and pediatric mental health specialist and enjoys practicing with the underserved population. She is a member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners.

Bransby’s interest areas of research and quality improvement include the pediatric population, breastfeeding, pediatric and adolescent mental health, global health, and health policy.

Education

• DNP, University of Maryland, Baltimore
• MSN, Drexel University
• BSN, Pennsylvania State University

Awards and Honors

• 2025: CGNE Grant for Aging, Geriatric, or Gerontological Projects
• 2021: Janet Williamson Award in Teaching Excellence
• 2020-2021: AACN’s Evidence-Based NIDA Mentored Training Award; Mentor for “Substance Abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: Teaching Frontline Nurses”
• 2019: Penn State University College of Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Project Award: “SBIRT Training for FNP Students: Fundamentals of Adolescent Substance Abuse Screening”
• 2019-2020: NORC’s Conrad N. Hilton Foundation project “Integrating Adolescent Substance Abuse Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) throughout Social Work and Nursing” Adolescent SBIRT Academic-Community Partnership Implementation Program

Teaching

Courses Taught

• NURS802A
• NURS831
• NURS837
• NURS835
• NURS875
• NURS876
• NURS 20 clinical

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Pediatric Mental Health Specialist Certification, 2018-present
• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Primary Care by Pediatric Nursing Certification Board, 2009-present
• RN and NP Licensures in Pennsylvania, active

Mentorship

• Currently advising six DNP students.
• In 2024, six DNP advisees graduated.

Research

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

• The pediatric population
• Breastfeeding
• Pediatric and adolescent mental health
• Global health
• Health policy

Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement Projects

• Integrated SBIRT into the nurse practitioner curriculum- Provide students with the tools to screen for substance use disorder in practice.
• Adopt a grandparent program- Closing the intergenerational gap and decreasing the barrier of lonliness in youth and aged populations.
• Mindfulness podcast- Educated the community on the SBIRT process and areas of mindfulness

Presentations and Conference Involvement

POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

• Bransby, K. & Peachey, B. (2023, April 26-30). What is this SBIRT stuff? Integrating adolescent substance use screening into NP-DNP curriculum. NONPF 49th Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, United States.
• Bransby, K. (2022, January 19). Learning, simulating, and applying SBIRT for substance use in nurse practitioner curriculum. AACN’s Faculty Practice Pre-Conference, virtual.

PODIUM PRESENTATIONS:

• Bransby, K. (2022, April 26-29). Help, Pediatric anxiety and depression rates are rising! What is a pediatric-focused NP to do? NAPNAP Virtual Conference on Pediatric Health Care, virtual.
• Bransby, K. (2022, March 22-25). Help, Pediatric anxiety and depression rates are rising! What is a pediatric-focused NP to do? NAPNAP 43rd National Conference, Dallas, TX, United States.
• Silver-Hoff, J., & Bransby, K. (2022, January 20-22). The Wellness Warriors podcast: A novel approach to SBIRT education. AACN’s Doctoral Education Conference. virtual.

AUDIO PODCAST:

• Bransby, K., & Silver-Hoff, J. (Hosts). (2021-2022). Wellness. https://www.wellnesswarriors.healthcare

Research Funding and Grants

• 2025: CGNE Grant for Aging, Geriatric, or Gerontological Projects
• 2020-2021: Mentor for “Substance Abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: Teaching Frontline Nurses”.  AACN’s Evidence-Based NIDA Mentored Training Award
• 2019: “SBIRT Training for FNP Students: Fundamentals of Adolescent Substance Abuse Screening”. Penn State University College of Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Project Award

Publications and Scholarly Work

• Pierre, P., Loeb, S., & Bransby, K. (2022). Evaluating a behavioral response team in an acute care hospital. MedSurg Nursing. [In press]
• Dhaliwal, J.K. Hall, T.D., LaRue, J.L., Maynard, S.E., Pierre, P.E., & Bransby, K. (2021). Expansion of telehealth in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: benefits and barriers. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.  https://doi.org/10.1097/JXX.0000000000000626

Service

Community and Policy Engagement

• Founder of Kindness Grows, a nonprofit focusing on community outreach and service.

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

• Pediatric Mental Health Specialist Consult Group 2021-2024
• Consultant
• National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• eChapter 2021-2024
• Developmental/Behavioral Mental Health Sig 2021-present
• Delaware Valley Chapter Executive Board, Legislative Chair 2017-2018
• Delaware Valley Chapter Grants Chair 2016-2017
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty 2021-present
• Member
• Association of Faculties of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners 2021-2023
• Member
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Member 2018-present
• Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners
• Member 2019-present
• Board 2017-2019
• Leadership for Campaign Committee 2014-2017

Policy and Advocacy Work

• Involvement and advocacy for Pennsylvania full-practice authority and attending PCNP’s annual lobby day
• Organizations of Kindness Grows and Cherished Minds both signed on as sponsors of Improving Access to Nursing Act presented by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Advocate against civil injustices through Matthew 25 at Highland Presbyterian Church

Clinically-oriented Conference Presentations and Clinical Publications

NATIONAL

• Bransby, K. & Peachey, B. (2023, April 26-30). What is this SBIRT stuff? Integrating adolescent substance use screening into NP-DNP curriculum. [Poster presentation]. NONPF 49th Annual Conference, Orlando, FL, United States.
• Bransby, K., & Silver-Hoff, J. (Hosts). (2021-2022). Wellness Warriors [Audio podcast]. https://www.wellnesswarriors.healthcare.
• Bransby, K. (2022, April 26-29). Help, Pediatric anxiety and depression rates are rising! What is a pediatric-focused NP to do? [Podium presentation]. NAPNAP Virtual Conference on Pediatric Health Care, virtual.
• Bransby, K. (2022, March 22-25). Help, Pediatric anxiety and depression rates are rising! What is a pediatric-focused NP to do? [Podium presentation]. NAPNAP 43rd National Conference, Dallas, TX, United States.
• Bransby, K. (2022, January 19). Learning, simulating, and applying SBIRT for substance use in nurse practitioner curriculum. [Poster presentation]. AACN’s Faculty Practice Pre-Conference, virtual.
• Silver-Hoff, J., & Bransby, K. (2022, January 20-22). The Wellness Warriors podcast: A novel approach to SBIRT education. [Podium presentation]. AACN’s Doctoral Education Conference. virtual.
• Altdoerffer, K. (2018, October). Understanding the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree: Perspectives from faculty and a recent graduate. [Webinar]. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Graduate Nursing Association. Virtual.
• Altdoerffer, K. (2016, November). Evidence-based health policy implementation:  Nurse practitioners improving access to health care in Pennsylvania. [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, United States.
• Altdoerffer, K. (2016, August). Breastfeeding:  Is society catching up with the miracle of nature? [Podium presentation]. Pediatric Nutrition Conference, New Orleans, LA, United States.
• Bellot, J., Valdez, B., Altdoerffer, K., Quiaiot, Y., Bronzell-Wynder, T. & Cunningham, P. (2016, June). Does contracting with managed care organizations remain a barrier for nurse practitioners? [Poster presentation]. Academy Health Annual Research Meeting, Boston, MS, United States.

REGIONAL

• Bransby, K. (2023, November 9-11). Hit the pause button…Reshape children’s self-esteem. [Podium presentation]. PCPC 20th Annual Conference, Lancaster, PA, United States.
• Bransby, K. (2022, January 22-April 22). Help!!! Pediatric anxiety and depression rates are rising: What is a PCP to do? [Podium presentation]. 2022 PCNP Virtual Conference, virtual.
• Bransby, K. (2021, October 28-30). Help!!! Pediatric anxiety and depression rates are rising: What is a PCP to do? [Podium presentation]. PCPC 19th Annual Conference, Pittsburg, PA, United States.
• Bransby, K. (2021, April 9). How do I know if my child or teen has anxiety or
• depression? [Radio broadcast]. WLCH Operations. http://wlchradio.org
• Bransby, K. (2021, March 16). Health minute: Routine appointments during a pandemic. [Radio broadcast]. WPSU. https://radio.wpsu.org/post/health-minute-routine-appointments-during-pandemic

Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health

• Highland Presbyterian
• Elder 2024-present
• Upward Assistant Coach 2024
• Mission Trips 2022-present
• Youth and Nursery Volunteer 2021-present
• Aspire Foundation
• Board of Directors 2023-present
• Journal of Pediatric Health Care
• Reviewer 2022-present
• Girl Scouts of America
• Member/Parent Assistant             2020-2021
• Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice
• Reviewer 2019-present
• Excentia Human Services
• Board of Directors 2019-2022
• Lancaster County Campaign Against Sexual Exploitation Task Force 2019-present
• Junior Achievement Volunteer 2018-2025
• Department of Health and Human Services
• South Central Medical Reserve Corp 2017-present

Websites

• CherishedMinds.net
• KindnessGrowsPA.org

Learn more about Interprofessional Education »

Download Bransby’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/16/2025