Directory

Abby Hackenberger
DNP, RN, CCRN-K, CNE

Associate Teaching Professor

Academic Support Building, 90 Hope Drive, Penn State Hershey

Phone: 717-994-7883

Email: amh6719@psu.edu

Hackenberger serves as the chair for the nursing undergraduate program’s curricular revision from concept-based to competency-based education.

Research work surrounding critical-care nursing and the impacts of ICU diaries on patients, families, and nurses.

Focus on bringing classroom learning to the clinical environment.

Bedside nursing role in a casual position within a local cardiothoracic intensive care unit.

Education

• DNP, Penn State University
• MSN in Education, Penn State University
• BSN, Penn State World Campus
• ASN, Penn College

Awards and Honors

• Janet A. Williamson Excellence in Teaching Award (20250
• AACN Nursing Impact Grant, Examining the Impact of Intensive Care Unit Diary Programs on Critical-Care Nurses (20240
• Second Place, Health and Life Sciences, Penn State 37th Annual Graduate Exhibition (2022)
• Penn State DNP program selected student poster, ENRS conference (2021)
• National League for Nursing Faculty Education Award (2021)
• AACN Continuing Professional Development Scholarship Recipient (2021)
• The Susquehanna Valley American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Impact Research Grant (2021)

Teaching

Courses Taught

• 3rd year Medical-Surgical Nursing w/ clinical component
• Critical Care Nursing Elective
• NCLEX Preparation
• Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
• 4th year Advanced Medical-Surgical Nursing w/ clinical component

Courses Developed

• Dosage Calculation for Healthcare Professionals

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

PRIMARY CLINICAL FOCUS:

• Adult Critical-Care Nursing with cardiothoracic and surgical focus

CERTIFICATIONS:

• Critical-Care Certified for 13 years through AACN,
• NLN Nurse Educator Certified for 2 years

Mentorship

• Over 100 undergraduate students mentored
• Assisted in developing a sepsis micro-credential through AACN

Research

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

• critical care nursing, specifically implementation and impact of intensive care unit diaries on post-intensive care syndrome mental health outcomes.

Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement Projects

• Implementation of an ICU diary program within four adult intensive care units in a large health system.

Presentations and Conference Involvement

INVITED

• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Nurse-Led Program. Nuts and Bolts of Implementation”, UPMC Shadyside Medical Intensive Care Unit, Pittsburgh, PA. April 6th, 2023.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries for Bedside Nurses”, Podium Presentation- Key-Note Speaker, SVAACN Certification Celebration Gathering, May 11th, 2022.

NATIONAL

• Hackenberger, A., Wells, S., & Evans, M., “Meeting Students Needs During the COVID-19 Pandemic – The Development and Implementation of a Drug Calculations Course in a BSN Pre-licensure Program”, Poster Presentation, NurseTim Nuts and Bolts Conference, August 12th-13th, 2022.

REGIONAL

• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Pilot Program”, School Selected Student Poster Presentation, Eastern Nursing Research Society, March 31st-April 1st, 2022.
• Hackenberger, A. Blackburn, B. “PhD & DNP Collaboration: A Co-Teaching Model for 200W”, Online Webinar; Faculty Speaker Series, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. February 13, 2024.

LOCAL

• Hackenberger, A. “A Multi-Layered Approach to Nurse-Led Support for Post Intensive Care Patients and Families”, Podium Presentation, Beta Sigma Research Day March 31, 2023.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Nurse-Led Program”, Podium Presentation, 30th Annual Nursing Research Conference, UPMC. October 7th, 2022.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Pilot Program”, Podium Presentation, 26th Annual Challenges in Critical Care: A Multidisciplinary Approach, August 19th, 2022. Hershey, PA.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries for Post Intensive Care Syndrome”, Podium Presentation, Translating Research to Innovation in Practice Symposium, May 12th, 2022, Hershey, PA.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Pilot Program”, Podium Presentation, UPMC Medical Education Day, April 20th, 2022. Harrisburg, PA.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Pilot Program”, Podium Presentation, Beta Sigma Research Day, March 18th, 2022. Virtual.
• Hackenberger, A. “ICU Diaries: A Pilot Program”, Poster Presentation, PSNA Virtual Summit, September 24th, 2021. Virtual.

Research

Research Funding and Grants

• 2024 Ross & Carol Nese College of Nursing, Center for Nursing Research Seed Funding “Obtaining Stakeholder Feedback on an Undergraduate Nursing Program Curriculum to Enhance Competency Based Transformation.” $2,500 Awarded.
• 2024 Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence (SITE) Curriculum Innovation and Renewal Program (CIRP) grant. $4,697 Awarded.
• 2023 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Impact Grant. “Examining the Impact of Intensive Care Unit Diary Programs on Critical-Care Nurses” Primary Investigator, collaboration with Dr. Barb Birriel. $49,999 Awarded.

Publications and Scholarly Work

• Hackenberger, A. Blackburn, B. (2023). Urgent Communication and Interdepartmental Collaboration Across the Continuum of Care: An Ischemic Limb Patient Case. Journal of Radiology Nursing, Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing.
• Hackenberger, A. (2022). ICU diaries: A nurse-led program. Critical Care Nurse, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
• Hackenberger, A. (WPSU Penn State). 2022, December. Health Minute- Christmas Tree Safety [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
• Hackenberger, A. (WPSU Penn State). 2021, November. Health Minute- COPD and Lung Cancer Awareness [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute
• Hackenberger, A. (WPSU Penn State). 2020, February 18. Health Minute-Heart Health [Audio Presentation]. Retrieved from https://radio.wpsu.org/programs/health-minute

Service

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

• National League for Nursing. Member. (01/2021-Present).
  CNE Certified. (1/6/2023-Present).
• American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. (04/2012-Present).
  Certified Member (CCRN). (4/2012-Present)
• ECCO Module Content Expert/ Reviewer. (4/1/2022).
• Certification Scholarship Application Review Panel. (9/2021).
• Beacon Review Panel- Senior Reviewer. (06/2021-Present).
• AACN Ambassador Program Participant. (08/2020-Present).
• AACN Evidence-based Poster Abstract Review Panel. (08/2020).
• Susquehanna Valley Chapter of AACN. (10/2017-Present.
  Research Grant Review Committee Member. (06/2022-Present).
  Board of Directors, Chapter Webmaster. Member. (06/2022-Present).
• Eastern Nursing Research Society. Member. (10/12/21-Present).
• Pennsylvania State Nurses Association. Member. (10/2020-Present) Legislative Ambassador Program Completion. (02/2021)
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Member. (10/2020-Present)
• DNP Doctoral Student Organization, Webmaster. (04/2021-5/1/2022) Leadership Position

Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health

• Peyton Walker Foundation UPMC Heart Screen Team Lead. (6/2021-8/2022).

Learn more about Interprofessional Education »

Download Hackenberger’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/5/2025