Directory

Beth Ann White
DNP, CRNP, ANP-C, CNE

Associate Teaching Professor;
Coordinator, FNP & Adult Gero Primary Care NP Programs; Assistant Director of DNP-NP Options

University Park

Phone: 814-865-0779

Email: bar135@psu.edu

White is an experienced nurse practitioner, educator, and healthcare leader with over 30 years of professional experience. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from The Pennsylvania State University and has earned both her Master of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Science in Nursing also from Penn State. White currently serves as an Associate Teaching Professor at Penn State, and the Coordinator for Family and Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nursing Practitioner Programs and teaches a wide range of nursing courses. In addition to her academic work, she is a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, specializing in hospitalist care.

Throughout her career, White has worked in various healthcare settings, including hospice care, case management, and skilled nursing. She has also contributed to numerous publications and received several awards, including the Janet Williamson Award for Excellence in Teaching. White is an active member of multiple professional organizations and serves on the Board of Directors for Primary Health Network, advocating for underserved communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Additionally, she has participated in mission trips to Haiti to provide medical care to those in need.

Education

• DNP, Penn State
• MSN with Adult Nurse Practitioner Option, Penn State
• BSN, Penn State
• RN Diploma, The Geisinger Medical Center School of Nursing

Teaching

Over the past five years, White has taught a diverse range of nursing courses at Penn State, primarily focused on nursing fundamentals, medical-surgical nursing, pharmacology, and advanced health assessment. Her teaching portfolio includes:

• NURS230: Nursing Fundamentals. A foundational course for sophomore-level nursing students.
• NURS301: Medical-Surgical Nursing. Aimed at junior-level students, focusing on medical-surgical care principles.
• NURS305: Pharmacology. An in-depth pharmacology course for junior-level nursing students.
• NURS251: Health Assessment. Teaching sophomore-level students key skills in health assessment.
• NURS405B: Advanced Medical-Surgical Clinical. A senior-level clinical course for medical-surgical nursing.
• NURS408: Application of Pharmacological Concepts. An elective for junior and senior nursing students.
• NURS802: Advanced Health Assessment of Adult Populations. A graduate-level course focused on advanced assessment techniques.
• NURS831: Evidence-Based Practice II: Translating Inquiry into Practice. A doctoral-level course focused on evidence-based practice.
• NURS835: Doctor of Nursing Practice Capstone Project. A course for DNP students working on their capstone projects.
• NURS840: Nursing Education Theories and Strategies. A doctoral course focused on education theories and strategies for nurse educators.
• NURS846: Leadership Concepts and Theories for Nurse Administrators. A doctoral-level course on leadership concepts in nursing administration.
• NURS872D & NURS872F: Doctoral Practicums. Clinical practicums for adult-gerontology and family nurse practitioners.

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

White possesses extensive clinical expertise across a wide range of healthcare settings. As a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP), she has specialized in hospitalist care, providing acute care to patients at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital since 2017. In this role, she performs comprehensive patient assessments, develops care plans, collaborates with physicians, and manages patient progress throughout their hospital stay.

Additionally, White has significant experience in skilled nursing, having provided acute, chronic, rehabilitative, and palliative care to residents in nursing home settings. She has worked closely with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and coordinate care, including advanced care planning and reducing readmission rates.

Her clinical expertise also includes hospice care, where she provided holistic end-of-life care, and case management, where she managed chronic disease care for high-risk patients. White’s broad clinical background, coupled with her leadership in education and patient care coordination, has positioned her as a well-rounded expert in both clinical practice and healthcare management.

Mentorship

White actively advises seven Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students each semester, providing personalized guidance and support to ensure their academic and professional success. Her mentorship includes helping students navigate their coursework, clinical placements, and DNP scholarly projects, fostering the development of future nurse leaders. In 2024, White successfully guided two DNP-FNP students through their graduation, further demonstrating her commitment to student success.

In addition to advising DNP students, White mentors several key staff members and faculty, including the administrative assistant, compliance officer, and clinical placement coordinator. She plays a vital role in supporting the Nurse Practitioner (NP) program by providing guidance to other NP options coordinators and junior faculty, ensuring smooth program operations and enhancing educational experiences. Her mentoring extends beyond students, contributing to the overall growth and development of the nursing program at Penn State.

Research

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

White’s research interests focus on professional identity development in nursing students and advancing evidence-based practice initiatives. One key area of her research explores the formation of professional identity in pre-licensure nursing students, emphasizing the experiences and moments that shape their transition into the nursing profession.

Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement Projects

White is passionate about improving healthcare outcomes through evidence-based practice. She has contributed to initiatives focused on oral care in long-term care settings, exploring ways to enhance the adoption of evidence-based practices for better oral health. Her work also addresses polypharmacy and deprescribing, aiming to improve medication management, reduce medication-related harm, and optimize patient care by promoting safe and effective medication practices. White strives to enhance clinical care, improve patient outcomes, and support the professional development of nursing students and practitioners.

Presentations and Conference Involvement

Over the past several years, White has delivered a variety of impactful presentations, both locally and nationally, on diverse topics related to nursing, healthcare, and professional development. Some of her key presentations include:

• Oral Care in Long-Term Care. (2018). White presented on oral care in long-term care settings, including a poster presentation at Penn State Graduate Exhibition and PHENSA Spring Conference, as well as a 2-hour podium presentation at the Pioneer Network Annual Conference in Denver.
• Polypharmacy & Deprescribing. (2023-2024). White delivered webinars on the challenges and strategies for polypharmacy and deprescribing, including sessions at the Long-Term Care RISE ECHO Series, Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners Annual Conference.
• Age-Friendly Oral Health. (2024). White conducted multiple presentations on age-friendly oral health, including at the Project ECHO & Age-Friendly Health System webinar and the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence Annual Conference.
• Professional Identity in Nursing Students. (2024). White presented a poster on professional identity formation in pre-licensure nursing students at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Transform Conference, further highlighting her research interests in professional identity development.

These presentations underscore White’s commitment to advancing nursing education, improving healthcare practices, and promoting evidence-based care across various domains of nursing practice.

Publications and Scholarly Work

White has made significant contributions to the nursing and healthcare literature through a range of publications. Her work spans topics such as professional identity, evidence-based practice, long-term care, and nursing education. Key publications include:

• Diabetes in the Nursing Home. (2009). Published in Annals of Long-Term Care, this article addresses diabetes management in long-term care settings, providing insights on effective strategies for nursing home staff.
• Improving the Uptake of Evidence-Based Practice of Oral Care in Long-Term Care. (2019). Published in Annals of Long-Term Care, this study explored a pilot project aimed at improving the implementation of evidence-based oral care practices in long-term care facilities.
• Health Minute Series. (2020-2022).
• White contributed several audio presentations to WPSU Penn State’s Health Minute series, covering topics like skin health, gastroparesis, and summer vacation health tips, offering practical health advice to the general public.
• Becoming a Nurse: Professional Identity in Prelicensure Nursing Students. (2024). This publication, set to be published in Nurse Educator, explores the development of professional identity in nursing students and how pivotal experiences shape their career trajectories. It is part of  White’s broader research on nursing students’ transitions into the professional role.

White’s publications reflect her ongoing commitment to advancing knowledge in nursing education, evidence-based practice, and quality care, particularly in long-term care and geriatric settings.

Service

Community and Policy Engagement

Primary Health Network (PHN) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) providing essential healthcare services to underserved populations in Pennsylvania and Ohio. White serves as an approved board representative for Mifflin County, where she helps guide the network’s strategic initiatives. PHN offers a broad spectrum of services, including primary care, dental care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management. White’s role on the board supports the organization’s mission to improve healthcare accessibility, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

In addition, White is actively involved with the Mid-State Nurse Practitioners group, a regional chapter of the Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (PCNP). She served as president-elect for two consecutive terms (2021-2025), contributing to the leadership and direction of the organization. Through this role,  White advocates for the professional development of nurse practitioners, representing their interests and ensuring high standards in practice. She also participates in PCNP’s membership committee, fostering collaboration and growth within the nurse practitioner community in Pennsylvania.

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

White is actively engaged in several professional organizations that support her work as a nurse educator and practitioner. Key memberships include:

• Pennsylvania Coalition of Nurse Practitioners (PCNP):  White is a dedicated member of PCNP, where she has contributed significantly through her leadership roles. She served as the president-elect of the Mid-State Nurse Practitioners chapter for two terms (2021-2025) and has represented PCNP on the membership committee. Her involvement focuses on advancing the profession, advocating for nurse practitioners, and promoting excellence in practice.
• American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): As a member of AANP, White stays connected with national nursing standards, furthering her knowledge and contribution to the nurse practitioner field.
• Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI): Inducted in 2008,  White is an active member of this prestigious honor society for nursing, which promotes scholarly research and the development of leadership in nursing.
• American Nurses Association (ANA): White maintains membership in ANA, which advocates for nurses’ rights, continuing education, and evidence-based practice standards at a national level.
• These organizations reflect White’s ongoing commitment to nursing excellence, professional development, and advocacy for the nursing community.

Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health

White participated in two mission trips to Haiti Health Ministries in 2013 and 2014, where she provided essential medical services to underserved populations. During these trips, she treated common health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and dementia. In addition to direct patient care, White played a key role in raising funds to secure pharmaceuticals for the treatment of chronic conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, benign prostatic hypertrophy, and hypertension. These mission trips reflected her commitment to global health initiatives and her dedication to improving healthcare access in resource-limited settings.

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