Brenda Kulhanek   PhD, DNP, RN-BC, NPD-BC, NE-BC, FAAN

Bio

Dr. Brenda Kulhanek is an associate professor for nursing informatics at the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. Her past professional roles include Division VP of Clinical Education for TriStar Health in Nashville, TN; corporate AVP of Clinical Education for HCA in Nashville, TN; and corporate director of informatics at Adventist Health in Sacramento, CA. In addition, Dr. Kulhanek has taught nursing informatics at the graduate level for over ten years in adjunct nursing informatics faculty roles. Dr. Kulhanek holds a PhD from Capella University, a DNP from Walden University, and is board certified in nursing informatics, nursing professional development, and nursing executive leadership. Dr. Kulhanek was a board member and past president of the American Nursing Informatics Association, and current president of ANPD of Middle Tennessee. Among her informatics publications and presentations are chapters in the Sigma Theta Tau nursing informatics textbook "Mastering Informatics: A Healthcare Handbook for Success"; the sixth edition of the "Handbook of Informatics for Nurses & Healthcare Professionals"; several modules of the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Development Program; and several chapters in "Nursing and Informatics for the 21st Century: Embracing a Digital World (3rd Edition)". Dr. Kulhanek is co-editor of the textbook "Healthcare Technology Training: An Evidence-based Guide for Improved Quality" and she participated in the most recent workgroup to update the Nursing Informatics Scope and Standards publication. She has a particular interest in strengthening nursing through nursing informatics education, informatics competency, and the integration of informatics into practice to support improvement of patient outcomes.