Nancy R. Ahern

Nancy Ahern, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FNAP
Nancy Ahern joined UNCW School of Nursing in 2013 and is currently a Professor. She holds a BSN and MSN from the University of Delaware, an MEd from Salisbury University, and a PhD in Nursing from the University of Central Florida. Her clinical expertise lies in maternal-child nursing.
Throughout her tenure at UNCW, Dr. Ahern has taught across all nursing programs and now primarily focuses on graduate-level courses in the MSN Nurse Educator program. She has previously held leadership roles including RN-BSN Program Coordinator and Associate Director within the School of Nursing. She also played an active role in the early development of UNCW’s applied learning initiatives through the ETEAL (Experiencing Transformative Education through Applied Learning) program, serving as an Applied Learning Fellow while contributing to the foundational work that helped shape applied learning at UNCW as it exists today.
Her research interests include adolescent risk and resilience, opioid use disorders, and innovative teaching strategies—particularly those integrating art into nursing education. She has been awarded both internal and external funding and currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator on two research projects.
Dr. Ahern is deeply engaged in service at the school, college, university, and professional levels. She is a Scholar Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP), serves on editorial boards for two professional journals, and reviews manuscripts for numerous others. She is an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Research and Scholarship Council Steering Committee and a NAP abstract and fellowship application reviewer.

Education

PhD in Nursing, University of Central Florida College of Nursing
MSN in Nursing (Maternal-Child Clinical Nurse Specialist), University of Delaware College of Nursing
MEd in Education (Psychology Minor), Salisbury University College of Education
BSN in Nursing, University of Delaware College of Nursing

Specialization in Teaching

Dr. Ahern specializes in teaching within the MSN Nurse Educator (MSN-NE) program. She serves as Course Coordinator for NSG 513 Nursing Education: Didactic Instruction and NSG 596/597 Nursing Education Practicum I & II. Her teaching integrates creative pedagogies, including the use of art to foster deeper learning in nursing education. She has been actively involved with the MSN-NE program serving on a number of task forces, as a Quality Matters second reviewer for QM integration into courses, and in curriculum revision.
She has served as the Honors Liaison for the School of Nursing, mentored Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, and guided MSN-NE students in the development and implementation of their teaching projects during practicum experiences. In addition to her work with students, Dr. Ahern collaborates with faculty through one-on-one mentoring and faculty development presentations.

Research Interests

Dr. Ahern is a co-author of one book—published in three languages—along with 11 book chapters and over 35 peer-reviewed articles in professional journals. She has presented her work at local, national, and international conferences.
Her current research interests include:
• Grandparents raising grandchildren due to parental substance use disorders (SUD)
• Exposure to and uptake of heated tobacco products among U.S. minority populations
• Prolonged grief disorders among individuals with SUD
• Impact of parental SUD on the well-being and resiliency of their children
• Adolescent risky behaviors
• Risk and resilience among adolescents and college students
• Perinatal grief and loss
• Innovative teaching strategies, particularly those integrating creative and artistic approaches

Recent publications:
Palumbo, R. L., Ahern, N. R., & Mechling, B. M. (2025). Emergency department-initiated interventions for illicit drug overdose: Retrospective study findings and best practice recommendations. Journal of Addictions Nursing. (available online)
Ahern, N. R. (2024). Nurses need to advocate for quality perinatal support and education. Journal of Psychosocial and Mental Health Nursing, 62(9), 2–3. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20240703-01
Mechling, B. M., Ahern, N. R., & Palumbo, R. L. (2024). Parental substance use disorder and the rise in children being raised by grandparents: Focusing on children's needs and improving outcomes. Journal of Psychosocial and Mental Health Nursing, 62(12), 9–16. https://doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20240712-04

Professional Service

Dr. Ahern holds an active multistate RN license through the North Carolina Board of Nursing. She is a Distinguished Scholar Fellow of the National Academies of Practice (NAP), where she also serves as a reviewer for conference abstracts and fellowship applications. She is a member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) Research and Scholarship Council Steering Committee.
She has been a leader and member of numerous SON committees and task forces, as well as becoming a charter member of the CHHS Interprofessional Collaboration Advisory Board. She has represented the SON on university committees, task forces, and search committees.
Her certifications include:
• Youth Mental Health First Aid
• CITI (Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative)
• RTS Bereavement Services Counselor for Perinatal Loss Support
Dr. Ahern serves on the editorial boards of two professional journals and is a manuscript reviewer for six scholarly publications.
She maintains active membership in the following professional organizations:
• International Nurses Society on Addictions
• National Academies of Practice
• American Nurses Association
• American Psychiatric Nurses Association
• National League for Nursing
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
• Southern Nursing Research Society

Community Engagement

Dr. Ahern is actively involved in community service initiatives that align with her professional and research interests. She volunteers with the Wilmington Harm Reduction Coalition, supporting efforts to address substance use and promote public health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she participated in vaccination clinics organized by New Hanover Regional Medical Center (NHRMC), contributing to local public health outreach.
She also serves as a committee member on the Wilmington Resilience Task Force, working collaboratively to strengthen community well-being and resilience through evidence-informed strategies.

Honors & Awards

Dr. Ahern has been nominated three times for the prestigious Daisy Faculty Award, including once during her tenure at the UNCW School of Nursing. She is consistently recognized for having a positive impact on the experiences of graduating students each semester. Her contributions to UNCW’s applied learning initiatives have also been acknowledged, reflecting her commitment to enhancing student engagement and educational innovation.