Kathryn E. Wilt, PhD, MSN, RN

Dr. Kathryn (Kathy) Wilt has enjoyed teaching nursing students in the Pittsburgh region for many years. For the past nine years she has been with Duquesne University, teaching in a nursing program that reflects her philosophy of nursing education. Although she has taught courses for the traditional undergraduate nursing students, the majority of her instruction has been in the accelerated Second Degree BSN program, which provides students with the nursing competencies necessary for their new profession. She especially enjoys the unique perspective and experiences that the Second Degree students bring to the learning environment.

Dr. Wilt serves as the Second Degree Level Coordinator and is responsible for the coordination and management of the accelerated BSN curriculum, including class and clinical learning activities. She has developed community clinical learning experiences in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The majority of her responsibilities are in teaching, and as a result, she has developed new courses, evaluation materials, and simulation-based learning experiences.

Dr. Wilt has a particular interest in simulation as a teaching and learning method. She maintains that students need interactive experiential learning to allow for critical thinking experiences and safe practice prior to working with patients where possible, and that educators have responsibilities to provide these opportunities for learning and assessment. Working with colleagues to incorporate simulation into the accelerated BSN program, she has planned and developed simulation experiences, writing evolving case studies or "scenarios" that support the classroom content. The simulations utilize the AACN Synergy model as a conceptual framework.

Dr. Wilt has pursued her interest in healthcare ethics, recently earning a Ph.D. in the field. Her coursework included a clinical practicum in Kampala, Uganda. During that experience, she had the opportunity for educational exchanges with local nurses and physicians and presented on topics in healthcare ethics.

Her dissertation research examined ethics education in baccalaureate nursing programs and medical programs and demonstrated the value and efficacy of simulation as a method to teach ethics to medical and nursing students. The research also demonstrated a positive relationship between professional virtues and quality of care for patients. Her future work will be directed toward expanding the scholarship in this area. Currently, she teaches ethics in the accelerated BSN curriculum. She has taught online ethics courses for the Center for Healthcare Ethics at Duquesne University. She has also presented on healthcare ethics at local healthcare institutions.

Research Interests

Simulation

Ethics education

Accelerated BSN education

Simulation-based Learning in Healthcare Ethics Education. PhD Diss., Duquesne University, 2012.

Publications - last 5 years

Wilt, K. and M. King (2012).  Time well spent: Integrating simulation into an accelerated BSN program. Clinical Simulation in Nursing 8, e103-107.

Podium Presentations - Last 5 years

Wilt, K. (2012, May 2). Simulation-Based Learning In Healthcare Ethics Education. Podium presentation at the International Conference on Education in Ethics, Pittsburgh, PA.

Wilt, K and King, M. (2010, October 22). Through the Students' Eyes: Perceptions of Learning Using High Fidelity Simulation. Poster presentation at the West Virginia University/West Virginia University Healthcare/ Alpha Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, Morgantown, WV.  

Wilt, K and King, M. (2010, June 19).  Time well spent: Integrating simulation in an accelerated BSN program. Presentation at the 9^th Annual International Nursing Simulation/Learning Resource Centers Conference, Las Vegas, NV.

Wilt, K, Lockhart, J & Cunningham, L.  (2009, October 9). Preparing accelerated students for the future of health care: Implementing an integrated community-based curriculum. Poster presentation at Robert Woods Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing, Washington, DC.

Colizza, D., Henry, R., Wilt, K., & Larew, C. (2009, June 12). Hidden in plain view: Techniques for providing information and materials during clinical simulations. Poster presentation at the 8^th Annual International Nursing Simulation /Learning Resource Centers Conference, St. Louis, MI.

Wilt, K. (2007, October 24). Overview of Duquesne University's healthcare ethics program visit to Uganda. Presentation at the Healthcare Ethics Colloquium, Duquesne University.

Wilt, K. (2007, June 22). Compulsory licensing and parallel importation of antiretroviral drugs. Conference presentation, Nsambya Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

Wilt, K. (2007, June 24).  Advance directives. Conference presentation at Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.

Wilt, K. (2007, March 19). Informed consent and advance directives.  Presentations at the Healthcare Ethics Seminar, West Penn/Allegheny Health Care System.

Poster Presentations - last 5 years

Wilt, K. & King, M. (2010, October 22). Through the students' eyes: perceptions of learning using high fidelity simulation. Poster presentation at the West Virginia University/West Virginia University Healthcare/ Alpha Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, Morgantown, WV.  

Wilt, K., Lockhart, J. & Cunningham, L.  (2009, October 9). Preparing accelerated students for the future of health care: Implementing an integrated community-based curriculum. Poster presentation at Robert Woods Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing, Washington, DC.

Colizza, D., Henry, R., Wilt, K., & Larew, C. (2009, June 12). Hidden in plain view: techniques for providing information and materials during clinical simulations. Poster presentation at the 8^th Annual International Nursing Simulation /Learning Resource Centers (INASCL) Conference, St. Louis, MI.

Sigma Theta Tau, Eta chapter, University of Pittsburgh, 1982

Carlow College Nursing Honor Society, 1980 (now Eta Epsilon chapter of Sigma Theta Tau)

Delta Epsilon Sigma, Honor Society, Carlow College, 1979

Alumni Award, Pittsburgh Hospital School of Nursing, 1974