DNP student honored with Ruth Perkins Kuehn Award

Katty TsengAn MSN-DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program student is the 2023 recipient of the Ruth Perkins Kuehn Award, a honor that supports student research.

Katty Tseng, DNP ’25, was nominated by AGACNP program coordinator Dr. Maighdlin Anderson, who called her a leader within the program who “has consistently demonstrated a commitment to professional nursing including clinical knowledge, communication skills, critical thinking, collaboration and cultural competence.”

“I felt exalted, honored, and humbled when I received the notification that I have won the Ruth Perkins Kuehn Scholarship,” said Tseng. “Acknowledging that I was selected among countless talented candidates for this award, I am very much obliged by this invaluable opportunity. Although juggling between a full-time job and graduate school is sometimes challenging, I have always been confident that my perseverance will get me to my goal – to improve healthcare and healthcare delivery through evidence-based research. The Ruth Perkins Kuehn Award empowers me to continue to pursue my dreams, alongside the support of the competent, adept, and proficient faculty at Pitt Nursing.”

Tseng enrolled in Pitt Nursing’s MSN-DNP AGACNP program in August 2021 after receiving a graduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington. She received her MSN from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and received a bachelor’s degree in nutritional sciences from the University of California Berkeley. She is one of the first children in her family to attend college and graduate school.

“Pursuing a doctorate degree in nursing is my gateway to expanding my role as a nurse, as it gives me ample opportunities to influence others at the systems and organizational levels,” she said. “The evolution of nursing requires candidates like me to be more technically prepared, and to gain a multidisciplinary education in advanced theories, management, research, informatics, clinical practice, and sciences. With accessibility to world-renowned nursing facility and cutting-edge technologies, I am confident that the resources and education at Pitt Nursing will continue to enhance my research prowess and enable me to devise research studies that are capable of improving healthcare via policy changes.”

The research award was named after Ruth Perkins Kuehn, PhD, RN, founder, and the Dean of the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing for over 20 years. In honor of her dedication to research and education, an endowment was established in her name by alumni and friends, which resulted in the provision of annual funding to support promising nurse researchers.  

Tseng said she’s enjoying her experience in the AGACNP program because many of the courses overlap with nurse practitioner students in other specialties giving her a new perspective about health and healthcare.

“The ample research and clinical opportunities offered by the AGACNP program at Pitt Nursing grants me the opportunity to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and provide critical analyses of health care outcomes in various settings,” she said. “The proximity of Pitt Nursing to one of the best healthcare systems in the region offers the most ideal environment to help me expand my knowledge base in this area of specialty, which enables me to integrate specific education and practice initiatives. I am fortunate to be taken under the wings of Dr. Maighlin Anderson and Dr. Brady Bielewicz, both of whom have been supportive of me and my studies since day one of graduate school attendance. I am confident that with their endless support alongside the abundant opportunities at Pitt Nursing, I will achieve my end goal of being a well-informed and competent nurse practitioner with great aplomb.”

Tseng said her ultimate career goal it to be able to “synthesize theoretical, scientific, and contemporary evidence-based clinical knowledge to assess and manage patients’ physical and physiological needs in critical situations. As a doctorate-prepared nurse practitioner, I will be equipped with the essential skills to change practice at the systems and organizational levels to improve delivery of healthcare and promote better health outcomes within a greater population.”

She said in addition to the leadership courses offered by the DNP program, her own leadership experiences have helped increase her confidence to inspire and drive change in the nursing practice. Tseng was the Co-Chair of the Critical Care Nursing Interest Group during nursing school, holds numerous leadership roles in her current job and works as a preceptor for nursing students and new nurses. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, she has worked as a graduate teaching assistant, an English teacher in Taiwan, and a tutor during her initial master’s degree in nutrition. She said one of her other aspirations as a doctorate-prepared nurse practitioner is to serve as an educator to future nurses and the community.

“Pitt Nursing offers the best environment to help enhance my knowledge and skills to provide leadership to positively influence nursing education,” she said. “I intend to share my learned knowledge with others by playing the role of a mentor for future advanced practice nurses, to help them transition into practice.”

And for any student considering a DNP, Tseng says to follow your dreams:

“I was once told that being perpetually curious is the secret to success especially in healthcare because curiosity not only propels innovation, but also self-reflection,” she said. “It was my curiosity that gave me the opportunities to work in various healthcare settings. It was my thirst for knowledge that encouraged me to publish research papers. For me, going to DNP school opens a door for me to seek answers for my inquisitive mind. I just want to remind you that everyone can be a leader. What sets you apart from the person next to you, is your vision and confidence. Persevere in your dreams. Work for it. Then watch your dreams bloom like flowers.”

Learn more about our DNP programs, including the AGACNP program HERE: https://www.nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs/doctor-nursing-practice-dnp/dnp-nurse-practitioner-major