Andrea Collins knows better than most the value of a Samford University education. "I joke that when Samford offered me admission in 1984 they did not realize it was for life," she said. Collins has four nursing degrees from Samford. After earning her associate's and bachelor's degree—she was pinned by Ida V. Moffett and has the pictures to prove it—Collins stepped away from the classroom for almost 20 years before a medical mission trip to Honduras opened up new doors of interest. "Working in this capacity gave me a desire to become a nurse practitioner so I could provide similar care to patients in the U.S. I looked at other options, but was drawn back to Samford because of the mission, reputation, pass rates and high academic standards in Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing." She eventually went on to earn her doctorate and used her real-world experiences to help with the practical application of textbook information. "I can't imagine teaching anywhere else," she said.

Degrees and Certifications

• DNP, advanced practice track, additional education focus, Samford University
• MSN, family nurse practitioner, Samford University
• BSN, Samford University
• ASN, Samford University
• Family Nurse Practitioner, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Certified Nurse Educator, National League for Nursing
• Certified Online Instructor (C.O.I.)

Expertise

• Adult health
• Pain management
• Medical missions
• Service learning
• Interprofessional education
• Nursing education

Publications

• Collins, A. (2024). Pain management in primary care: A review of the updated CDC guidelines. The Nurse Practitioner, 49(1), 13-19. DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000000000000131

• Collins, A., Hess, A., Hallman, M., Johnson, K., Harris, L., Petty, A., & Roussel, L. (2022). DNP team projects: A reflection of team science. Journal of Doctor of Nursing Practice, 15(2), 123-128. DOI:10.1891/JDNP-2021-0021 

• Pan, K. & Collins, A. (2020). Exploratory descriptive analysis of opioid prescribing prevalence of nurse practitioners and the specialties associated with the top prescribers. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 26:e12850.DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12850  

• Collins, A., Broeseker, A., Cunningham, J., Cortes, C., Beall, J., Bigham, A., & Chang, J. (2017). A longitudinal online interprofessional education experience involving family nurse practitioner students and pharmacy students. Journal of Interprofessional Care. DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2016.1255600 

• Collins, A. (2016). Evaluation and treatment of vitamin D deficiency. The Nurse Practitioner, 41(11), 1-6. DOI:10.1097/01.NPR.0000502797.81231.c6

• Collins, A. (2013). Practice implications for preventing population vulnerability related to vitamin D status. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 25, 109-118. DOI:10.1111/1745-7599.12005

Presentations

• Collins, A. & Shanahan, T. (2022, July 24). Innovative course design to measure and advance cultural intelligence in family nurse practitioner students. Sigma's 33rd International Nursing Research Congress. Edinburgh, Scotland. 

• Collins, A. (2021, November 12). Evidence-based evaluation and treatment of Vitamin D status. Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama 15^th Annual Conference. Birmingham, AL. 

• Collins, A. (2019, October 4). Clinical Application of the 2018 Multi-Society Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol. Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama Annual Conference.  Birmingham, AL. 

• Collins, A. & Iranikhah, M. (2017, April 21). Ethical Pain Management in the Aging Population. Healthcare Ethics and Law Institute annual conference. Birmingham, AL.

Research

• Bigham, A., Collins, A. (2013). Internal Samford University Technology Grant. Improving Nurse Practitioner Student Recognition and Management of Abnormal Physical Findings Through the Use of Standardized Patients and Technology.
• Collins, A., Whisenant, D. Holston, J. (2013). Internal Samford University Faculty Development Grant.  A Comparison of Magnesium vs. Melatonin for Improved Sleep Quality and Quantity.

Involvement

• VER International, board of directors 
• Alabama League for Nursing, past president
• American Association of Nurse Practitioners
• Annual Honuras mission trips since 2000, medical director

Awards and Honors

• Alabama League for Nursing Lamplighter Award for exemplary contribution to the nursing profession, 2018    

Funded Grants

• Pan, K. & Collins, A. (2019). Application of Data Analytics to Christian Health Mission Trips. William E. and Wylodine F. Hull Fund for Christian Scholarship. $9000 
• Cunningham, J., Bigham, A., McMichael, S., Johnston, K., Shelton, L., Martin, J., Hayne, A., Collins, A., & Holston, J. (2016). Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship Grant. $350,000 for 1 year. 
• Collins, A., Shelton, L., & Cortes, C. (2015). 1-year grant from Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Chandler Mountain Migrant Farm Worker Projects. $10,000