Thriving in NP School: A Practical Roadmap for NP Student Success
August 27, 2026
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
NP school asks a lot. You're building a clinician mindset on top of years of nursing experience, working through graduate coursework, and most likely still picking up shifts while you do it. The path is worth it, but it's rarely straightforward.
In this free GNSA webinar, Olivia Livernois, NP Specialist at Sketchy and practicing nurse practitioner, walks through the practical strategies that help NP students stay on track from first semester through boards. Drawing on her own journey from ICU and hospice RN to NP, she covers what actually moves the needle.
What you'll learn:
- How to navigate the shift from nursing mindset to clinician mindset
- Strategies for balancing work, coursework, and clinical rotations
- How to build clinical confidence and reasoning skills ahead of your rotations
- What early, sustainable board prep actually looks like
- How to use AI tools thoughtfully in your training and practice
Webinar Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify strategies for success in NP school.
- Develop a sustainable approach to board preparation.
- Utilize educational resources to strengthen clinical reasoning and decision-making.
- Understand key considerations when transitioning into NP practice.
- Recognize emerging opportunities and challenges, including AI in healthcare.
This webinar is sponsored by Sketchy.
Disclaimer: AACN does not endorse any products, services, or views expressed by the presenters.
Speakers
Speaker
Olivia Livernois, MSN, FNP-BC
Family Nurse Practitioner
Nursing Program Specialist, DDx by Sketchy
Olivia Livernois is a practicing Family Nurse Practitioner, educator, and Nursing Program Specialist at Sketchy. She collaborates with nurse practitioner programs nationwide to align clinical reasoning, communication, and virtual simulation-based learning with curricular goals and competency frameworks. Her clinical background spans critical care, occupational health, hospice, and urgent care, and she currently practices in urgent care and occupational health/primary care settings, delivering accessible, real-world care to diverse patient populations. Olivia is passionate about advancing innovative, student-centered learning that strengthens diagnostic reasoning and prepares learners for high-stakes clinical practice.
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Creating Synergy: Practical Strategies for DNP and PhD Student Collaboration
May 08, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
Despite sharing a commitment to advancing nursing and improving patient care, DNP and PhD programs often operate in silos, which limits collaboration at a time when such partnerships are more critical than ever. In this presentation, we offer a student-led perspective on bridging that gap and real case examples that can be replicated in other programs.
Webinar Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify two actionable strategies students or faculty can use to initiate effective collaboration between DNP and PhD peers.
- Describe how student partnerships can foster connection and enhance inter-pathway innovation within nursing education.
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speaker
Lisa Kelly, MSN, RN
Clinical & Safety Account Executive
ECRI
Adjunct Nursing Professor
University of Tulsa
Lisa Kelly is a Clinical & Safety Account Executive at ECRI and an adjunct nursing professor at the University of Tulsa. A U.S. Army veteran, she is pursuing a PhD in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, where she explores purpose-building, identity, and existential well-being in individuals with multiple sclerosis. While currently building out a grant-funded quantitative study, she has also used autoethnography and Photovoice to examine the lived experience of cognitive impairment. Lisa holds a BSN from Georgia Southern University and an MSN in Nursing Informatics from Walden University.
Jana O’Hara, MSN, RN, CPHFH, CPHQ, CPPS
Director of Consulting and Education
Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)
Jana O’Hara is the Director of Consulting and Education at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). She is pursuing a DNP from Texas Woman's University with a focus on patient safety and the medication use process. She holds a BSN from Biola University and a MSN in Nursing Systems Management from the University of Texas at El Paso. Jana is certified in Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, and Human Factors in Healthcare.
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Creating Synergy: Practical Strategies for DNP and PhD Student Collaboration
May 08, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Details
Despite sharing a commitment to advancing nursing and improving patient care, DNP and PhD programs often operate in silos, which limits collaboration at a time when such partnerships are more critical than ever. In this presentation, we offer a student-led perspective on bridging that gap and real case examples that can be replicated in other programs.
Webinar Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify two actionable strategies students or faculty can use to initiate effective collaboration between DNP and PhD peers.
- Describe how student partnerships can foster connection and enhance inter-pathway innovation within nursing education.
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speaker
Lisa Kelly, MSN, RN
Clinical & Safety Account Executive
ECRI
Adjunct Nursing Professor
University of Tulsa
Lisa Kelly is a Clinical & Safety Account Executive at ECRI and an adjunct nursing professor at the University of Tulsa. A U.S. Army veteran, she is pursuing a PhD in Nursing at Texas Woman’s University, where she explores purpose-building, identity, and existential well-being in individuals with multiple sclerosis. While currently building out a grant-funded quantitative study, she has also used autoethnography and Photovoice to examine the lived experience of cognitive impairment. Lisa holds a BSN from Georgia Southern University and an MSN in Nursing Informatics from Walden University.
Jana O’Hara, MSN, RN, CPHFH, CPHQ, CPPS
Director of Consulting and Education
Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP)
Jana O’Hara is the Director of Consulting and Education at the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). She is pursuing a DNP from Texas Woman's University with a focus on patient safety and the medication use process. She holds a BSN from Biola University and a MSN in Nursing Systems Management from the University of Texas at El Paso. Jana is certified in Healthcare Quality, Patient Safety, and Human Factors in Healthcare.
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Essential Tools for Graduate Nursing Students: A GNSA Overview
September 24, 2025
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (ET)
Presented by the Graduate Nursing Student Academy
Webinar Details
Starting your graduate nursing journey can feel overwhelming. Join us for an insightful session on how the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) can support you throughout the process. Discover a wealth of free tools and resources designed to help you thrive including:
Outcomes:
- Access to our webinar series (with free continuing education credits)
- An online community for peer support
- Networking opportunities with professionals and mentors
- Advocacy resources to amplify your voice
- Timely updates on funding and scholarship opportunities
Objectives:
- Gain proficiency in navigating the GNSA website to effortlessly access a wide array of resources.
- Explore how GNSA tools can enhance your success throughout your graduate nursing program.
Note: Recording of the webinar will be available soon after the webinar airs. Visit AACN's On-Demand Webinars to watch.
Speakers
Speaker
Marta Okoniewski, MPA
Director of Student Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)
Marta Okoniewski is the Director of Student Engagement at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). She led the development, launch, and growth of the GNSA, a national network providing high-value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. Prior to joining AACN, Ms. Okoniewski worked as the Program Coordinator at New York University College of Nursing within the Academic and Clinical Affairs Department. She received her master’s in public administration from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton.
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Jonas Scholars 2024-2026 Application Technical Assistance Webinar
April 30, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (ET)
Webinar Overview
The Jonas Scholars program has launched applications for the 2024-2026 cohort, with plans to enhance the program with a greater focus on students who are going to transition to faculty roles. Through leadership development programming, mentorship, and financial support, Jonas Scholars will be positioned to successfully transition from a doctoral student to a teaching role. Participants will learn more about the eligibility and selection process for institutions and scholars, understand the internal processes they should conduct to select students for submission, and understand the technical steps required to submit an application.
Objectives
- Understand the eligibility and selection criteria for both institutions and students for the eighth cohort of the Jonas Scholars program.
- Evaluate a scholar selection process to help but forward students most aligned with the goals of the Jonas Scholars program.
- Identify how to submit an application to the Jonas Scholars program through the application platform.
This Webinar is hosted by Jonas Nursing of Jonas Philanthropies. For more information on the Jonas Philanthropies, visit http://jonasphilanthropies.org/.
Speakers
Speakers
Noah Brown, MPA
Jonas Grant Manager
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
Marta Okoniewski, MPA
Director of Student Engagement
American Association of Colleges of Nursing