Caroline McKinnon

Dr. Caroline McKinnon is an associate professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice department, with a joint appointment in The Graduate School. She serves as the concentration coordinator for the psych mental health nurse practitioner program and the elected college faculty senate chair. McKinnon is a member of multiple national organizations and has served in multiple leadership positions for the International Society of Psychiatric Nurses. She is an Augusta University alumna, earning her PhD in Nursing in 2013. She also has an MSN for family NP and adult PMH CNS nursing from the University of Virginia.

McKinnon focuses on behavioral health in nursing education and the health workforce. She is currently funded as a co-investigator through HRSA to study behavioral health integration for nursing education practice, quality, and retention in an interprofessional collaborative practice program. She recently authored a chapter on substance use and abuse in Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health: A Resource for Advanced Practice psychiatric and Primary Care Nurse Practitioners. The textbook was awarded 2nd place in the ANA Book of the Year Awards in the category of child nursing. Her first-author publications can be found in the Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and the Journal of Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.

McKinnon has been recognized for the impact of her work and expertise, having received the Excellence in Service award from the college and being a nominee for the Augusta University Good Neighbor Award. She continues to seek professional development opportunities, becoming certified as a QPR Gatekeeper Instructor for suicide prevention and attaining her certificate in Access, Success, and Belonging.