Kathleen Thimsen, DNP, MSN, ET/WOCN, FNS
Associate Professor-in-Residence
Biography
Since joining UNLV School of Nursing in 2020, Dr. Kathleen Thimsen served as the co-Director of the UNLV Community Clinic and previously served as the Director of the Doctorate in Nursing Practice program. She has delivered many presentations and has multiple publications along with a record of external funding primarily in areas related to education, forensic nursing, wound care, and community health.
Expertise
Dr. Thimsen’s areas of expertise are wound management, forensic nursing, elder abuse, and risk management/legal aspects of healthcare.
Classes Taught
Dr. Thimsen currently teaches Community and Population Health, Leadership in Organizations & Systems, Nurse Practitioner Business and Roles, Managing Complex Nursing Needs in Diverse Populations, and DNP Project in the doctoral program.
Education Background
Dr. Thimsen earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Webster University. She received a post-Masters degree from Johns Hopkins University in 2010 and graduated with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Regis University in 2015.
Research or Scholarship
Dr. Thimsen’s work involves studies of elder abuse, gaps in forensic nursing practice, and human trafficking/forced organ harvesting.
Awards, recognitions, or group affiliations
Dr. Thimsen is the recipient of the 2018 Dean’s Award for Service from Goldfarb School of Nursing, 2016 Excellence in Nursing Award from the St. Louis Community Health Nursing Magazine, and 1996 Nevada Nurse of the Year Governor’s Award.
Dr. Thimsen's involvement in national nursing boards is extensive, notably co-founding and serving as a charter member of both the Academy of Forensic Nursing and Forensic Nursing Certification Board. She currently serves as Treasurer of the Forensic Nursing Certification Board. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Nurses Association, and the Western Institute of Nursing.