Barbara Vincensi started at Hope in 2006 teaching the gerontological medical surgical nursing and senior nursing research practicum courses. Her other responsibilities have included teaching the community health nursing course and being chair of various department committees and task forces, especially those involving curriculum and program development. Her current research involves spiritual care provided by nurse practitioners and relationship-based care.

Areas of expertise

• Advanced practice roles in nursing (Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist)
• Spiritual care – How self-knowledge of the nurse practitioner (NP) and relationship building between NP and patient support the spirit of the patient, raising the consciousness of both NP and patient, moving toward better health outcomes
• Parish nursing – Parish nurse ministry for two years in a multicultural parish, which included five language groups and migrants
• Care of the older adult has also been a special interest and has connections to managing chronic diseases and living to one's full potential, as well as spiritual care

Education

• Ph.D., nursing, Loyola University Chicago, 2011
• Post-master certificate, family nurse practitioner, Grand Valley State University, 1997
• MSN, concentrations in adult medical surgical and clinical nurse specialist, Indiana University, 1986
• BSN, concentration in community health, Purdue University, 1978

Honors, grants and awards

• Community Foundation of Holland/Zeeland, three year grant, $15,000
• Hope College Jean Mason Debbink faculty development grant, $3,600 (June 2012) and $4,000 (June 2007)
• Sigma Theta Tau International Kappa Epsilon chapter-at-large, pre-doctoral nursing research grant, $1,200 (2010)
• American Holistic Nurses Association, pre-doctoral nursing research grant, $1,000 (2010)
• Sigma Theta Tau International, Kappa Epsilon Chapter-at-large, Excellence in Teaching award

Selected publications

• "Assessing the Frequency Nurse Practitioners Incorporate Spiritual Care into Patient-Centered Care," The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 2017
• “Readiness for enhanced religiosity," "Readiness for enhanced spiritual well-being" and "Spiritual Distress” in Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide to Planning Care, 2016
• “Development and Psychometric Testing of New Instruments to Assess Nurse Practitioners' Provision of Spiritual Care,” Journal of Holistic Nursing, 2014
• “Sleep in the hospitalized patient: Nursing and patient perceptions,” accepted for publication November 1, 2016

Outside the college

Barbara is an avid gardener three seasons of the year. Music is also another pastime, and she enjoys visiting family. She still maintains a part-time clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner and enjoys the patient contact while maintaining clinical skills.