Debra Hawkins

Biography:

Debra Hawkins, BSN, RN, CCRN is a dedicated emergency room nurse and doctoral candidate at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, where she is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) with an expected graduation in May 2025. With over 12 years of experience in emergency and acute care, she is committed to improving patient outcomes in rural and underserved healthcare settings through education, research, and quality improvement initiatives.

Her doctoral research focuses on enhancing sepsis care in rural hospitals, emphasizing protocol adherence and targeted educational interventions to improve early recognition and management. As a Certified Critical Care Nurse (CCRN), she brings specialized expertise in acute and critical care, ensuring evidence-based, high-quality patient management. In addition to her doctoral studies, Debra is also pursuing Pediatric CNS certification at the University of Missouri, further expanding her clinical expertise in pediatric acute and critical care.

Beyond her clinical and academic work, Debra is a dedicated leader and mentor, serving as a Girl Scouts of America leader, where she fosters leadership and service among young girls. Upon completing her doctorate, she plans to pursue a career in rural emergency medicine, with a focus on advancing critical care education, improving sepsis outcomes, and strengthening healthcare access in remote communities.