Kathleen "Kathy" A. Rhodes, PhD
Professor-Education
Department:
SON-Instruction School Nursing
Email:
krhodes@umc.edu
Work Phone:
(601) 984-6219
Biography
Kathleen Rhodes, PhD, RN, FNP-C, CNE is a Professor at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing with more than 35 years of experience as a registered nurse and 15 years as a family nurse practitioner. Her clinical background includes cardiology, electrophysiology, critical care, medical-surgical nursing, and school-based health. Dr. Rhodes is deeply committed to student success and the science of learning, with a focus on evidence-based, active teaching strategies that promote critical thinking, clinical confidence, and NCLEX readiness. She enjoys helping students connect classroom concepts to real-world nursing practice. In addition to her academic work, she continues to serve as a volunteer nurse practitioner in school-based health clinics, reflecting her ongoing commitment to patient care and community health.
Education
| University of Mississippi: School of Graduate Studies in the Health Sciences, PhD, Nursing | 2020 |
| Mississippi University for Women, MSN, Nursing | 2010 |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing, BSN, Nursing | 1994 |
| Otero Junior College, Nursing | 1987 |
Specialty Certification Licensure
| Certification, NASPE Testamur, Examination of Special Competency Cardiac Electrophysiology for the Associated Professional, Heart Rhythm Society | 10/2006 - 10/2016 |
| Certification, NASPE Testamur, Examination of Special Competency Cardiac Pacing and Cardioversion Defibrillation for the Non-physician, Heart Rhythm Society | 06/2005 - 06/2015 |
| Licensure, Registered Nurse, Board of Nursing | 07/1987 - Present |
| Certification, Certified Nurse Educator, NLN Credentialing Team | 08/2024 - 08/2029 |
| Licensure, FNP-C, AANP | 09/2010 - 09/2030 |
Current Positions
| Professor, School of Nursing | 07/2025 - Present |
| The University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi 39216 | |
Academic Appointments or Other Previous Appointments
| Associate Professor, UMMC, School of Nursing | 07/2021 - 06/2025 |
| Assistant Professor, UMMC, School of Nursing | 07/2017 - 06/2021 |
| Instructor, UMMC, School of Nursing | 05/2014 - 06/2017 |
Publications
Journal Article | |
| Carr K, Rhodes KA, Klamm MM, McElwain S, Engaging Nursing Students in Mental Health Concepts Through Multiple Teaching Modalities. The Journal of nursing education, 2023 Jun;62(6):359-363 | 2023 |
| Rhodes K, Carr K, McElwain S, Douglas K, Health assessment validation: Challenging tradition. Nursing forum, 2021 Apr;56(2):429-432 | 2021 |
| Rhodes K.A., Walker J., Wijewardane J.S., & Lawrence M. A comparison of internet-based versus clinic sampling in inflammatory bowel disease research. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 13(1), 258–266. 2020 | |
| Rhodes K., Walker J., Martin T., McElwain S., & Blocker A. (2020). Internet-based recruitment strategies: Considerations in populations with chronic illness. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 13(2), 828–836. | |
| McElwain, S.D., Hogg, H., & Rhodes, K. (2023). An unfolding OB case study: Connecting classroom and simulation. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 18(2), 317–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2022.12.010 | |
| McElwain S.D., Rhodes K., Carr K.L., Clayton, J. S, & Klamm, M. (2022) Bridging the Gap in Simulation: A Faculty Development Intervention for Debriefing Skills. International Journal Nursing & Health Care Science, 02(06), 2022-124 | |
| Rhodes KA, Engaging Students Through Class Discussion: "Two Truths and a Lie". Nurse educator, 2022 Jul-Aug 01;47(4):240 | |
| Rhodes KA, Carr K, McElwain S, Stewart MW, Preparing for Next Generation NCLEX ® Through Team-Based Learning: Student Perspectives. Nursing education perspectives, 2023 Jan-Feb 01;44(1):54-56 | |
| Rhodes KA, Walker JT, Zhang L, Carr KL, Winters KP, Glover SC, The Impact of Transition Readiness and Stress on Patient-Centered Outcomes in Young Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, 2021 Jul-Aug 01;44(4):259-267 | |
| McElwain SD, Rhodes KA, Carr KL, Lawrence MC, Early Immersion Clinical for an Accelerated BSN Nursing Program. Nursing education perspectives, 2021 Nov-Dec 01;42(6):E107-E108 | |
Editorial | |
| Rhodes KA, Stewart MW, Willful Blindness: Guest Editorial. Journal of perianesthesia nursing : official journal of the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses, 2015 Oct;30(5):455-6 | 2015 |
Presentations
| Poster Presentation, Are Nursing Textbooks REALLY based on Evidence-Based Practice?, SON Research and Scholarship Day, Jackson, MS, Jackson MS | 04/2025 |
| Platform Presentations, Rhodes, K. A. (2025, March 18). ABSN Jackson White Coat Ceremony speaker, School of Nursing, Jackson, MS, UMMC, Jackson | 03/2025 |
| State/Local Invited Seminars/Lectures, Innovative Teaching Strategies for Simulation and the Classroom [Continuing education]. SEC Dean's Consortium for Nursing Professional Development Presentation, Online | 02/2024 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, “Clinical data collection: Methods & Challenges” [Podium Presentation]., Conference/Event Title: SNRS 37th Annual Conference Building Partnerships in Population Health through Research, Education, and Practice, Orlando FL | 03/2023 |
| Podcast, Engaging students through class discussion: "Two truths and a lie". Nurse Educator, https://nurseeducatorpodcast.libsyn.com/engaging-students-through-class-discussion-two-truths-and-a-lie | 07/2022 |
| Platform Presentations, Bridging the gap to practice through a faculty development workshop on debriefing (June 2019)., 2019 INACSL Conference, Phoenix, AZ. | 06/2019 |
| Platform Presentations, Team-based learning (TBL) to connect, collaborate, and catalyze learning across the curriculum (September 29, 2018). Roundtable presentation., Sigma Theta Tau Region 8 Conference. Mobile, AL. | 09/2018 |
| Platform Presentations, Getting creative with a complex concept, Concept-based Learning Institute., OrlandoFlorida | 02/2018 |
| Regional Invited Seminars/Lectures, Evolution of Problem-based learning within a concept-based nursing program. Jackson, MS., 2016 Region 8 Conference Sigma Theta Tau International., Jackson MS | 09/2016 |
| National and International Invited Seminars/Lectures, Longitudinal Health Care Services for Children Living in the Mississippi Delta, in Brisbane, Australia, STTI’s 23rd International Nursing Research Congress, Brisbone Australia | 07/2012 |
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
| Regions Bank T.E.A.C.H. (Toward Educational Advancement in Care and Health) Prize nominee | 2025 |
| Norman C. Nelson Order of Teaching Excellence | 2025 |
| School of Nursing's Excellence in Practice and Service Award | 2024 |
| The Academy for Excellence in Education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center | 2023 |
| The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty | 2020 |
| Elsevier Doctoral Student Book Award | 2020 |
| Duncan McCormac Memorial Scholarship – Doctoral for outstanding doctoral student | 2016 |
| • UMMC PHD Student Poster Award at the USM-UMMC Journal Club Seminar | 2016 |
Professional Membership and Service
| Phi Kappa Phi | 2019 - 2023 |
| AANP, Member | 2010 - Present |
| Sigma Theta Tau, Theta Beta Chapter | 2010 - Present |
| Mississippi Nurse Association | 2018 |
| Southern Nursing Research Society | 2018 |
| Heart Rhythm Society | 2014 |
Committee Service
| Practice Council Chair | 2025 - 2027 |
| Practice Council Chair elect | 2024 - 2025 |
| SCHOOL OF NURSING-FACULTY APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE, Member | 2023 - 2025 |
| UM - FACULTY SENATE, Alternate | 2023 - 2025 |
| SCHOOL OF NURSING-GRADUATE ADMISSIONS AND PROGRESSION | 2021 - 2023 |
| Practice Council, Chair | 2019 - 2021 |
| SCHOOL OF NURSING-FACULTY APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE | 2018 - 2020 |
| UM - FACULTY SENATE, Member | 2017 - 2019 |
Community Service
| Volunteers as a NP to care for patients in inner-city school clinic, FNP-C | 08/2014 - Present |
Other Service
| Sigma Theta Tau, Theta Beta Chapter, Governance Committee | 07/2025 - 06/2027 |
| Committee for the revision of the Academic Forgiveness Policy | 08/2023 - 12/2023 |
| AACN Essentials implementation team, Co-Chair | 08/2022 - Present |
| APP Council at the University of Mississippi Medical Center | 07/2019 - 06/2021 |
| Sigma Theta Tau, Theta Beta Chapter, Treasure | 07/2015 - 06/2017 |
| • Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development: MDE-2021-0293 (11/30/21) | |
| • Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing: Ref: JOPAN-D-22-00116 on 9/21/22 & 10/22/22 | |
| HELIYON-D-23-14217R2, Team-Based Learning Impact on College Students' Anxiety, July 2024 | |
| TELN-D-25-00243, Nursing students’ perspectives of learning at Clinical Skills Centres, a cross-sectional study, April 2025 | |
| SON Nurse Educator Track Advisory Board |
Teaching Experience
| N497, Nursing, Lecture, Course Coordinator, Nursing Capstone | Fall 2024-2025 |
| Nursing, Course Coordinator, Health and illness across the lifespan | Fall 2016-2025 |
| N413-1, Nursing, Lecture, Course Coordinator, Health and Illness across the Lifespan | Spring 2016-2025 |
| N413-2, Nursing, Lecture, Course Coordinator, Health and Illness Across the Lifespan | Summer 2016-2025 - 2025 |
| N434-1, Nursing, Clinical/Practicum, Clinical Practicum ! | Spring 2016-2025 |