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Dr. Lynn Chilton, professor and coordinator of the graduate gerontological nurse practitioner program in the College of Nursing at the University of South Alabama, has won the prestigious Excellence in Geriatric Education Award from the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners (NCGNP), a national professional organization for nurse practitioners who care for geriatric and older adults.
The award was presented in September to Chilton at the NCGNP annual conference in San Diego, Calif. The NCGNP represents the interest of more than 10,000 nurse practitioners nationwide who specialize in health care for older adults in a variety of settings, including ambulatory care, rural clinics, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and health care departments, among others.
A gerontological nurse practitioner, or GNP, for more than 21 years and an educator of nurse practitioner students for more than 17 years, Chilton was selected for the award based on her knowledge of the care of older adults, her ability to enhance students’ understanding in innovative ways, her capacity to encourage and inspire advance practice students to achieve excellence in gerontology, and for exhibiting excellence in practice and service to the community.
Chilton began her work at USA in 2003 when she was recruited by the College of Nursing to teach in the gerontological nurse practitioner track. She came to USA from the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, Miss., where she taught in a similar program.
Dr. Debra Davis, dean of the College of Nursing at USA, said Chilton has committed herself to preparing high-quality, high-functioning nurse practitioners who can work with older adults in a caring and compassionate manner.
“Lynn really brings to us the whole package. She’s an excellent teacher and advocate for older adults’ issues in health policy, and she has a national presence in organizations that address health care issues for this growing segment of our society.
“She’s a real go-getter who is passionate about her work,” Davis said. “We’ve been fortunate to have someone of Lynn’s caliber.”
In addition to the honor of being selected as top GNP educator in the country, Chilton was delighted to learn that she had been nominated by one of her students, David Hughes. The Jackson, Tenn., resident is one of USA’s online nursing students. He’s set to graduate from USA’s gerontological nurse practitioner program in December.
“Dr. Chilton really challenged and inspired me, and I could tell that she had a love for what she did,” Hughes said. “She encouraged me and other students to pursue our dreams and to continue on with our education. I was excited that someone was so interested in our futures.
“This award for Dr. Chilton means so much to me and to my fellow students,” he said. “She’s been such an inspiration.”
It’s an exciting time to be an educator in the GNP field, according to Chilton.
“GNPs are essential to the health care of the fastest-growing segment of the population,” she explained. “Individuals over the age of 65 are expected to comprise approximately 25 percent of the population by the year 2030.”
Chilton said the recent award from the ACGNP was particularly gratifying.
“This award was very special to me because I was nominated by a student in the University of South Alabama graduate nursing GNP program,” she said. “I felt especially honored to have my GNP peers at the ACGNP to present me this award, as there are so many excellent GNP faculty across the United States.”
Double-certified as both a GNP and family nurse practitioner, Chilton has held top positions with several national professional nursing organizations, including service on the board of directors for the American College of Nurse Practitioners and NCGNP. She was also chair of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s GNP certification exam, the national exam all GNP students must take in order to practice.
Chilton is the author of numerous scholarly publications and actively makes national presentations on geriatric issues and research. She is the recipient of a University of South Alabama Research Council Grant, completing a study on “Predictive Indicators on Hypertensive Control Among Older Adults.”
A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Chilton received her doctor of science in nursing from the University of Alabama-Birmingham, her master of science in nursing from Mississippi University for Women, and her bachelor of science in nursing from Marquette University in Milwaukee. |
