Denise Waterfield

Denise Waterfield is a PhD student at UNMC’s College of Nursing. She is also a nurse specialist for the UNMC College of Nursing Kearney Division.


Current credentials and degrees: MEd, BSN, RN, CCRN
Hometown: Kearney, NE
Program Start Date: August 2017
Graduated: May 2022
Research interest: I research critical care nursing and their ethical sensitivity to management and treatment of common symptoms found in critical care patients.
Plans after graduation: I am still working that out, but I love teaching, practice, as well as research. I am completing my AG-ACNP certification this summer.


Why I chose a PhD in nursing:


Overall, practice should inform research and research should inform practice. As a bedside nurse I was curious about nurses’ decision making and how they address delirium in their patients. Being curious and always asking why led me to the UNMC PhD program.

Research/professional interests:


I am hoping to continue a research trajectory that involves implementation of research related to best practice at the bedside as well as research related to nursing ethics and decision–making.

What I like about UNMC:


UNMC’s reputation is stellar, and I am proud to say I work and attend school there. I also appreciate learning from a variety of experts in a variety of fields.

Professional memberships:


  • International Association for the Study of Pain
  • Society of Critical Care Medicine
  • Midwest Nursing Research Society
  • Nebraska Nurses Association
  • Sigma Theta Tau Member International Honor Society of Nursing
  • Gamma Pi At-Large Chapter
  • American Association of Critical Care Nurses

Three things people may not know about me:


  • I drove a Ferrari on a racetrack for my birthday last year.
  • I am originally from Louisiana.
  • My first career was as a high school science teacher.