Kirsten Hepburn - Student Spotlight

Kirsten Hepburn is a 1st year BSN to PhD student.

Research/professional interests: I'm still working on my dissertation topic, but I’ll be studying factors related to early pregnancy loss and perinatal bereavement. I became interested in this area of research after becoming a Bereavement RN and realizing that there are a lot of unanswered questions related to pregnancy loss.

Describe your nursing experience before starting the PhD program (if any). I was the Bereavement RN at Methodist Women’s Clinic for four years. Prior to that I was an ED RN.

What are your career goals? I plan to teach as well as continue with research. My dream is to make sure every OB-GYN clinic is equipped to offer the absolute best resources available to women experiencing a pregnancy loss.

Why I chose a PhD in nursing: I have a strong interest in research.

Why did you choose UNMC? I love UNMC! I got my BSN from UNMC and knew the quality of education here. When it came time to apply for PhD programs, I didn’t give any thought to going to school anywhere else.

What are three fun facts about you?