10.14.21 – Carol F. Robinson DNP, RN, CHPN

Dr. Robinson has had a varied nursing career in both clinical and administrative leadership positions. Her clinical specialty has focused on adults and children with life-limiting pulmonary disease. Her administrative leadership experience includes assisting in the development of an inpatient palliative care unit and one of the first adult cystic fibrosis adult clinics in the nation. Her passion for the care of seriously ill individuals and their families led to extensive experience with patient/family communication relative to quality of life and treatment preferences.  Her scholarly work has focused on communication skills for health professionals, including advance care planning (ACP) conversations. Her friendly and open approach has helped many individuals create an advance directive reflective of one’s own personal values, beliefs, and preferences for end-of-life care.

Dr. Robinson holds an earned Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the GVSU-Kirkhof College of Nursing, specializing in health systems leadership. She has served as an Adjunct Faculty member at GVSU in the nursing program where she assisted with the development and co-taught in the post-graduate interprofessional hospice and palliative care certificate program. Dr. Robinson is certified as a hospice and palliative care nurse, a Respecting Choices^© First Steps ACP Facilitator and instructor, an Advanced Steps ACP Facilitator, and is a trainer for the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC). She also serves as a Board/Steering Committee member of several health-oriented and interfaith non-profits.

Education:

DNP (2012) Health Systems Leadership – Grand Valley State University, Kirkhof College of Nursing

MS (’90) Nursing – Arizona State University (ASU), Edson College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation

BSN (’82) ~ ASU, Edson College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation

AA (’78) Respiratory Therapy ~ Gateway Community College in Phoenix, AZ

Certifications:

Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse (CHPN^®) 2001-current

Respecting Choices^® Advanced Steps® ACP Facilitator 2019-current

Respecting Choices^® First Steps® Certified Instructor 2013-current

End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Trainer 2012-current

Respecting Choices^® First Steps® Facilitator 2011-current

Honors/Awards:

2020 Jerry O’Bee Award, For service excellence on behalf of the AAAWM Caregiver Resource Network

2011 Sigma Theta Tau Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Performance

2005 Michael B. O’Sullivan Award for Inpatient Clinical Nursing Excellence, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix

2005 March of Dimes AZ Nurse of the Year