Kristen F. Kirby, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN, CNE

DNP: Rush University, Chicago, Illinois
MSN: Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
BSN: Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana
Certified Nurse Educator: National League for Nursing

Kristen F. Kirby, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN, CNE is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Louise Herrington School of Nursing at Baylor University. She is an ANCC board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Educator with nearly two decades of experience in nursing education and more than 20 years of clinical nursing and advanced practice experience. She also maintains active clinical practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Indiana. 

Teaching
Dr. Kirby teaches in Baylor's Doctor of Nursing Practice programs, with expertise in advanced practice nursing, leadership, health assessment, health informatics, global health, and evidence-based practice. She is dedicated to mentoring future nurse practitioners and nurse leaders to provide whole-person, patient-centered care that integrates prevention, lifestyle optimization, and the treatment of underlying health concerns.

Scholarship
Dr. Kirby's education scholarship focuses on nursing education, organizational culture, mentorship, and quality improvement. Her clinical scholarship includes preventive care, metabolic health, lifestyle interventions, and gut health. Her recent work examines entrenched toxic culture in academic nursing and has resulted in national presentations and peer-reviewed publications in journals including Nursing Outlook and Nursing Education Perspectives. She currently serves as Co-Principal Investigator on research investigating entrenched toxic cultures in academic nursing. 

Professional Leadership
Prior to joining Baylor University in 2023, Dr. Kirby served on the faculty at Purdue University for 13 years, where she held numerous leadership roles in curriculum development, faculty mentoring, and academic governance. She contributes to the advancement of nursing scholarship through service as a peer reviewer for nursing journals and regularly disseminates her work through national presentations and professional conferences.

Service
Dr. Kirby is committed to advancing nursing through mentorship, service, and scholarship. Her work seeks to promote healthy workplace and academic cultures that support professional well-being, leadership development, and excellence in patient care. In clinical practice, she considers it a privilege to serve patients and families by partnering with them to achieve their health goals and improve long-term well-being. Her practice focuses primarily on women's health, pediatric health, and primary care, emphasizing personalized, evidence-based approaches that support prevention, wellness, and sustainable health outcomes. Beyond her professional roles, Dr. Kirby is actively involved in her local church, The Chapel of Greater Lafayette, where she serves on the hospitality team and participates in small-group ministry. She is especially passionate about supporting the church's connection to the SALT Network and its mission of caring for and ministering to college students through campus outreach and discipleship.

       Recent Publications

• Good, B., Kirby, K., Foli, K. F., Chase, T., & Clark, C. (2026). An instrument to measure Entrenched Toxic Culture in academic nursing. Nursing Education Perspectives, 47(5), E62. 
   
• Good, B., Kirby, K., Foli, K. (2025). Entrenched Toxic Culture in nursing academia: A concept analysis. Nursing Outlook 73, Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102545
   
• Howard, J., Kirchner, A., Vazquez, T., Kirby, K., Peck, J., Cusack, E., Ke, W. (2026). Mobilizing change: Strengthening advocacy among Texas advanced practice registered nurses. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 22(6), 105821. Doi: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2026.105821
   
• Mitchell, S., Good, B., Potetz, J., & Kirby, K. (2023, Sept). Simulation of LGBTQ health education on nursing practice. Clinical Simulation in Nursing 82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2023.05.004
   
• Luebcke, C., Foli, K., Wolverton, C., & Kirby, K. (2023, May). Improving nurse self-efficacy in caring for critical care obstetric patients. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 54 (5), 208-215. Doi: 10.3928/00220124-20230405-05.
   

• Kirby, K., Earle, M., Calahan, C. & Karagory, P. (2021, August). Preparing nursing students for diverse populations. Nurse Education in Practice,55.  Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2021.103140

  Recent Presentations:

• Jones, J. & Kirby, K. F. (2026, October). Service Learning in Global Healthcare and Missions for the APRN (Poster Presentation). SPIN-Learning Nurse Education Conference, Sandestin, FL.
   
• Kirby, K. F., Good, B., Foli, K. F., & Chase, T. (2026, September). Predictors of an Entrenched Toxic Culture in Academic Nursing. (Podium Presentation). National League for Nursing Summit, Washington, D.C.
   
• Shirey, D., Plimpton, E., Kirby, K. F. (2026, July). Gut Instinct: Why Gut Health Matters More Than You Think. (Podium Presentation). National Nurse Practitioner Symposium, Keystone, CO. 
   
• Kirby, K. F. & Donahue, M. (2026, July). From Reactive to Proactive: Using HOMA-IR to Transform Metabolic Care in Family Practice. (Poster Presentation). National Nurse Practitioner Symposium, Keystone, CO. 
   
• Good, B., Kirby, K. F., & Foli, K. (2026, May). Entrenched Toxic Cultures in Nursing Academia: A Concept Analysis. (Poster Presentation). 2026 LHSON Annual Research and Scholarship Faculty Showcase, Dallas, Tx. 
   
• Good, B., Kirby, K. F., Foli, K. (2025, November). A Concept Analysis of Entrenched Toxic Cultures in Nursing Academia. (Podium Presentation). Sigma 48^th Biennial Convention 2025, Indianapolis, Indiana.
   
• Kirby, K., Johnson, R., & Hass, Z. (2025, July). Longitudinal Assessment of DEIB in Nursing Curriculum Using the IDI. (Poster Presentation). Sigma Congress, Seattle, Washington.
   
• Castor, R², Bain, L.², Marshall, D.², Soltwisch, M. P., Kirby, K. (2025, February). Motivations and resiliency of RNs pursuing advanced degrees. (Podium Presentation). Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS) Annual National Conference, Memphis, TN.