Rebecca Puchkors, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CA-CP SANE

Education:
DNP Maryville University of Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO
MSN University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, American Nurses Credentialing Center
Certified Pediatric and Adult/Adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Office of the Attorney General, Texas
BSN University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas
ADN, El Centro College, Dallas

Dr. Rebecca Puchkors, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CA-CP SANE, is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Global Initiatives Coordinator at Baylor University’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing. A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner, educator, and nurse leader, she brings experience across advanced practice, psychiatric nursing, nursing leadership, forensic nursing, suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and nursing education.

Dr. Puchkors teaches across undergraduate and graduate nursing programs, including psychiatric-mental health nursing and graduate psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner clinical education. Her teaching emphasizes clinical reasoning, experiential learning, simulation, and the development of compassionate, evidence-based approaches to caring for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. She also maintains clinical practice as a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner.

Nationally, Dr. Puchkors has served in a variety of professional and scholarly roles. She is faculty for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association’s Competency-Based Suicide Prevention initiative and has contributed to curriculum development and revision in suicide prevention and recovery-oriented care. She is a Senior Contributing Author and Content Lead for the OpenStax Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing textbook and has served as a content expert, reviewer, and reviser for psychiatric-mental health nursing and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner certification resources. Her scholarship and presentations have focused on suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, recovery-oriented practice, substance use, intimate partner violence, nursing education, and mental health stigma.

As Global Initiatives Coordinator for the Louise Herrington School of Nursing, Dr. Puchkors supports international and community-based partnerships, mission experiences, and opportunities for students and faculty to engage with diverse communities and health systems. Her commitment to service also extends beyond the university through volunteer work with The Well Community and the North Texas Nurse Honor Guard, as well as participation in local and international mission initiatives.

Dr. Puchkors is a past president of the Texas Chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and has been recognized for her contributions to nursing practice, leadership, and education. Her honors include the 2026 DAISY Award for Excellence in Education, recognition as one of the Texas Nurses Association’s 25 Outstanding Nurses in 2025, D Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing Award, and the DFW Great 100 Nurses Award.

Across her clinical practice, teaching, scholarship, and service, Dr. Puchkors is committed to advancing mental health care, preparing nurses to care for people with skill and compassion, and creating meaningful opportunities for nurses and students to serve communities locally and globally.