Dr. Rebecca M. Thomas, DNP, RN, WHNP-BC, SANE-A

Associate Professor

Maternal-Child Nursing Department

Education

DNP, University of South Alabama, 2015
MSN, University of South Alabama, 2014
BSN, University of West Florida, 2011

Specialized Training

Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified (WHNP-BC)
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Adult (SANE-A)
C-TIER Telehealth Certified
Danger Assessment Certified

Research Interests

Sexual Assault and Trauma-Informed Care
Interprofessional Nursing Education Using Simulation
Next-Generation NCLEX: Strategies for Success
Development of Scholarly Writing Skills in Graduate Students
Postpartum Depression Evaluation and Management
Graduate Student Success in Students Identifying as ESOL

Grants

Funded

Dolan, C., Moore, L., Thomas, R., Selwyn, C., Rudd, A., Bowman, A., & Howard, J. Advanced Nursing Education-SOUTH Sexual Assault Nursing Empowerment and Support (SOUTH SANES), Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). Funded $1,455,162.00. Role: Co-Program Coordinator.
Selwyn, C. N., Dolan, C., Marass, A., Rudd, A., Koon-Magnin, S., & Stefurak, J., Bowman, A., & Thomas, R. Establishing a Multi pronged, Trauma-Informed Campus- Based SANE Program at the University of South Alabama. Office of Victims of Crime, Department of Justice. $493,244. Role: Faculty.
Moore, L., Davis, A., Thomas, R., Bowman, A., Selwyn, C., & Pittman, J. SUCCESS. Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). $1,389,992.00. Role: Maternal Health Curriculum Coordinator.

Pending

Selwyn, C., Thomas, R, Seymour, C., Loveless, K. and Stefurak, T. “HEART Project: Expanding Sexual Assault Victim Services on Campus”. Sponsored by Office of Violence Against Women (OVW) as part of the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Application Submitted June 1, 2024. Prospective funding: $750,000. Role: Project Co-Director.

Completed Research Support

Thomas, R. M., Moore, L. P., Urquhart, B. A., Harris, S. K., Davis, S. L., Farmer, J. E., Thornton, R., Hawley, N. (2023). Use of simulated telenursing with standardized patients to enhance prelicensure nursing education. Nurse Educator. DOI: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001410
Thomas, R. M., Urquhart, B. A., Emley, L. N., Mosley, B. (2022). Using classroom response systems to create next-generation NCLEX clinical judgment scenarios. Nurse Educator. DOI: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001281
Selwyn, C. N., Thomas, R. M. (2023). Promoting gender-based health equity through graduate nursing education. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2023.104819
Anderson, J., Woodmansee, B., Thomas, R. M., Moore, L., & Selwyn, C. (“submitted on” 2024, May). Incorporating care of human trafficking victims in undergraduate nursing curriculum. Alabama Nurse. https://alabamanurses.org -ACCEPTED
Anderson, J. A., Woodmansee, B. K., Thomas, R. M., Moore, L. P., Selwyn, C. N. (November 2023). Human trafficking in Alabama and the need to incorporate human trafficking education into undergraduate nursing curriculum. Alabama Nurse.
Thomas, R. M., Urquhart, B. A., Emley, L. N., Mosley, B., Pullen, R. (2023). The future of nursing education, classroom response systems, and next-generation NCLEX. [video]. Nurse Educator.
Thomas, R. M., Urquhart, B. A., Emley, L. N., Mosley, B., Howard, J. C. (2023). Using classroom response systems to create next-generation NCLEX clinical judgment scenarios. [podcast]. Nurse Educator.

Professional Presentations

Refereed Presentations

Moore, L.P., Thomas, R.M., Selwyn, C.N., Davis, A., Emley, L. N. Bay Area Nurse Practitioners Association (BANPA). "Addressing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality in Alabama Through Clinical Simulation for Undergraduate Nursing Students and New Nursing Staff at USA Children's and Women's Hospital". (September 2024).
Thomas, R.M., Hutto, D. T. Bay Area Nurse Practitioners Association (BANPA). "Emergency Contraception: Caring for Patients of Sexual Assault". (September 2024).
Riley, B. H., Thomas, R.M. Sigma Region 8 Conference. "Telementoring Contemporary Healthcare Priorities Virtually and Collaboratively in Interprofessional Communities to Increase Nursing Workforce Capabilities". (September 2024).

Hutto, D.T., Thomas, R.M. Alabama Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Pharmacology Conference. "Emergency Contraception: Caring for Victims of Sexual Assault". (September 2024).
Moore, L.P., Thomas, R.M., Selwyn, C.N., Davis, A., Emley, L. N. International Association of Clinical Simulation in Nursing (INACSL). "Development of an Unfolding Maternal Child Simulation Case for Undergraduate Nursing Students". (June 2024).
Riley, B. H., Thomas, R. M., Howard, J. C. Conference on Teaching and Learning (COTL). “Development of the USA CON ECHO Hub and Series.” (May 2024).
Thomas, R. M., Campbell, P., International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), "Creating a Preceptor Development Course to Standardize Training of Prospective SANEs". (September 2023).
Thomas, R. M., Riley, B. H., Howard, J. C., International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), “Development of the University of South Alabama SOUTH SANES ECHO". (September 2023).
Riley, B. H., Thomas, R. M., Howard, J. C., MetaECHO 2023: University of New Mexico, "Development of the University of South Alabama ECHO Hub and Programs". (September 2023).
Riley, B. H., Thomas, R. M., Howard, J. C., MetaECHO 2023: University of New Mexico, "Development of the USA CON ECHO Hub and Programs". (September 2023).
Emley, L. N., Thomas, R. M., Mosley, B., Brown, T. L., Nuts and Bolts 2023: NurseTim Conference, “Addressing the Missed Steps to Clinical Judgment and Reasoning in the Classroom". (August 2023).
Riley, B. H., Thomas, R. M., Howard, J. C., Alabama Academy of Science Conference, "New Technologies for Increasing Capacity of Primary Healthcare Providers: Virtual Telementoring with an ECHO®.". (March 2023).
Thomas, R. M., Moore, L. P., Urquhart, B. A., Farmer, J. E., Thornton, R., Southern Regional Human Patient Simulation Network (HPSN) Conference, "Simulated Telehealth Encounter Using Standardized Patients to Improve Maternal & Pediatric Nursing Interviewing Skills & Client Education". (December 2022).
Thomas, R. M., Mosley, B., Alabama Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists Virtual Pharmacology Conference, "Protecting the Gulf Coast with PrEP: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV". (September 2022).
Thomas, R. M., Lippincott Nursing Education Innovation Summit, "Using Pear Deck to Create NGN Clinical Judgment Scenarios". (April 2022).
Thompson, C. N., Thomas, R. M., Nuts and Bolts 2021: NurseTim Conference, "Teacher-Led Studying and Testing Sessions: Enhancing Student Success". (August 2021).
Thompson, C. N., Thomas, R. M., ExamSoft (EAC Virtual 2021), "Teacher-Led Studying and Testing Sessions to Enhance Student Success". (June 2021).
Thomas, R. M., Conference on Teaching and Learning (COTL), "Clinical Post Conference Activities to Stimulate 21st Century Student Engagement". (May 2021).
Thompson, C. N., Thomas, R. M., Conference on Teaching and Learning (COTL), "Teacher-Led Studying and Testing Sessions to Enhance Student Success". (May 2021).
Thomas, R. M., Hutto, D. T., AACNS Virtual Pharmacology Conference, "Current Pharmacologic Treatments for Depression in the Antenatal and Postpartum Period". (September 2020).
Thomas, R. M., Hutto, D. T., Alabama Academy of Science Conference, "Evidence-Based Practice Supporting Current Pap Smear Guidelines". (March 2019).
Hutto, D. T., Thomas, R. M., Women’s Health Update: Alabama Office of Women’s Health Conference, "Evidence-Based Practice Supporting New Pap Smear Guidelines". (August 2017).
Thomas, R. M., Hutto, D. T., FACES Conference, "Improving Women’s Health: Evidence-Based Practice Supporting New Pap Smear Guidelines". (April 2017).

Non-Refereed Presentations

Thomas, R. M. (As Nursing Contributor). University Hospital. Preeclampsia Awareness Panel. (March 28, 2024).
Thomas, R. M., Howard, J. C., Lunch and Learn CE Offering: USA CON, "Update on NGN Questions in ExamSoft". (May 2022).
Thomas, R. M., Howard, J. C., Lunch and Learn CE Offering: USA CON, "Using ExamSoft to Build NGN Clinical Judgment Questions". (November 2021).
Thomas, R. M., Miller, K. S., Hutto, D. T., Nurses Week Free CEU Event (USACW & UH), "Pregnant Healthcare Workers: What you Need to Know". (May 2019).

Teaching

NU 101: Freshman Seminar in Nursing
MCN 352: OBGYN Nursing Care Theory
MCN 353: OBGYN Nursing Care Clinical

HSC 400: Promoting Health Equity Across Patient Populations
NU 499: Nursing Honors Senior Project
NU 500: Exploring Cultures of Sexual Assault Victim Pop
NU 502: Sexual Assault Vic Practicum
NU 505: Sup Care Comorbid Post Assault
NU 541: HPDP Women's Health NP
NU 545: Physio-Patho Basis of Adv Nsg
MCN 547: Women's Health NP III
NU 578: Pharmacology for Adv Nsg Practice
NU 597: Introduction to Scholarly Writing
NU 608: EBP & Quality Improvement HCS
NU 611: Translating Evidence to Practice
NU 612: Clinical Prevention and Population Health
NU 613: Organizational and Systems Leadership
NU 644: WHNP Project Planning and Development

Honors and Awards

Nominee: Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, J. Patrick Barnes Foundation (2023).
Nominee: Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty, J. Patrick Barnes Foundation (2022).
Excellence in Service Award, University of South Alabama College of Nursing. (2022).
Newborn Nursery Nurse of the Year, Baptist Hospital. (2015).
Marilyn Lamborn Award in Nursing Ethics, University of West Florida. (2011).