Jo Ann A. Otts, DNP, RN, NEA-BC

Research Interest 

• Social Determinants of Health (SDOH), Health Equity, and Health Disparity 
• Community Engagement Supporting Vulnerable Populations
• Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in Teaching and Learning
• Pressure Injury Prevention and Technology
• Peer Mentoring to Nurture Student Success and Build Nursing Capacity

Education

• DNP – Executive Leadership, Loyola University New Orleans, 2017
• MSN – Health Care Systems Management, Loyola University New Orleans, 2015
• BA, Healthcare Administration, Graceland University, 1998
• ASN, Louisiana Tech University, 1979

Selected Publications

• Fenske, R., & Otts, J. A. (2024). Incorporating generative AI to promote inquiry-based learning: Comparing Elicit AI Research Assistant to PubMed and CINAHL Complete. Medical References Services Quarterly. 43(4). https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/wmrs20
  
• Otts, J. A., Pittman, J., Riley, B., Mestas, L., Hall, H., & Morton, P. (2024) Building a research -focused academic practice partnership: a stepwise approach. Journal of Professional Nursing. 53, 118-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2024.05.012
  
• Pittman, J., Otts, J. A., & Madhuri, M. (2024). Enhanced skin assessment methodology to equitably detect early tissue damage and pressure injuries. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing. May/June. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000001076
  
• Otts, J., Pittman, J., Riley, B., Mestas, L., & Hall, H. (2023). Academic-practice partnership to prevent and manage pressure injuries: An evidence-based quality improvement initiative. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing. 50(6), 463–473. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000001019
  
• Riley, B. H., Pittman, J., Otts, J. A., & Mulekar, M. S. (2023). Key stakeholders' perspectives: A gap analysis of hospital-acquired pressure injuries. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 00, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12940
  
• Pittman, J., Otts, J. A., Riley, B., & Mulekar, M. S. (2022) Pressure injury prevention and management: A gap analysis using key stakeholder engagement. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing. 49(4), 416-427. https://doi.org/10.1097/WON.0000000000000906
  
• Thompson, C. N., Otts, J. A. A., Stuart, W. P., McMullan, T. W., & Williams, D. S. (2022). Trauma-informed pedagogy to foster resilience in graduate nursing education. Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(5), 303-305. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.Nep.0000000000001006  
  
• Hampton, D., Culp-Roche, A., Hensley, A., Wilson, J., Otts, J. A., Thaxton-Wiggins, A., Fruh, S., & Moser, D. K. (2020) Self-efficacy and satisfaction with teaching online courses. Nurse Educator, 45(6). https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000000805

Selected Presentations

International

• Otts, J., & Pittman, J. (2023, September). Pressure Injury Prevention Gap Analysis Using Key Stakeholder Perspective. Oral Presentation at the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel 2023 Annual Meeting, Leeds, UK.
• Pittman, J., Otts, J., & Riley, B. (2022, July). Pressure Injury Prevention and Management: A Gap Analysis using Key Stakeholder Perspective. Podium presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau 33rd International Research Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland.
• Pittman, J., Otts, J., & Riley, B. (2021, July). Development of a Collaborative Academic-Clinical Partnership to Address Pressure Injury Prevention. E-Poster Presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau 32nd International Nursing Research Congress.

National

• Pittman, J., Otts, J. A., & Mulekar, M. (2023, April). Enhanced Skin Assessment Methodology to Equitably Detect Tissue Damage and Pressure Injuries. Oral Presentation and Grand Rounds at the 2023 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care Spring (SAWC Spring). National Harbor, MD. 
• Pittman, J., Otts, J. A., & Mulekar, M. (2023, March). Enhanced Skin Assessment Methodology to Equitably Detect Pressure Injuries in Adult Patients in the Acute Care Setting. Poster Presentation at the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.
• Guy, M., Ridner, L., Stauter, K., Otts, J. A., & Selwyn, C. (2022, November). Bridging the Gap: Raising Awareness of Diversity and Inclusion in the Teaching Environment. Poster presentation at the 48th Annual Transcultural Nursing Society Conference. Louisville, KY.
• Otts, J., Wiedemann, L., & Witten, B. (2022, April). Dilemmas – When Clinical Practice Guidelines Do Not Support Patient-Centered Care. Invited podium presentation at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, 2022, Boston, MA.
• Otts, J. (2021, October). Nephrology Nursing Leadership: Rising to the Challenge. Invited virtual podium presentation at the American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) 37th Annual Nephrology Update.

Research 

Ongoing Research Support

• Pittman, J., Otts, J.A, Riley, B., Campbell, A., Campbell, M. Clinical Decision Support (CDS) Tool to Guide Pressure Injury Prevention and Management. (August 15, 2024 – August 14, 2026) Smith + Nephew Grant. (Role: Co-investigator).
• Health Resources Services Administration-22-056, Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention-Mobile Health Training Program (NEPQR-MHTP). Funded. Project Director: Emily Bentley; 2022, 4 years, 2022. Nursing, Recruitment and Education to Expand Access to Culturally Aligned Healthcare (Nursing REEACH). Otts, J. A. (Project Coordinator, 2024-2026). This grant aims to recruit, educate, train and mentor diverse nursing students to become leaders in managing social determinants of health by providing care in several rural communities and underserved areas in Alabama and Mississippi.
• Health Resources Services Administration-23-016, Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR)-Pathway to Registered Nurse Program (PRNP). Funded. Project Director: Leigh Minchew; 2023, 4 years. Leveling Education and Social Support Resources to Advance Professional Nursing Practice (LEAP). Otts, J. A. (Lead Professional Mentor) This grant aims to enhance the education, practice quality, and retention of LPNs/LVNs from disadvantaged backgrounds, including racial and ethnic minorities underrepresented in nursing, for career advancement through preparation for future registered nurse (RN) practice and qualification for future professional leadership roles. 
• Centers for Disease Control DP21-2109, Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities (CCR). Mobile County Board of Health (DP21-2109) Grant Number NU58DP007043. Funded, Responsible Investigator for the Subcontractor, Ashley Williams; 2021, 3 years. Otts, J.A. (Evaluator). This grant aims to form a coalition of community-based organizations to build a workforce of Community Health Workers in Mobile County to support communities that struggle with health disparities and have been hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Completed Research Support

• Pittman, J., Otts, J., Enhanced Skin Assessment Methodology to Equitably Detect Early Tissue Damage and Pressure Injuries in the Acute Care Setting. (June 10, 2022 - June 9, 2023) Bruin Biometrics Grant. (Role: Co-investigator). This study aimed to evaluate enhanced skin assessment methods for early identification and staging of tissue damage in individuals with dark skin tones.
• Pittman, J., Otts, J., Riley, B., Haskins, K., Mestas. L. (August 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021). Pressure Injury Prevention and Management: A Gap Analysis using Key Stakeholders Perspective. Smith + Nephew Grant. Funded. (Role: Co-investigator). This study aimed to examine pressure injury prevention and management practices in an academic acute care setting through key stakeholder engagement to develop a gap analysis instrument and conduct a gap analysis of current practice.
• Guy, M., Stauter, K., Selwyn, C., Otts, J.A., Ridner, S., Bridging the Gap: Raising Awareness about Diversity and Inclusion in the Teaching Environment. (August 1, 2021 – July 30, 2022) Sigma Theta Tau International. Funded. (Role: Co-investigator). This grant aimed to provide an education site created to increase diversity and inclusion awareness among faculty and staff, with data collection from participants.

Teaching

Doctoral Courses

• NU 613 Organizational & System Leadership
• NU 661 DNP Project Planning & Development Progression
• NU 662 DNP Nurse Executive Administration Residency I
• NU 663 DNP Nurse Executive Administration Residency II
• NU 664 DNP Nurse Executive Administration Residency III

Graduate Courses 

• Course Coordinator, NU 607 Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice
• Program Coordinator, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Healthcare Post-graduate Certificate
• HSC 504 Leadership and Change Management Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• NU 566 Nursing Administration Field Study
• NU 567 Nursing Administration Internship
• NU 568 Nursing Administration Seminar
• HSC 571 Managing Health Care Personnel
• NU 607 Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice. Course Coordinator
• NU 608 Evidence Based Practice & Quality Improvement in Health Care Systems
• NU 610 Health Policy and Finance

Undergraduate Courses

• NU 499 NU Honors Senior Project

Honors and Awards

• Poster Award, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel Annual Conference, San Diego, CA, 2023.
• Daisy Award for Faculty Nominee, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ College of Nursing, 2022
• Excellence in Teaching Award, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ College of Nursing, 2021
• Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholar Award, Loyola University New Orleans College of Nursing, 2017 
• MSN - Health Care Systems Scholar Award, Loyola University New Orleans College of Nursing, 2015
• Induction, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing, 2015
• Distinguished Alumnus Award, Louisiana Tech University College of Life Sciences, 1989
• Outstanding Nursing Graduate Award, Louisiana Tech University College of Nursing, 1979 
• Academic Achievement Award, Louisiana Tech University College of Nursing, 1979

Certifications

• Nurse Executive, Advanced –Board Certified. American Nurses Credentialing Center 

Affiliations

• Alabama Academy of Sciences
• Alabama State Nurses Association
• American Nurses Association
• Gulf Coast Organization of Nurse Leaders
• National Kidney Foundation
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, Zeta Gamma Chapter
• Transcultural Nursing Society