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

Associate Professor

Adult Health Nursing

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, USA College of Nursing, 2022
Excellence in Teaching Award, USA 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