Sara Elizabeth Banzhaf, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC

Associate Professor

Nursing

S Banzhaf

Contact

SaraBanzhaf@creighton.edu
Faculty - Nursing
College of Nursing
Nursing Practice (Doctorate)
Nursing MSN (Master of Science)
Nursing Post-Graduate (Post-Graduate Certificate)
Graduate School
CRISS II - Criss 2 - 217 F

Sara Elizabeth Banzhaf, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC

Associate Professor

Nursing

Dr. Sara E. Banzhaf, DNP, MSN, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC is an Associate Professor, and Track Leader for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Creighton University College of Nursing, and Lenke Family Scholar 2023-2024.  She holds a DNP from Creighton University, and a MSN in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and BSN from Clarkson College of Nursing. Current practices as a a PMHNP at an interprofessional safety net clinic. These roles offer opportunities to integrate nursing and leadership experience, emphasizing authentic connections that are inclusive and empowering. A central focus of professional practice, teaching, research and scholarship focus on strategies to increase access to quality, evidence-based psychiatric-mental health services, highlighting the value of comprehensive, interprofessional approaches.  This includes mentoring, advocacy, and leading scholarship and research emphasizing quality psychiatric-mental health interventions, interprofessional assessment, innovative strategies to increase the workforce, reflective practice strategies, and interprofessional Stress First Aid Training.  Serves as Co-Chair for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Graduate Education Council, Member of the NONPF Curriculum Leadership Committee, active member of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, and the NE Behavioral Health Education Partners.


 

Teaching Interests

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Research Focus

Innovative strategies promoting quality interprofessional psychiatric-mental health practice and education
Refective Practice and Spirituality 
Workforce Development - Psychiatric-Mental Health 
 Stress First Aid Program Development 

Department

Nursing - Doctorate

Position

Associate Professor

Publications

  • Creighton Journal of Collaborative Practice and Education
    Banzhaf Sara, Brockman Hannah, Walker Trina, Meyer Vanicek Katherine, Price Paul, Patterson Angela, Bergjord Judith, VANCE OGHENETEGA (Tega), From Community Voice to Clinical Practice: Developing an Interprofessional Mental Health Assessment Tool Through Community-Based Participatory Research
    3:1, p. - 2026
  • Health, Interprofessional Practice and Education
    Hadenfeldt Cindy Jean, Jessen Jennifer Lynn, Banzhaf Sara, Martens-Stricklett Kate, Naylor Heather M, Addressing the Opioid Epidemic: Strategies for Interprofessional Health Education
    4:1, p. 2131 - 2131 2020
  • Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
    Banzhaf Sara E., Kunes-Connell Mary, A Qualitative Inquiry Addressing the Experience of Depression in Impoverished Ethnically Diverse Women: Implications for Developing a Community-Based Model
    25:2, p. 99 - 111 2019
  • Clinical Simulation in Nursing
    Kirkpatrick Amanda, Ball Sarah, Connelly Susan, Hercinger Maribeth, Hanks Jacquie, Potthoff Meghan, Banzhaf Sara, McCafferty Kandis, Intraprofessional Simulation's Impact on Advanced Practice and Baccalaureate Student Self-Efficacy
    16, p. 33 - 39 2018

Presentations

  • Community-engaged development of an interprofessional psychiatric-mental health intake assessment tool for urban safety net clinic 2025
  • Synthesizing professional tools: An integrated interprofessional psychiatric-mental health assessment 2025
  • Synthesizing Professional Tools: An Integrated Interprofessional Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment 2025
  • Stress First Aid: Enhancing Professional Adapting Strategies 2024
  • The Intentional Integration of Spirituality into an Accelerated Nursing Curriculum (poster 18) -0001

Awards

  • Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Nursing Class
    Selected by the Graduate Nursing Class of May 2022 for Teaching Excellence.
    Creighton University College of Nursing
  • The Daisy Faculty Award
    The Daisy Faculty Award - "To honor your exceptional impact on your students and your inspirational influence on their future"
    Creighton University College of Nursing
  • Iggy Award (2)
    Identified by Freshman student following first semester of college acknowledging contributions leading to their success during their first semester at Creighton University
    Office of Retention
  • Iggy Award (1)
    Identified by Freshman student following first semester of college acknowledging contributions leading to their success during their first semester at Creighton University
    Office of Retention
  • Creighton University College of Nursing Teaching Excellence Award for Classroom Instruction
    Recognition of valuable contributions to Clinical Instruction
    Graduating Class of December 2015 at Pinning Ceremony
  • Creighton University College of Nursing Teaching Excellence Award for Clinical Instruction
    Recogniation of valuable contributions to Classroom Instruction
    Graduating Accelerated Class August 2015