Patricia F. Gardner, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP

Assistant Professor

photo placeholder for Gardner, Patricia F.

Contact

pattigardner@creighton.edu
College of Nursing
Faculty - Nursing

Patricia F. Gardner, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP

Assistant Professor

Patti Gardner, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC, is an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at Creighton University. Her clinical and research interests center on psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) education, perinatal mental health, ADHD, and substance use disorders. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Nebraska Methodist College and post-master’s certificates in PMHNP and nurse midwifery. Dr. Gardner practices at Lincoln Psychiatric Group in Lincoln, NE and is actively involved in graduate-level teaching and mentoring DNP students. Her recent scholarly projects include a grant-funded study on using a medication reminder app to enhance adherence among patients with mental health disorders. Her research integrates clinical innovation with patient-centered outcomes and contributes to advancing mental health practice. Her work has been published in Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing and Journal of Human Lactation. She envisions contributing to a healthcare landscape that prioritizes integrative, evidence-based mental health care across the lifespan.

Teaching Interests

  • Substance Use Disorder

Research Focus

Innovation technology to support medication adherence.
ADHD.
Innovative teaching and learning strategies.
Perinatal mental health.

Department

Nursing - Doctorate

Position

Assistant Professor

Publications

  • Journal of doctoral nursing practice
    Spiegelberg Gardner Patti, Kindschuh Alice, Implementation of a Medication Reminder App to Improve Medication Adherence, p. JDNP - 2024-0033.R1 2025
  • Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing
    Wilhelm SusanL, Hertzog Melody, Flanders Stepans Mary Beth, Callahan Rodehorst T. Kim, Gardner Patti, Motivational Interviewing to Promote Sustained Breastfeeding
    35:3, p. 340 - 348 2006
  • Journal of Human Lactation
    SS Humenick, PD Hill, PL Spiegelberg, Breastfeeding and health professional encouragement.
    14:4, p. 305 - 310 -0001
  • Journal of Perinatal Education
    Gardner Patti Spiegelberg, Previous Traumatic Birth: An Impetus for Requested Cesarean Birth.
    12:1, p. 1 -0001

Presentations

  • Implementing Interprofessional Stress First Aid Training for Healthcare Worker Wellbeing 2026
  • Stress First Aid: Enhancing Professional Adapting Strategies 2024
  • Implementation of a Medication Reminder App to Improve Prescription Stimulant Refill Adherence 2023
  • Implementing an Evidence-Based Fetal Monitoring Practiceusing aTransformational Leadership Model 2007

Grants

  • Use of a Medication Reminder App to Improve Prescription Medication Adherence in Patients with Mental Health Disorders/Sponsor: Dr. George F. Haddix President's Faculty Research Grant

  • Improving Psychiatric Assessment Skills Through AI-Supported Interview Simulation/Sponsor: Criss Beirne Faculty Research Award

Awards

  • Interprofessional Educator
    Undergraduate research award