Raquel Alvarado, DNP, RN, NE-BC
Assistant Professor/Clinical
Dr. Alvarado joined the Nursing Faculty as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio January 2020. She was appointed full-time Assistant Professor/Clinical in January 2025. Dr. Alvarado brings a wealth of clinical expertise to the School of Nursing. She has over 10 years’ experience in nursing leadership and holds board certification as a nurse executive from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Besides leadership, Dr. Alvarado’s has a clinical background in critical care, home health, case management and nursing education. She served four years as an officer in the Army Nurse Corps Reserves. Dr. Alvarado earned an Associate Degree in Nursing at San Antonio College; BSN from the University of the Incarnate Word; MSN in Nursing Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Post-Grad certificate as a Nurse Educator, and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice from Chatham University. She has taught didactic and clinical courses such as Nursing Care of the Family, Medical/Surgical Nursing, Mental Health, Community/Specialty Nursing, Patient Care Technologies/Information Systems, Leadership and Management, Disease Management, Healthcare Economics and Finance.
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Professional Background
Education
- 2016 - D.N.P. - Chatham University, College for Continuing and Professional Studies
- 2012 - M.S.N. Nursing Administration - Post Grad Certificate Nurse Educator - University of Texas at Arlington- Arlington, Texas
- 2009 - B.S.N. - University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Texas
- 2003 - A.D.N. - San Antonio College School of Professional Nursing, San Antonio, Texas
Training
- 2016 - Doctorate of Nursing Practice Program - Chatham University, College for Continuing and Professional Studies
Highlights
2015 Induction to the Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau
2016 American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE), Member
2015 American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)- Member
2005 American Nurses Association (ANA), Member
2016 Texas Nurses Association, Member
2015 Sigma Theta Tau- National Nursing Honor Society (STTI), Member
2017-2018 Sigma Theta Tau, Pi Theta Chapter, Vice President of the Board
2021 Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority-Theta Eta ChapterAppointments
- 2025 - Present - Assistant Professor/Clinical - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 2021-2023 - Assistant Professor/Clinical - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 2017 - 2021 - Adjunct Nursing Faculty - Southern New Hampshire University
- 2020 - Adjunct Nursing Faculty - University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- 2017-2018 - Adjunct Nursing Faculty - University of Arkansas
- 2014-2016 - Adjunct Nursing Instructor - Pioneer Pacific College, Springfield, OR
- 2023-2024 - Nurse Educator - Audie Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, TX
- 2018-2020 - Chief Nursing Officer - Frio Regional Hospital, Pearsall, TX
- 2016 - 2018 - Associate Chief Nurse Executive-Acute Care Services - Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR
- 2013-2016 - Program Director/Nurse Manager, Home Based Primary Care - Care in the Community, Roseburg VA Healthcare System, Roseburg, OR
- 2011-2013 - Clinic RN Supervisor - Methodist Healthcare Ministries, San Antonio, TX
- 2006-2011 - Case Manager RN, Home Based Primary Care - Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, San Antonio, TX
- 2006 - Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit (3 month travel assignment) - Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, CA
- 2005-2006 - Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit - Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX
- 2004-2005 - Staff Nurse, Intensive Care Unit - Christus Santa Rosa Medical Center, San Antonio, TX
- 1997-2001 - Front Office Supervisor - Methodist Healthcare Ministries, San Antonio, TX
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Instruction & Training
- 2025-Present, N3323 Care of the Adult I: Clinical Application, 3 Credits, 9.09% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
- 2025-Present, N4320 Leadership Mgmt.: Clinical Application, 3 Credits, 12.5% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
- 2025-Present, N4316 Care of Adult II: Clinical Application, 3 Credits, 12.5% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
- 2021-2023, N4533 Disease Mgmt. III: Clinical Application, 5 Credits, 14.28% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
- 2021-2023, N4320 Leadership Mgmt.: Clinical Application, 3 Credits, 12.5% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
- 2020-2023, N4314 Care of the Adult I: Clinical Application, 3 Credits, 9.09% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
- 2020-2023, N4316 Care of Adult II: Clinical Application, 3 Credits, 12.5% Clinical, Clinical Faculty
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Research & Grants
Experience writing successful initial and sustainment grant proposals for Office of Rural Health (ORH) which resulted in the expansion of HBPC to two sites and three teams, with an increase of the catchment area from 25 to 50 miles fulfilling the Director’s strategic initiative of increasing healthcare access for rural Veterans.
Grants
Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based)
- Alvarado, R. (2016). Pain in the elderly dementia patient: increasing nurses’ knowledge. Chatham University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. URL: http://library.chatham.edu:80/record=b1271916~S0
Abstracts
- Abstract submission to the Arkansas Nursing Research Alliance (ANRA) accepted for poster presentation at the Evidence-Base Practice Forum 2018: Translating Research to Practice. Nov. 2018
- Abstract submission to the 29th International Nursing Research Congress and accepted for poster presentation. July 2018
- Abstract submission to the Arkansas Nursing Research Alliance (ANRA) accepted for poster presentation at the Evidence-Base Practice Forum 2016: Translating Research to Practice. Nov. 2016
Podcasts
1. Alvarado, R. (Dec. 1, 2021). Strategy for providing 1:1 feedback in a traditional clinical model [Audio podcast]. Nurse Educator. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nurse-educator-tips-for-teaching/id1467432231
PRESENTATIONS
Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)
Year Presentation Title / Event / Location
04/02/2018 “Nightingale on Nursing, Past, Present and Future: Challenges Nurses Continue to Face”, at the 27th Annual Pi Theta Nursing Excellence in Research and Practice in Fayetteville, AR. Podium Presentation/Keynote Speaker
02/26/2018 The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, University of Arkansas, White Coat Ceremony. Keynote Speaker
Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations
Year Presentation Title / Event / Location
04/2016 “Pain in the Elderly Dementia Patient: Increasing Nurses’ Knowledge” for EBP Change Project, Chatham University Spring Residency. Poster Presentation
11/08/2018 “Nursing Retreat to Promote Wellness” at the Arkansas Nursing Research Alliance (ANRA) Evidence-Base Practice Forum 2018: Translating Research to Practice in Little Rock, AR. Poster Presentation
07/19/18 – 07/23/18 “Inculcating EBP in a Healthcare Facility” at the Sigma Theta Tau 29th International Nursing Research Congress in Melbourne, Australia. Poster Presentation
11/11/2016 “Pain in the Elderly Dementia Patient: Increasing Nurses’ Knowledge”, at the Arkansas Nursing Research Alliance (ANRA) Evidence-Base Practice Forum 2016: Translating Research to Practice in Little Rock, AR. Poster Presentation
04/06/2016 “Pain in the Elderly Dementia Patient: Increasing Nurses’ Knowledge” of EBP Change Project for Chatham University Spring Residency in Pittsburgh, PA. Poster Presentation
STUDENT MENTEES/TRAINEES
Term Mentee/Trainee Name and Role
2018 Lisa Franks, Doctorate student, Leadership Mentor
PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Service to the Institution:
Term Institution Committee/Role/Service
08/2016 – 11/2018 Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR HBPC Program
Director, Mentor
08/2016 – 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR Nursing Service Quality
Council, Chair
08/2016 - 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR Interdisciplinary Care
Committee, Co-Chair
08/2016 – 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR Evidence-Based
Practice Committee,
Member
08/2016 – 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR Preventative Ethics
Committee, Member
08/2016 - 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR ICU Committee,
Member
08/2016 - 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR Quality, Service,
and Value Committee, Member
08/2016 – 11/2018 Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, Fayetteville, AR Wound Care
Committee, Member
05/2013 - 08/2016 Roseburg VA Healthcare System, Roseburg, OR HBPC Steering
Committee, Member
05/2013 - 08/2016 Roseburg VA Healthcare System, Roseburg, OR Infection Control
Committee, Member
2014 Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) Lead
Interdisciplinary team (IDT) focus group which resulted in improved HBPC falls data collection via new templates. Roseburg VA Healthcare System, Roseburg, OR
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Service
Community
2020 - Member, Rotary Club of San Antonio South