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Deborah L. James | UT Health San Antonio

Contact

210-567-2228

jamesdl@uthscsa.edu

Programs

Deborah L. James, MSN, RN, CCRN-K

Assistant Professor/Clinical

Driven by a belief in the Art and Science of Nursing, practice, and education through-out my career has focused on safe, evidence-based patient-centered care.  My passion and commitment to exemplary End of Life Care of patients and significant others in combination with my research and understanding of Near-Death Experiences resulted in intense global collaboration.  I provided diverse formal and informal training and education in various aspects of bereavement and bioethics throughout the country (Vanderbilt, MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston and San Antonio, Parkland Dallas) and Canada to include Critical Care nursing, Death and Dying, Bioethics, and Palliative and End-of-Life Care.  To make a difference and enhance Nursing Best Practices, I analyzed and published data, while holding leadership roles to influence practice standards. Mentoring national and international healthcare professionals in development of ethical, patient-centered Palliative and End of Life Care has been a blessing.  I was honored with the opportunity of serving as a Nursing representative in Texas Medical Association efforts to improve and implement policies regarding, Advanced Directives, a profound EOL concern. I believe my positive attitude, integrity, scholarly investigation, and professional experience have resulted in project successes, as EOL best practices were embraced by colleagues, caregivers, and the Community. 

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 1994 - Master of Science in Nursing - Nursing - University of the Incarnate Word
    • 1975 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - Texas Woman`s University

    Highlights

    Licensures and Certifications

    • Registered Nurse
    • CCRN-K-AACN
    • Clinical Nurse Specialist-Adult Health

    Honors and Awards

    • 2019, Outstanding Service: The International Association for Near-Death Studies, Inc. 
    • 2018, Best 25 Nurses of South-Central Texas Award: University Health System 
    • 2018, Outstanding Service: The International Association for Near-Death Studies, Inc. 
    • 2016, Unsung Hero Nominee: The University of Texas Health Center at San Antonio

    Appointments

    • 2017 - present - Instructor/Clinical - UT Health San Antonio; Mays Cancer Center San Antonio
    • 2016 - present - Clinical Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013 - 2016 - Clinical Assistant Professor - UT Health Department of Health Restoration and Care Systems Management, San Antonio, TX
    • 2010 - 2016 - Director of End of Life Nursing Education - Consortium Program (ELNEC), MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2017 - Present, NURS 4320 Transition to Professional Nursing: Clinical Immersion, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013 - Present, NURS 4420 Trans to Prof Nsg Prac Clinic, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2013 - Present, NURS 4230 Leadership and Management: Clinical Application (ACC), UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2017 , NURS 4403 Disease Management III: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    • 2022–2027 Funder: National Institutes on Aging (R01), NIH Dollars (Site): $3,209,026. Title: Learning Skills Together: A randomized control trial of a dementia caregiving complex care training intervention. 

  • Service

    Institutional

    • 2021-Present, UT Health San Antonio Search Committee  
    • 2017-Present, UT Health San Antonio Scholarship Review Committee, Member 
    • 2017- Present, UT Health San Antonio, Virtual Dementia Tour Program UTHSCSA Lead 
    • 2019-2021, UT Health San Antonio Committee on Scholarship, Member 
    • 2021, UT Health San Antonio Search Committee Member 

     

    Service to the Profession

    • 2017 – Present, Developer San Antonio Regional HPNA 
    • 2017 – Present, Evaluator Infection Control Competency 
    • 2013 – Present, Chair Texas End of Life Nursing Education Consortium Coalition 
    • 2008 – Present, Consultant International Association for Near-Death Studies 
    • 2008 – Present, Consultant International  Conference Consultant 
    • 1997 – Present, Board Member International Association for Near-Death Studies 
    • 2020 – 2020 Presenter, Caring for the Caregiver 
    • 2019 – 2019 Coordinator, Hot Topics in Critical Care 
    • 2016 – 2019 Director, End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) 

    Professional Affiliations

    • 2020-Present, IANDS Ethics Committee 
    • 2018-Present, International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) Education Council 
    • 2017-Present, Hospice Palliative Nursing Association (HPNA) 
    • 2015-Present, America Nurses Association (ANA) 
    • 2013-Present, Texas Nurses Association (TNA) 
    • 2003-Present, Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) 
    • 1996-Present, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses 

    Community

    • 2018-Present, Advisory Council Member, PCORI Stakeholder Advisory Council 
    • 2018-Present, Instructor, Patient Care Community, 2017 Virtual Dementia Tour Program UTHSCSA 
    • 2017-Present, Director, Patient Care Community, 2018 Virtual Dementia Tour Program UTHSCSA 
    • 2015-Present, Representative, Nursing representative in Texas Medical Association EOL efforts 

  • Publications

      Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

      • Molidor, S., Overbaugh P, James M, White P. Palliative Care and Stroke - An Integrative Review of the Literature Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing 2018;20(4). 
      • White P, Overbaugh P, Pickering P, Piernik-Yoder B, James M, Patel DI, Puga F, Cleveland M. Advancing Care for Family Caregivers of persons with dementia through caregiver and community partnerships Research Involvement and Engagement 2018;4(1) 
      • Aranzamendez, G., James M, Toms, R. Finding Antecedents of Psychological Safety: A Step Toward Quality Improvement. Nursing Forum doi: 10.1111/nuf.12084 2014 Jun 
      • James, MSN, RN, CCRN-K DL. What Emergency Department Staff Need to Know About Near-Death Experiences. Topics in ER Medicine, 26(1), 29-34. 2004 Jan 

      Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.) 

      • Meyer, K., James, D., Amezaga, B., White, C., (2020). Simulation Learning to Train Healthcare Students in Person-Centered Dementia Care. Gerontology & Geriatrics Education. PMID: 33081626 
      • White C, Overbaugh P, Pickering P, Piernik-Yoder B, James D, Patel DI, Puga F, Cleveland M. (2018). Advancing Care for Family Caregivers of persons with dementia through caregiver and community partnerships. Research Involvement and Engagement. PMID: 29387453 

      Manuscripts 

      • *Meyer, K, Glassner, A, Norman, R, James, D, Sculley, R, LealVasquez, L, Hepburn, K, Lui, J, White, C. In Press. Caregiver Self-Efficacy Improves Following Complex Care Training: Results from the Learning Skills Together Pilot Study. Geriatric Nursing. 

      Book/Monograph 

      • J.M. Holden, B. Greyson, & D. James. The Handbook of Near-Death Experiences: Thirty Years of Investigation Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger/ABC-CLIO; 2009. 

      Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)  

      • 2020, Caring for the Caregiver Program, Second Wind Dreams VDT CT Meeting, Virtual, (Keynote Speaker) 
      • 2020, Caring for Those Touched by Near-Death Experiences, International Association for Near-Death Studies Conference, Philadelphia, (Invited Speaker)  
      • 2019 End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), Methodist Stone Oak Hospital, San Antonio, TX (Keynote Speaker) 
      • 2019 End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), Methodist Healthcare System, San Antonio, TX (Invited Speaker) 
      • 2019 Caring for the Caregiver, School of Nursing Supporting Families Living with Dementia, Aging in America Conference April 2019, New Orleans, LA (Co-Presenter) 
      • 2018 Nursing Care Following Near-Death Experiences, October Fest - Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN (Keynote Speaker) 
      • 2018 End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), University Hospital, San Antonio, TX (Sole Presenter) 
      • 2018 Caring for Persons with Demenita and their Families, 8th Annual Geriatric Conference, San Antonio, TX (Panel) 
      • 2018 End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), University Hospital, San Antonio, TX (Sole Presenter) 
      • 2018 Palliative Care and Stroke: An Integrative Review, Hospice and Palliative Care 2018 Conference, Boston, MA (Co-Presenter) 
      • 2017 Effects of Educational Programs on Knowledge and Attitudes About Near-Death Experiences, International Association for Near-Death Studies 2017 Conference, Denver, CO (Co-Presenter) 
      • 2017 Who’s Confused: Thoughts on Near-Death Experiences, S.N.A.C.K.S, Mays Cancer Center, San Antonio, TX (Keynote Speaker) 

      Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations  

      • 2022, Nursing Ethics and Values, Disease Management 1, UT Health SON, San Antonio, TX, (Sole Presenter) 
      • 2022, Building a Rock-Solid Resume For Nursing, Leadership and Management, UT Health SON, San Antonio, TX, (Co-Presenter) 
      • 2019, Caring for the Caregiver, School of Nursing Supporting Families Living with Dementia, Aging in America Conference April 2019, New Orleans, LA (Co-Presenter) 
      • 2018, End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), University Hospital, San Antonio, TX  (Sole Presenter) 
      • 2018, Caring for Persons with Demenita and their Families, 8th Annual Geriatric Conference, San Antonio, TX (Panel) 
      • 2018, End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC), University Hospital, San Antonio, TX  (Sole Presenter) 
      • 2018, Palliative Care and Stroke: An Integrative Review, Hospice and Palliative Care 2018 Conference, Boston, MA (Co-Presenter) 

      Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations  

      • 2021 James, D, Meyer, K, Masoud, S, Glassner, A, White. Collaborating with a Stakeholder Advisory Council to Promote Patient-Centered Outcome.  (February 2021). Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing Association. Poster Presentation. Virtual. 
      • 2016 Near-Death Experiences and Death Bed Visions The Shared Stories as told by Nurses and Physicians, IANDS Conference August 2016 Florida, Health Care Professionals, IANDS, Orlando, FL (Co-Presenter) 

  • Clinical

    • 2018, MAYS Cancer Center, Geriatric Oncology Educator  
    • 2017-2021, MAYS Cancer Center, Palliative Care Team Development Co-Facilitator