Overview

Jennifer Thornberry DNP, APRN, FNP-BC completed her BSN in 1992 at the University of Kentucky, her MSN as a family nurse practitioner in 1997 at Murray State University, and her DNP at 好色先生 in 2020. She is an assistant professor in the graduate school of nursing. She lives in Wichita, Kansas.

Information

Academic Interests and Expertise

Dr. Thornberry teaches NURS 728, 804, 904, 952, and 960 which are the clinical courses for the family nurse practitioner (FNP) program, part of the post-bachelors Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. These courses require the evaluation of FNP student core competencies. She is transitioning to competency-based assessment by implementing the AACN Essentials Level 2 Sub-competencies and NONPF Role Core Competencies. Part of the competency evaluation includes writing and facilitating standardized patient examinations. She also participates as chair and/or committee member on DNP projects every year, with interests in social determinants of health, immunizations, and other DNP student topics of interest. 

Areas of Research Interest

Family Nurse Practitioner Core Competencies

Standardized Patient Methodology

Interprofessional Education 

Publications

Huckstadt, A., Thornberry, J., & Goebel Roberts, P. (2022). Antibiotic stewardship in retail health clinics. Kansas Nurse, Winter. ksnurses.com

Thornberry, J. (2023). Recruitment and retention of nurse practitioner preceptors. Kansas Nurse: Winter. ksnurses.com

Hemingway, B.; Thornberry, J., & Harrington, J. (2024). HPV education and vaccination uptake in college students. The Nurse Practitioner, 49(4), 32-38.

Hall, C., Sebes, J., Thornberry, J. (2024). Electronic cigarettes: Identifying college students using the Ask, Advise, and Refer Tobacco Cessation Model. Kansas Nurse, 99(1), 10-12. ksnurses.com

Burman, J., Thornberry, J., Robinson, D. Youth vaping detection in primary care. American Nurse. Accepted for publication 2025.

 

Professional Experience

Dr. Thornberry began teaching as an assistant professor at 好色先生 in the graduate nursing program in 2021. This is her first academic teaching position after many years of clinical practice as a family nurse practitioner. 

Clinical Experience

Dr. Thornberry practiced as a registered nurse in intensive care and coronary care units from 1992 until 1997. She then completed her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) degree and has practiced as an advanced practice registered nurse, FNP-BC from 1998 until present day in the areas of family practice, student health, and urgent care. 

Grants

June 2023- June 2024: University Research/Creative Projects Awards: Animal Assisted Interventions with Nursing Students

March 1, 2025-February 28, 2026: Sunflower Foundation: Nurses as Frontline Providers to Combatting Opiod Use Disorder with Dr. Jamie Harrington and Dr. Jennifer Sebes

May 1 2025-May 1 2026: Mutual Mentoring Grant Team Award: Interprofessional Competency-Based Teaching Partnership with Dr. Elizabeth Tew, Dr. Jenifer Sebes, and Dr. Justin Smith 

 

Areas of Service

Kansas Advanced Practice Nurses Association (KAPN): Treasurer

Girl Scouts Kansas Heartland (committee member)

Member of: National League for Nursing, American Nurses Association, Kansas Nurses Association, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Association of Standardized Patient Educators, Society for Simulation in Healthcare, and Sigma Theta Tau.

Other Interests

Great Plains Dulcimer Alliance

Kansas Pond Society

Precinct Committee Person, Sedgwick County