Catherine P. Lovecchio, PhD, MSN, BSN
Degrees:
- B.S.N., Villanova University
- M.S.N., Misericordia University
- Ph.D., Villanova University
Awards/Honors:
- CASE Professor of the Year, University of Scranton, 2015
- Excellence in Integrating Mission and Justice Into the Curriculum Award, The University of Scranton, 2012
- Best Poster Award at Twenty-Seventh Annual Nursing International Technology Conference, 2009
- Sheldon I. Rosenberg Award to attend AAUP Summer Institute, 2009
Professional Memberships:
- Sigma Theta Tau, Iota Omega Chapter
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
- National League for Nursing
Research Interests:
- Transformation of the Clinical Learning Environment for undergraduate nursing students
- Behaviors of first year college students in relation to alcohol consumption
Since 1990, Dr. Lovecchio has been educating nursing students in various programs including diploma, associate, baccalaureate and master’s degree. Her vast teaching experiences have allowed her to fully understand the multitude of learning styles of students in order to adapt her pedagogical teaching strategies in the classroom and clinical setting. Dr. Lovecchio arrived at the University of Scranton in 2004 after serving as Director of the Center for Health and Wellness Education at Villanova University. In her former position, she continued to refine her use of multivariate teaching strategies to instruct college students who participated in risky behaviors such as high risk drinking, illicit drug use and unsafe intimacy practices. As a professional nurse, Dr. Lovecchio attempted to educate students about serious health risks while providing engaging learning activities to increase their level of understanding regarding the issues.
Dr. Lovecchio takes a scholarly approach to teaching. Through the use of evidence-based research, she incorporates new scientific findings and clinical approaches in the classroom and clinical setting. She currently teaches orthopedics, renal, neurology, critical care, leadership and management didactic and clinical courses to the senior class. She has continued to develop these courses to include an interdisciplinary high-fidelity cardiac arrest simulation with the nurse anesthetist students, a professional development conference for resume and interview skills, a comprehensive professional portfolio, adaptive quizzing to enhance mastery of content and online quizzing to simulate the NCLEX licensure exam.
Dr. Lovecchio continues to teach in the clinical setting where she has co-developed an innovative academic-clinical partnership with two community hospitals. The Clinical Liaison Nurse (CLN) model of instruction has paired expert staff nurses with academic faculty to provide a comprehensive supportive clinical learning environment for students. Two research publications and a National League for Nursing grant have allowed Dr. Lovecchio and her colleagues to continue with the research, development and management of this unique teaching modality.
Dr. Lovecchio’s passion for transforming students through service-learning travel experiences has led her to the development of three new courses. Health Issues in Africa, Gangs and Urban Health in Los Angeles, and Urban Health, Cultural Immersion and Service in Miami are courses that have provided students the opportunity to travel and immerse themselves into diverse cultures while learning about social justice and poverty. These experiences allow students to feel personal unrest, which can lead to attitude adjustment and a deeper acceptance of others’ differences.
