Tara Spalla King

Image

First Name

Tara

Last Name

King

Credentials

PhD, RN

Associate Clinical Professor

Director, Doctor of Nursing Education Program

king.2541@osu.edu

Address

1577 Neil Avenue

City

Columbus

State

Zip Code

43210

Dr. Tara Spalla King has 20 years of experience in acute care nursing practice and 13 years of experience as a nurse educator, the past seven in an administrative capacity. Most recently she was the Academic Dean at a private Catholic nursing college where she assembled a team to build online programming and mentored nurse educators in online pedagogy. Dr. King is an experienced onsite evaluator for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is a team leader. She is a peer reviewer of online courses for Quality Matters, secretary of the Epsilon Chapter of STTI, and is also a member of the MNRS Communications & Engagement Committee. She is responsible for assessment and evaluation activity for select training grants in the college.

The focus of Dr. King’s prior research activity utilized web-conferencing technology to connect disparate and geographically separated/transcontinental groups of college students to discover the impact on cultural competence. For this work she received the Loadman Dissertation Award for Outstanding Dissertation, OSU Higher Education and Student Affairs, 2013. Dr. King is currently active in global initiatives, particularly serving in a consultant role for virtual global classrooms and mentoring faculty in global education projects.

Publications

O’Leary, C., King, T.S. & Gallagher-Ford, L., Kue, J. (2022). Use of a framework to integrate research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. Nurse Leader Journal. In press.
Schlabach, T., Kue, J., Browning, K. & King, T.S. (2022). Implementation of a nurse practitioner-led lung cancer screening clinic: Evaluation with implications for evidence-based practice. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing. Accepted. In press.
Reeder, C., McClerking, C., King, T.S., & Browning, K. (2021). Improving bedside procedures through the implementation of case based simulation and mastery learning for lumbar puncture training in novice advanced practice providers. JNP, 17(1), 855-859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.03.008
Reuter, J. & King. T.S. (2021). Impact of a specialty elective in response to the perioperative nursing shortage. AORN Journal, 113(5), 476-485. https://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.13375
King, T.S., Bochenek, J., Jenssen, U., Bowles, W. & Morrison-Beedy, D. (2021). Virtual study-abroad through web-conferencing: Sharing knowledge and building cultural appreciation in nursing education and practice. Journal of Transcultural Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1177/10436596211009583
Morrison-Beedy, D., Jenssen, U., Bochenek, J., Bowles, W., King. T.S., & Mathisen, L. (2021). Building global nursing citizens through curricular integration of the Sustainable Development Goals within an international clinical experience. Nurse Educator. Online ahead of print. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000831
King, T.S., Schubert, C., Pittman, O., Rohrig, L., McClerking, C. & Barthelmas, T. (2020). APRN student interprofessional simulation and use of an academic electronic health record: An innovative teaching-learning strategy. Nursing Education Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000621
Porembski, L., Fletcher, L. & King, T.S. (2020). New simulation orientation for sophomore nursing students: Continuous quality improvement. Nursing Education Perspectives. Published ahead of print. DOI: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000684
King, T.S., Melnyk, B.M., O’Brien, T., Bowles, W., Schubert, C., Fletcher, L. & Anderson, C.M. (2020). Doctoral degree preferences for nurse educators: Findings from a national study. Nurse Educator, 45(3), 144-149. DOI: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000000730.
King, T.S. & Nininger, J. (2019). Quality improvement in online course development: Igniting the online teaching team. CIN, 37(7), 349-356. DOI: 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000517
Shaw, P., Abbott, M. & King. T.S. (2018). Preparation for practice in newly licensed RNs: A mixed methods descriptive survey of preceptors. JPND, 34(6), 325-331. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000487

Funded Research Grants

American Council on Education (ACE) & Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation and Quality Enhancement in Higher Education (Diku): Rapid Response Virtual Exchange/COIL Transformation Lab – Collaborative Training Grant between Lovisenberg Diaconal University College and OSU CON to share best practices and provide tools and resources to adapt education or exchange program into high-quality virtual exchanges. Role: Faculty from OSU CON.
NINR, NIH – T32NR014225: Training in the Science of Health Development; Happ and Pickler (MPI), 2020-2025. The aims of this program are to train pre-doctoral fellows in the conduct of rigorous research in the science of health development. Role: Training program faculty member to assist with gathering some outcome measures through focus group interviews of T32 recipients.
HRSA NEPQR-RNPC: OSU CON-PrimaryOne Health-CHWP-Preparing the RN Workforce to Practice in Primary Care to the Full Scope of their License. (Awarded 2018, 2018-2022) - $2,763,494. Grant Evaluator: Assisted in grant application, developed program outcome measures and schedule of surveys. Analyzes outcome data and contributes to annual reports.

Degree Certifications

PhD – The Ohio State University: Higher Education Policy & Leadership
MA – The Ohio State University: Higher Education Policy & Leadership
MSN – University of Pennsylvania: Community Health Nursing; Philadelphia, PA
BSN – Wright State University; Dayton, OH

Journal Articles

Morrison-Beedy, D., King, T.S., Bochenek, J., O’Brien, T. & Sharpe, E. (2023). Building virtual global education (VGE) faculty expertise and organizational capacity. Science Talks. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sctalk.2023.100196.
Reuter, J. & *King, T.S. (2023). A perioperative specialty elective to address the perioperative nursing shortage: Student perspectives and outcomes. AORN Journal. In press.

Presentations

King, T.S., Bochenek, J., Morrison-Beedy, D. & Jenssen, U. (2021, November). Impact of effective virtual global classrooms on cultural awareness and motivational cultural intelligence. Paper presentation at the STTI 46th Biennial Convention, Indianapolis,
Bochenek, J., Jenssen, U., Morrison-Beedy, D. & King, T.S. (2021, November). Virtual global classroom situated in Norway: Connecting across continents. Paper presentation at the STTI 46th Biennial Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
Bochenek, J., Morrison-Beedy, D., Jenssen, U., Bowles, W., King, T.S. & Mathisen, L. (2021, November). Teaching strategies to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals in nursing education during an international exchange.
Morrison-Beedy, D., Bochenek, J., Bowles, W. & King, T.S. (2021, November). Transforming student understanding of SDGs using reflective blogs/vlogs to compare/contrast in a global experience.
Spalla, T. & O’Mathuna, D. (2014, March). Comparison of international qualitative data to improve cultural competence of undergraduate students in nursing and health sciences. Poster presentation at the 2014 Annual Midwest Nursing Research Society [MNRS]
Spalla, T. (2013, November). Intercultural web-conferencing to increase cultural competence of nursing students. Paper Presentation at the STTI 42nd Biennial Convention, Indianapolis, IN.
O’Mathuna, D. & Spalla, T. (2013, July). Using Technology to Build Bridges & Break Boundaries in Religion Education. Paper presentation at the 2013 Changing Boundaries: Mindfulness, Spirituality and Education Conference, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ir
Spalla, T. (2013, March). Intercultural Experiential Learning for Nursing Students Enabled by the Technology of Web Conferencing Paper presentation at the 2013 Annual Midwest Nursing Research Society [MNRS] Conference. Chicago, IL.
Waterman, A., Snively, T. & Spalla, T. (2015, November). A transformative MODEL of caring and quality in online nursing education. Paper presentation at the STTI 43th Biennial Convention, Las Vegas, NV.
O’Mathuna, D. & Spalla, T. (2015, January). Web-based teaching to build bridges and break boundaries. Oral presentation at the Teaching & Learning Spring School 2015 Dublin City University. Dublin, Ireland.
Spalla, T. (2014, September). Executive academic leadership challenge: Leading online programs. Oral presentation at the STTI Leadership Connection 2014 conference, Indianapolis, IN.
King, T.S. (2018, November). Leveraging formative course evaluations to enhance curriculum and improve student engagement. Poster presentation at the 2018 AACN Faculty Development Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Marzalik, P. & Spalla, T. (2015, November). Teaching care of veterans and their families in an online nursing program. Poster presentation at the STTI 43th Biennial Convention, Las Vegas, NV.
Spalla, T., Spurlock, D., Marzalik, P., Snively, T., Dolan, S. & Yeo, S. (2015, March). Selecting a new LMS: Rapid evaluation strategy for best fit. Poster presentation at the 2015 Ohio League for Nursing [OLN] Education Summit, Dublin, OH.
Marzalik, P. & Spalla, T. (2015, March). "Joining Forces": Incorporating veteran-centric content into an online RN-BSN curriculum. Poster presentation at the 2015 Ohio League for Nursing [OLN] Education Summit, Dublin, OH.
Waterman, A., Snively, T. & Spalla, T. (2015, March). A model of caring and quality in online nursing education. Poster presentation at the 2015 Ohio League for Nursing [OLN] Education Summit, Dublin, OH.

Professional Activities

Appointed Sub-committee Chair of The Ohio State University’s Council on Academic Affairs (CAA), August 2022 – present
Commission for Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE): Accreditation Review Committee (ARC) Member, January 2022 – December 2024
CCNE: Team Leader for Onsite Evaluation, February 2017 – Present
CCNE: Onsite Evaluator, April 2013 – 2017
Journal of Nursing Education: Manuscript Peer Reviewer, February 2021 - present
Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) – Member of Communication & Engagement Committee (formerly Communication Committee), May 2013 – present
Quality Matters™: Peer Reviewer for Higher Education – a national evidence-based benchmark for online course design, July 2013 – Ongoing
Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) – Epsilon Chapter – Secretary, August 2018 – May 2022

News

September 26, 2025

Punches and team awarded $5.1 million NIH/NINDS grant to study pain trajectories in emergency department patients

Four-year study to develop predictive models for personalized pain care

September 23, 2025

College of Nursing awarded five-year continuation of NIH T32 training program

College to accept candidates for January 2026 and August 2026 cohorts

The Ohio State University College of Nursing has received a $1.8 million, five-year continuation of its Training in the Science of Health Development (TSHD) program.