Tara O'Brien
PhD, RN, CNE
Clinical Associate Professor
Assistant Director, Doctor of Nursing Education Program
Biography
Dr. Tara O’Brien is a nationally recognized nurse educator, scholar and mentor. Her work focuses on advancing nursing education through evidence-based teaching practices, faculty development and innovative approaches to student success.
With more than 30 years of nursing experience, Dr. O’Brien has taught undergraduate, graduate and doctoral nursing students in areas including evidence-based practice, curriculum design, teaching and learning, scholarly writing, and professional development. She is dedicated to preparing future nurse educators and academic leaders through mentorship, scholarly engagement, and active learning strategies that promote critical thinking and clinical reasoning.
Her scholarship focuses on sustainable behavior change through the development of routines, habits and self-management strategies. She has conducted research examining health behavior adaptation, technology-based interventions, and the application of behavior change principles to nursing education. More recently, her work has focused on supporting academic success, scholarly productivity, and professional development among nursing students, educators and doctoral learners.
Dr. O’Brien has mentored DNE, DNP, master's and undergraduate honors students in scholarly dissemination, supporting student-led presentations, publications, grant submissions, and evidence-based practice projects. Her contributions to nursing education and research are recognized through national awards, funded scholarship and leadership roles in professional organizations.
Community service
- 2020-Present: Board of Directors Kidney Donor Conversations
- 2018-Present: Ambassador Advocate for Lifeline of Ohio
- 2018-Present: Community Volunteer for Lifeline of Ohio
- Maready, P., King, T. S., McGhee, S., & O’Brien, T. (2026). Evidence-based workshops to promote academic success among first-semester students in a rural associate degree nursing program. Teaching & Learning in Nursing, 21(2), 196–201. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.1016/j.teln.2025.12.024
- King, T. S., O'Brien, T., Koehler, T., Lambert, V., Maready, P., Okafor, F. N., & Sinz, R. (2026). Speed Mentoring in Doctoral Nursing Education: A Quality-Improvement Project Tackling Student Anxiety, Confidence, and Understanding. The Journal of Nursing Education, 1–4. Advance online publication. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.3928/01484834-20251028-01
- King, T. S., O'Brien, T., McCulloch, K., McCormick, K., Nwoga Okafor, F., & Smith, L. S. (2026). Transformative Nursing Professional Development Education: Leadership Skills and Evidence-Based Projects in a DNE Program. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 57(3), 125–129. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.3928/00220124-20251211-01
- Lambert, V., Jauch, A., Spalla King, T., & O’Brien, T. (2026). Enhancing student confidence via collaborative testing in nursing education: A QI project. Teaching and Learning in Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2025.12.017
- McCulloch, K. L., Chan, G. K., Burns, E. M., Jr, O'Brien, T., Zurmehly, J., & King, T. S. (2026). Comprehensive Evaluation of a Novel Nurse Preceptor Certificate Program: A Quality Initiative. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 57(1), 14–20. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.3928/00220124-20251106-01
- O'Brien, T., Brown, D., & Spalla King, T. (2026). Assessing Evidence-Based Practice Shifts Among Doctor of Nursing Education Students. Nurse Educator, 51(1), E73–E77. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.1097/NNE.0000000000002017
- Suarez, A., Lane, R., O'Brien, T.,Bowles, W., King, T. S., & Tornwall, J. (2025). Review of an Evidence-Based Orientation Program for Novice Nurse Educators. Nurse Educator, 10.1097/NNE.0000000000002102. Advance online publication. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.1097/NNE.0000000000002102
- Wynter-Minott, S., Dutka, P., Davey, C. H., Hood, A., Horine, D., Jackson White, S., & O'Brien, T. (2025). Guidelines for Development of Research, Quality Improvement, and Evidence-Based Practice Abstracts. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 52(6), 605–608.
- O’Brien, T., Horvat Davey, C., Jackson White, S., Horine, D., Wynter-Minott, S., & Hood, A. (2024). Maximizing the impact of poster presentations: A practical guide for nephrology nurses. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 51(5), 489–491. https://doi-org.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/10.37526/1526-744X.2024.51.5.489
- O'Brien, T., King, K., & Messinger, J. (2024). Social determinants of health factors and self-management of care in kidney transplant recipients: A descriptive cross-sectional Study. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 51(4), 369–376. PMID: 39230466
- Mechtel, M., Kitt-Lewis, E., Reaves, C., Sinacori, B., O'Brien, T., Logan, P., Rimbey, P., Streiff, K., & Phillips, K. (2024). Durable Learning Strategies in Nursing Education: State-of-the-Evidence Review. The Journal of nursing education, 63(1), 24–31. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20231112-05
- O'Brien, T., Rose, K., Focht, B., Al Kahlout, N., Jensen, T., Heareth, K., Noir, U., & Daloul, R. (2023). The feasibility of Technology, Application, Self-Management for Kidney (TASK) intervention in post-kidney transplant recipients using a pre/posttest design. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 9(1), 190. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-023-01417-9
- O'Brien, T., Hood, A., King, T. S., & Brinkman, B. (2023). Nurturing a spirit of inquiry: Fundamentals of evidence-based practice in nursing. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 50(6), 509–511.
- *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, 100196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sctalk.2023.100196
- King, T. S., O'Brien, T. R., Anderson, C. M., & Melnyk, B. M. (2023). Meeting supply and demand for nurse educators: A novel terminal degree-the doctor of nursing education (DNE). Nurse Educator, 10.1097/NNE.0000000000001562. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001562
- # Rohrig, L., McClerking, C., Wilcox, J., & O'Brien, T. (2023). Large-scale interprofessional simulation for students from twelve health and social science programs: A curricular short report. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 31, 100619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2023.10061
- *O'Brien, T., Rose, K., Focht, B., Al Kahlout, N., Zynda, L., & Daloul, R. (2022). Lessons learned for training a research team and teaching kidney transplant recipients how to use a mobile health technology for dietary intake and physical activity via a virtual platform. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 46(6), 527–530.
- Brown, J. S., & O'Brien, T. (2022). Assessing and addressing fundamentals of social determinants of health factors in kidney transplant candidates and recipients. Nephrology Nursing Journal., 49(4), 345–349. PMID:36054807
- #* Mackos AR, Casler K, Tornwall J, O’Brien T (2022). Revitalizing the muddiest point for formative assessment and student engagement in a large class. Nurse Educator. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001295
- *McManis, M., O’Brien, T., Zurmehly, J., M., Smith, L. (2022). Mobile health application and hypertension management in rural, middle-age adults: A quality improvement project. Computer, Informatics, Nursing. CIN, 10.1097/CIN.0000000000000951. Advance online publication.
- O'Brien, T, Tan, A., Rose, K., Focht, B., & Daloul, R. (2021). Maintenance phase of a physical activity intervention in older kidney transplant recipients: A 12-month follow-up. Geriatric Nursing. 42(6), 1541–1546. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.08.019
- Andrews, A.M., Cheng, A.L., Ellis, R.J.B., Emerson, A.M., O’Brien, T., & Russell, C.L. (2021). SystemCHANGE™ solutions to improve medication adherence in kidney transplant recipients: A secondary data analysis. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 48(4), 389-397, 417. https://doi.org/10.37526/1526-744X.2021.48.4.389
- Troutman-Jordan, M., O’Brien, T., & Keaton, M. (2021). Older adults’ and attitudes on physical activity; Reasons to participate and abstain. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 38(4), 232–243. https://doi.org/10.1080/07370016.2021.1972247
- +O'Brien, T., & Rosenthal, A. (2020). Preferred features in mobile health applications for kidney transplant recipients: A qualitative approach. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 47(6), 529–536. https://doi.org/10.37526/1526-744X.2020.47.6
- Troutman-Jordan, M., O’Brien, T., Blair, C., & Pena, T. (June, 2020) Physical activity, cardiovascular health and mood state in older adults, Geriatric Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.05.010
- O'Brien T, Russell, C., Tan, A., Mion, L., Rose, K., Focht, B., Daloul, R., &Hathaway, D. (2020). A pilot randomized controlled trial using SystemCHANGE™ approach to increasing physical activity in older kidney transplant recipients. Progress in Transplantation
- O'Brien, T., & Meyer, T. (2020). A Feasibility Study for Teaching Older Kidney Transplant Recipients How to Wear and Use an Activity Tracker to Promote Daily Physical Activity. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 47(1), 47-51.
- Nephrology Nurse Educator Award, The American Nephrology Nurses Association
- Selected by Nurse Educator 50th Anniversary Planning Team to feature a professional impact story, highlighting contributions to nursing education
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing Innovation Fellowship
- Research Sharing Award, The American Nephrology Nurses Association National Symposium
- Southern Nursing Research Society Leadership in Research Award
- Medical University of South Carolina Alumni Award, Emerging Leader
- Selected for The Ohio State University Leadership Series
- Outstanding Research Abstract Presentation, The American Nephrology Nurses Association National Symposium
- 2022 Commission on Magnet (COM) Poster Competition – 1st Place
- 2021 National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Commination Television/Video Award, 2nd place Central Region Winner
- 2021 Outstanding Research Abstract Award by the American Nephrology Nurses Association
- 2020 Selected to for the College of Nursing Global Virtual Classroom Experience Award
- 2020 Selected Candidate for the Southern Nursing Research Society Leadership Academy
- 2019 National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence, Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Award
- 2019 Southern Nursing Research Society, Aging Research Interest Group, Rising Investigator Award
- 2019 The Ohio State University Sphinx Senior Class Honorary, Faculty Mentor Award for Making a Difference in Student College Careers
- 2015 Received the nomination for the UNC-Charlotte Chancellor’s 2014-2015 Senior Survey for the person who made the most significant and positive contribution to student education
- National Academies of Practice (NAP), Professional Member of the Nursing Academy
- O’Brien T., Tan A., & Rose K. (June 2020). The Use of a Consumer-Based mHealth Dietary App and Health Coaching with Kidney Transplant Recipients. ($7,225)
- O’Brien, T., Hathaway D., & Russell, C. (March, 2018). Mobile Health Apps to Facilitate Self-management: A Qualitative Study of Kidney Transplant Recipients. American Nephrology Nurses Association Research Grant Program. ($3,000.00)
- O’Brien, T., (March, 2017). Using REDCap for Assessing Increasing Activity Post-Kidney Transplant with SystemCHANGE. TM The Ohio State University Center for Clinical and Translational Science grant support (National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Grant 8UL1TR000090-05","National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Grant 8UL1TR000090-05. ($2975.00)
- O’Brien, T., Hathaway D., & Russell, C. (September, 2016). Increasing Activity Post-Kidney Transplant with SystemCHANGE TM. K23NR016274 National Institutes of Health, Nursing Institute of Nursing Research. ($388,075.00), 09/26/2016-07/21/2019.
- O’Brien, T., Hathaway D., & Russell, C. (July, 2016). The Use of Mobile Phone Technology in Kidney Transplant Recipients. International Transplant Nurses Society. ($2,500).
- Smith, W., Myers, M., O’Brien, T., & Chan, A. (March, 2016). Interactive Exercise Intervention System via Xbox Kinect. University of Tennessee Health Science Center Pocket CORNET Research Award. ($50,000.00).