Kim Fenstermacher, Ph.D., RN

Qualitative research, perinatal bereavement, neonatal nursing, evidence-based practice and translation models

BSN (Boston University)
MS, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (Pennsylvania State University)
PhD (Pennsylvania State University)

NURS 405 Nursing Research II
NURS 492 Senior Capstone
HLTH 620 Collaboration in Interprofessional Teams

Dr. Kim Fenstermacher received her PhD in Nursing from The Pennsylvania State University, where she was awarded funding for her research from the National Institute of Nursing Research through an F31 NRSA Award. She has studied the phenomenon of perinatal loss and bereavement in young Black urban women and published a theory, “Enduring to Gain New Perspective”. In addition to her 20+ years of clinical practice as a neonatal intensive care nurse, Dr. Fenstermacher has expertise in qualitative research methods, specifically grounded theory. She enjoys serving as a nursing research consultant for UPMC Pinnacle. In 2017, Dr. Fenstermacher was a finalist for the Nightingale Award in Nursing Research. Dr. Fenstermacher has authored or co-authored several publications as well as two book chapters. She is currently working on revisions as co-author for the third edition of the book, Called to Care. Professionally, Dr. Fenstermacher is a member of Eastern Nursing Research Society and Sigma. Dr. Fenstermacher serves on the UPMC Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and is also a member of the hospital Patient Safety Committee.

Prior to coming to Messiah University in 2018, Dr. Fenstermacher taught at York College of Pennsylvania where she also served as Director of Graduate Programs in Nursing. Passionate about teaching both undergraduate and graduate nursing students, Dr. Fenstermacher advises students to “find what makes their heart sing” as they pursue their education. Her life verse is Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (NIV).

Dr. Fenstermacher and her husband have two grown children and they enjoy as much time as they can at their cabin in Tioga County.

Books:

Shelly, J. A., Miller, A. B., & Fenstermacher, K. (2021). Called to Care: A Christian Vision for Nursing (3rd ed.). InterVarsity Press.

Book Chapters:

Fenstermacher, K. (2019). Health Care in the United States. In Black, B. Professional nursing (9th ed.) (pp. 311-340). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier

Fenstermacher, K. (2019). Political Activism in Nursing: Communities, Organizations, Government. In Black, B. Professional nursing (9th ed.) (pp. 341-360). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier

Published Manuscripts:

Fenstermacher, K. & Hupcey, J. E. (2019). Support for young Black urban women after perinatal loss. MCN: Maternal Child Nursing, 44(1), 13-19. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000485

Miller, A. R., Fenstermacher, K. & Buchko, B. L. (2018). Going along with it: Neonatal intensive care nurses’ views of a donor milk practice change. MCN: Maternal Child Nursing, 43(5), 285-290. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000454

Fenstermacher, K. H.  (2014). Enduring to gain new perspective: A grounded theory study of the experience of perinatal bereavement in Black adolescents. Research in Nursing and    Health, 37(2), 135-143. doi: 10.1002/nur.21583           

Fenstermacher, K., & Hupcey, J. E. (2013). Perinatal bereavement: A principle-based concept   analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 69(11), 2389-2400. doi: 10.1111/jan.12119

Presentations:

Pangle, S., Farah, K., Seip, B., Orendorf, O., Forney, K., Hedrick, J., Montgomery, K., & Fenstermacher, K. “Non-pharmacological Evidence-Based Methods to Decrease Length of Stay in Hospitalized Infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome”, Poster, WellSpan Health Annual Collaborative Nursing Research and EBP Conference, April 18, 2023.

Rohrbaugh, S. & Fenstermacher, K. “Oncology Nurses’ Experience of Discharging Patients to Outpatient Hospice Care” Podium, WellSpan Health Annual Collaborative Nursing Research and EBP Conference held virtually, September 14, 2020.

Mortimer, M. & Fenstermacher, K. “Promoting EBP, Research, and Translation through an Innovative Academic-Clinical Partnership”, Eastern Nursing Research Society Conference, Providence RI, April 2019.