Laurie A Walter

Laurie A. Walter, PhD, RN, HNB-BC, CHSE is an accomplished nurse educator and scholar with a passion for advancing holistic nursing, simulation-based education, and nursing leadership. A registered nurse since 2007, she also holds national certifications in both holistic nursing and healthcare simulation education. Dr. Walter currently serves as the BSN Program Coordinator and provides support for the ABSN and MSN programs during intersession terms.

Since joining Central in 2016, Dr. Walter has held key leadership roles, including the Coordinator of Clinical and Laboratory Learning and the ABSN Program Coordinator, where she played a pivotal role in strengthening clinical partnerships, expanding simulation integration across the curriculum and the development and implementation of the ABSN program. Dr. Walter currently serves on the Institutional Review Board and the University Curriculum Committee and previously served on the University Planning and Budget Committee. 

Dr. Walter’s research focuses on nursing student readiness, self-compassion, holistic nursing, and the use of simulation in nursing education. Her scholarly contributions include grant-funded initiatives, peer-reviewed publications, and national and international presentations on related topics such as empathy, social justice, and the transition to practice.

Beyond the university, Dr. Walter plays an active role in the nursing community as a co-leader of the Greater Hartford Chapter of the American Holistic Nurses Association and a former co-leader of the Healthcare Simulation Network of Connecticut. Her dedication to nursing education and practice has been recognized with several honors, including the Nightingale Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2019.