Deborah A. Shelton

Ph.D., APRN, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN

Professor Emerita

Correctional Nurse Consultant

She/Her/Hers

Research/Scholarship Interests

• Correctional Nursing
• Workforce development
• Nursing competencies

Honors & Awards

• 2021: Great 100 Nurses of North Carolina, North Carolina Nurses Association
• 2018: Founding Board Member and First President, American Correctional Nurses Association
• 2018: Research Award, Delphi Study of Core National Correctional Nurse Curriculum. International Association of Forensic Nurses
• 2017: Most Influential Nurse Faculty, UCONN School of Nursing, 75th Anniversary
• 2015: Jane E. Murdock Life-Long Learning Award, CT League for Nursing
• 2014: Top Ten Forensic Nursing Journal Article Award, Journal of Forensic Nursing
• 2014: Josephine A. Dolan Award for Outstanding Contributions for Nursing Education, Connecticut Nurses Association
• 2012: Forensic Nursing Research Award, International Association of Forensic Nurses- Outstanding Contributions to the Correctional Nurse Specialty
• 2009: Research Award, “Modeling vulnerabilities and stressors of co-occurring mental disorders among a prison population”. International Association of Forensic Nursing
• 2009: Florence Wald Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing Practice, Connecticut Nurses Association
• 2008: Fellow, The American Academy of Nursing
• 2006: “Forensic Psychiatric Nursing Practice” Research Award, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
• 2005: Research Productivity Award, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
• 2005: Research Productivity Award, University of Connecticut.
• 2004: Lifetime Achievement in Forensic Nursing, International Association of Forensic Nursing.
• 2004: 100 Extraordinary Women, Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Beta Chapter.
• 2003: Nurse of the Year, Washington, DC
• 2002: Helene Fuld Health Policy Leadership Fellow, Center for Health Policy Research & Ethics.
• 2001: Non data-based Publication Award, Alpha Rho Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau.
• 2000: Faculty Author Award, Howard University

Research Funding

• 2020-2021: HRSA Rural Community Health Program. Special community assessment of opioids and other SUDS in Transylvania County. Community Cares Team, volunteer. $200,000
• 2019-2023: HRSA ANEW Grant Program T94HP30882 (2017-2023) & HRSA NP-Residency Program T14HP33207 (2019-2023) PI: V. Soltis-Jarrett, UNC-Chapel Hill, 6.5 million, 20% for correctional nursing.
• 2014-2017: Jonas Scholars in Correctional Nursing, $150,000
• 2013-2018: “Center for Correctional Health Networks” Provost Award $200,000 + $150,000 match funds
• 2011-2015: “Advancing Correctional Nurse Competencies for Quality Care” NEPQR, HRSA (D11HP22212), $1,114,647
• 2011-2012: “Corrections-Modified Global Assessment of Functioning: Continued validation”. WVU $60,000
• 2010-2014: “Connecticut Collaborative to Promote Mental Health Services Research In Corrections”. RC4, NIMH, $998,989
• 2008-2010: “An Evaluation of START NOW Skills Training for Inmates”, NIC# 16-602 Research & Policy Development, $50,706
• 2008-2010: “Formalizing a Research Partnership in Corrections” NIH, Public Trust, R-03, $163,593
• 2008-2013: “CT-CJDATS-Center”. NIDA, PI: Frisman, $73,000
• 2008-2011: “Mental Health Instrument Development for Jails and Prisons” NIMH/BJS, 1R24-MH067030-01. Co-PI Trestman, $350,000
• 2006-2011: “A Mental Health Research Infrastructure in Corrections”. NIMH. No.1R24-MH067030-01. Co-PI Trestman, $2,000,000
• 2008-2011: “CJ/MH Cost Study”. Co-I, Duke University, Eli-Lilly Co. $40,000
• 2006-2009: “Connecticut Correctional Health Research Program”. NIJ Grant # 2002-IJ-CX-K009. Co-PI Trestman, $3,000,000.
• 2006-2007: “Compañeros Por Salud: Partners in Health”: A community planning
  grant”. HRSA, (#P10RH06782-01-00) Office of Rural Health. $83,750
• 2004-2006: “Nursing Career Ladder for Development of Minority Child and Adolescent
  Psychiatric Nurses”. Catholic University of America HRSA (D65 HP03108-01)
  $735,000
• 2006-2008: “Correctional Health Nursing: Curriculum Development”. College of Continuing Studies, UConn $65,000
• 2002-2005: “Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development”: A prevention strategy for minority youth. HHS (D04 RH 00531), Office of Rural Health. $786,000
• 2000-2001: “Nursing in Secure Environments”. Howard University. $84,000
• 1996-1997: “Assessment of the Prevalence of Emotional Disorders in the Maryland Juvenile
  Justice Population”. Maryland Juvenile Justice Advisory Council. $250,000

Selected Publications

Curriculum Vitae