Patricia Prechter

Education E.d.D. University of New Orleans (Curriculum and Instruction) M.S.N. University of Alabama in Birmingham (clinical-pediatrics and functional-clinical specialization) B.S.N. University of Mississippi Professional Experiences Clinical Dr. Prechter has been a registered nurse for over forty years with clinical experience in pediatrics, ambulatory care and adult medical surgical nursing. Educational Dr. Prechter is a professor of nursing and is the Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital I Endowed Professor. She joined the faculty at the University in 1982 as one of four nursing faculty who wrote the nursing curriculum. She has held several positions while at the University but is currently Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Chair of the Department of Nursing. Her master’s thesis looked at The Effects of Planned Nursing Intervention on the Anxiety Level of Siblings of Children Diagnosed with Life-threatening Diseases and her dissertation research related to the Impact of Selected Variables on the Critical Thinking Skills of Baccalaureate Nursing Students. Military Dr. Prechter was commissioned as an Army Nurse Corp officer in the Louisiana Army National Guard in 1978. She retired January 2008 as a Colonel, State Chief Nurse and Deputy Commander of Louisiana’s Medical Command. She was the first female Colonel in the Louisiana Army National Guard and retired as the highest-ranking female in the Louisiana Army National Guard (LAARNG). She has received numerous army medals to include the four Army Achievement Medals, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Medal, Service in Southwest Asia Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Louisiana War Cross, four Army Commendation Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, five bronze fleur-de-lis and fifth bronze oak leaf cluster. She was awarded the Legion of Merit Award for meritorious service as the medical commander in the Louisiana Super Dome during Hurricane Katrina, June 2006. She is a charter member of Women in the Military Association. Her military education includes certification in Combat Lifesaver Training, Water Purification, Food Sanitation, Chemical Casualty, Maintenance, Leadership /AMEDD. She received a diploma for the Army’s Medical Department Officer Advanced Course. Dr. Prechter’s active duty experience includes the Katrina/Rita Hurricane Task Force and Operations Desert Shield/Desert Strom.