Faculty Profiles
Scarlet R. Spain
"I took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference."
Education
- DNP, Valparaiso University
- MPH, Valparaiso University
- MSN, Valparaiso University
- BSN, Valparaiso University
- ASN, Purdue North Central
Areas of Expertise
- Academic Teaching
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Research Interests
Back pain prevention in heavy industrial workers
Courses Recently Taught
- NUR 730
- NUR 651
Professional Experience
Scarlet R. Spain, DNP, MPH, APRN, CNS, FNP-BC is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with clinical expertise in occupational and environmental medicine. She has held both management and wellness positions and has been actively involved in research, teaching, and policy development in her tenure. Dr. Spain is as Assistant Professor at Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN and additionally maintains clinical expertise in various occupational health settings as an occupational and environmental medicine nurse practitioner. Dr. Spain also is employed as an occupational health consultant where she advises on healthy workforces and scope of practice for advanced practice providers, among other occupational medicine topics. Dr. Spain’s current research involves prevention of back pain and injury while at work.
Dr. Spain has been awarded multiple awards and recognized for her work and her impact in occupational and environmental medicine. She has been recognized by the American Public Health Association as a Public Health Nursing Scholar and was elected to serve on the nation’s Health Advisory Committee. She has published her works in The Nurse Practitioner and authored multiple textbook chapters as well as currently holding an editor in chief position. She is a recognized public speaker. Her current interests involve public health topics as they relate to occupational medicine.
Creative and Scholarly Work
Publications:
- Spain, S. Alterations in Cognitive Systems, Cerebral Hemodynamics, and Motor Function. In J. Rogers (Eds.)., Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. (10th ed.). Elsevier. – IN PROCESS
- Spain, S. Alterations of the Brain, Spinal Cord, and Peripheral Nerves. In J. Rogers (Eds.)., Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. (10th ed.). Elsevier. – IN PROCESS
- Spain, S. (2025). Appraising evidence to determine best practice. In N. Schmidt & J. Brown (Eds.), Evidence-based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and Application of Research (6th ed., pp. 446-466). Jones & Bartlett.- IN PROCESS
- Spain, S.; Lee, Z.; Akbar, R. (2024). The Use of an Online Learning Module to Improve Knowledge for Prevention of Back Pain and Injury in Industrial Workers- IN PROCESS
- Spain, S. (2022). Appraising evidence to determine best practice. In N. Schmidt & J. Brown (Eds.), Evidence-based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and Application of Research (5th ed., pp. 446-466). Jones & Bartlett.
- Spain, S. (2022). Alterations of Digestive Function. In J. Rogers (Eds.)., Pathophysiology: The Biologic Basis for Disease in Adults and Children. (9th ed., chapter 42). Elsevier.
- Rogers, J. & Spain, S. (2020). Understanding the most commonly billed diagnoses in primary care: Headache disorders. The Nurse Practitioner, 45 (10): 41-47. https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/toc/2020/10000
- The Effects of Effects of an Evidence-based Food Allergy Management Plan to Keep Children with Food Allergies Safe at School (2015). Valpo Scholar- http://scholar.valpo.edu/ebprlini/68/
- Spain, S. (2022). Alterations of Digestive Function. Chapter 37. McCance and Huether’s Pathophysiology (9th ed.) Elsevier · Oct 1, 2022
- Spain, S. (2022). Appraising evidence to determine best practice. In N. Schmidt & J. Brown (Eds.), Evidence-based Practice for Nurses: Appraisal and Application of Research (5th ed., pp. 446-466). Jones & Bartlett: Jan 1, 2022
- Rogers, J. & Spain, S. (2020). Understanding the most commonly billed diagnoses in primary care: Headache disorders. The Nurse Practitioner, 45 (10): 41-47.https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/
toc/2020/10000, Oct 1, 2020 - The Nurse Practitioner. 45(10):41-47, October 2020 October 2020, Volume 45, Issue 10; The Nurse Practitioner Podcast, The pathophysiology of pain.
- Webinar: Fighting Back – Navigating Employer & Employee Challenges as We Return to Work Amid COVID-19 Biokansas and Medix · May 12, 2020
- Multiple other podcasts and media appearances, including host of "The NP Professor Podcast"
Academic Presentations:
- The Use of an Online Learning Module to Improve Knowledge for Prevention of Back Pain and Injury in Industrial Workers
Partnership with Rutgers University Center for Public Health Workforce Development; online module- IN PROCESS - The Use of an Online Learning Module to Improve Knowledge for Prevention of Back Pain and Injury in Industrial Workers
Poster Presentation Saint Mary College Symposium
May 2024- Notre Dame, IN - The Use of an Online Learning Module to Improve Knowledge for Prevention of Back Pain and Injury in Industrial Workers
Podium Presentation/ Roundtable American Public Health Association; Occupational Health and Safety
November 2024- Atlanta, GA - The Effects of an Evidence-Based Food Allergy Management Plan to Keep Children with Food Allergies Safe at School (Dissertation of Doctoral Work)
Sigma Theta Tau- 43rd Biennial Convention
November 10, 2015 - Las Vegas, NV - FARE Teen Summit- Food Allergy Management in the Elementary School Population
November 2014- Washington DC - Host of The NP Professor Podcast
- Multiple social media appearances regarding COVID-19 and Safe at Work Topics available through Medix TV
Professional Memberships
- APHA- currently board member for The Nation's Health publication
- ACOEM- currently serving in workgroup
- AANP
- CAPNI