Skip to Main Content

Nursing 540 Issues in Advanced Practice Nursing and Policy Implications: Module 1: Nurse Practice Acts

Course Guide for Nursing 540

Introduction to NURS 540

Welcome to APRN Issues and Policy.  Your faculty is Natacha Pierre, DNP, FNP-BC. Dr. Pierre supports diversity and policies that promote inclusive environments and promote equity in nursing education. Dr. Pierre utilizes the Universal Design for Learning framework in her courses to increase accessibility and inclusiveness in postsecondary education. Dr. Pierre currently practices as a family nurse practitioner with a COVID-19 remote monitoring program led by the UI Health Emergency Department. 

Dr. Pierre’s research focuses on building capacity in marginalized immigrant communities to deliver culturally responsive care and eliminate health disparities. She has spoken locally and nationally on her innovative methods to foster academic excellence and increase advocacy among graduate nurses. Her work has earned her the 2015 Illinois Nurse Educator Award for excellence in teaching, the 2015 University of Illinois DAISY Faculty Award and the University of Illinois Teaching Scholar Fellowship in 2017. Dr. Pierre served as a Health Policy Fellow with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing from 2016-2017. In August 2018, Dr. Pierre became a co-Investigator for the Midwest Integration of the National HIV Curriculum (MINHC).  This is a 4 year interdisciplinary HRSA grant dedicated to exploring and developing new strategies to teach HIV content in health professions programs throughout the midwest.  In March of 2020, Dr. Pierre was one of 10 faculty chosen for the University of Illinois at Chicago Teaching Sustainability Initiative Cohort for 2020-2021.  

Dr. Pierre has a significant interest in local and global health policy.  She currently serves on the Health Policy Committee for the Association of Black Nursing Faculty.  Dr. Pierre advocates for students with disabilities and disseminates teaching strategies to increase cultural safety, accessibility and inclusion in the classroom. Dr. Pierre earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree (1999) and her Bachelor in the Science of Nursing (1995) from Rush University.

Professional Organizations

Illinois Nurse Practice Act