Alison Schurman DNP, CPNP, NP-C, PMHS, SANE-A

Education

University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing: BSN: Graduated 2007
University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing: Doctor of Nursing Practice: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Family Nurse Practitioner: Graduated 2017
University of Ohio School of Nursing: KYSS Pediatric Mental Health Fellowship: Completed 2020

Biography

ALISON M. SCHURMAN, DNP, CPNP, NP-C, SANE-A, PMHS, CPN, BSN
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, NURSE CORPS, US NAVY

LCDR Schurman grew up in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY and attended University of Pittsburgh (BSN, 2007). She was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps in 2007 by way of Carnegie Mellon NROTC Unit, NROTC Nursing Scholarship Program. She graduated from the University Of San Diego Hahn School Of Nursing (DNP, PNP, FNP) through DUINS Scholarship in 2017.

She first reported to National Navy Military Medical Center, Bethesda in 2007, where she worked in the Medical Service Ward, Wounded Warrior Floor (5E), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and population health as the HEDIS Metrics Command Champion. She earned qualification as a certified Asthma Educator through the National Asthma Educators Certification Board (NAE-CB) and assisted in both the Pulmonary and Pediatrics Clinics completing and interpreting comprehensive spirometry exams for our pulmonary specialists. It was there, she first fell in love with the pediatric population.

Her second tour was at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune from 2010 to 2014 where she developed experience in the Medical Service Ward, Post Anesthesia Care Unit. When she expressed interest in the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Program, she was happily invited and accepted to work in the Pediatrics Clinic where she became Pediatrics “Bull Dog” Team Leader. During this tour, she also earned qualifications as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner- Adult and Adolescent. Out of this tour, she applied for and earned DUINS Scholarship for Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and ultimately graduated with her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of San Diego as a dual certified Pediatric and Family Nurse Practitioner in May of 2017.

LCDR Schurman transferred to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton following graduation from DUINS to serve her first tour as a pediatric nurse practitioner. On arrival to Camp Pendleton, she was notified of a deficiency within the BLS program management and quickly earned qualification as Training Site Faculty. Together with a colleague, she worked in tandem to reinstate the entire BLS program at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton: a huge undertaking.

LCDR Schurman has been recognized for her work on behalf of Exceptional Military Families. Medically fragile children are her "why?" She currently is the Southern California Champion for DHA’s multi-service Down Syndrome Process Improvement Initiative. She is highly regarded by the Complex Pediatrics Care Community and sits as an advisory committee member of this multi-service DHA program. She is actively working to improve the health and wellness of military families through changing our respite care programs which will benefit thousands of military families, world-wide.

LCDR Schurman holds Pediatric Nursing Certification, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification, Family Nurse Practitioner Certification, Pediatric Mental Health Certification, and Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Adult and Adolescent Certifications as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

She is a member of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, International Association of Forensic Nurses, and National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. She has written 2 publications and 2 poster presentations. Her military decorations include but are not limited to the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Armed Forces Service Award, and Humanitarian Service Award.

I would love to see the expansion of pediatric nurse practitioner credentials across DHA. I champion a team within DHA’s CPCC whose current focus includes the creation of Developmental/Behavioral Nurse Practitioner billets. We are working towards standardizing the credentialing process, position description, and developing practice metrics. In doing this, we can begin to create opportunities to expand beneficiary care of military families to access to care deserts.