Sara Elizabeth Banzhaf, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC

Associate Professor

Nursing

S Banzhaf

Contact

SaraBanzhaf@creighton.edu
Faculty - Nursing
College of Nursing
Nursing Practice (Doctorate)
Nursing MSN (Master of Science)
Nursing Post-Graduate (Post-Graduate Certificate)
Graduate School
CRISS II - Criss 2 - 217 F

Sara Elizabeth Banzhaf, DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC

Associate Professor

Nursing

Dr. Sara E. Banzhaf, DNP, MSN, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC is an Associate Professor, and Track Leader for the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at Creighton University College of Nursing, and Lenke Family Scholar 2023-2024.  She holds a DNP from Creighton University, and a MSN in Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and BSN from Clarkson College of Nursing. Current practices as a a PMHNP at an interprofessional safety net clinic. These roles offer opportunities to integrate nursing and leadership experience, emphasizing authentic connections that are inclusive and empowering. A central focus of professional practice, teaching, research and scholarship focus on strategies to increase access to quality, evidence-based psychiatric-mental health services, highlighting the value of comprehensive, interprofessional approaches.  This includes mentoring, advocacy, and leading scholarship and research emphasizing quality psychiatric-mental health interventions, interprofessional assessment, innovative strategies to increase the workforce, reflective practice strategies, and interprofessional Stress First Aid Training.  Serves as Co-Chair for the American Psychiatric Nurses Association Graduate Education Council, Member of the NONPF Curriculum Leadership Committee, active member of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, and the NE Behavioral Health Education Partners.


 

Teaching Interests

  • Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Research Focus

Innovative strategies promoting quality interprofessional psychiatric-mental health practice and education
Refective Practice and Spirituality 
Workforce Development - Psychiatric-Mental Health 
 Stress First Aid Program Development 

Department

Nursing - Doctorate

Position

Associate Professor

Publications

  • Health, Interprofessional Practice and Education
    Hadenfeldt Cindy Jean, Jessen Jennifer Lynn, Banzhaf Sara, Martens-Stricklett Kate, Naylor Heather M, Addressing the Opioid Epidemic: Strategies for Interprofessional Health Education
    4:1, p. 2131 - 2131 2020
  • Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
    Banzhaf Sara E., Kunes-Connell Mary, A Qualitative Inquiry Addressing the Experience of Depression in Impoverished Ethnically Diverse Women: Implications for Developing a Community-Based Model
    25:2, p. 99 - 111 2019
  • Clinical Simulation in Nursing
    Kirkpatrick Amanda, Ball Sarah, Connelly Susan, Hercinger Maribeth, Hanks Jacquie, Potthoff Meghan, Banzhaf Sara, McCafferty Kandis, Intraprofessional Simulation's Impact on Advanced Practice and Baccalaureate Student Self-Efficacy
    16, p. 33 - 39 2018

Presentations

  • Community-engaged development of an interprofessional psychiatric-mental health intake assessment tool for urban safety net clinic 2025
  • Synthesizing professional tools: An integrated interprofessional psychiatric-mental health assessment 2025
  • Synthesizing Professional Tools: An Integrated Interprofessional Psychiatric-Mental Health Assessment 2025
  • Stress First Aid: Enhancing Professional Adapting Strategies 2024

Other

  • “Interprofessional Practice Simulation in the Management of Older Adults Experiencing Complex Medical & Psychiatric Comorbidities,” has been awarded a 2022-2023 CFE Development Grant for the amount requested in the proposal of: $2,000.
    Sara E. Banzhaf DNP, APRN-NP, PMHNP-BC, Principal Investigator Lindsay Iverson DNP, APRN-NP, ACNP-BC, Co-Investigator Theresa A. Jizba, DNP, AGACN-BC, Co-Investigator College of Nursing Paul L. Price PharmD, BCPP, Co-Investigator Andrea M. Thinnes OTD, OTR/L, Co-Investigator School of Pharmacy and Health Professions

Awards

  • Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Nursing Class
    Selected by the Graduate Nursing Class of May 2022 for Teaching Excellence.
    Creighton University College of Nursing
  • The Daisy Faculty Award
    The Daisy Faculty Award - "To honor your exceptional impact on your students and your inspirational influence on their future"
    Creighton University College of Nursing
  • Iggy Award (2)
    Identified by Freshman student following first semester of college acknowledging contributions leading to their success during their first semester at Creighton University
    Office of Retention
  • Iggy Award (1)
    Identified by Freshman student following first semester of college acknowledging contributions leading to their success during their first semester at Creighton University
    Office of Retention
  • Creighton University College of Nursing Teaching Excellence Award for Classroom Instruction
    Recognition of valuable contributions to Clinical Instruction
    Graduating Class of December 2015 at Pinning Ceremony
  • Creighton University College of Nursing Teaching Excellence Award for Clinical Instruction
    Recogniation of valuable contributions to Classroom Instruction
    Graduating Accelerated Class August 2015