September 19, 2023 – Eva “Dee” Browning, DNP, RN, CNE, EBP-C, HACP-CMS, has been named Assistant Vice President of Nursing Education and Professional Practice for the multi-hospital Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system.

She has served as the ARH System Director of Performance Improvement since 2022.

Browning brings 32 years of experience in nursing, healthcare administration, and nursing education to the new position, which includes leading the development of a new graduate nurse residency program, standardized clinical specialty onboarding education, and improving nursing competency that will ensure care decisions are based on evidence-based decision-making. Browning will also provide expert guidance and consultation in the areas of clinical education, educational technologies, and nursing professional practice and growth, says ARH Chief Nursing Officer Jeneen Carman.

“The shortages of both nurses and nursing program faculty reinforce the critical role that nurse educators play in training new nurses, particularly in the healthcare setting where patients are increasingly more complex, and the delivery of high-quality care is required,” Carman says. “Dee’s new system-level position will be vital in ensuring that new nurses have the essential clinical skills required to practice, lead, and adapt to an ever-changing healthcare environment.”

Browning has an extensive history at ARH. She started her career with ARH as a Registered Nurse in the intensive care unit and emergency department of Middlesboro ARH Hospital, where she later served as Medical Surgical Nurse Manager. She also served as Community Chief Nursing Officer for the Harlan ARH Hospital.

She has served as Assistant Professor of Nursing / Spalding University School of Nursing – Louisville, KY as well as Associate Professor of Nursing/Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, Cumberland KY.

Browning earned an associate of nursing degree from Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Spalding University-Louisville, KY.

Browning says she is excited for the next step in her career with ARH.

“This is an exciting opportunity. High-quality clinical education contributes to overall patient outcomes, quality of care and can significantly impact employee satisfaction. I’m looking forward to partnering with our internal and external stakeholders to ensure that ARH sets the bar for clinical education and excellence. I would also like to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Quality and Performance Improvement and anticipate that we will continue to work collaboratively in many efforts.”