• Professor

• • McNeese State University
    College of Nursing
• PHONE: (337)-842-5611
• EMAIL: tdilks@mcneese.edu

 

Education

• • D.N.P. University of Tennessee
  • M.S.N. McNeese State University
  • M.A. counseling Psychology, McNeese State University
  • B.S.N. West Texas State University

 

Licensure and Board Certifications

• • Advanced Practice RN license as a Family/Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner
  • Registered Nurse in Louisiana
  • Licensed Professional Counselor, LA
  • Certified Family Nurse Practitioner/ Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner by ANCC

 

Academic Positions

• • Professor and Co-Coordinator Graduate Nursing, McNeese State University

 

Honors & Awards

• • President-American Psychiartic Nurses Association - October, 2019
  • Recipient of the Charles and Emily Stokes Professorship in Nursing - allowing for travel related to the development of a DNP program
  • Recipient of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association 2017 Educator of the Year award
  • Recipient of the John B and Patricia Scofield Professorship in Nursing 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 
  • Selected for induction as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, June, 2013.
  • Recipient of the Emily Stokes Professorship in Nursing, Spring 2012 to develop standardized psychiatric patient actors to be used in the graduate program for psychiatric nurse practitioner students.
  • AANP Louisiana State Award for Nurse Practitioner Excellence 2011.
  • Selected as a Scholar for the 2010 Health Information Technology program, along with Dr. Valarie Waldmeier, as part of a HRSA grant to the National League for Nursing.
  • Recipient of Great 100 Nurses Award - New Orleans District LSNA.
  • Recipient of the Fred and Ruth B. Zigler Foundation Professorship in Nursing.
  • Recipient of Fannie Edith Winn Educational Trust Professorship in Nursing.
  • Pinnacle Excellence Award recipient for QEP, 2006 at McNeese State University
  • Recipient of a Janssen Student Scholarship to attend the American  Psychiatric Nurses Association.
  • Board of Regents Graduate Fellowship for Doctorate Level Nursing Education.
  • Recipient of Edna G. Treuting Scholarship Award from the Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners.
    
    

Professional Affiliations

• • American Association of Nurse Practitioners – Current Louisiana state representative 2014 - Present
  • AANP Fellow
  • APNA Member of the LACE task force 
  • Member of the Multi State Reimbursement Alliance Committee for AANP Region 6 2012 to present
  • Lake Charles Mental Health Court Advisory Board-2011-Present
  • Louisiana Counseling Association
  • Licensed Professional Counselors of Southwest LA Association
  • Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners-President 2012-2013
  • American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA)
  • APNA Louisiana Chapter – Past President 2012
  • International Society of Psychiatric Nurses (AANP)

 

Areas of Research Interest

• PTSD
• Psychiatric advanced practice nursing issues
• Dissociative Disorders

 

Selected Publications & Presentations

• • McEwen, M. & Wills, E. (2018) – Theoretical Basis for Nursing (5th ed.) – contributing author Chapter 14 – Theories from the behavioral sciences.

  • Dilks, S. (2019). Pediatric psychiatric disorders and Post traumatic stress disorder. NPACE, Arlington. Dilks, S. (2019). Addressing common psychiatric issues in children and adolescents: ADHD, depression and anxiety. LASBHA Conference, Lake Charles, LA.

  • Yaudes, K., Dilks, S. & Guillory, L. (2019). When a clients is best served by a team: An interprofessional collaborative simulation exercise. SWPA Annual Conference, Albuquerque, NM.

  • Dilks, S. (2018) – LANP annual conference – NOLA – “Antipsychotics in Primary Care” Dilks, S. (2018) – LANP Health Policy Conference – Lafayette, LA – Presentation on “Federal Policy Updates”.

  • Dilks, S. (2018). AANP annual conference – “My patient is suicidal: Now what?” Dilks, S. (2018) – NPACE – Nashville – two presentations – “Managing Anxiety Disorders in Primary Care” and “Management of the Suicidal Patient in Primary Care”

  • Dilks, S. (2018) – NPACE – Orlando – two presentations – “Managing Bipolar Disorder in Primary Care” and “Antipsychotic Use in Primary Care”

  • Dilks, S. (2018) – Contemporary Forums – Psychiatric Nursing Conference – Two presentations: “Dissociative Identity Disorder: Fact or Fiction” and “Eating Disorders: Recognition and Treatment”.

  • Dilks, S. (2018) – Contemporary Forums – Preconference presentation on Common Psychiatric Disorders in Children – presented at four conferences

  • Dilks, S. (2017). APNA annual conference poster presentation – Dissociative Identity Disorder: Fact or Fiction?

  • Sweringen, J. & Dilks, S. (2017). APNA annual conference podium presentation – “How to be anorexic: No wannarexics allowed” on the effects of social media on the development of anorexia nervosa.
    
    
• • Dilks, S. (2017) – LANP primary care conference three podium presentations – Bipolar disorder in primary care; My patient is suicidal, now what?; and Mental Illness and sexuality. New Orleans, September, 2017.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2017) – Contemporary Forums (Psychiatry) – Nashville and Las Vegas – podium presentations on PTSD and Sexuality and Psychotropics. 
    
    
  • Vanderhoeff, D. & Dilks, S. (2017) – Psychiatric NP Certification Review course for APEA in Nashville.
    
    
  • Hollier, A. (2016). Clinical Guidelines in Primary Care. Dilks, S. (contributing author to several chapters). Scott, LA: Advanced Practice Education Associates. 
    
    
  • Dilks, S. & Johnson, K. (2016). APNA National Conference – APRN Council Interactive Session 
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2016).  APNA National Conference – Podium presentation - Cyberbullying
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2016).  AANP National Convention – Two podium presentations – Eating disorders – identification and treatment in primary care and ADHD across the lifespan.
    
    
  • Raison, C. L., Judd, C. R., Parsons, C., & Dilks, S. S. (2015). JAAPA supplement: Strategies for achieving sustained remission in major depressive disorder.  JAAPA, September, 2015.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. & Johnson, K. (2015). APNA National Conference – APRN Council Interactive Session
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2015) – Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners – podium presentation – Treating major depressive disorder to remission.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2015) – Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners – podium presentation – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Diagnosis and treatment in primary care.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2015) – Louisiana Association of Nurse Practitioners – podium presentation – Psychopharmacology in primary care
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2015) – North Dakota Association of Nurse Practitioners – podium presentation – Treating major depressive disorder to remission.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2015) AANP Annual Conference, New Orleans – podium presentation - – Dementia in the DSM 5: Diagnosis and Treatment
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2015) AANP Annual Conference, New Orleans – podium presentation - – Sexuality and Psychotropics.  
    
    
  • Dilks, S. & Dalton, R. (2015) The Future of Health Care Delivery Summit, Baton Rouge (Louisiana Hospital Association) – podium presentation – Behavioral health care delivery.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2014) Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Pharmacology Update – Treatment of Depression in Women
    
    
  • Dilks, S. & Hurst, H. (2014) LANP state conference – podium presentation – Sexuality and Psychotropics.  
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2014) Lake Area Mental and Behavioral Health conference – Psychopharmacology for the Psychotherapist
    
    
  • Posmontier, B., Dreiter, D., Cartier, J., Dilks, S., Esposito, N., Handrup, C., et al (2013).  ISPN DNP task force statement on the DNP.  Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 27, 1, 56-60.
    
    
  • Adams, S., Dilks, S., and Vanderhoef, D. (2013) – APNA annual conference – “Is the fourth ‘P’ lost?  Innovative educational pedagogies to maintain the role and scope of PMHNPs.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2013) LANP state conference – podium presentation on ADHD
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2013) AANP national conference – podium presentation – The times they are a’changing: DSM 5: Changes in diagnosis and management of adolescent psychiatric issues in primary care.
    
    
  • Dilks, S. (2013) – Invited to present at Grand Psychiatric Nursing Rounds, Vanderbilt University – Bulling: the dark side of human behavior
    
    
  • DuVall, T., Hutchinson, K., Dilks, L., Bourassa, J., Ashworth, B. & Dilks, S. (2013).  Employment stressors in HIV patients.  Poster presentation at the 10th Annual Lamar University Educational Research Conference, March 22, 2013.
    
    
  • DuVall, T., Huchinson, K., Dilks, L., Bourassa, J, Ashworth, B. & Dilks, S. (2013). Case study:  Youthful offender. Poster presentation at the 10th Annual Lamar University Educational Research Conference, March 22, 2013.
    
    
  • Hutchinson, K., Dilks, L., DuVall, T., Bourassa, J., Ashworth, B. & Dilks, S. (2013).  Apathy in Alzheimer’s disease: Agreement between raters. Poster presentation at the 10th Annual Lamar University Educational Research Conference, March 22, 2013.
    
    
  • Dilks, S., Lemoine, J. & Vicknair, B. (2012).  A Moment in Time:  LANP we are Listening.  Poster presentation at the LANP 2012 Primary Care Conference in New Orleans, September 20, 2012.
    
    
  • LeDay, B., Dilks, S., Waldmeier, V., Maze, J., Gibson, J., McDaniel, N. & Sterling-Guillory, T. (2012).  Poster presentation at the LANP 2012 Primary Care Conference in New Orleans, Sept 20, 2012. Preventing radiation dermatitis in women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing radiation treatment: A pilot study comparing two creams effectiveness.
    
    
  • Presented a three-hour workshop on Psychopharmacology in Primary Care at the LANP 2012 Primary Care Conference in New Orleans, September 20, 2012. 
    
    
  • Bourassa, J., Dilks, L., Dilks, S. & Ashworth, B. (2012, September). Case Study of Psychological Consequences of Experiencing an Oil Rig Explosion. A poster presentation at the 10th Annual Conference on Brain Injury, Miami, FL.
    
    
  • Bourassa, J., Dilks, S., Dilks, L. & Ashworth. (2012, September) Integrating Erikson Hypnosis Techniques and Cognitive Behavioral Strategies for the Treatment of Chronic Pain in Post-Concussion Syndrome. A poster presentation at the 10th Annual Conference on Brain Injury, Miami, FL.
    
    
  • Bourassa J., Dilks, L. Ashworth, B. & Dilks, S. (2012, September). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Following an Offshore Explosion. A poster presentation at the 10th Annual Conference on Brain Injury, Miami, FL.
    
    
  • Handrup, C., Posmontier, B., Newton, M., Breiter, D., Cartier, J., Dilks, S., et al. (September, 2012).  Poster presentation at the 5th Annual DNP Conference, St Louis, MO. Findings of the International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses DNP Task Force.
    
    
  • Invited speaker for two workshops at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Conference in Orlando, Florida – June 21 – 23, 2012.  One was on Cyberbullying and the other on Mother Nature’s Fury – Psychological Effects of Disasters.
    
    
  • Presented a workshop on Issues in Pain Management at the Southwest Psychological Association Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, OK, April 13, 2012
    
    
  • Posmontier, B., Breiter, D., Cartier, J., Dilks, S., Esposito, N., Handrup, C., et al. (2012).  Podium presentation at 3rd International Conference of Professional Doctorates in Florence, Italy, April 3, 2012.  Charting the future pathways to the psychiatric mental health DNP in the United States.
    
    
  • Ashworth, B., Bourassa, J., Dilks, L., Dilks, S. & Myers, B. (2012, March) Predictors of Adaptive Functioning in Juveniles Using the JIFF. A poster presentation at the Ninth Annual Lamar University Educational Research Conference, Beaumont, TX.
    
    
  • Myers, B., Dilks, L., Bourassa, J., Ashworth, B, and Dilks, S. (2012, March) Teachers Guide to Recognizing Signs/Symptoms of Sexually Abused Children. A poster presentation at the Ninth Annual Lamar University Educational Research Conference, Beaumont, TX.
    
    
  • Bourassa, J., Dilks, L., Myers, B., Ashworth, B. & Dilks, S. (2012, March) A Dilemma of Assessment: A Case Study of Psycho-educational Assessment of a Blind Deaf Client. A poster presentation at the Ninth Annual Lamar University Educational Research Conference, Beaumont, TX

 

Selected Funded Projects and Research

• Recipient of the Charles and Emily Stokes Professorship in Nursing, Spring 2012 to develop standardized psychiatric patient actors to be used as simulation in the graduate program for psychiatric nurse practitioner students in the ICMSN.
• Selected as a Health Information Technology Scholar in 2009 through a HRSA funded grant administered by NLN entitled ROPE for SWLA: Rural Outreach Psychiatric Endeavor for South West Louisiana which utilizes telemental health in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner curriculum.

 

Research Review

• • Perspectives in Psychiatric Care.
  • Reviewed chapters in Susan Salvo’s text – Massage therapy: Principles and Practice, 3rd ed. 4th ed., and 5th ed.