April Waddell Messer

Biography

Dr. Messer began working with WCU's School of Nursing as an adjunct professor in the Fall of 2014; She joined WCU full-time in Spring, 2017, teaching in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Dr. Messer earned a BS in Biology from the University of Arizona and graduated from WCU's School of Nursing with a BSN (2010) and MSN in Nurse Education (2013). She completed her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where her research was focused on hospital care of people with substance use disorders.<br>Dr. Messer began her nursing career at Mission Hospital on a medical surgical intensive care unit. While working with Mission Hospital, she served as the unit-based practice council chair, the hospital-based practice chair, and Patient Safety Officer of the critical care service line. Dr. Messer teaches adult medical surgical nursing care, evidence-based practice, and community and mental health clinical.

Education

• Ph D, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• MSN, Western Carolina University
• BSN, Western Carolina University

Teaching Interests

Medical-Surgical Nursing, Critical Care Nursing, Addiction, Mental Health Nursing

Research Interests

Substance Use Disorders (SUD), Hospital care of people with SUD's