Erica Sciarra is a dual doctorally-prepared (Ph.D. and DNP) certified nurse educator by the National League of Nursing with extensive experience teaching graduate and undergraduate nursing courses. Sciarra earned her Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees from Rutgers University and her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Nursing from Walden University. She is also a licensed and certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Sciarra is a motivated educator committed to providing effective and innovative active teaching and learning experiences for students as evidenced by obtainment of a Certificate in Effective College Instruction (ACUE) from the Association of College and University Educators. She is dedicated to delivering excellence in teaching through research, scholarly, and service activities and serves as a peer-reviewer for multiple journals and organizations. Sciarra is a current New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN) elected Board of Directors member and National League for Nursing (NLN) School of Nursing ambassador. She also serves as the chair of the Leadership Succession Committee for the Sigma Theta Tau Lambda Delta Chapter. Sciarra serves on the editorial board for the New Jersey State Nursing Association (NJSNA) publication NJ Nurse. She was also a 2023 participant in the National League for Nursing Leadership Institute LEAD Program. Sciarra is a founding member of the National Consortium of Academic Nurse Educators, and is a fellow in the New York Academy of Medicine.

Education

Ph.D., Walden University

D.N.P., Rutgers University

M.S., Rutgers University

B.S., Rutgers University

A.S.N., Muhlenberg School of Nursing/Union County College

Certificate in Effective College Instruction (ACUE), Association of College and University Educators endorsed by American Council on Education

Peer Reviewed Publications

Sciarra, E. (2025). The impact of reflective gratitude journaling on stress reduction among nursing students. Nurse Educator. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001837

Sciarra, E., & Gough, B. (2024). Changing the narrative for nursing students. NJ Nurse, 54(4), 24.

Sciarra, E., Patro, J., Cardinale, C. (2024). Student wellness and engagement: Strategies for enhancing classroom instruction. Nurse Educator, 49(6): E377-E378.  https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001692

Sciarra, E. (2024). The effectiveness of group quizzes for facilitating teamwork and collaboration. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(5), 341. https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20240305-10  

Vardaman, S. A., Logan, L., Davis, S. P., Sciarra, E., Doria, J. P., Baker, J., Feeney, S., Pajarillo, E. J. Y., Seibold-Simpson, S., Bajwa, M. (2024). Addressing the shortage of academic nurse educators: Suggestions for educational institutions. Nursing Education Perspectives, 45(4), 201-207. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000001264

Manzetti, C., & Sciarra, E. (2023).Clinical evaluation through transparency: Importance of anecdotal documentation. Nurse Educator, 48(6), 341. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001416

Manzetti, C., & Sciarra, E. (2022). Introduction to the accreditation process for nurse educator students. Nurse Educator, 47(4), 251. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001211

Sciarra, E., & Hackenberg, G. (2022). Integration of interprofessional education into nursing curriculum. Nurse Educator, 47(3), 189. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000001156

Sciarra, E. (2016). The relationship between learning styles and affinity for concept mapping among graduate nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 6(5), 28-31. https://doi.org/10.5430/JNEP.V6N5P28

Sciarra, E. (2012). Should prayer be used in medicine? Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 32(1), 28-29. https://doi.org/10.1097/DCC.0b013e31826bc635

Sciarra, E. (2012).  The importance of practice guidelines in clinical care. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 31(2), 84-85. https://doi.org/10.1097/dcc.0b013e3182445f62

Sciarra, E. (2011). Impacting practice through evidence-based education. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 30(5), 269-275. https://doi.org/10.1097/DCC.0b013e318227738c

Sciarra, E. (2011). Does journal club membership empower practice? Nursing Management, 12(1), 17-18. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000390983.45839.ff

Published Abstracts

Sciarra, E., Vardaman, S. A., Logan, L., Davis, S. P., Doria, J. P., Baker, J., Feeney, S., Pajarillo, E. J. Y., Seibold-Simpson, S., Bajwa, M. (2024). The role of educational institutions in perpetuating the academic nurse educator shortage. [Abstract]. Nursing Research, 73(3), E31-E201. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000726

Toolkits

Teall, A., Gawlik, K., Owens, A., Douville, C., Tschmannen, A., Sciarra, E., Yockey, J., Semin, J., Leach., K., Simpson, V., Melynk, B. (2023). Faculty Toolkit: Strategies to support well-being for health sciences students. Building Healthy Academic Communities. https://www.healthyacademics.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/FacultyWellnessToolkit%20NWAA%202023.pdf

Peer Reviewed Presentations

International/National

Sciarra, E. (2025, March 27-29). The relationship between self efficacy towards teaching and nurse educators academic teaching level. [Poster Presenter]. Nursing Education Research Conference (NERC), Washington D.C.

Sciarra, E., Dowling-Castronova, A., Greenberg, S., & Manzetti, C. (2024, September 18-20). The development of a formal mentorship program for newly hired full time nursing faculty. [Poster Presenter]. 2024 National League for Nursing Education Summit, San Antonio, TX.

Patro, J., Sciarra, E., Cardinale, C. (2024, March 30-April 1). Innovative instructional strategies: Nurturing wellness in health professions education. [Co-Author of Poster]. 2024 National Academies of Practice Conference Annual Meeting and Forum, Washington, D.C.

Sciarra, E. & Teall, A. (2024, March 8-10). Caring for future caregivers: Faculty toolkit of teaching strategies to support well-being for health sciences students. [Podium Presenter]. 2024 Sigma Theta Tau: Creating Healthy Work Environments, Washington, D.C.

Manzetti, C., Sciarra, E. (2023, November 30-December 2).  Clinical evaluation through transparency; Importance of anecdotal documentation. [Co-Author of Poster].  2023 AACN Transform Conference: Innovation and Inspiration: Reimaging the Future of Academic Nursing, Lake Buena Vista, FL.

Sciarra, E. (2023, November 28-30). The effectiveness of class roadmaps for enhancing student success [Virtual Poster Presenter]. 2023 Sigma Theta Tau 47th Biennial Convention, Virtual.

Sciarra, E., Greenberg, S., & Dowling Castronovo, A., (2023, June 12-13). Revitalizing teaching to prioritize fundamentals of care: Trust after crisis [Virtual Podium Presenter]. International Learning Collaborative, Maine.

Regional

Sciarra, E. (2025, April 4-5). The relationship between academic nurse educators’ educational preparation and self-efficacy towards teaching. [Poster presenter]. 2025 Eastern Nursing Research 37^th Annual Scientific Session, Philadelphia, PA.

Sciarra, E., Vardaman, S. A., Logan, L., Davis, S. P., Doria, J. P., Baker, J., Feeney, S., Pajarillo, E. J. Y., Seibold-Simpson, S., Bajwa, M. (2024, April 4-April 5). The role of educational institutions in perpetuating the academic nurse educator shortage.[Poster Presenter]. 2024 Eastern Nursing Research 36^th Annual Scientific Session, Boston, MA.

Cruz, M., Fraser, C., & Sciarra, E. (2024, March 15-March 16). The development and evaluation of a toolkit on mindfulness for school nurses.  [Co-Author of Poster]. Spring 2024 New Jersey State School Nurses Association Conference. New Brunswick, NJ.

Sciarra, E. (2021, March 31).  Relationship between burnout and academic teaching level among nursing faculty [Poster Presenter].  New Jersey League for Nursing 2021 Nursing Convention, New Jersey.

Podcasts

Oermann, M. (Executive Producer). (2024, November 27). Nurse Educator Tips for Teaching [Audio podcast]. Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nurse-educator-tips-for-teaching/id1467432231

White Papers/Position Statements

New Jersey State Nurses Association. (2024, May). Position Statement:  Resolution on optimal staffing. Available at Bylaws & Meeting Minutes | New Jersey State Nurses Association & The Institute for Nursing | Nursing Network

Professional Organizations

• National Consortium of Academic Nurse Educators (NC-ANE)
• New Jersey League for Nursing (NJLN)
• National League for Nursing (NLN)
• Sigma Theta Tau
• New Jersey State Nursing Association/American Nurses Association (member)
• Eastern Nursing Research Society (member)
• International Learning Collaborative (member)