Sally Bethart, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PHNA-BC, CNE
Clinical Assistant Professor
On This Page
About Sally Bethart
TEACHING
Dr. Bethart joined the College in 2009 and teaches in both the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. In the undergraduate curriculum, her primary teaching focus is population health nursing where she emphasizes the application of epidemiological and community-based principles to professional nursing practice. Within the DNP program, Dr. Bethart leads and teaches the Health Promotion course and serves as a faculty team member for the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) clinical courses, guiding students in the development of advanced clinical judgment and evidence-based practice. She holds national certifications as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and Public Health Nurse (PHN).
RESEARCH
Dr. Bethart earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree from the University of South Florida College of Nursing. Her scholarship focuses on community collaboration and relationship-building with community partners to enhance population health outcomes. Her recent collaborative publications include studies examining food insecurity among nursing students and infection control practices in long-term care facilities.
SERVICE
Dr. Bethart has extensive professional and community engagement within the Gainesville area. She maintains longstanding partnerships with Alachua County Public Schools and ElderCare of Alachua County. In addition to her academic and community service, Dr. Bethart has started an active clinical practice providing care to individuals living with HIV in Sumter County. Within the college, she currently serves as a member of the Academic Affairs Committee and contributes to initiatives that advance curriculum development, academic policy, and student success. She also holds memberships in multiple professional associations and organizations that support nursing education, clinical practice, and public health.
Teaching Profile
Courses Taught
Teaching Philosophy
When I transitioned from clinical nursing practice to academia, I made sure to also transition my guiding philosophy, “meet people where they are”. I strive to use this flexible, equitable concept of with all my nursing students. I do my best to take pause and understand the unique individual life experiences each student brings to nursing and to the learning environment. Using this edict as an underpinning in my teaching philosophy, I work to create a safe, inclusive, and dynamic educational environment for all students to allow for open dialogue, critical thinking, and to challenge the status quo. As a teacher, you are perceived as a role model, and I confidently believe in leading by example. I am engaging and approachable and steadfast in my commitment to holistic, patient-centered care, with a strong emphasis on health education and preventative health care. I hope to display these characteristics for the students to observe, utilize for themselves and hopefully adopt into their personal lives and professional nursing practice. I believe in engaging challenges with an open-minded team approach and utilizing critical thinking skills and communication to resolve or diminish the burden of the problem at hand. I also encourage students to become patient, family, and community advocates and to do so with purity of compassion. I believe in offering personalized, honest and fair feedback to all students and strive to cultivate their self-confidence, personal talents, and nursing aspirations within each individual student.
Board Certifications
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Advanced Public Health NurseANCC
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Certified Nurse EducatorNLN
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Family Nurse PractitionerANCC
Clinical Profile
Dr. Bethart has been a nurse since 1996, with experience spanning both inpatient and outpatient care settings. During her eight years with the Alachua County Health Department, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and became a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Her clinical expertise is grounded in population and public health, with extensive experience in home visiting, epidemiology and outbreak investigations, bioterrorism and emergency preparedness. While at the health department she served as both a Registered Nurse and Family Nurse Practitioner in the health department’s HIV, STD, and Women’s Health clinics. She has recently started a clinical practice providing personalized holistic care for individuals living with HIV in Sumter County. Dr. Bethart also has international nursing experience through service work in Haiti and Kenya.
Areas of Interest
- HIV Infection
Publications
Academic Articles
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Development and implementation of learning collaboratives for infection prevention and control education in long-term care facilities.
- Journal
- American journal of infection control.
- Volume/Issue
- 53(2):261-265
- [DOI]
- 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.09.021.
- [PMID]
- 39369822.
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Infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities in Florida: A needs assessment survey.
- Journal
- American journal of infection control.
- Volume/Issue
- 53(2):210-221
- [DOI]
- 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.10.008.
- [PMID]
- 39447646.
Grants
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UF and FDOH Collaboration for “Nursing Home and Long Term Care Facility Strike Team and Infrastructure Project”
- Role:
- Other
- Funding:
- FL DEPT OF HLTH via CTRS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION
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OR-DRPD-ROF2019: CBPR: Familial, geographic, and social determinants of mental wellbeing in rural LGBTQ+ adolescents
- Role:
- Co-Investigator
- Funding:
- UF RESEARCH
Education
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Doctor of Nursing Practice
University of South Florida
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Master of Science in Nursing
University of Florida
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Bachelor of Science in Nursing
University of Florida
Contact Details
- Business:
- (352) 494-3548
- Business:
- sbeth12@ufl.edu
- Business Mailing:
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PO Box 100197
GAINESVILLE FL 32610 - Business Street:
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UF COLLEGE OF NURSING
GAINESVILLE FL 326110001