Collan Darnall, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, ENP-C

About Collan

Dr. Collan J. Darnall is an advanced practice registered nurse and educator dedicated to advancing nursing education and clinical practice through mentorship, evidence-based innovation, and academic leadership. A Louisville-based healthcare professional, he brings over 15 years of experience spanning emergency medicine, hospital medicine, primary care, and higher education.
Dr. Darnall is a PhD candidate pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Health Professions Education at Bellarmine University (expected 2026), where his scholarly work centers on mentorship and self-efficacy development among novice nurse practitioners. He previously earned his Doctor of Nursing Practice from Frontier Nursing University (2020), where his DNP project, Implementation of Acute Bronchitis Guidelines to Improve Timely Care in the Emergency Department, demonstrated his early commitment to applying research to improve patient outcomes. He holds both a Master of Science in Nursing (2013) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (2008) from Spalding University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Eastern Kentucky University (2006).
Currently, Dr. Darnall serves as an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Spalding University, where he instructs and mentors graduate students in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. His teaching portfolio includes Advanced Pathophysiology, Adult Primary Care, Evidence-Based Practice I & II, and Nurse Practitioner Professional Practice & Identity. He has developed and redesigned multiple courses to enhance engagement, clinical reasoning, and readiness for advanced practice, earning him the Certificate of Teaching Excellence (2025). He has also contributed to curriculum alignment with SACSCOC, CCNE, and NTI standards and served on accreditation preparation committees. His commitment to student success extends beyond the classroom as an academic advisor, new-faculty mentor, and member of Spalding’s University Council for Institutional Effectiveness and School of Nursing Scholarship Committee.
Clinically, Dr. Darnall continues to maintain a robust practice. He is a Family and Emergency Nurse Practitioner, currently providing comprehensive primary care to incarcerated populations, where he emphasizes evidence-based chronic disease management and interprofessional collaboration. Previously, he practiced as a Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner with University of Louisville Physicians and as an Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner for nearly a decade across multiple systems, including Emergency Medicine Physician Associates and Southern Emergency Medicine Physicians. His clinical background is grounded in acute care, having begun his career as a registered nurse in the emergency and critical care settings at University of Louisville Hospital and Jewish Hospital.
Dr. Darnall’s scholarly and professional contributions reflect a sustained record of leadership and collaboration. He has co-authored and mentored numerous poster presentations with graduate students, advancing topics ranging from telehealth use in diabetes management to non-pharmacologic pain interventions in pediatric ICUs. His own presentations include, Sepsis: It’s a Killer! and Basic Suturing and Wound Management, have been featured at institutional and regional conferences, including the University of Louisville Advanced Practice Provider Conference. In 2023, he contributed to the HRSA ANEW grant, which secured $2.5 million in funding to enhance nurse practitioner education and workforce development.
Nationally, Dr. Darnall served as a Subject Matter Expert for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Certification Board, assisting with the Emergency Nurse Practitioner certification examination. He also contributes to the MedBiquitous Simulation-Based Assessment Working Group, which advances the use of simulation in professional competency evaluation. His professional memberships include the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, Kentucky Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International, where he currently serves as Governance Chair for the Iota Gamma Chapter.
A passionate community advocate, Dr. Darnall has provided volunteer medical services at events such as the Ironman Triathlon, the Louisville Family Community Clinic, and PossAbility Unlimited, offering direct care to individuals with spinal cord injuries. He also contributed to the LouVax mass COVID-19 vaccination initiative. Additionally, he supports the Rebecca B. Darnall Memorial Scholarship, serving as a selection committee member for this $5,000 nursing scholarship supporting future bachelor-prepared RNs.
Across his career, Dr. Darnall has demonstrated a consistent commitment to bridging clinical expertise and educational excellence. His work integrates frontline experience with pedagogical innovation to cultivate competent, confident, and compassionate nurse practitioners prepared for evolving healthcare demands. His ongoing doctoral research continues to explore how structured mentorship and self-efficacy frameworks can improve the transition-to-practice experience and retention of novice nurse practitioners—reflecting his dedication to shaping the next generation of advanced practice nurses and educators.

Honors & Affiliations

• Subject Matter Expert for the AANP Certification Board (2019-2021)
• Certificate of Teaching Excellence (2025)
• Governance chair of Sigma Theta Tau-Iota Gamma