Linda K. Connelly
is a native of
Pensacola, Florida. She graduated from the Mobile Infirmary Hospital School of
Nursing with a diploma in nursing in 1973. She was commissioned as a first lieutenant in
the Army Nurse Corps in 1988. COL
Connelly earned her Bachelor of Health Education in 1978 from the University of
West Florida. Dr. Connelly also earned a Master’s of Health Care Administration
in 1983, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1993 and a Master’s of Primary
Care Nurse Practitioner in 2000 all from the University of North Florida. She
completed a PhD in the Philosophy of Nursing in December 2013 at Barry
University, Miami Shores, Fl.
Dr. Connelly held various positions in
nursing starting at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Fl. In the Emergency Room
and then migrated to the Operating Room after a couple years. Linda followed
her husband’s Navy Career path and changing positions in the Operating Room in
various states. Upon his retirement to Jacksonville, Linda continued to be
employed in the Operating Rooms in the Jacksonville area until the completion
of her Master’s pf Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. Linda then worked with CMS as
a nurse practitioner at the Duval County Pretrial Detention Center. Following
this position Linda practiced as a nurse practitioner in a private position and
then returned to the emergency room until returning to my alma mater, UNF as an
instructor. In 2015 after completing her PhD she was promoted to Assistant
Professor. Dr. Connelly teaches in the undergraduate nursing program and is a
leader in simulation in the program. In spring of 2016 Dr. Connelly completed a
certificate as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Gerontology.
Dr. Connelly served with the 445th
General Hospital in Providence
Rhode Island as a Perioperative Nurse
from
1988-1992. From 1992-1996 she held
various position in the 2290th General Hospital in Rockville, Maryland to include
Perioperative Nurse serving in a joint venture with the US Navy at the Bethesda
Reserve Weekend Same Day Surgery Program and as the Clinical Training Officer. In 1996, COL Connelly transferred to the 345th
Combat Support Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida and served as the Perioperative
Nurse, OIC of the US Naval Air Station located in Jacksonville, Florida
Regional Medical Center, Same Day Surgery Program, followed by the position of Head
Nurse of the OR/CMS section. From
2002-2003 she also served as the acting Commander for the1997th, 1878th and the
1989th Medical Teams. Continuing service
with the 345th CSH from 2004-2008, COL Connelly served as the
Assistant Chief Nurse and then served as the Chief Nurse.
In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom,
08-10, COL Connelly served as the Deputy Commander for Nursing with Task Force 345th
with oversight of the combat support hospital in three separate split-based
locations in Al Asad, Tikrit and Mosul, Iraq.
From 2009-2012 COL Connelly served as the Army Nurse Corps Deputy Chief,
Drilling Individual Mobilization Augmentee in the Office of the Surgeon General.
COL Connelly awards and decorations
include: Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with
4 Bronze Oak Leaves; Army Achievement Medal (1 0LC); Meritorious Unit Citation;
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (4 0LC); Humanitarian Service Medal; National
Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star; Armed Forces Reserve Ribbon; Army
Service Ribbon Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with
Star device. She is also authorized to wear the DA Staff Badge and is the
recipient of the Order of Military Medical Merit Medallion. Recognitions
include being selected in 2005 by “The Great 100” Nurses of Northeast Florida
Nurses Association, District II. In 2006 COL Connelly was awarded the Blackboard
Greenhouse Exemplary On-Line Pedagogy Course Award and the American Red Cross Influential
Nurse Leader Award and FCORN Perioperative Nurse of the Year for 2013-2014.
COL Connelly is married to Michael
Joseph Connelly, US Navy retired and they have four children; Katherine,
Michael Francis, Sarah and Joseph.
Artifacts
Community Based Transformational Learning Portfolio
Reflection
