Linda J. Hickman, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE

HomeDirectoryLinda J. Hickman, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE
Linda J. Hickman, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE
  • Assistant Professor
    Organizational Systems and Adult Health
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Location:
Room 325B, School of Nursing Building
Phone:
410-706-4095
Office Hours:
By Appointment
Email:

Education

  • PhD, Health Services Administration, University of Maryland Baltimore, Graduate School
  • MBA, Marymount University
  • BSN, Wesley College

Contracts, Fellowships, Grants, and Sponsored Research

  • Date:
    2026 - 2029
    Title:
    Supporting and Retaining Undergraduate Nursing Preceptors
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2025 - 2026
    Title:
    Preceptor Program for Undergraduate Nursing Education
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2021 - 2026
    Title:
    Increasing Clinical Access and Enrollments
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2016 - 2021
    Title:
    Expanding Clinical Instructor, Faculty and Preceptor Resources and Roles to Increase Nursing Clinical Access and Enrollments
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Co-Principal
  • Date:
    2014 - 2016
    Title:
    Ambassador Program to Promote Clinical Instructor Preparation
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2014 - 2016
    Title:
    Master's Preparation of Staff Nurses to Expand Clinical Capacity
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Co-Principal
  • Date:
    2012 - 2014
    Title:
    Expanding Clinical Capacity
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Co-Principal
  • Date:
    2009 - 2015
    Title:
    Extended Master's Preparation of Staff Nurses to Expand Clinical Capacity
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Co-Principal
  • Date:
    2006 - 2011
    Title:
    Master's Preparation of Staff Nurses- Clinical Instructor
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Role:
    Co-Principal

Research Interests

  • Academic-Practice Partnership
    Graduate Nursing Administration Practicum
    Undergraduate Nurse Preceptorship

Research Activity

  • Duration:
    2025 - 2025
    Title:
    Nurse Preceptor Engagement and Retention: A Mixed-Methods Analysis
    Description:
    Hickman, L. J., Principal Investigator. "Nurse Preceptor Engagement and Retention: A Mixed-Methods Analysis" guided by Kahn's Theory of Engagement and Kanter's Structural Empowerment framework with funding by State of Maryland, Health Services Cost Review Commission. IRB-approved study conducted through University of Maryland, Baltimore. Includes qualitative interviews and survey analysis of BSN-preceptors. Expected completion: December 2025.

    In contrast to existing research on challenges preceptors face, there is limited literature examining factors ensuring a positive precepting experience for the preceptor and the student and promoting a beneficial teaching and learning relationship. Viewpoints on the challenges and stressors of this multifunctional preceptor role need to be collected for the dynamics of preceptorship to be better understood. Supporting and designing this system to work optimally benefits nursing students, preceptors and healthcare organizations. Thus, this study aims to assess the status of precepting and the support needs of nurse preceptors for senior BSN students arranged by the UMSON, Baltimore and Shady Grove campuses and to maximize nurse preceptor effectiveness and student learning experiences through design of a best practices program supporting a network for nurse preceptors and healthcare organizations.
    Status:
    On-Going
  • Duration:
    2022 - 2024
    Title:
    Nurse Leader Perspectives on Precepting in a Graduate Nursing and Healthcare Administration Practicum
    Description:
    The purpose of this study is to examine nurse leader preceptors' experiences precepting students in graduate nursing and healthcare administration practicums. Participants will be virtually interviewed using Zoom. It is anticipated that the interview will take 30-60 minutes. Participation in this study is voluntary and participants may stop the interview at any time. With the participants’ consent, the interview will be recorded. The researchers will assign participants a number and the participants’ screen name in Zoom will be changed to that number prior to initiating the recording. Only the researchers will have access to the recordings, and the recordings and recording transcripts will be deleted following data analysis and summary. The risks associated with this study are minimal.
    Status:
    Complete

Publications

  • Hickman, L. J. (2026, January (1st Quarter/Winter)). Guiding Steps for a Student-Focused Academic-Practice Partnership: Building Clinical Nursing Capacity. No, Journal of Professional Nursing, 62 (January - February 2026), 29 - 35. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.10.008
  • Hickman, L. J., Petri, L. J. & Connors, J. J. (2024, December). Nurse Leader Perspectives on Precepting in a Graduate Nursing Administration Practicum. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 54 (12), E46-E52. Hagerstown, Maryland, United States: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). doi:10.1097/nna.0000000000001516
  • Mills, Mary Etta C.,, Hickman, L. J. & Warren, J. (2014). Developing Dual Role Nursing Staff-Clinical Instructor A Partnership Model. JOURNAL OF NURSING ADMINISTRATION, 44 (2), 65-67. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000025

Presentations

  • Year:
    2026
    Title:
    Assessing Support Needs to Strengthen Clinical Preceptorship: Base Findings from a BSN Preceptor Survey
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2026 MDAC Summit, Time to Pivat and Shift: Navigating the Changing Nursing Landscape
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commision
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2025
    Title:
    Navigating the Complex Landscape of Nursing Academia and Practice: Insights from Nurse Leader Preceptors
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2025 MDAC Summit, Advancing Nursing Excellence through Innovation & Leadership
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2024
    Title:
    Guiding the Journey: Fostering Graduate Nursing Students in a Leadership Practicum with Preceptor Support
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2025 Maryland Nurses Association, 121st Annual Convention
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Nurses Association
    Location:
    Annapolis MD United States
  • Year:
    2024
    Title:
    An Academic-Practice Partnership: Mentoring Nurses as Future Leaders and Educators
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2024 Maryland Action Coalition Summit, Revolution vs Rearrangement
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2022
    Title:
    Re-envisioning Nurse Engagement & Retention with Professional Advancement Models
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2022 Maryland Action Coalition Leadership Summit
    Sponsoring Organization:
    University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Nursing/MHEC (NSPII)
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2021
    Title:
    Developing Nurse Leaders and Clinical Instructor Capacity through Academic-Practice Partnerships
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Nursing Science for Leadership in a New Decade
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Association for Leadership Science in Nursing
    Location:
    Chapel Hill NC
  • Year:
    2021
    Title:
    Moving Forward During a Pandemic: Virtual Recruitment Strategies Within an Academic-Practice Partnership
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2021 Maryland Action Coalition
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2020
    Title:
    Virtual Preceptorship: An Alternative Model for Graduate Leadership Practicums
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2020 Maryland Action Coalition, Future of Nursing: Maryland Leading the Way
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Higher Education Commission
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2020
    Title:
    Impact of Academic-Practice Partnerships on Nursing Entry Level Clinical Rotations and Graduations
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    The Future of Nursing: Maryland Leading the Way
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Action Coalition
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States

Areas of Specialization

  • Hospital Administration, Human Resources, Performance Improvement

Primary Teaching Areas

  • NRSG 695 Nursing Leadership Practicum II

Honors/Awards

  • Name:
    University of Maryland School of Nursing Colleague Excellence Award
    Sponsoring organization:
    University of Maryland Medical Center
    Date:
    May 2023

Academic and Professional Activities

University

  • Date:
    2023 - 2025
    Organization:
    MSN Judicial Board
    Role:
    Committee Member
  • Date:
    2022 - Current
    Organization:
    UMMC, CNO Staff Nurse Advisory Council
    Role:
    UMSON Faculty Representative
  • Date:
    2018 - Current
    Organization:
    University of Maryland Baltimore, School of Nursing
    Role:
    Conway Scholarship Advisor

Professional

  • Date:
    2020 - 2025
    Organization:
    Maryland Nurses Association (MNA)
    Role:
    Manuscript Reviewer/Referee

Public

  • Date:
    2005 - 2020
    Organization:
    American Red Cross of the Delmarva Region
    Role:
    Board of Directors