Benedictine Alumna Dr. Kay Robinson-Sterling Returns for Her Doctorate in Nursing Practice and Empowers Nurses
| 4 Min Read
Dr. Kay Robinson-Sterling believes that nursing is a profession for lifelong learners and leaders prepared to adapt and innovate as health care evolves.
Originally from Jamaica, she now lives in the suburbs of Chicago and serves as a nursing professor and clinical instructor, sharing the expertise she has developed over a long career as a registered nurse. She enjoys helping students build core competencies for licensure and the confidence to provide effective patient care.
“Teaching and mentoring have become the most rewarding part of my career,” she said. “It’s where everything I’ve learned comes together.”
Dr. Robinson-Sterling earned her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus on nursing education online with Benedictine University in 2020 and completed the online Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership program in 2025.
“The curriculum’s focus on leadership, evidence-based practice and improving patient outcomes aligned perfectly with my professional goals,” she said. The flexibility of the online D.N.P. program also allowed her to continue working full time.
Managing doctoral study—while teaching and supervising nursing students herself—required careful time management. Dr. Robinson-Sterling appreciated the fact that her Benedictine instructors were available for support. “They expected excellence but were always willing to provide guidance and feedback whenever it was needed,” she said.
“What I remember most was learning from professors who genuinely cared about student success. They challenged us to think critically and apply research to real-world health care problems rather than simply memorizing information,” she said.
The culminating D.N.P. project gave her an opportunity to put the advanced leadership skills she had developed into practice. Dr. Robinson-Sterling created an orientation for a hospital EMS program, collaborating hands-on with a range of first responders during the process.
“I was in the firehouses working with paramedics, emergency communication nurses and firefighters. It was a significant learning curve, but it was deeply impactful,” she said.
She also enjoyed learning alongside doctoral students from diverse nursing backgrounds as part of a cohort progressing through the online D.N.P program together, building personal relationships and professional networks with her peers.
Now a two-time alumna, Dr. Robinson-Sterling is glad she returned to her alma mater for her doctorate. She plans to expand her teaching practice into curriculum development for nursing leaders, highlighting essential research and current evidence in health care. She also wants to create scholarships that enable other nurses to continue their education.
“Choosing Benedictine again was truly one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career,” she said, citing the personal and professional benefits she has already experienced.
“Earning my D.N.P. has been transformational. It strengthened my leadership abilities, increased my confidence and opened doors to opportunities in nursing education and executive leadership,” she said.
“Knowing that I can use what I’ve learned to empower other nurses and impact the community makes it all deeply worthwhile.”
Improve Patient Care with a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership Online
Build the credentials and confidence to transform health care with an online Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership from Benedictine University. This CAEP-accredited D.N.P. program is grounded in current research and continuous improvement, providing you with advanced nursing expertise and the tools to make a greater impact on health systems, services and policy.
Earn your doctorate in as few as 24 months as you prepare for senior management and executive positions. Apply your knowledge in a variety of professional settings, from clinical practice to government, nonprofit and industry. Earning a D.N.P. can also give you a competitive edge for teaching and administrative roles in college-level nursing programs.
Benedictine’s online Doctor of Nursing Practice curriculum aligns with AACN Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education, addressing best practices, complex challenges and opportunities for innovation in health care.
Courses include:
- Advanced Knowledge for Innovative Nursing Practice
- Information Management and Health Care Technologies
- Leading a Culture of Quality and Safety
- Advocacy and Accountability for Person-Centered Care
- Advanced Financial Management and Economics of Health Care Systems
Learn from expert instructors invested in your success and be part of the same supportive cohort of nursing peers throughout the program. Study whenever it works for you—regardless of your shift or schedule—with eight-week online courses that you can access 24/7. Practicum experiences are tailored to your career goals, and clinical placement assistance is available.
Become an innovative servant leader and create the change you want to see in health care with an online D.N.P. in Executive Leadership from Benedictine University.