Education
Ph.D., Nursing Science, University of Delaware
B.S.N., University of Delaware
B.A., Psychology, University of Baltimore
Certified Nurse Educator
Melanie Horning
Assistant Professor
Areas of Expertise
Family communication at end-of-life
End-of-life conversation & decision making
Older adults
Medical-surgical nursing
Publications
Walker, M., Horning, M. A., Wright, L., Crusse, E., & Park, H. (2026). Effects of emotional freedom techniques on compassion, self-compassion, and resilience among nursing students. International Journal for Human Caring, 30(1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.20467/IJHC-2024-0023
Horning, M. A., & Habermann, B. (2024). Mid-Atlantic primary care providers’ perception of barriers and facilitators to end-of-life conversation. Palliative Care and Social Practice, 18, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524241264882
Horning, M. A., & Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2024). Nurse leaders as influencers of knowledge to practice. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/wvn.12726
Horning, M. A., & Bowen, M. E. (2023). Characterizing end-of-life communication in families. Palliative Care & Social Practice, 17, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/26323524231193033
Brewer, K. C., Horning, M. A., Walker, M. S., & Ness, M. M. (2023). Analyzing the effects of family presence and visitation restriction during the COVID-19 pandemic among nurse leaders and non-nurse leaders. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 53(3), 132-135. https://doi.org/10.1097/nna.0000000000001258
Horning, M. A., Shin, J. Y., DiFusco, L. A., Norton, M., & Habermann, B. (2019). Symptom progression in advanced parkinson’s disease: Dyadic perspectives. Applied Nursing Research, 50, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2019.151193
Presentations
Horning, M. A., Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2026, March). Bridging the Gap: Addressing Preceptor and Clinical Site Shortages in Graduate Nursing Education. PechaKucha Presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Creating Healthy Work Environments 2026 Conference, Washington, DC.
Horning, M. A., Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2025, October). Nurse Leaders Influencers of Evidence to Practice. Virtual Poster Presented at The 9th Edition of Nursing World Conference, Orlando, FL.
Horning, M. A., Walker, M. S., Goldstein, L., Crusse, E., & Park, H. (2025, July). Family Communication and Perceptions of the End-of-Life Experience of Older Adults with Chronic Disease. Poster Presented at End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium Faculty Development and Leadership in Palliative Care Workshop: For Undergraduate and Graduate Faculty, Portland, OR.
Horning, M. A., Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2025, May). Optimizing Safety in End-of-Life Care Through Simulation-Enhanced Nursing Education. Virtual Podium Presentation at 15th American Healthcare, Hospital Management, Nursing, and Patient Safety Summit. San Francisco, CA. Taylor-Pearson, Z. A., Horning, M. A. (2025, May). Empowering Nursing Through Emerging Technologies for Patient Safety. Virtual Podium Presentation at 15th American Healthcare, Hospital Management, Nursing, and Patient Safety Summit. San Francisco, CA.
Horning, M. A., Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2025, March). Healing Toxic Healthcare Work Environments: Strategies for Nursing Leadership. PechaKucha Presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Creating Healthy Work Environments 2025 Conference, Phoenix, AZ.
Horning, M. A. & Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2025, March). A Quality Improvement Initiative:Minimizing Readmission Rates Among Psychiatric Patients. Poster presented at the 2025 International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. Second place, ISPN Poster Award.
Taylor-Pearson, Z. A., Horning, M. A. (2025, March). Nursing leadership and emerging technologies: Leveraging AI, machine learning, and data science to drive patient care. Poster presented virtually post-conference in the Online Library of the American Nursing Informatics Association.
Cwiek, A., Horning, M. A. (2025, March). An Empowering End: The Role of Hospice in Providing Autonomy to Terminal Cancer Patients. Poster presented at the Spring 2025 Honors College Celebration of Scholarship and Learning Towson University, Towson, MD.
Taylor-Pearson, Z. A., Horning, M. A. (2024, December). Redefining Nursing Curricula: Promoting Evidence-Based Practice Sustainability in Real-World Practice. Poster Presented at American Association of Colleges of Nursing Transform 2024 Conference, in New Orleans, LA.
Horning, M. A. & Taylor-Pearson, Z. A. (2024, October 17-19). The role of clinical leadership in promoting evidence-based practice: Strengthen EBP adoption at the levels of care [Poster presentation]. 8th Edition of Nursing World Conference, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Garrison, K., Horning, M. A. (2024, March). A Day in the PACU. Poster presented at the Spring 2024 Honors College Celebration of Scholarship and Learning. Towson University, Towson, MD. First place, internship category.
Horning, M. A. (2023, November 8-12). Characterizing end-of-life communication in families [Poster]. Gerontological Society of America 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting, Tampa, FL, United States.
Horning, M. A. (2021, March 25-26). Family communication patterns and family perceptions of end-of-life care in chronic disease [Poster]. Eastern Nursing Research Society 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions Virtual Conference.
Horning, M. A. (2020, March 26-27). Barriers and facilitators to end-of-life conversations in primary care: A qualitative research study [Poster accepted for presentation]. Eastern Nursing Research Society 32nd Annual Conference, Boston, MA, United States.
Shin, J. Y., Horning, M. A., DiFusco, L. A., Norton, M., & Habermann, B. (2019, April 3-5). Symptom progression in people with advanced Parkinson’s Disease: A qualitative descriptive study [Podium presentation]. Eastern Nursing Research Society 31st Annual Conference, Providence, RI, United States.
Bygrave, D. C., Horning, M. A., & Wright, R. S. (2019, March 6-9). Greater social support is associated with reduced white matter lesions in older African-American women: Findings from the heathy heart and mind study [Poster]. Society of Behavioral Medicine 40th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions, Washington, DC, United States.