Patricia Brown O'Hara, PhD, RN '80 has been a nurse for more than 45 years. Until she retired in 2026, she was a Full Professor (tenured) and Student Support Specialist for the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professions, where she taught for more than 20 years and ran a study abroad program for nursing students in Ireland.
She retains the role of Program Director for GMercyU's RN-to-BSN program.
Dr. O'Hara earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1980 at Gwynedd Mercy University and her PhD in Nursing Education in 2013 from Widener University. Her nursing specialties include Medical Surgical Nursing, Community Health Nursing, Geriatrics, and Nursing Administration.
Her research includes: The Influence of Academic Coaching on BSN students' academic success, Perceptions of the Academic Coaching Relationship, and NCLEX RN Success. She developed "The O'Hara Perception of the Coaching Experience" research instrument, which has been used by five doctoral students. She has presented numerous times, both nationally and internationally, on Academic Coaching, Gerontology, and Nursing Study Abroad.
She also serves on the Board of Trustees at Grand View Hospital and is a Legal Nurse Consultant. She was part of the Initial NLN ACES team on BEST practice for Older Adults. She is a Part Time Educator for ATI Testing, where she delivers 3 -4 ATI NCLEX 3 Day Live Reviews yearly.
