MDCC Practical Nursing Instructor Earns Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree

MOORHEAD, Miss. (Sept. 22, 2026) — Mississippi Delta Community College Practical Nursing Instructor Dr. Bettinica Gatewood Cobbs recently earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing.

Cobbs graduated May 22, 2026, after completing the two-year doctoral program with a focus on nursing education and leadership. Her studies incorporated both classroom and clinical education as well as leadership in nursing.

Cobbs said she pursued the advanced degree because of the growing need for nurses who can apply evidence-based practices while providing effective leadership in increasingly complex healthcare environments.

“Earning my Doctor of Nursing Practice is an exciting opportunity for me to make a bigger difference in healthcare,” Cobbs said. “My DNP will enhance the quality of education in the nursing program at MDCC and help shape the next generation of healthcare leaders. Just as I want my daughters to understand that there is always room for learning, I want my nursing students to embrace the same mindset.”

As part of the DNP program, Cobbs completed a doctoral project titled “Accurate Documentation of Intake and Output in an Acute Care Unit: A Best Practice Implementation Project.” The project examined documentation practices among nurses and certified nursing assistants and explored best practices for ensuring accurate intake and output documentation in acute care settings.

Cobbs said the program strengthened both her clinical knowledge and leadership skills and provided additional tools she can use to prepare MDCC students for careers in nursing.

Through her coursework, she also explored strategies for communication, leadership and evidence-based practice that can be incorporated into the classroom and clinical environment. One resource that particularly influenced her approach was “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High,” which she said has helped her navigate challenging conversations with both colleagues and students.

Balancing doctoral studies with her responsibilities as a nursing instructor required Cobbs to move regularly between different levels of communication. While teaching students who were beginning their nursing education, she worked to make complex concepts understandable. At the same time, her doctoral coursework required her to discuss advanced nursing concepts using professional and academic terminology.

The experience, she said, was demanding but rewarding.

Veronica Caradine, MDCC assistant director of nursing and Practical Nursing chair, said Cobbs’ accomplishment strengthens both the faculty and the Practical Nursing program.

“Dr. Bettinica Gatewood Cobbs completing her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree is a great accomplishment and an asset to the Practical Nursing Program,” Caradine said. “Dr. Cobbs demonstrates the importance of continuing to grow professionally and academically.”

Caradine said Cobbs brings new ideas and experiences into the classroom and skills laboratory while encouraging students to actively participate, ask questions and apply what they have learned to real-world situations.

“One thing I especially appreciate about Dr. Cobbs is her approach to clinical,” Caradine said. “She wants her students to learn something new each time they are in the clinical setting. She looks for different opportunities and experiences for them to participate in, which helps students build confidence and connect what they learn in the classroom to actual patient care.”

Caradine added that Cobbs’ continued education complements her clinical experience and provides students with another perspective on nursing practice.

“Dr. Cobbs is a dedicated educator who brings enthusiasm, creativity and a strong commitment to student learning,” Caradine said. “Her willingness to try new teaching approaches and create meaningful learning experiences makes her a valuable member of the Practical Nursing faculty.”

For Cobbs, the accomplishment also carries personal significance. As the mother of two young daughters, she said completing the degree reinforces a lesson she and her husband want to instill in their children: learning is a lifelong pursuit.

Professionally, Cobbs hopes to use her doctoral education to continue improving nursing education, preparing future nurses and contributing to improvements in healthcare.