Assistant Professor of Nursing
Education
- DNP, Walden University, Nursing Practice
- Post-Masters Certificate, University of Chicago, Healthcare Informatics
- MSN, College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Pediatric/Child Health Nursing, Nursing Education, Nursing Administration
- BSN, College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
- GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery-diploma). Holy Family School of Nursing
Professional Credentials
- RN (USA, Jamaica, India)
- RM (India)
Teaching Specialties
- Mental Health Nursing
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Pediatric Nursing
Research Interests
- Chronic Diseases
- Self-Care/Management
- Self-Efficacy
Affiliations
- Diabetic Association of Jamaica- Volunteer
- Nurses Association of Jamaica- Member
- Trained Nurses Association of India- Member
- Soroptimist International- Volunteer
Biography
Dr. Balachandar is an educator and clinician with over 28 years of professional experience. She began her nursing career as a diploma nurse and midwife in 1996 from the Holy Family School of Nursing, Thodupuzha, Kerala, India. She upgraded her nursing degree to a Bachelor's (1999) and then to a master's level (2001) from the reputed Manipal University (Manipal Academy of Higher Education), Karnataka, India. In her MSN, she majored in Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, and Child Health Nursing and continued her nursing career as a lecturer in nursing in India. In 2002, through government recruitment, she migrated to Jamaica, where she continued her nursing education journey for 22 years. In Jamaica, she worked as a clinician in pediatric and medical-surgical areas and as an educator at the University Hospital of the West Indies, the University of Technology, and the University of the West Indies. In 2022, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree from Walden University, USA, in pursuit of excellence in nursing education and practice. In 2024, Dr. Balachandar relocated to Arkansas and worked as a registered nurse at Great River Medical Centre, Blytheville. She joined Arkansas State University in 2025 and is currently an Assistant Professor, mainly teaching Traditional and Post-RN BSN programs. Her expertise primarily lies in curriculum revision, curriculum development, the application of the nursing process, comprehensive patient assessment, mental health nursing, pediatric nursing, and care of adults and older adults.
