Donna Lister

Professor of nursing/Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Southern Utah University

  • Cedar City UT

Specializing in nursing education and educational processes, rural health and current issues in nursing and health care.

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Biography

Donna Lister is a professor at Southern Utah University and a primary care provider as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Her areas of interest include nursing education, educational processes, and rural health.

She has many years of nursing practice and experience in nursing education. Her areas of practice include primary care, acute care, long-term care, public and community health.

Lister is nationally certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner and practices as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. She is also a Certified Nurse Educator.

Lister earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Utah and her Master of Science in Nursing from Brigham Young University. She completed her Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in higher education from Walden University.

Spotlight

2 min

SUU Nursing Program Earns Continuing Accreditation

Continuing a path of excellence, Southern Utah University’s Department of Nursing has been re-accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The CCNE reviews each program and how well it meets the standards of baccalaureate nursing programs. This year marks fifteen years of accreditation for SUU’s Nursing program. “We are pleased to announce the accreditation that will take us through 2030,” said Dr. Donna Lister, department chair and professor of nursing at SUU. “It is a demanding and dynamic endeavor to educate nurses in our current environment. The faculty and staff at SUU have met that challenge and maintained the high quality of our educational experience for our students. I am grateful to work with excellent faculty, staff, and, of course, students.“ SUU Nursing’s dedication to students shows in the accolades the program has received. The program has been recognized by Colleges of Distinction for its high-impact approach to education and was also deemed the best public nursing school in the state. The online program was ranked #5 in the nation for the online bachelor’s degree in nursing among over 7,000 accredited institutions across the country. This acknowledgment is very impressive because only eight percent of schools in the U.S. earn a ranking position, much less rank in the top five. Additionally, in October, SUU was named as one of just three schools in the nation to receive the Skyfactor/Benchworks Nursing Education Impact Award. SUU Nursing was recognized for its high performance in the overall satisfaction of students. The Nursing program itself has also received endorsement from current students and SUU alumni over the years and boasts a 100% pass rate for the NCLEX exam for the Nursing Class of 2020.

Donna Lister

2 min

Colleges of Distinction Recognizes Southern Utah University’s Nursing Program

Known for being the best public nursing program in Utah, Southern Utah University’s Department of Nursing has received specialized recognition this year from Colleges of Distinction. Honored as a College of Distinction for its high-impact approach to education, SUU received additional recognition in nursing for a curriculum that is not only comprehensive in course material, but also in practical and soft skills development. “The nursing program at SUU provides students with the skills necessary to succeed in the healthcare environment,” said Dean Camille Thomas, dean of the College of Health Sciences at SUU. “Faculty are dedicated to instilling high expectations for academic success and excellence with compassion and tolerance.” As a guide for college-bound students, Colleges of Distinction conducts a detailed review of the programs offered through the University, and this year SUU was selected as a College of Distinction because of the exemplary work of the nursing, engineering, education and business programs. The nursing program offers a learning-centered education ensuring that graduates have the abilities to be successful, excellent, professional nurses. The department emphasizes patient safety, ethical decision making, civic responsibility and professional excellence. “I am not surprised SUU Nursing is recognized as a College of Distinction,” said Austin Marshall, recent graduate of SUU’s Nursing Program. “Staff members spent countless hours after class coaching me through difficult material and procedures. I performed skill after skill until I became comfortable and thorough in each one. I remember most developing friendships and building character through instructor-guided discussions. I always felt this program genuinely desired my success.”

Donna ListerCamille Thomas

Industry Expertise

Writing and Editing
Education/Learning
Research
Medical/Dental Practice

Areas of Expertise

Leadership
Teaching and Learning
Nursing and Health Care
Long Term Health Care
Historical Evolution of Nursing
Coping with Acute and Chronic Illness
Legal, Ethical and Moral Isssues in Health Care
Rural Health
Nursing Education
Health Care in Rural Communities
Mental Health Nursing
Priciples of Health Promotion
Learning Experiences in Nursing School
Current Public Health Issues
Primary Care

Education

Walden University

Education

Ph.D.

Brigham Young University

M.Sc.

Nursing

University of Utah

B.Sc.

Nursing

Accomplishments

Family Nurse Practitioner

Certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center

Certified Nurse Educator

Certified by National League for Nursing

Founding chair for the Department of Nursing

at Southern Utah University

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Affiliations

  • State Board of Nursing Education
  • Cedar City Hospital Medical Staff member
  • UONL ALC membership
  • National League for Nursing member
  • American Association of Nurse Practitioners member

Media Appearances

SUU Nursing Ranked #3 in Utah

SUU News  online

2018-03-26

“We have a program with qualified, experienced faculty members who love to teach and intelligent, motivated, and impressive students,” said Donna Lister, chair of the department of nursing. “This combination has produced results that have ranked us in the top nationally, and more importantly, prepared students to go into practice or into graduate programs with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to excel in their profession and their personal lives as they work and live in communities across the nation.”

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Southern Utah University offers new nursing program scholarships

St. George News  online

2016-04-30

"'Intermountain has been very generous,' said Donna Lister, associate professor of Nursing and the department chair at Southern Utah University. 'This donation is all about our students. If you don’t have to worry about how to pay for tuition it’s a huge load off your shoulders. We are so grateful for the additional opportunities this partnership offers our nurses...'"

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Event Appearances

Best Learning Experiences: Sharing the Perspective of New Practicing RNs

NLN Education Summit Poster Presentation, 2010  

Articles

Perspectives of Practicing Registered Nurses on the Importance of Learning Experiences in Nursing School

Walden University

2012

The personal accounts of practicing nurses are missing in the research literature concerning preparation for professional practice. The current and projected shortage of nurses in combination with the rapidly changing health care environment underscore the need for increased research on the best nursing education practices. The purpose of the study was to explore perspectives of practicing nurses about learning experiences in nursing school that best prepared them for practice...

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Courses

NURS 3140 Foundations of Professional Nursing

Introduces theoretical and practice concepts upon which nursing is based through exploration of professional writing, evidence-based practice, historical evolution of nursing, health teaching, and principles of health promotion.

NURS 3160 Essentials of Evidence Based Practice

Theoretical and research base for nursing practice. Understanding nursing theory; research critique and application to enhance nursing practice.

NURS 3240 Concepts in Mental Health Nursing

This course focuses on nursing concepts basic to mental health and wellness across the lifespan including common mental illnesses, therapeutic relationships, family dynamics, self-image/self-esteem, crisis intervention, group process, coping with acute and chronic illness, and stress management.

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