Simmons School of Nursing faculty are distinguished experts who regularly practice in their fields. Widely recognized for their expertise and achievements, they serve as leaders and consultants in a range of national and international health care settings. Faculty members teach both on campus and online courses.

While their fields of interest vary, the School of Nursing professors share a passion for teaching and mentoring students. They bring their expertise and experience to every class session, and as a Nursing@Simmons student, you will interact with these inspiring teachers in real time.

Request more information about Nursing@Simmons, or speak with an Admission Counselor at 1-855-461-7466.

Dr. Renee Bauer

PhD, MS, PMHNP-BC

Tanya Cohn

Ph.D., M.Ed., RN

Carmen V. Harrison

PhD, APRN, WHNP

Michelle Isacson

DNP, FNP-C, WHNP-BC

Chaluza Kapaale

PhD, RN, CNE, CNOR(E)

Eileen McGee

PhD, RN

Beth McVey

DNP, ACNP-BC, APRN

Patricia Rissmiller

DNSc, RN, PNP-BC

Naila Russell

DNP, FNP-BC

Dr. Heather Shlosser

DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Meredith Troutman-Jordan

PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FGSA

Dolores Wolongevicz

PhD, RD

Credentials: PhD, MS, PMHNP-BC

Primary Course Lead: NURP 426: Clinical Psychopharmacology Across the Lifespan 

Dr. Renee Bauer has more than 30 years of experience working in mental health areas and has served in higher education for over 16 years. She has had more than 30 articles published, and more than 50 national and international presentations. Her passion lies in adolescent mental health treatments and community service. Dr. Bauer has experience in leadership and several administrative positions, and has acquired many awards from college research to community service. She has also received more than $2 million in grant funding. While working at Simmons University since 2016, she has had the satisfaction of fostering a passion for research and continues to be on research committees in her state. Her practice is one day a week where she works passionately in an outpatient mental health setting.

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Assistant Professor of Practice
Foundational Courses Coordinator
Ph.D., M.Ed., RN

Tanya Cohn, Ph.D., M.Ed., RN, is an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Nursing at Simmons School of Nursing. She has been teaching at Simmons for the last three years, since the inception of Nursing@Simmons. Her teaching focuses on research across the life span and scholarly activities for developing best evidence. Dr. Cohn serves as the coordinator of the foundational courses for Nursing@Simmons. She also holds a voluntary faculty position with the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

In addition to her role in academia, Dr. Cohn works as a nurse scientist at Baptist Health South Florida in Miami, Florida. In this position she is able to assist with research development in the clinical setting with inter-professional care teams.

Dr. Cohn has completed multiple research studies individually and within inter-professional teams, which have included dissemination at the local, national, and international levels. Her research topics of interest include acute and family medicine outcomes; community risk factors; social determinants of health; cardiovascular risk in Hispanics; nursing-sensitive indicators; and healthy work environments, along with professional development.

Grafton, T., Bassett, A., & Cohn, T. (accepted for publication, 2017). The role of confidence in self-care of patients with a diagnosis of heart failure. MEDSURG Nursing.

Sherman, R. O. & Cohn, T. (2016). Improving your coaching skills. American Nurse Today, 11(5), 28–31.

Sherman, R. O. & Cohn, T. (2015). Boosting your influence. American Nurse Today, 10(12), 1–7.

Cohn, T. (2015, September). Strengthening nursing engagement in research and evidence-based practice with a successful MSN student research practicum. The Florida Nurse, 63(3), 15.

Cohn, T. & Llera-Lora, T. (2015). Using a peer-driven facilitative review process to establish feasibility and support ethical review of clinical research. Applied Clinical Research, Clinical Trials and Regulatory Affairs, 2(1), 7–11.

Thomasos, E., Forges, E., Judkins-Cohn, T., Nerey, J., Lindgren, C. L., & Spivey, S. (2015). Clinical partners’ perceptions of patient assignments according to acuity. MEDSURG Nursing, 24(1), 39–45.

Busse, J. C., Cohn, T. M., Butao, R., & Lamoureux, J. (2014). Association between severity of anemia and 30-day readmission rate: Archival data of 847 patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Advances in Nephrology, 2014, 1–6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/261531

Arinal, M., Cohn, T., & Avila-Quintana, C. (2014). Evaluating the impact of medication cabinets in patients’ rooms on a medical-surgical telemetry unit. MEDSURG Nursing, 23(2), 77–83.

Judkins-Cohn, T., Ward, J., Owen, M., Kielwasser-Withrow, K. K. (2014). Ethical principles of informed consent: Exploring the dual role of the nurse as care provider and research. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 45(1), 35–42.

Lozano, L., Barthold, M., & Judkins-Cohn, T. (2014). Using the Clinical Information System Implementation Evaluation Scale (CISIES) as a clinical implementation strategy. Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 32(3), 138–143.

Lamoureux, J., Judkins-Cohn, T., Butao, R., McCue, V., & Garcia, F. (2013). Measuring perceptions of shared governance in clinical practice: Psychometric testing of the RN-focused Index of Professional Governance (IPNG). Journal of Research in Nursing, 19(1), 69–87.

Harris, D. & Cohn, T. (2014). Designing and opening a new hospital with a culture and foundation of Magnet^®: An exemplar in transformational leadership. Nurse Leader, 12(4), 62–68, 77. 

Allen, R., Judkins-Cohn, T., deVelasco, R., Forges, E., Lee, R., Clark, L., & Procunier, M. (2013). Moral distress among healthcare professionals at a health system. Journal of Nursing Administration’s Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Regulation, 15(3), 111–118. 

Figueroa, S., Bulos, M., Forges, E., & Judkins-Cohn, T. (2013). Stabilizing and retaining a quality nursing workforce through the use of the Married State Preceptorship Model. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 44(8), 365–373.

Judkins-Cohn, T. (2010). Verbal abuse: The words that divide: Impact on patient care nurses and their perceived solutions. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research, 10(4), 1–14.

“I teach because I believe nurses and nurse practitioners are at the forefront of health care and in the position to lead evidence-based and patient-centered care. Therefore, I strive to incorporate clinically relevant examples in research courses to assist graduate students in strengthening their understanding and use of evidence to impact patient outcomes. It is my ultimate goal to empower my students to be change agents and scholarly leaders wherever they practice.”

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Professor of Practice
Master Course Lead of the Foundations Curriculum
PhD, APRN, WHNP

Carmen V. Harrison, PhD, APRN, WHNP is a Professor of Practice in the School of Nursing at Simmons University. She has been teaching at Simmons since 2016. Dr. Harrison serves as the Master Course Lead of the Foundations Curriculum.

Dr. Harrison’s clinical experience is varied and includes geriatric, medical-surgical, community health, and obstetrical nursing. She is certified as a women’s health care nurse practitioner by the National Certification Corporation and is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to underserved women.

Dr. Harrison’s research interests include assessing innovative curricular models, diversity in nursing education, and the menopausal experience. She has delivered numerous presentations for local, regional, and national nursing education conferences. Dr. Harrison is regarded as a leader among the nursing profession, as she was honored as a national Jonas Nurse Leader Scholar. She is a member of the National League for Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau International.

Harrison, C.V. (2018). Predicting success for associate degree nursing students in a concept-based curriculum. Teaching and Learning in Nursing, 13(3), 135-140. doi: 10.1016/j.teln.2018.01.005

Harrison, C.V. (2016). Evaluating the outcomes of a concept-based curriculum in an associate degree nursing program (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (UMI No. 10102709).

Harrison, C.V., & Pittard, S.K. (2015). Teaching-learning strategies in a concept based curriculum. In L. Caputi (Ed.), Innovations in Nursing Education: Building the Future of Nursing (Vol. 3, pp. 59-62). Washington, DC: National League for Nursing.

I teach because education is the key to success. Being able to assist students in achieving their dreams is a rewarding experience. Education can help to provide opportunities for so many. It can be life changing!

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Associate Professor of Practice

Dr. Beth McVey has over 30 years of nursing experience, in which she has served in clinical, leadership, and academic roles. She joined Simmons University as Adjunct Faculty in the Fall of 2018. Currently, she serves as the Course Coordinator for NURP 450/670.

Previously, she worked as the Advanced Practice Collaborative Leader for a large Emergency Medicine Corporation in Southern California. In addition, she was the Director of a New Graduate Emergency Nurse Practitioner Program in Los Angeles California, which included program development and evaluation.

Currently, she provides primary care at a clinic in Los Angeles, California.

Professional interests include; interprofessional practice relationships to improve patient outcomes, promoting women’s health and wellness, policy and advocacy for health care and advanced practice nursing.

McVey, B. A., Lopez, R., & Padilla, B. I. (2020). Evidence-Based Approach to Healthy Food Choices for Hispanic Women. Hispanic Health Care International. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415320921471

McVey, B. (2020). Be Alert for Kawasaki Disease. [Web exclusive]. American Nurse Today, 15(6).

McVey, B. 2019, Temecula Valley Hospital-Stroke Summit. Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA

McVey, B. 2018, Cardiovascular Symposium: Updates on Women and Cardiovascular Disease, Wilson Creek Winery, Temecula, CA

McVey, B. 2018, Celebrating Your Good Health, Temecula Civic Center, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2017, Empowering Women’s Health: Mind, Body & Spirit, Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce, South Coast Winery, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2017, Cardiovascular Wellness: An Ounce of Prevention, Temecula Valley Hospital, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2017, Women’s Heart Health, American Heart Association Event sponsored by Temecula Valley Hospital, South Coast Winery, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2016, Women in Business: Maintaining Health and Wellness in the Workplace, Temecula Valley Entrepreneur’s Exchange, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2016, Nurse Retention: A Recurrent Issue for Nurse Leaders, Temecula Valley Hospital, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2015, A Healthy Food Choices Program for Young Hispanic Women, TISU Clinic, Los Angeles, CA

McVey, B., 2015, Acute Vestibular Syndrome Versus Stroke, Emergent Medical Associates Presentation, Temecula Valley Hospital, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2013, Hypertensive Crises: Diagnosis and Management, Temecula Valley Hospital, Temecula, CA

McVey, B., 2009, Cardiomyopathy: Case Review, Beverly Hospital, Montebello, CA

McVey, B., 2000, Promoting Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

McVey, B., 2000, HIV/AIDS Awareness Project for Latino Adolescents, Venice Teen Clinic, Venice, CA

McVey, B., 1999, Pediatric Pneumonia, Grand Rounds, Harbor-UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

McVey, B., 1999, Pancreatic Trauma, Grand Rounds, Harbor-UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

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Nursing@Simmons Program Director
DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Heather Shlosser has more than 20 years of nursing experience, in which she has spent time in both clinical and academic arenas. Previously, she worked at Frontier Nursing University (FNU), as an associate professor in the FNP and PMHNP programs. At FNU, she also served as Program Director and developed and launched the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program.

Dr. Shlosser brings a wealth of clinical experience to her role as Program Director at Nursing@Simmons. She works in full-spectrum clinical practice as a certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP). She has a clinical focus in and passion for integrated behavioral medicine within primary care, psychopharmacology, addictions medicine, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness therapy. She has spearheaded the development and implementation of integrated behavioral health programs within primary care and specialty medicine for multiple healthcare organizations. Her clinical experience includes full-scope primary care and outpatient psychiatric care.

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Associate Professor of Teaching
Course Coordinator-Family Theory
PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FGSA

Meredith Troutman-Jordan is an Associate Professor of Teaching in the School of Nursing at Simmons University. She has been teaching at Simmons since 2013. Dr. Troutman-Jordan serves as the Course Coordinator for Family Theory in the FNP program, and also teaches Scholarly Inquiry and Nursing Research. 

Her clinical experience includes psychiatric mental health, gerontology, home health and acute care nursing. She is an American Nurses Credentialing Center certified Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist. Her research aims to identify and develop effective and personalized self-management strategies, tailored for the person living with dementia and their caregiver, to age as successfully as able. Her research and clinical practice strive to find and develop evidence-based interventions to promote optimal functioning, meaning, and purpose for each individual in the caregiving dyad.  

I teach because it is my responsibility as a nurse educator to pass on knowledge and skills that mentors shared with me as a new nurse. We have a critical shortage of skilled, compassionate nurses. If I can help future advanced practice nurses be a part of this solution, then perhaps I can pay it forward. It is exciting to see students experience ah ha moments and a joy to know I have made a difference. I find my work extremely rewarding. 

Community Engagement: 

Invited papers

Book chapters

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