Naila Russell

Assistant Professor of Practice and Chair of Graduate Programs, School of Nursing

Education

  • Northwestern Michigan College: ADN
  • University of Phoenix: BSN
  • University of Michigan-Flint: DNP

License/Certifications

  • Registered Nurse: MA, MD, MI
  • Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner: MA, MD, MI
  • Family Nurse Practitioner: ANCC

About Me

I have been affiliated with the graduate nursing program since fall of 2015. I have had the experience of teaching throughout the program as well as developing curriculum for a number of Nursing@Simmons courses.

As the Chair for Graduate Nursing I strive to uphold our missions and values, deliver a rigorous curriculum, and mentor students and faculty for excellence. I am passionate about the role that nurse practitioners play in shaping the health care system and believe that nurse practitioners are the future of primary care in the United States. My goal is for every Simmons graduate nursing student to leave our program prepared to advocate for social justice in health through patient care and professional leadership.

I strive to achieve this goal for myself in my clinical practice, professional advocacy, and post graduate education.

What I Teach

  • NURP 450: Healthcare Systems: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • NURP 670: Health Policy

Area of Expertise

  • Dermatology
  • Health Policy

Research/Special Projects

  • Fellowship in Health Policy and Media, the George Washington University Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement
  • Harvard Medical School Media and Medicine Program

Publications/Presentations

  • Living with COVID-19: voices from the grassroots. Journal for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000607
  • Why Nurse Practitioners Need Virgin River's Melinda Monroe, APRN The Journal for Nurse Practitioners 2020-04 | journal-article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.01.015
  • America Needs Nurse Practitioners to Advocate for Social Justice The Journal for Nurse Practitioners 2020-10 | journal-article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.06.024
  • Misinformation During COVID: How Should Nurse Practitioners Respond? The Journal for Nurse Practitioners 2021-04 | journal-article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.03.013
  • Structural Racism in America: A Summative Content Analysis of National Nursing Organization Statements. Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice 2022-04 | journal-article https://doi.org/10.1177/15271544221089657

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

  • Past President for the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland
  • Legislative Committee Chair for the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners
  • Legislative Committee member for Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland
  • Member of American Association of Nurse Practitioners History Committee