Summary
Dr. Christina Coss is a Reno native who was born and raised in Northern Nevada and has deep personal and professional ties to the community. She has been a registered nurse since 2006, beginning her career in acute and critical care settings, including cardiac intensive care and emergency nursing. Her experiences caring for patients with complex health needs inspired her to pursue advanced practice nursing.
A proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Coss has completed her nursing education at the University of Nevada, Reno, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Master of Science in Nursing, post-master's Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certificate, and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree through the University. She became a Family Nurse Practitioner in 2017 and later earned her Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner certification in 2025.
As a Family Nurse Practitioner, Dr. Coss focused much of her clinical practice on caring for underserved populations in a Medicaid primary care setting. During this work, she repeatedly encountered patients who needed mental health services but faced significant delays and barriers to accessing psychiatric care. Wanting to provide more timely, comprehensive care to her patients, she returned to graduate school to pursue additional education as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
While completing her psychiatric mental health training, Dr. Coss began teaching undergraduate nursing students during their final-semester clinical experiences. She quickly discovered a passion for nursing education and mentorship, particularly helping students bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world clinical practice. This experience ultimately led her to pursue a full-time faculty position with the University of Nevada, Reno, Orvis School of Nursing, where she joined the faculty in January 2026.
Dr. Coss earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in May 2026. At the Orvis School of Nursing, she teaches undergraduate nursing students in both the clinical setting and the classroom, including Pathophysiology and Pharmacology. Her teaching draws upon her diverse clinical background in emergency and critical care, primary care, and psychiatric mental health. She strives to help students understand not only the science behind disease and treatment, but also how that knowledge translates into compassionate, evidence-based care for the individual patient.
Her commitment to improving healthcare access in Northern Nevada continues through her work with the StreetReach program through Orvis School of Nursing. As the program's first Nurse Practitioner provider, Dr. Coss is helping develop clinical pathways and systems of care designed to bring healthcare directly to underserved and vulnerable individuals experiencing housing insecurity. StreetReach will also provide meaningful experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate nursing students, allowing them to participate in community-based care while developing clinical skills, cultural humility and a deeper understanding of health disparities and the barriers vulnerable populations face when accessing healthcare. Through these experiences, Dr. Coss hopes to help prepare future nurses and advanced practice nurses to confidently care for underserved populations and recognize the important role nurses can play in improving healthcare access within their communities.
In addition to her faculty and community health work, Dr. Coss continues to practice as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at a local crisis center. Maintaining an active clinical practice allows her to remain connected to patient care while bringing current clinical experiences and perspectives into the classroom.
For Dr. Coss, educating nurses and serving the Northern Nevada community are deeply connected. Reno is not only where she has built her career, but where she and her family call home. Having received her own nursing education at the University of Nevada, Reno, she is especially invested in preparing the next generation of nurses and advanced practice nurses who will care for this community. She is committed to strengthening Northern Nevada's healthcare workforce by educating, mentoring, and supporting nurses who will continue to serve the region.
Professional interests
- Reducing barriers to healthcare
- Caring for vulnerable and underserved populations
- Integrating physical and mental healthcare
- Preparing future nurses to provide knowledgeable, compassionate care to the communities they serve
Education
- Doctor of Nursing Practice, University of Nevada, Reno (2026)
- Post-Master's Certificate, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, University of Nevada, Reno
- Master of Science in Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Nevada, Reno
Professional certifications
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (2025)
- Family Nurse Practitioner (2017)
- Registered Nurse (since 2006)