Summary
Julie Sawyer, MSN, RN, RHNC, is a Lecturer II and BSN Lake Tahoe Track Leader at the Orvis School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she teaches across undergraduate and graduate nursing programs. A U.S. Army veteran, Julie brings a strong foundation of leadership, service and discipline to her roles in both clinical practice and nursing education.
Julie is currently pursuing her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in Educational Leadership, with an anticipated completion in 2026. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing with a Nurse Educator focus from the University of Nevada, Reno and earned her Rural Health Nurse Certified (RHNC) designation in 2026. Her academic and professional work centers on curriculum development, rural health, culturally responsive pedagogy and strengthening clinical judgment in nursing students.
In addition to her academic role, Julie maintains active clinical practice as an Emergency Department Registered Nurse in a rural critical access hospital, where she specializes in triage, high-acuity care and rapid clinical decision-making. Her DNP scholarly project focuses on improving triage accuracy for patients presenting with chest pain in rural emergency departments.
Julie is actively engaged in curriculum transformation, grant-supported workforce initiatives and advancing Native American student success in nursing education. She contributes to multiple committees and leadership initiatives within the Orvis School of Nursing and the broader community, reflecting her ongoing commitment to equity, access and excellence in rural healthcare education.
Selected achievements, experience and qualifications
Education and credentials
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- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Educational Leadership (Expected 2026)
- Master of Science in Nursing, Nurse Educator
- Rural Health Nurse Certified (RHNC), 2026
- Certified in BLS, ACLS and PALS
Academic and teaching experience
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- Lecturer II, University of Nevada, Reno (2022–Present)
- Teaches across BSN and MSN programs, including clinical, didactic, simulation and online education
- Course coordinator for NURS 318 Skills/Lab
- Experience teaching nursing informatics, social justice, population health and clinical immersion
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Curriculum and program development
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- Lead contributor to accelerated, competency-based BSN curriculum with a rural health focus
- Aligns curriculum with AACN Essentials and NCLEX standards
- Integrates cultural humility and rural health competencies across courses
Clinical expertise
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- Emergency Department RN in a rural critical access hospital
- Experience in trauma response, triage and high-acuity care
- Background in acute care, clinic nursing, school nursing and long-term care
Scholarship and research
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- DNP Project: Improving triage accuracy for chest pain in rural emergency departments
- Co-author: Native Nurse Scholars Pathway (manuscript in preparation)
Grants and funded initiatives
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- Contributor: HRSA Nursing Workforce Grant
- Contributor: Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) Program
Presentations and recognition
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- Podium Presenter: Tribal Academy of Nursing: Elevating Native American Student Success (2025)
- Poster Presentation (3rd Place): Mae Orvis Healthcare Symposium
Leadership and service
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- Co-Chair, Tribal Success Committee
- Member: Undergraduate Curriculum Committee and Curriculum Transformation Task Force
- Faculty Practice, Simulation and Hiring Committees
- Executive Board Member, Eagle Valley Children’s Home
- Member, National League for Nursing
Military Service
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- U.S. Army Veteran; deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
- Leadership experience supervising personnel and managing logistics operations