SheriDawn Neilson

SheriDawn Neilson is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at Southern Utah University (SUU). Her career spans clinical nursing roles, including flight nurse with Classic Air Medical, and now focuses on nursing education. She holds a Master’s in Nursing (Education) from Walden University (2015) and a Bachelor’s from SUU’s nursing program (2007).

Her expertise includes critical care, trauma air transport, and emergency nursing, complemented by certifications such as Certified Flight RN (CFRN) and Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN). She emphasizes practical, real-world teaching methods, leading community-focused courses like Pharmacology and Population Care. Neilson also organizes immersive learning trips to the Dominican Republic.

While prioritizing full-time academic duties, she maintains part-time work as a flight nurse. Her teaching philosophy centers on lifelong learning in healthcare, stressing ongoing education for nurses amid rapid field changes.

Notable achievements include mentoring students to discover career passions, such as guiding a student toward flight nursing through disaster drill participation. She actively bridges theory and practice, tailoring support to student strengths and growth.