Patricia E. Leads

Programs and Courses Taught

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

MSN Family Nurse Practitioner Online

N679 online and N680 online 

About Me

My experience includes teaching for many years in the bachelor of science nursing program at California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI).  I taught theory content such as pharmacology, pathophysiology, advanced assessment and medical-surgical nursing to undergraduate nursing students. I have experience providing clinical supervision and evaluation for all levels of students in the medical-surgical areas as well as the critical care, emergency department and the simulation laboratory learning environments. I have experience teaching returning registered nurses in the extended education program at CSUCI both in classroom instruction and online instruction.  I have taught as a contractual adjunct nursing faculty in the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) graduate program at USF from January to May 2015. I also have experience teaching at Samuel Merritt University (SMU) in the family nurse practitioner (FNP) program as well as in the medical surgical program at SMU for juniors and seniors nursing students, both in clinical and in the simulation lab.

I have worked as an Advanced Practice Nurse and have had the opportunity to provide healthcare to various clients as a certified FNP and a Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialist. I have worked as a Director of a student health center that required budget preparation, as well as staff recruitment, hiring and evaluation of nursing and support staff.  I also implemented the role of the FNP-BC within this student health center and was responsible for the primary care of all students and urgent care services for faculty.  For many years I worked as a FNP-BC in Santa Barbara at the American Indian and Health Services clinic as well as the Student Health Center at the local community college. I have worked as a FNP-BC at the Santa Barbara Jail where I managed chronic disease states such as chronic heart failure, diabetes, asthma and hypertension.  I also managed minor sprains, minor trauma (post altercations), colds or flu ailments for both the male and female inmates. I also had a brief experience as a FNP-BC as a geriatric NP for Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara, CA for 6 weeks approximately one year ago. As a member of the geriatric team I provided care for geriatric patients in long term care facilities (five) in Santa Barbara. Further I have worked as a research FNP-BC at a small research clinic in Northridge California and have volunteered my time working at the women’s homeless clinic in Santa Barbara on various Fridays when needed. I worked part-time with this organization from 2011-2014. In this volunteer FNP-BC role for the medical clinic I provided primary care to the women utilizing the clinic. Most currently I am working as a Nurse Practitioner completing medical disability and compensation evaluations for our veterans in Concord CA.  I am responsible for the advanced physical assessment, a diagnosis list, ordering labs and diagnostic tests and referrals. This is done all in accordance with the Veterans Association requirements to assure each veteran has an accurate diagnosis list for identification of disability rating(s) and/or compensation. I communicate with all members of the health care team as appropriate which includes the veteran, and family members, personal physicians, physical therapists and others.

Education

I received my Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Michigan and my Master of Science in Nursing from Michigan State University. 

Teaching Interests

Advance Practice Nursing Students

Scholarly Interests

1) Strategies that optimize education effectiveness for online Family Nurse Practitioner students
2) Optimizing Health Outcomes for Women with Heart Failure 

Publications

Samuel-Nakamura, C., Leads, P., Cobb, S., Nguyen Truax, F., Hodge, F.S. (2017). Environmental Contexts of Vulnerable Populations: Implications for Nursing Practice, Research, and Education. Californian Journal of Health Promotion. Volume 15, Issue 2, pgs 75-78.

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

California Association for Nurse Practitioners 
American Academy of Nurse Practitioners 
Sigma Theta Tau International:  
Alpha Psi Chapter since 1998 and Gamma Tau since 2014

Community Service

Unsheltered Homeless Women
Veterans 

Honors & Awards

2008: Teaching Excellence Nomination (student nomination)
    California State University, Channel Islands
1996: Specialty Nurse of the Year: Honorable Mention
              Sparrow Health System, Lansing Michigan