Susan Mortell

Susan Mortell, DNP, RN, CNL

Associate Professor

Program Director
Socials

Biography

For the past 30 plus years, Dr. Mortell has worked in varied nursing settings, which include medical-surgical nursing, community health, oncology, and psychiatry; currently, she serves as an associate professor and the current director of the Online RN-MSN program at USF.

Her courses include: Ethics and Health Care Policy, Community Health Nursing, Transitions to Graduate Education and Scholarly Writing, Assessment Across the Lifespan, Advanced Pathophysiology and Pharmacology, Informatics, and the MSN Internship. She has also taught practicum courses for BSN and RN-MSN programs as well as Evidenced Based Scholarship in the DNP program.

Dr. Mortell is especially appreciative of the Jesuit principles that serve as a foundation for this university. These principles and the culture at USF have kept her teaching here since 2003.

Expertise

  • Psychosocial Nursing
  • Organizational Culture
  • Community Health
  • Oncology

Appointments

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
  • Educational Technology Services Advising Board
  • Curriculum Committee Workgroup

Education

  • University of San Francisco, Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2014
  • California State University, Masters in Nursing Education, 2009
  • California State University, Bachelors in Nursing, 1998

Prior Experience

  • Nurse Coordinator, Lucille Packard Children's Hospital Home Pharmacy, Stanford, Ca
  • Resource Nurse, Stanford University Healthcare Center, Psychiatric Unit
  • Case Manager, Stanford University Healthcare Center, Home Care Department
  • Registered Nurse, Sequoia Hospital, Redwood City, Psychiatric and Alcohol and Drug Treatment Units
  • Registered Nurse, Watsonville Hospital Medical-Surgical Units

Selected Publications

  • Mortell, S. (2022, January). The alleged epidemic of social narcissism: Implications for nurse leaders. Nursing Administration Quarterly.
  • Mortell, S. (2021). The purported increase in social narcissism: Nursing implications. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing,59 (5).
  • Mortell, S. (2020). Logotherapy to Mitigate the Harmful Psychological Effects of Current Events. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing 58 (4).
  • Mortell, S. (2015, April). Assisting clients with disenfranchised grief: The role of a mental health nurse. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services 53 (4): 52-57.
  • Mortell, S. (2013, April). Delving into diversity-related conflict. Nursing Management, 44 (4). 28-33.

Additional Information

Presentations

  • Mortell, S. (2019, March 19). Understanding and addressing microaggressions in academic and healthcare settings. University of San Francisco School of Nursing and Healthcare Professionals. Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
  • Mortell, S. (2013, May 29). Gender in nursing: Challenging harmful patterns and exploring questions around power, privilege and unity. Presented to the Bay Area Chapter of the American Assembly of Men in Nursing at the University of California San Francisco Multicultural Center, San Francisco, CA
  • Mortell, S. (2013, March 23). Writing workshop on self-forgiveness. Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, San Francisco, CA
  • Mortell, S. (2012, December 4). Presentation and discussion on Culture and Conflict in the Healthcare Workplace in M. Virani (chair) Diversity Matters Continuing Education Class. Stanford University Medical Center Continuing Education Department. Stanford, CA.
  • Mortell, S. (2012, October 17). Presentation and discussion on book Conversations with Richard Purcell: The Adventures and Reflections of a San Francisco Renegade Priest. Guest speaker in M. DeNatale (professor) Nursing in the Jesuit Tradition class. University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.
  • Lambton, J., Mortell, S. O’Neill, S., Prion, S. & Torkelson, D. (2009, January). Faculty Orientation to Simulation One in G. DeBourgh (chair) Faculty Development Presentation. University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
  • Mortell, S. (2008, November). The new 2009 Joint Commission Standards on Dealing with Disruptive Behavior: How we as Nurse Educators Can Help Facilitate this Change. In M. DeNatale (chair) Faculty Development Presentation. University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.

Service

Service to the University of San Francisco

  • Serve on the Curriculum Committee Workgroup: Serve as the lead faculty and developed curriculums for N509 (Transitions to Graduate Nursing and Scholarly Writing), N505 and N506 (Community Health and Community Health Practicum) and N648 (Healthcare Policy and Ethics)
  • Serve on Educational Technology Services Advisory Board

Service to the Community

  • Volunteer for Legal Action for Women, a San Francisco based non-profit that assists low-income and vulnerable women who are facing challenges in the legal system (1999-present).