Her Story
About Jeanette
Jeanette A. McNeill, RN, MSN, DrPH, ANEF, CNE, is a retired nurse educator, Professor Emeritus, and researcher with more than five decades of experience advancing nursing education, clinical practice, and public health. Throughout her distinguished career, she specialized in pediatric nursing, oncology nursing, nursing education, and advanced practice nursing, while helping prepare future generations of healthcare professionals for leadership roles. Passionate about lifelong learning and evidence-based practice, she has dedicated her career to improving nursing education through research, innovation, and the effective integration of online learning.
Dr. McNeill served on the faculty at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for 27 years before joining the University of the Incarnate Word, where she taught doctoral and master's-level nursing courses in epidemiology, research, nursing education, and advanced clinical practice. She concluded her academic career as Professor Emeritus at the University of Northern Colorado, where she taught graduate nursing courses, conducted research on technology in nursing education and online learning environments, and collaborated internationally to support nursing education initiatives. In addition to her academic appointments, she has contributed to professional organizations, chaired a Medical Protocol Committee within her senior retirement community, and remained an advocate for nursing research, faculty development, and high-quality patient care.
Dr. McNeill earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Louisiana State University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas School of Nursing, and a Doctor of Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She also completed Adult Nurse Practitioner training and holds the credentials of Registered Nurse (RN), Certified Nurse Educator (CNE), and Academy of Nursing Education Fellow (ANEF). Guided by the values of caring, knowledge sharing, justice, and inclusivity, she has devoted her career to mentoring nurses, advancing nursing scholarship, and promoting equitable, evidence-based healthcare for diverse populations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jeanette
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to perseverance, determination, and a commitment to lifelong learning. I returned to graduate school while raising three children and completed my doctorate because I remained focused on my goals despite the challenges. I also credit my strong educational foundation, intellectual curiosity, and the invaluable guidance of mentors who encouraged and supported me throughout my professional journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received came from my mother, who encouraged me to pursue work that I genuinely love. When you are passionate about what you do, it becomes far more than a job—it becomes a meaningful and rewarding vocation. True career satisfaction comes from finding purpose and fulfillment rather than focusing solely on financial security.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I encourage young women to build a strong educational foundation by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing before taking on additional family responsibilities whenever possible. Gain meaningful clinical experience early in your career, then continue your education through graduate study. Find a professional niche that inspires you—whether in teaching, advanced practice, clinical specialization, leadership, or research—and continue developing your expertise. Nursing needs more educators and researchers, and your contributions can help advance both patient care and the profession.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the greatest challenges facing nursing is establishing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing as the universal entry-level educational standard across all states. The profession also faces significant shortages of nursing faculty and researchers, making it difficult to educate the next generation of nurses and expand the evidence base for nursing practice. As healthcare becomes increasingly complex, there is a growing need for advanced education, evidence-based practice, and continued nursing research. These challenges also represent tremendous opportunities to strengthen nursing education, expand research, improve patient outcomes, and increase access to high-quality healthcare.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Caring has always been the foundation of both my professional and personal life because it reflects empathy, compassion, and our shared responsibility to support one another. I also value knowledge and the open sharing of information, believing that educating patients and colleagues leads to better healthcare decisions and outcomes. Justice, inclusivity, and equitable access to healthcare are equally important to me, and I believe every individual deserves compassionate, high-quality care regardless of their background or circumstances.
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