Debra A. Cherubini, PhD, RN, a Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator with Salve Regina University

Get to know Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator Debra A. Cherubini, who practices in Newport, Rhode Island.

Debra, a registered nurse and nurse educator, currently serves as an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Nursing Department at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. 

She is responsible for recruiting faculty, conducting course overload recommendations, encouraging and fostering faculty scholarship and service, overseeing the development of necessary documents for the successful functioning of the nursing department, managing the nursing department’s budget, attending academic council meetings, scheduling and attending department meetings, acting as a liaison between the nursing department and administration, as well as collaborating on grants and other University-wide activities, among other duties and obligations. She also acts as both an adviser and role model for the students, assisting them in their journeys toward becoming successful licensed registered nurses.

When asked what her favorite part of her job/nursing in general is, Debra answered “The students, of course! It is wonderful to see students achieve that “a ha” moment when everything that they have learned clicks and they understand the importance of the application of the knowledge and clinical skills they have learned.”

In the early days of her academic career, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from Salve Regina University. She then went on to obtain her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree from the University of Rhode Island, followed by her Doctorate (PhD) degree in Nursing Education from Capella University‎ in 2015. 

In order to stay up to date in her field, Debra remains a member of several professional organizations, including the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing, the Rhode Island Nurses Association, the National League of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International and Local Chapter, and the Navy Nurse Corps Association. In addition, she is certified as a BLS Instructor, ACLS Instructor, Tobacco Cessation Instructor, HIV Instructor, Red Cross Instructor, Navy Instructor, and as an NR and R Instructor, among others. 

Among her various achievements, Debra served her country as a Navy nurse for 20 years, caring for service men and women on deployment. This allowed her to develop confidence that supported her when dealing with any challenge in her life.

In 2019, she was awarded “Nurse of the Year in an Academic Setting” by Rhode Island Monthly as part of the magazine’s annual Excellence in Nursing Awards.

A Registered Nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province, or similar licensing body to obtain a nursing license. RNs fulfill a variety of job duties. In addition to their primary role in treating and caring for patients, their responsibilities also include educating patients and the public about a variety of medical conditions, as well as providing emotional support and advice to the families of their patients. Other RN job functions include leadership, research, performing diagnostic tests and analyzing results, operating medical equipment, administering medications, recording patients’ symptoms and medical histories, and assisting with patient rehabilitation and follow-up.

A nurse educator is a nurse who teaches and prepares licensed practical nurses and registered nurses for entry into practice positions. They can also teach in various patient care settings to provide continuing education to licensed nursing staff. 

Learn More About Debra A. Cherubini:

Through her online profile, https://todaysnurse.org/network/index.php?do=/4145776/info/ or through Salve Regina University, https://salve.edu/users/dr-debra-cherubini

Karen Johnson

Karen Johnson is an Associate Content manager for FindaTopDoc and responsible for working with distinguished physicians in documenting their significant accomplishments in their field. Karen is a CPR instructor and is a member of her local theater group.