Lori S. McGrath, DNP, M.Ed., CRNP, ACNP-BC

Lori S. McGrath, DNP, M.Ed., CRNP, ACNP-BC
Assistant Professor
JSU South Complex
lmcgrath@jsu.edu

Lori Sumner McGrath earned an Associates of Science in Nursing (1974) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (1982) from Samford University, a Master’s in Education with a Certificate in Health Care Administration in 1986 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Science in Nursing in the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Track from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2005 and a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2010.

Dr. McGrath joined Jacksonville State University in 2017 as an Assistant Professor in the BSN to DNP Nurse Practitioner program. Prior to joining JSU, she spent 10 years in clinical practice in the Medical and Cardiac Intensive Care Units. Dr. McGrath spent the next 15 years managing the following patient care areas: Emergency Services, Psychiatric inpatient (geriatric, adolescents, and outpatient programs), Women and Children’s Care units and One Day Surgery unit. She then transitioned to Baptist Health Systems Corporate office where she developed a system-wide Leadership and Management program, that included a simulation lab, and provided oversight for the manpower planning program to ensure retention and replacement of key clinical positions. Dr. McGrath was recruited to Cullman Regional Medical Center to serve as the Vice President of Patient Care Services from 1995 – 1999 when she chose to return to bedside nursing and begin pursuing her nurse practitioner license.

During her tenure at Baptist Medical Center Montclair, she served on the Construction Planning team for a 90-bed addition to the hospital which included a 28-bed Emergency Department, 12-bed Coronary Care Unit, 12-bed Medical Intensive Care Unit, 15- bed Open Heart Intensive Care Unit and 12-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. McGrath has had the honor of serving as the President of the National Student Nurses Association 1977 and as the President of the Alabama Association of Nursing Students in 1976. She has served on multiple boards with interests in serving populations with memory loss diseases, cancer-related diagnoses, and those populations under-served by the health care system.
Dr. McGrath and her husband, an Electromagnetic Interference Engineer at the Huntsville Space Center, reside in Cullman, AL. They have five adult children and eight grandchildren. When not working they enjoy riding their Gold Wing motorcycle, traveling and spending time with family.

Dr. Lori McGrath

Courses Taught

DNP 796, DNP Project Planning and Development
DNP 797, DNP Clinical Residency I
DNP 798, DNP Clinical Residency II
DNP 799, DNP Clinical Residency III
NU 540, Population Health I
NU 545, Population Health II
NU 613, Physio-Pathological Basis of Advanced Nursing
NU 669, Advanced Adult Gerontology Acute NP Practicum I
NU 671, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Issues for ANP
NU 673, Advanced Adult Gerontology Acute Care Practicum II
NU 675, Advanced Adult Gerontology Acute NP Practicum III
NU 702, BSN-DNP Online Orientation
NU 707, Scientific Underpinnings of Advanced Nursing Practice
NU 708, Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Healthcare
NU 710, Healthcare Policy and Finance
NU 712, Clinical Prevention & Population Health
NU 713, Organization & Systems Leadership for APN
NU 715, Innovative Leadership and Collaboration in Healthcare
NU 716, Inter-professional Health Care and Informatics

Academic/Research Interests

McGrath, L. S. (Author & Presenter), CRMC Winter Nursing Update, "The Role of the Nurse in Providing Care to Palliative Care Patients," Cullman Regional Medical Center, Cullman AL. (November 20, 2019).

McGrath, L. S., 2019 Annual NONPF Conference, "Using Online Student-Led Debates to Enhance Critical Thinking Skills and Promote Civil Communication," National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty, Atlanta, Georgia. (April 4, 2019).

McGrath, L. S., WSCC Annual Alumni Connections 2018, "Heart Failure Update," Wallace State Community College of Nursing, WSCC, Hanceville, AL. (April 27, 2018).

McGrath, L. S., "Going for the Gold" in Hospice and Palliative Care, "Complex Palliative Care Case Study Presentation," Alabama Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Cullman Regional Medical Center. (March 17, 2018).

McGrath, L. S. (Author & Presenter), Closing the Gaps in Women's Health: An Inter-Professional Conference, "UNDERSTANDING HEART FAILURE & GAPS IN WOMEN’S HEALTH," Office of Women's Health - Alabama State Department of Health, Bruno's Conference Center in Birmingham AL. (August 4, 2017).A

Education

  • Nurse Educator Certificate, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville AL - 2018
  • DNP, University of Alabama in Huntsville, AL - 2010
  • MSN, University of Alabama in Huntsville, 2005
  • MA, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL -1986
  • BSN, Samford University, Birmingham, AL - 1982
  • AS, Samford University, Birmingham, AL - 1977