Leslie Van Dover, PhD, MScN, PN, RN, FNP-BC

Professor Emerita, School of Nursing

Photo of Leslie Van Dover, PhD, MScN, PN, RN, FNP-BC

Biography

Leslie Van Dover, MScN, PN, RN, FNP-BC, was educated at the Montreal General Hospital, University of New Brunswick, and University of Western Ontario, Canada, the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and APU. At APU since 1997, she chaired the MSN program for ten years. Van Dover has worked in obstetrics, neonatal, community health, faith community nursing (FCN), and as a nurse practitioner (NP). She taught undergraduate, master and doctoral courses in several universities over 40+ years. She has served on many APU committees, including Graduate Studies Council, Appointment, Rank and Contract (ARC), and Faith Integration Council. Van Dover's research interests include faith community nursing, spiritual care, and Primary Care. With Jane Pfeiffer, she developed a theory of spiritual care giving by FCNs and also a theory of how patients who are cared for by Christian FCNs experience spiritual healing. She has presented at many national and international conferences and published numerous articles. With Bonita Huiskes she studies spiritual care experiences of FNPs to discover how better to interpret and teach their practice to student NPs. Van Dover worked in Louisiana immediately following Hurricane Katrina with the Red Cross, and has accompanied students to both South Africa and Haiti on APU study abroad trips. Her current FNP practice is at a primary care clinic in Los Angeles and with a church-based mobile clinic in San Bernardino County.

Education

  • PhD Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1985
  • Post-Master's Family Nurse Practitioner, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, 2014
  • MScN Nursing Education/Parent-Child Nursing, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada, 1975
  • PN/FCN Faculty, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, 1997 & 2001
  • BN; University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada, 1973
  • Dip. Nursing, Montreal General Hospital School of Nursing, Montreal, Canada, 1970

Credentials/Certifications

  • Registered Nurse - Board of Registered Nursing State of California
  • Registered Nurse - College of Nurses of Ontario (CANADA) inactive
  • Nurse Practitioner Furnishing - Board of Registered Nursing State of California
  • Family Nurse Practitioner - AANPCP Certification

Academic Area

  • School of Nursing

Expertise

  • Faith Community Nursing
  • Health Promotion
  • Primary Care
  • Spiritual Care

Courses Taught

  • GNRS 506 – Spiritual Concept Analysis in Health Care
  • GNRS 513 – Advanced Nursing Practice Role
  • GNRS 597 – Comprehensive Examination Directed Study