Assistant/Associate Professor of Nursing (PMHNP or FNP)

Posting Details

Posting Details

Posting Number: 0603090 Recruitment Type: Open to All Applicants Position Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Nursing (PMHNP or FNP) Position Type: Faculty Benefits Status: Benefits Eligible FLSA: Exempt Hiring Range: $133,333 - $146,667 for 12 months + benefits package. Location

PLU Tacoma Campus

Department: Nursing, School of Posting Date: 06/16/2026 Closing Date Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Work Schedule:

Full-time, tenure-track assistant professor position available September 1, 2026. May include some early mornings, evenings, nights, and weekends.

General Description:

PLU's School of Nursing is seeking candidates to fill a full-time tenure-track position. The position will primarily teach in the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner graduate program or family nurse practitioner program, and may be required to teach in the undergraduate program (highly preferred psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner). Regularly scheduled courses will include teaching care of psychiatric complex conditions, nursing care with individuals/families/community health, continuity of care, skills labs, and simulation or clinical courses.

Our School of Nursing is committed to building a diverse and inclusive academic community to better serve the health care of our diverse geographic community. We welcome applications from individuals whose backgrounds and/or interests align with this commitment and who foresee how this commitment impacts their research, teaching, and service. We have graduated BSN-prepared nurses for over 70 years as well as educating nurses at the graduate level for two decades. PLU graduates are well respected throughout the Puget Sound area as demonstrated by a 100% employment rate within 6 months of graduation.

Teaching-related responsibilities include coordination of the course activities for didactic/hybrid, lab, simulation and clinical components (if applicable); communicating with clinical and lab faculty associated with the course; and teaching and evaluation of students via clinical supervision and/or instruction. Additional responsibilities include advising and teaching across programs as well as participating in school of nursing committees and meetings, evaluation activities for the program, university service, and additional school activities, such as pinning, graduation, and orientation.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Effectively teach assigned courses.
• Collaborate with course faculty in implementation of didactic/hybrid, lab, and clinical content of courses and in the evaluation of students in those courses. Communicate with students, staff, faculty and supervisors in an effective manner. Communicate with the program coordinators regarding any questions, concerns, and changes to ensure continuity of program outcomes.
• Supervise and instruct students in lab and clinical settings as assigned. Participate in SON committees as assigned, attend meetings and collaborate on committee activities.
• Attend PLU faculty assembly meetings and participate in university service.
• Perform other related duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of patient simulation, technologies and applications.
• Knowledge of the RN and APRN Scope of Practice standards for Washington State.
• Knowledge of and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including demonstrated skill in working effectively with diverse faculty, staff, and student populations.
• Understanding of adult teaching/learning principles. Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to provide course leadership.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Working knowledge of how to use MS software applications including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as the Google platform and other internet and database applications.

Required Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree (PhD, DNP). ABD will be considered, but a doctorate degree must be in hand by the date of appointment.
• At least one graduate or doctoral degree must be in nursing.
• Hold unencumbered or be eligible for endorsement for RN license in WA, hold a license in a US state.
• Hold unencumbered ARNP license in WA state (PMHNP or FNP, or FNP & PMHNP Dual Certified).
• 1 or more years clinical experience in related area.
• A record of scholarly productivity or a demonstrated capacity to develop a strong scholarly trajectory.
• Applicant must be legally eligible to work in the United States on hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship.
• Finalist applicants must satisfactorily complete pre-employment background checks.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in education.
• Specialty certification.

Work Conditions:

Conditions vary by course and include a variety of clinical practice settings.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to meet essential qualification to participate in student clinical rotations in any setting.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

To apply, submit the following materials:

Cover letter summarizing your knowledge, skills and abilities for the position;

Diversity statement in which you describe how you will contribute to advancing diversity and equity related concerns through your teaching, research and/or service;

CV; and

Three professional references including contact information.

For questions or more information, please contact: Heather C. King, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, Search Committee Chair, at heather.king@plu.edu.

Other Information:

Pacific Lutheran University purposefully integrates the liberal arts, professional studies and civic engagement in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Our faculty lead with a bold commitment to expanding well-being, opportunity, and justice and instill this commitment in their students. PLU educators work to create an environment where students feel heard and valued, nurturing lifelong learners who aren't afraid to do things differently to make the world better for everyone. PLU supports faculty as they help students turn ambition into purpose, skills into tools, and their caring into a transformative force.

Because PLU is a community committed to the creation and advancement of knowledge through diversity and inclusion, the university actively recruits a faculty, staff, and student body from all religions, races, socioeconomic groups, sexual orientations, and gender expressions and from all over the world. For the 2024-25 academic year, 40.6 percent of PLU undergraduate students are from the first generation in their families to attend college; 48.0 percent self-identify as students of color; and 34.2 percent are Pell Grant-eligible.

Offering distinctive opportunities for global engagement, collaborative student-faculty research, and purposeful learning, our faculty guide 2,700 students from all faiths and backgrounds to discern their purpose through relevant coursework, inclusive mentoring, and internships at world-class Puget Sound-area businesses and institutions. PLU is located on a 156-acre woodland campus in the Parkland neighborhood of Tacoma, Washington and about 40 minutes south of downtown Seattle. The campus reflects consciously green practices and is in proximity to the natural beauty of Mount Rainier, the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, and the Puget Sound.

PLU administration supports and respects the strong culture of faculty-shared governance by working closely and collaboratively with faculty leadership to sustain and strengthen existing structures and procedures while working together on key institutional, academic and curricular decisions. PLU is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from members of historically underrepresented and marginalized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and others who would bring broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research, or other work activities. For general application questions or if you need accommodations at any point in the application and/or interview process, please contact the Human Resources Office at 253-535-7185 or humr@plu.edu. Click here for detailed benefits information.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Will you have a PhD or equivalent in hand by the date of appointment?

• Yes

• No

• • Will you have at least one graduate or doctoral degree in nursing in hand by the date of appointment?

• Yes

• No

• • Do you have an RN license in the State of Washington or the ability to obtain it before beginning employment?

• Yes

• No

• • Are you legally eligible to work in the United States on your hire date AND legally authorized to work in the United States for Pacific Lutheran University without sponsorship now and indefinitely into the future?

• Yes

• No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement
• List of Three References

Optional Documents