Bio
Dr. Jennifer Couvillon is an experienced nursing educator and innovative leader, specializing in critical care nursing, professional development, accreditation and academic-hospital-community partnerships.
Beginning her career in the cardiac intensive care unit at Georgetown University Hospital, Dr. Couvillon developed a deep understanding of what it means for a patient to receive critical care. This developed into her passion ensuring nurses feel cared for so they can care for others. Her goal is for nurses to be able to thrive and sustain a lifelong career as a professional nurse. Dr. Couvillon leans into her faith as the foundation for why she believes caring for humans is our past, present and future.
Today, she is the president of Nursing Career Care, LLC which invented the dynamic “Nursing Career Care Plan.” A tool designed to support the novice to expert nurse with career progression. Her most recent academic appointment was National Director of Partnerships for Chamberlain University. She served as Campus President in Louisiana and opened Chamberlain University’s New Orleans Ochsner Health in 2017 and Louisiana Children’s Medical Center campus in 2021. The innovative academic-hospital partnership models embedded the college of nursing in major health systems to help address the nursing shortage through hands-on opportunities. She designed the Academic-hospital partnership creating the LCMC Called to Care program and the OH Heart of Healthcare scholarship program for Chamberlain students in LA.
Prior to joining Chamberlain University in 2017, Dr. Couvillon was the Assistant Vice President of Nursing for the Ochsner Health System in Louisiana for 8 years. She served on their nursing leadership council and established the Department of System Nursing Professional Development.
Her higher education experience includes 12 years on the faculty of Louisiana State University’s School of Nursing and Georgetown University Medical Center. Her clinical expertise is Critical Care and ICU nursing. Her role in organizing study abroad programs to promote global nursing education earned her recognition in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society Nurse Chiron mentor program.
Dr. Couvillon holds a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing education from Duquesne University, a Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner) and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University and is a board-certified nurse (RN-BC) and a certified Nurse Educator (CNE). ANCC Certificate as Nurse Mentor and Advanced Nurse Leader.
Her academic research interests include Nursing Education and Technology. Her patient focused studies have focused on Neurological Diseases in the Geriatric population. Most Recently, Dr. Couvillon served as Co-PI and Nurse Consultant for the NIH LA-MS Geriatric Workforce Education Program 2019-2024. Additional Research Activities include: NIH NINR Career Planner for Nursing 2018; Director of the Ochsner Health Center of Nursing Research and Community Training Center - American Heart Association 2009-2017; National League for Nursing Grant Reviewer 2010; NINR Technology Trends in School of Nursing Grant 2007; NLN ETIMAC Technology Research National League for Nursing Grant 2006; Title X Family Planning Award, LSUHSC School of Nursing; Title X Public Health Service Act 2006;
Distance Education Research Grant, Louisiana State University Health Center School of Nursing HRSA 2006; PI AEN HRSA Masters in education Track Program Grant 2008-2010; City of New Orleans Technology Grant Health Care Services 2005; National League for Nursing Research Grant 2003; New Orleans District Nurses Association Research Grant 2003; Women’s Interagency HIV Study, NIH 1998.
She serves as the American Red Cross Divisional Nurse Lead for the Southeastern United States (AZ,CO,NM,NV,OK,TX,UT,WY). Dr. Couvillon coordinates Academic-Volunteer Partnerships and is past Board Chair for the Southeast Louisiana Red Cross. She is serving her second term on the Board of Directors for the Louisiana State Board of Nursing and is the Graduate Award Chair for the Louisiana Nurses Foundation. Dr. Couvillon served as a National League for Nursing CCNE Commissioner and Academic Program reviewer and President for the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honors Society, New Orleans District Nurses Association and Louisiana League for Nursing.
Her many accolades include being named a New Orleans City Business Great 500 in 2025, 2023, American Red Cross Nurse Volunteer of the year 2022, Louisiana State Nurse Association School Administrator of the Year Nominee 2022, New Orleans City Business Women of the year 2020;2012; and Louisiana State Nurse Association Nightingale Nurse Administer of the year in 2019. She was named National League for Nursing Ambassador 2016; 2014, Ochsner Health System Leader 2015, National League for Nursing Ambassador 2016; 2006; National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator Award in 2007. Dr. Couvillon has served as President and Chair of many boards in LA and nationally, including Sigma Theta Tau, Association for Nursing Professional Development and the National League for Nursing.
