Drawn by the beauty and peacefulness of Humboldt County, Patricia Harris moved north from the San Francisco Bay Area. She was inspired to pursue nursing after becoming a fire fighter and first responder, answering many first aid calls. She completed her nursing prerequisites at College of the Redwoods before earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Humboldt State University. She continued her education at California State University, Sacramento, where she earned her Master’s Degree with an emphasis in Nursing Education and certification as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. She then was awarded a Betty Irene Moore Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, where she earned her PhD in Nursing. Her professional background includes extensive experience in Critical Care, Research, and Nursing Education.
Her teaching philosophy is rooted in helping students connect their studies to their personal and professional goals. She believes the most meaningful learning happens when knowledge and skills are applied in clinical practice. Students in her classes can expect to be challenged, supported, and empowered as they prepare for real-world patient care.
To succeed in nursing, Harris emphasizes the importance of empathy, active listening, and tenacity. “Stick-to-itiveness,” she notes, is one of the most essential qualities for both the Nursing Program and the profession. With a nursing degree, students open doors to countless career paths, from the hospital to community health, school nursing, research, education, and more.
What she enjoys most about teaching at CR is the students themselves, their curiosity, their questions, and those shared “Ah Ha” moments that happen in class and the clinical setting. “I love learning something new with my students every day,” she says.
At CR, Harris primarily teaches Medical-Surgical Nursing, but she also contributes to a variety of courses within the Nursing Program. In her free time, she loves being in nature and enjoying her family.