Kristen Johnston
Associate Professor
Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing
1559 CHS Building 1
kcjohnst@samford.edu
205-726-4574

Kristen Johnston has loved Samford University since she was a student in the '90s. She now has the opportunity to teach the thread of caring that she learned as a student. Being a Moffett nurse involves loving others the way Jesus loves people. Kristen has always loved vulnerable populations from premature babies to pregnant teens. She now has the opportunity to teach students how to love and care for these populations through clinical practice. Jeremiah 29:11 is a verse she often thinks of when talking with patients and students. God has a plan for each life. She finds joy in helping students walk along the journey in which God has called them.  Kristen enjoys leading Bible studies, singing, running, and reading.  She is married to Latta who works as the ninth grade assistant principal at Homewood High school. They have 2 children. 

Degrees and Certifications

  • DNP, Troy University
  • MSN, family nurse practitioner, Samford University
  • BSN, Samford University
  • ASN, Samford University
  • FNP-BC, American Nurses Credentialing Center
  • COI (Certified Online Instructor), LERN

Expertise

  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Pediatric cardiology
  • Women’s health
  • Local missions

Awards and Honors

  • Don Craft Award
  • Sigma Theta Tau
  • Mann Fellow, 2018-19

Involvement

  • Alabama League for Nursing, past board member
  • Nurse Practitioner Alliance of Alabama
  • Sigma Theta Tau
  • Alabama Maternal Mortality Review Committee, member
  • National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, sexual health SIG member

Recent Publications

  • Bigham, A., Cunningham, J., & Johnston, K. (2017). Respite care for families of children with  disabilities: A university/faith community model. Journal of Christian Nursing, 34(1), 52-58.     doi: 10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000337
  • Johnston, K., Cunningham, J., & Buckner, E. (2017). Respite care camps: Helping parents & children with special health care needs. CompassPoint, 27(3), 10-13.
  • Johnston, K. (2019). Demonstrating love at crisis pregnancy centers. Journal of Christian  Nursing, 36(2), 74. doi: 10.1097/CNJ.0000000000000586

Recent Presentations

  • Johnston, K. (2014).  Sigma Theta Tau International Conference: An examination of stress in  parents of children with special health care needs: CampUs
  • Johnston, K. (2016).  National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners: An examination of  stress in parents of children with special health care needs:  CampUs
  • Bigham, A. & Johnston, K. (2017).  American Academy of Nurse Practitioners: Beyond the punch: Best practices and pearls for biopsy of the pigmented lesion in primary care
  • Samford University Interprofessional convocation: Celebration and Appreciation for Dr. Frances Oldham Kelsey (multiple faculty from the College of Health Sciences)
  • Cunningham, J., Johnston, K. & Worthington, M. (2019). Samford University Interprofessional  convocation:  Folic Acid, Birth Defects, and Faith
  • Cunningham, J. & Johnston, K. (2019). National Academies of Practice: Respite Care: An Interprofessional University/Faith Community Model