Christy McDonald Lenahan

Christy McDonald Lenahan has a career history in emergency care, with specific training and expertise as an emergency nurse practitioner. Her clinical practice includes five years as a staff emergency room nurse, three as a charge nurse and 12 years as a family nurse practitioner in the emergency room with a dual certification as an emergency nurse practitioner for the past two years.

She has served as PI or co-Investigator on several university funded grants and other non- funded research. In addition, she successfully implemented and completed projects, collaborated with other researchers, and produced several peer-reviewed publications from various projects. She has also authored several publications related to heart health and emergency care.

She is one of very few certified emergency nurse practitioners in the state of Louisiana and one of only 820 in the nation. As a mentor for NeuroRescue (no Re Cooling Tech) and actively practicing nurse practitioner, she helped to facilitate the relationship between NeuroRescue and Lafayette General Health. She is passionate about emergency care and applaud any efforts to decrease morbidity and mortality and improve quality of life.

More recently, Christy has transitioned into two new roles as a nurse practitioner including business ownership and practice in medical aesthetics and working with "vulnerable communities affected by HIV/AIDS, inequities in health care, homelessness, and substance use issues to change their lives by embracing a holistic approach to a healthy and self-determined life."

Doctor of Nursing Practice, 2014
University of South Alabama

Master of Science in Nursing (Family Nurse Practitioner Concentration), 2007
University of South Alabama

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 2002
University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Christy's research interests are in: 

• Heart failure,
• Quality improvement,
• Diabetes,
• HIV,
• Alternative therapies

Opportunities for Student Research/Collaboration:

Music Brings a Smile to My Face: Assessing the Effects of Familiar Music on Happiness in Older Adults Living in Long Term Care

• Lenahan, C. (Accepted for publication 2024). Innovations in the design of healthcare spaces – Alert: Considerations for incorporation of new innovations in healthcare. In D. Linton & K. T. McClung (Eds.), An introduction to inclusive healthcare design. Routledge.
• Morales, N., Landry, J., Lenahan, C., Santora, J. (2022). Autoimmune disease. In G. Merlo & K. Berra (Eds.). Lifestyle nursing (Ch. 19). Taylor & Francis Group.
• Lenahan, C., Harrington, D., Stueben, F. (2022). Sudden, Bizarre Behavior Leads to Diagnosis of COVID-19 Psychosis. Clinical Advisor. Advanced online publication. https://www.clinicaladvisor.com.
• Lenahan, C., Stueben, F., Harrington, D. (2021). Heart failure in patients with COVID-19. Clinical Advisor. Advanced online publication. https://www.clinicaladvisor.com/home/topics/cardiovascular-disease-information-center/heart-failure-patients-covid-19/
• Lenahan, C., Harrington D., & Steuben, F. (2021). SGLT2 inhibitors: What role do they play in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction? The NP. 46(7), 30-37. doi: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000757320.46017.20
• Littlefield, A., & Lenahan, C. (2019). Cholelithiasis: Presentation and management. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. 64(3). 289-297. doi:0.1111/jmwh.12959
• Lenahan, C., Hurst, H., & Littlefield, A. (2019). Recognition and management of secondary postpartum hemorrhage. Women’s Healthcare: A Clinical Journal for NPs.
• https://npwomenshealthcare.com/management-of-secondary-postpartum-hemorrhage/

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• 2023 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Student Center for Research, Creativity, and Scholarship Certificate of Appreciation and Recognition
• 2023 Leadership Institute of Acadiana Leadership Lafayette Class XXXVI Graduate
• 2023 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Leaf Award for Excellence in Research, Creativity, & Scholarship awarded to my Undergraduate Researcher, Julian Cecil (BSN Graduate, Fall 2022)
• 2022 Top Nurse Practitioner from Women in Medicine
• 2022 University of Louisiana at Lafayette LHC Group • Myers School of Nursing Col. Phillip and Jean Piccione 1951 Commemorative Endowed Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence
• 2021-2021 Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing Fellow
• 2020 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Outstanding Masters Mentor Award
• 2018 Nominee for the University of South Alabama College of Nursing Community Impact Award
• 2017-2018 University of Louisiana at Lafayette Rising Star Award in Research Recipient
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