skip to main content
Give

Susan M. McLennon, PhD, ARNP-BC, CHPN

Susan M. McLennon
Susan M. McLennon, PhD, ARNP-BC, CHPN

Interim Dean

Professor

Curriculum Vitae

CV (PDF)

Contact

Campus/location: Bryan-College Station
8447 Riverside Pkwy
Bryan, TX 77807-1359
sue.mclennon@tamu.edu
Phone: 979.436.0558

Biography

Susan M. McLennon, PhD, ARNP-BC, CHPN, was named interim dean of the Texas A&M University School of Nursing in August 2022 after serving as the school’s executive associate dean. She also maintains a faculty appointment in the School of Nursing, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses.

A board-certified adult nurse practitioner and certified hospice and palliative care nurse, McLennon has been widely published on topics related to caregivers and neurocognitive disorders in older adults. Her work has been supported by multi-million-dollar grants from the National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, and more.

Prior to joining Texas A&M, McLennon was associate dean for faculty affairs and a tenured professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing. She has also taught and held leadership positions in the nursing schools at the University of Tennessee, Indiana University and the University of Florida.

McLennon earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Central Florida, Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida and PhD in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was also a post-doctoral fellow and scholar in medical ethics at Indiana University.

McLennon holds membership in several professional organizations, including the National Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence Organization and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association.

Education and Training

  • Indiana University, Post-Doctoral Scholar/Fellow: Medical Ethics
  • University of Alabama, PhD, Nursing
  • University of Florida, MSN
  • University of Central Florida, BSN

Professional Certifications

  • Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN), 2019 to present
  • Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner, American Nurses Credentialing Center, 1998 to present
  • Registered Nurse, 1985-present

Awards, Recognition and Service

  • Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing (NHCGNE), 2020
  • Indiana University School of Nursing, Dean’s Faculty Award for Innovation, 2016

Memberships

  • National Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group, member, 2018 to present
  • National Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence Organization, member, 2018 to present
  • International Dementia Scholars Collaborative, member, 2016 to present
  • Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, member, 2013 to present

Representative Publications

Refereed Publications
Lopez, R. P., McCarthy, E. P., Mazor, K. M., Hendricksen, M., McLennon, S. M., Johnson, K. S., & Mitchell, S. L. (Epub ahead of print 2021). ADVANCE: Methodology of a qualitative study, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 10.1111/jgs.17217

McLennon, S. M., Davis, A., Covington, S., & Anderson, J. A. (2021). “At the end we feel forgotten”: Needs, concerns, and advice from blogs of dementia family caregivers. Clinical Nursing Research, 30(1), 82-88. https://doi.org/10.1177/1054773819865871

Carcello, K. & McLennon, S. M. (Epub ahead of print 2020). “Personal roadmap for recovery:” Examining the therapeutic use of weblogs by stroke survivors with aphasia. Disability and Rehabilitation. https://doi:10.1080/09638288.2020.1812122.

Brewster, G., Bonds, K., McLennon, S. M., Moss, K., Epps, F. & Lopez, R. (2020). Missing the mark: The complexity of African American dementia family caregiving. Journal of Family Nursing, 26(4), 294-301. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840720945329

Riggins, J., & McLennon, S. M. (2020). Testing a musical game activity for community-dwelling older adults. Home Health Care Management & Practice, 32(1), 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/1084822319868703

Krautscheid, L., Mood, L., McLennon, S. M., Mossman, T., Wagner, M. & Wode, J. (2020). Examining relationships between resilience protective factors and moral distress among nursing students. Nursing Education Perspectives, 41(1), 43-45 doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000471

McLennon, S. M., Anderson, J., Epps, F., & Rose, K. (2020). “It’s just a part of life”: African American daughters caring for parents with Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Women and Aging,32(2), 168-182. doi 10.1080/08952841.2018.1547002

McLennon, S. M., Rogers, T., & Davis, A. (2019). Predictors of hospital nurses’ cultural competence: The value of diversity education. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 50(10), 469-474. doi: 10.3928/00220124-20190917-09

Reynolds, S. S., Murray, L., McLennon, S., Ebright, P., & Bakas, T. (2018). Implementation strategies to improve knowledge and adherence of spinal cord injury guidelines. Rehabilitation Nursing, 43(1), 52-61.

Krautscheid, L., DeMeester, D., Orton, V., Smith, A., Livingston, C., & McLennon, S. M. (2017). Moral distress and associated factors among baccalaureate nursing students: A multisite descriptive study. Nursing Education Perspectives, 38(6), 313-319.

Cullen, D., Shieh, C., McLennon, S. M., Pike, C., Hartman, T., & Shah, H. (2017). Mentoring non-tenured track nursing faculty: A systematic review. Nurse Educator, 42(6), 290-294.

Scarton, L. J., Bakas, T., Miller, W. R., McLennon, S. M., Huber, L. L., & Hull, M. A. (2017). Development and psychometric testing of the Diabetes Caregiver Activity and Support Scale. The Diabetes Educator, 43(5).

Keen, A., McCrate, B., McLennon, S. M., Ellis, A., Wall, D., & Jones, S. (2017). Influencing nursing knowledge and attitudes to positively impact care of persistent pain patients in the hospital settings, Pain Management Nursing, 18(3), 137-143.

Reynolds, S. S., McLennon, S. M., Ebright, P., Murray, L., & Bakas, T. (2017). Program evaluation of neuroscience competency programs to implement evidence-based practices. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 23(1), 149-155.

Reynolds, S., Murray, L., McLennon, S. M., & Bakas, T. (2016). Implementation of a stroke competency program to improve nurses’ knowledge of and adherence to stroke guidelines. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 48(6), 328-335.

Reynolds, S., Bakas, T., Murray, L. L., McLennon, S. M., & Ebright, P. R. (2016). Implementation strategies to improve critical care nurses' knowledge of and adherence to evidence-based guidelines. IUPUIScholar Works Repository. http://dx.doi.org/10.7912/C2R59D; https://scholarworks.iupui.edu/handle/1805/9784

Cullen, D., Shah, H., Pike, C., Shieh, C., & McLennon, S. (2016). Intersecting relationships: Meta-synthesis of nursing faculty mentoring experiences. In Dominguez, N. & Alexander, D. (Eds.), 9th Annual Mentoring Conference Proceedings: Developmental networks: The power of mentoring and coaching. (pp. 1172-1178). University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM.

Bakas, T., Jessup, N., McLennon, S. M., Habermann, B., Weaver, M. T., & Morrison, G. (2016). Tracking patterns of needs during a telephone follow-up programme for family caregivers of persons with stroke. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38(18), 1780-90.

McLennon, S. M., Hancock, R. D., Redelman, K., Scarton, L. L., Riley, E., Sweeney, B., Habermann, B., Jessup, N. M., & Bakas, T. (2016). Comparing treatment fidelity between study arms of a randomized controlled clinical trial for stroke family caregivers. Clinical Rehabilitation, 30(5), 495-507.

Bakas, T., Austin, J. Habermann, H., Jessup, N., McLennon, S., Mitchell, P. Morrison, G., Yang, Z., Stump, T., & Weaver, M. (2015). Telephone Assessment and Skill-Building Kit for stroke caregivers: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Stroke, 46(12), 3478-3487.

Jessup, N., Bakas, T., McLennon, S. M., & Weaver, M. T. (2015). Are there gender, racial, or relationship differences in caregiver task difficulty, depressive symptoms, and life changes among stroke family caregivers? Brain Injury, 29(1), 17-24.

Lasiter, S. & McLennon, S. M. (2015). Nurse professional capital: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Nursing Administration, 45(2), 107-112.

McLennon, S. M., Bakas, T., Jessup, R. M., Habermann, B., & Weaver, M. T. (2014). Task difficulty and life changes among stroke family caregivers: Relationship to depressive symptoms. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 95(12), 2484-2490.

Welch, J. L., Thomas-Hawkins, C., Bakas, T., McLennon, S. M., Byers, D. M., Monetti, C. J., & Decker, B. S. (2014). Needs, concerns, strategies, and advice of daily home hemodialysis caregivers. Clinical Nursing Research, 23(6), 644-663.

McLennon, S. M., Bakas, T., Habermann, B., & Meuser, T. (2014). Content and face validity of the Marwit-Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory-Short Form in African American caregivers. Death Studies, 38(6), 365-373.

McLennon, S. M., Lasiter, S., Miller, W., Amlin, K., Chamness, A., & Helft, P. (2013). Oncology nurses’ experiences with prognosis related communication with advanced cancer patients. Nursing Outlook, 61(6), 427-436.

McLennon, S. M., Uhrich, M., Lasiter, S., Chamness, A., & Helft, P. (2013). Oncology nurses narratives about ethical dilemmas and prognosis related communication in advanced cancer patients. Cancer Nursing, 36(2), 114-21.

McLennon, S. M., Friesth, B., & Lasiter, S. (2013). Using principles from the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative to enhance foundational nursing courses: Outcomes from a curriculum project. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 3(4), 1-11. 10.5430/jnep.v3n4p1

Bakas, T., McLennon, S. M., Carpenter, J. S., Buelow, J. M., Otte, J. L., Hanna, K. M., Ellett, M. L., Hadler, K. A., & Welch, J. L. (2012). Systematic review of health-related quality of life models. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(134). 10.1186/1477-7525-10-134

McLennon, S. M., & Habermann, B. (2012). Accruing the sample: Strategies for recruiting older adult and African-American family caregivers. Applied Nursing Research, 25, e1-e6.

McLennon, S. M., & Habermann, B., & Rice, M. (2011). Finding meaning as a mediator of burden on the health of spouse caregivers in dementia. Aging & Mental Health, 15, 522-530.

Bakas, T., Li, Y., Habermann, B., McLennon, S. M., & Weaver, M.T. (2011). Developing a cost template for a nurse-led stroke caregiver intervention program. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 25, 41-46.

McLennon, S. M., & Habermann, B. (2010). Deciding to institutionalize: Why do family members cease caregiving at home? Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 42, 95-103.

McLennon, S. M. (2008). Pain assessment in older adults. Journal of Pain Management, 1(3), 223-230.

McLennon, S. M. (2007). Evidence-based guideline: Persistent pain management. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 33(7), 5-14.

McLennon, S. M. (2005). Persistent pain management: Evidence-based practice guideline. University of Iowa Gerontological Nursing Interventions Research Center, Research Translation and Dissemination Core.

Horgas, A. L., McLennon, S. M., & Floetke, A. (2003). Pain management in cognitively impaired older adults. Alzheimer’s Care Today, 4(4), 297-311.

McLennon, S. M., Smith, R., & Orrick, J. (2003). Recognizing and preventing drug-interactions in HIV positive older adults. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 29, 5-12.