A Career Built on Firsts
Raymond "Austin" Nation, PhD, RN, PHN, NE-BC, has spent more than 40 years at the intersection of nursing practice, education, and advocacy. He is currently an Administrative Resource Nurse (ARN) / House Supervisor at Providence St. Jude.
He is the first African American male nursing faculty member in Cal State Fullerton's history.
He is also the Founder and First President of the American Assembly for Men in Nursing, Southern California Chapter — building community and representation in a profession that needed both.
In 2026, he was elected President of the Western Institute of Nursing, one of the most respected nursing research organizations in the western United States, and was inducted into the Western Academy of Nursing. He represents Academia on the board of the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) and serves on the Membership Committee in the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, which honored him with the HIV Educator Distinguished Service Award in 2025.
Education
2024 — Fullerton College — Associate in Arts, Theatre Arts (Drama)
2011-2016 — University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) — PhD, Nursing
2006-2011 — California State University, Fullerton — RN to BSN / Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Education
2004-2006 — Fullerton College — General Education for University admission
1979-1982 — Long Beach City College — Associate of Science, Nursing (RN Program)
LICENSURES & CERTIFICATIONS
Registered Nurse, California — licensed since 1982
Public Health Nurse, California
ANCC Nurse Executive, Board Certified (2024)
HIV Testing and Counseling Certified
Basic Life Support (BLS) / Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
Associate Professor — California State University, Fullerton (2023–present)
Assistant Professor — California State University, Fullerton (2016–2023)
Professor/Lecturer — San Francisco State University (2013–2016)
Clinical Adjunct Faculty — Samuel Merritt University (2013–2016)
Research Assistant — UCSF School of Nursing (2011–2013)
CLINICAL POSITIONS
Administrative Resource Nurse / House Supervisor — Providence St. Jude Medical Center (2023–present)
Clinical Administrative Supervisor — Keck Medical Center of USC (2020–2025)
House Supervisor — Anaheim Regional Medical Center (2017–2021)
Director of Nursing — Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Clinic, San Francisco (2016)
Health Educator — AIDS Services Foundation, Orange County (1998–2011)
Research
Austin's scholarly work sits at the crossroads of HIV, race, identity, and healthcare access. His current research examines how immersive theatrical drag storytelling can reduce HIV stigma and increase awareness — bringing his performance work and academic work into direct conversation with each other.
Selected Publications:
Nation, A., et al. (2024). Exploring healthcare access among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations in Orange County, California. Nursing Administration Quarterly.
Nation, A., Waters, C. & Dawson-Rose, C. (2022). Substance use experiences of HIV-positive and HIV-negative Black, non-Hispanic men who have sex with men. Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse.
Nation, A., Waters, C. & Dawson-Rose, C. (2018). Experiences and perceptions of Black men who have sex with men about acquiring HIV. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Austin has presented his research at major national and international nursing conferences, including:
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress — Indianapolis, IN (2025)
American Association of Colleges of Nursing ACE Symposium — Indianapolis, IN (2025)
Western Institute of Nursing Annual Conference — Salt Lake City, UT (2024)
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress — Dublin, Ireland (2017)
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress — Hong Kong, China (2014)
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association — Plenary Presentation, St. Louis, MO (2016)
Southern California Sexual Health Summit — Los Angeles, CA (2020)
HONORS & RECOGNITION
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care — HIV Educator Distinguished Service Award (2025)
Western Academy of Nursing — Inducted (2024)
ANCC Nurse Executive Board Certification (2024)
SAMHSA@ANA Minority Fellowship Program — Alumni of the Year (2019)
CSUF Faculty Recognition — Teaching (2019), Research (2021), Service (2023)
The DAISY In-Training Award (2018)
William Randolph Hearst/CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement (2010)
National Black Nurses Association — Lynne Edwards Research Scholarship (2014, 2015)
CSUF International Understanding Award (2011)
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
President, Western Institute of Nursing (2026–2028)
Board of Academia, Association of California Nurse Leaders (2025–present)
President, Association of California Nurse Leaders, OC/LB Chapter (2018)
Founder & President, SAMHSA@ANA Minority Fellowship Program Alumni Working Group (2016–2018)
Founder & Past-President, American Assembly for Men in Nursing — Southern CA Chapter
Founder & Past-President, CSUF Nursing Alumni Chapter
Founder & Past-President, CSUF Nursing Students Association
FACULTY PROFILE & PUBLICATIONS
