Anita Fitzgerald

Anita Fitzgerald, PhD, RN, AGNP, CNE, is an Associate Professor in the CSULB School of Nursing, having taught at CSULB since 2005. She has worked as a nurse practitioner in primary care, and as an RN in medical-surgical nursing, cardiac care and the emergency department.

Dr. Fitzgerald’s research interests concentrate on nursing education and nursing professional identity development. She has studied the impact of COVID-19 on nursing education and student stress and anxiety. Her main focus is on nursing professional identity formation, looking at students’ understanding of the process, the factors that support or detract from it, and educational approaches that best support its development.

  • University of Northern Colorado
    • Greely, Colorado
    • PhD in Nursing Education
  • California State University, Long Beach
    • Long Beach, California
    • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
    • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
  • Mt. St. Mary’s College
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN)
  • Loyola Marymount University
    • Los Angeles, California
    • Bachelor of Arts in History

  • Certification in Nursing Education (CNE)

  • Nursing professional identity development
  • The influence of COVID-19 on nursing education
  • Global nursing education
  • Equity, inclusion and antiracism in nursing education

  • Member Sigma Theta Tau International, Iota Eta Chapter
  • Member National League for Nursing
  • Member Western Institute of Nursing
  • Member Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
  • Member International Society for Professional Identity in Nursing
  • SAGE Publishing Editorial Advisory Board