Laura James
Family Nurse Practitioner Program Director, Assistant Professor
Biography
My story at Bradley University began as an undergraduate nursing student. I enjoyed going through this program and felt it that I was well-prepared as an undergraduate nurse. I built life-long relationships and friends with several faculty members who I have stayed in contact with throughout the years. I began working as a nurse in the emergency department and trauma, which I loved! I continued my nursing education at Illinois State University and received my Master of Science in Nursing as a Family Nurse Practitioner. I began working as a family nurse practitioner in Peoria, IL and I continue to work one day at the same clinic. When I began teaching as an adjunct faculty instructor at Bradley University in early 2018, I quickly fell in love with connecting the nursing profession with teaching. I began as a full-time faculty instructor in the online family nurse practitioner program in Fall 2018. I am proud to be an alum at Bradley and I love that I returned to a great institution to teach future nurse practitioners.
Hobbies
Outside of work, I am a very busy mom of three happy, healthy, and energetic boys, Maxwell, Bentley, and Jackson. They are involved in several sports and we spend most evenings and weekends at practices or games. We love to be outside and love going to parks. I enjoy exercising, playing sports, running, and reading. I have been involved in a book club for the past 10 years and enjoy meeting with them each month.
Teaching
Dr. James currently teaches several different courses throughout the family nurse practitioner program. She has taught health assessment, theory, practicum, and professional aspects of the nurse practitioner courses. She also organizes the FNP Bootcamp each year for students to attend at Bradley University.
Scholarship
Presentations
James, L., & Friebohle, L. National Nurse Practitioner Symposium. From Strep to Symptoms: Understanding the PANDAS puzzle. (July 2025).
Flinn, L. Bradley University School Nurse Conference. Human Trafficking in Our Schools. Bradley University. (June 2024).
Flinn, L. DNP National Conference 2023, Implementation of an Updated Screening Tool to Identify Human Trafficking Victims in the Emergency Department, Doctor of Nursing Practice, National – virtual conference. (August 2023).
Publications
Flinn, L. (2024). Implementation of an Updated Screening Tool to Identify Human Trafficking Victims in the Emergency Department. Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice. https://doi.org/10.1891/JDNP-2024-0004
Lucia, R., Smith, K., Borton, R., & Flinn, L. (2024). Enhancing inclusivity: The crucial role of nurses in supporting students with special educational needs. Handbook for Educating Students with Disabilities. Springer Publishing.
Grants
Pilot-testing effectiveness HPV self-sampling kits for underserved women cervical cancer screening (Co-PIs, Patricia Saleeby and Ann Willemsen-Dunlap), Innovation for Health Competition
Service
Department: Dr. James is currently the chairperson of the Graduate Curriculum Committee.
EHS College: Dr. James is currently serving on the Curriculum and Regulations Committee and the Graduate Studies Council.
University. Dr. James has served as a Student Scholarship Expo judge yearly since 2023.
Professional: Dr. James is a journal reviewer for the Journal of Nurse Practitioners and the Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice. She also serves as a preceptor to family nurse practitioner students each semester and has served as a Doctor of Nursing Practice project mentor. Dr. James is a member of the National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF) and a special interest group for Program Directors through NONPF.
External: Dr. James serves as a member of the interprofessional and regional Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force. She has been a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society, Epsilon Epsilon since 2020, and Xi Pi since 2012. She also serves through her children’s school as a Parent Teacher Organization volunteer.
Dr. James also practices weekly as a family nurse practitioner in the Peoria area. She has been in this current job for more than a decade and thoroughly enjoys the office where she works. She enjoys being able to participate in patient care while teaching future nurse practitioners.
Licensures & Certifications
- National Organization for Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF)
- American Nurses Credentialing Center, Family Nurse Practitioner, 2013-present
- APN (Advance Practice Nurse), specializing in Family Practice
- Licensed Advanced Practice Nurse, Controlled Substance
- Registered Professional Nurse
- National League for Nursing Faculty Member
- Illinois State for Advanced Practice Nurses (ISAPN)