Norma Avitua-Ovalle, PhD, MBA, BSN, RN
Assistant Professor/Clinical
With 37 years of professional experience to her credit, Norma Annette Avitua-Ovalle is a proven expert in the health care industry. Specializing in nursing practices, she has operated as a registered nurse administrator and a registered nurse. Dr. Avitua-Ovalle accrued a wealth of experience by honorably serving in the United States Army as a medic and licensed vocational nurse. She pursued a formal education at The University of Texas at Arlington, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2014. Furthering her graduate studies at Our Lady of the Lake University, with a Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management in 2018, and a PhD in Leadership Studies in 2024.
Dr. Avitua-Ovalle objective is strengthen nurses in healthcare organizations in preparation for nursing leadership roles. The goal is to use her leadership education and her clinical experience with nursing students to build strong clinical foundation in a medical surgical platform, so students serve confidently and competently within the clinical acute facilities in our community.
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Professional Background
Education
- 1987 - LVN Diploma - Nurse - St. Phillips College, San Antonio, Texas
- 2008 - ADN - Nursing - San Antonio College, School of Nursing, San Antonio, Texas
- 2014 - BSN - Nursing - University of Texas at Arlington, School of Nursing, Arlington, Texas
- 2018 - MBA-HC - Nursing - Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio, Texas
- 2024 - PhD - San Antonio, Texas -
- In progress - MSN - Nurse Executive - Walden University, Minneapolis, MN
Highlights
Licensure and Certifications
- RN (Texas)
- LVN (Texas)
- Basic Life Support
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
HONORS AND AWARDS
- 2025 Inducted to Sigma Theta Tau at Large Nurse Honor Society
- 2024 Selected for the magazine cover, Marquis Who’s Who<br.] 14th Edition 2024 Honoring Legacies of Healthcare Professionals from around the world
- 2023 Professional Organization Woman of Excellence Award, Woman of Empowerment
- 2022-2023 Marquis’s Who’s Who in America Publication Board
- 2022 Marquis’s Who’s Who Top Nurses Professional Award
- 2022 Recipient Ruth Stewart Imagemaker Award
- 2022 Nominee the Best 25 Nurses of South-Central Texas
- 2022 Scholarship Recipient for International Association of Latina Nurse Faculty
- 2022 National Association of Hispanic Nurses-Ambassador Award
- 1994 Desert Storm Veteran, Honorable Discharge USAR
- 1992 Army Achievement Medal
Appointments
- 2008 - LVN, Pre-Employment Nurse, Work care Administrative Asst., - Methodist Healthcare System, Human Resources, San Antonio, Texas
- 2009-2012 - Employee Health Coordinator, Occupational RN - Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2008-2010 - Advanced RN, Surgical ICU - Methodist Metropolitan Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2014-2015 - Advanced RN-GI Lab Procedure Nurse - Methodist Metropolitan Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2012-2016 - Nurse Administrator - Methodist Metropolitan Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2016-2017 - Nurse Manager - Methodist Metropolitan Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2017-2021 - Nurse Administrator - Methodist Hospital, PRN, San Antonio, Texas
- 2017-2021 - Manager, Organizational Performance Improvement-Adult Trauma Services - University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2021-2025 - Nurse Administrator - Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, Texas
- 2023- 2024 - Adjunct Professor - UT Health San Antonio School Of Nursing, San Antonio, Texas
- 2025- current - Associate Clinical/Professor - UT Health San Antonio School Of Nursing, San Antonio, Texas
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- Instruction & Training
- Research & Grants
- Service
- Publications