Karen Sue Hoyt PhD, RN, FNP-BC, CEN, FAEN. FAANP. FAAN

Dr. Hoyt received her AS degree from Cypress College, BSN degree from California State University, Fullerton, an MN degree from UCLA, and a Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of San Diego. Dr. Hoyt has over 4 decades of clinical practice, teaching, and leadership experience in nursing. Dr. Hoyt, who directed USD’s inaugural Master’s Entry into Nursing Program, is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), as well as a Fellow and past Board Member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She has urgent/emergent post-master's Certification, Emergency Nurse Practitioner Certification (ENP-C) and extensive clinical experience as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner. She teaches in the FNP and DNP programs.

Dr. Hoyt’s research focuses on emergency care, trauma systems, NP clinical decision-making, certification, and leadership in health care and health care policy. She shepherded the bill for a national 911 emergency system through the United States Congress. She is the past President of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), a founding member of the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (AAP) and the inaugural editor of the Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal.

Dr. Hoyt is active at the local, state, and national levels in professional service and has received numerous nursing honors and awards. She was instrumental in the development of the Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ENP) exam/certification with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), serving on the Scheme Committee. She currently serves as NP Validation Chairperson for the AAENP.