Norah Louise Johnson, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, FAAN

Professor

Education

BSc, University of Toronto, Canada
Diploma, Nursing, Humber College, Etobicoke, Canada
BSN, St Joseph College, Rensselaer, IN
MSN, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Marquette University
PhD, Marquette University College of Nursing

Courses Taught

• NURS 6000: Theoretical Foundations in Nursing
• NURS 6007: Ethics, Policy and Health Care Advocacy
• NURS 6010: Research and Evidence as a Foundation for Nursing
• NURS 6540: Seminar in Child and Family Health
• NURS 8001: Foundations for Scholars
• HEAL 4931: Global Health Concepts (South Africa)

Research Interests

Norah Johnson, PhD, CPNP-PC, FAAN, is a Nurse Scientist and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner whose research focuses on developing evidence-based interventions to improve the health and well-being of families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her work emphasizes innovative, family-centered approaches, including technology-supported interventions and exercise-based programs. Her interdisciplinary program of research spans exercise science, computer science, psychology, engineering, social work, speech and language, and education. She has conducted qualitative and descriptive studies examining caregiver stress and its relationship to mental and physical health, as well as intervention studies using tools such as iPad-based social scripts to reduce child behavioral challenges and family anxiety. Her collaborative work includes federally funded projects focused on improving access to autism diagnosis and enhancing parent engagement in pediatric care through technology-based interventions. Dr. Johnson has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications and holds a patent for a digital application supporting procedure preparation for children with autism. 

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy of Nursing Bioethics Expert panel
• National Association of Pediatric Nursing Practitioners (NAPNAP)
• Wisconsin Chapter NAPNAP
• International Family Nursing Association
• Midwest Nursing Research Society
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Board Member Centers for Independence

Specialization

• Pediatric Primary Care
• Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
• Ethics
• Nursing Theory
• Research
• Global Health

Certifications

• Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner-Primary Care (CPNP-PC)

Publications

Link to Marquette University E-Publications - Johnson

Honors and Awards

• 2025      National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Developmental Behavioral Mental Health Advocacy Award
• 2021      Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
• 2019      Julie Lathrop Nursing Research Award, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
• 2019      President's Challenge Award for Next Step Clinic development
• 2017-2022      Fulbright Specialist in Global Public Health, Fulbright
• 2016      Journal of Pediatric Health Care's Leah Harrison Excellence in Clinical Writing Award
• 2016      Copyright Recognition Award for: Going to MRI for a Research Study iPad application, Marquette University
• 2016      National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Developmental Behavioral Mental Health Advocacy Award

Funding

2025: (Co-PI: Johnson, N., Bekhet, A.), Assessing Nursing Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Toward  Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders: Implications for Educational Programming. Frenn Service Award, Marquette University College of Nursing. 

2024: (Co-I: Johnson, N. , Pena, S. PI: Haglund, K.) Promoting Children’s Resilience with Family Participation in Community-Based Programs.  Regner Research Award, Marquette University College of Nursing. 

2023: (Co-PI: Johnson, N., Bekhet, A.)  Positive Thinking Training Intervention to Empower Latinx Women and Students of Color to Enhance their Leadership Abilities and Resiliency. Forward Thinking Research Session, Institute for Women’s Leadership Award Winner, Marquette University.

2021: Battling the Bottleneck: Increasing Capacity for ASD Diagnosis within Primary Healthcare Across WI, Co-I, Medical College of Wisconsin/Advancing Healthier Wisconsin, CTSI-NIH (PI K.Koth Medical College of WI)

2019: PI: Johnson, N., Bekhet, A., Ng, A., VanHecke, A.) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Funding for the Development of an effective fitness intervention for caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  Marquette University Athletic and Human Performance Research Center.

2019-2021: (CO-I: Johnson, N.; PI Van Hecke, A. & Jepsen, L.) “Presidents Challenge Next Step Clinic". Johnson Controls, Marquette University.

2019: (Co-PI Johnson, N., Bekhet, A.) "A Swimming  Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Impact of Child Challenging Behaviors and Caregiver's Psychological Well-Being," Sponsored by Committee on Research Marquette University SFF/RRG.

2019: (Co-PI: Johnson, N, Bekhet, A., Co-I: Ng, A., VanHecke, A.) "Development of an effective fitness intervention for caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder," Autism Society of South Eastern Wisconsin.

2018-2019: (Co-PI: Johnson, N., Lerret, S. Co-I: Garnier-Villarreal, M. Ahamed, S. I.) "Peds THINk (Transition to Home INtervention):  Nursing Interventions to Improve Discharge Outcomes," CTSI/ NIH Traditional Pilot Award. National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Award Number UL1TR001436.

2018-2021: (Co-PI: Johnson, N., Lerret, S., Co-I: Polfuss, M.) "Pediatric SM - THINk (Self-Management Transition to Home Intervention): Nursing Intervention to Improve Hospital Discharge Outcomes," Pediatric Nursing Consortium of Milwaukee

2018-2019: (Co-PI: Johnson, N., Van Hecke, A. V., Carlson, M. E., Krueger, W., Co-I: Young, T. Makky, K., Walker-Dalhouse, D. J. Supporting: Levine, E., Barrington, A., "Explorer Challenge: Interdisciplinary Autism Initiative," Sponsored by Marquette University.

2018: Johnson, N. "Knowledge exchange in child & family nursing: University College Dublin School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, Dublin Ireland," Fulbright Specialist: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State.

2017-2019: (Co-PI: Johnson, N., Van Hecke, A. V.). "WI Act Early ECQUiP Project University of WI Subaward No. 734K753 to Marquette University (MSN197506), Health Research Services Administration, State.

2016-2018: (PI Johnson, N., Supporting: Ahamed, S. I.) "Using an iPad application to prepare for Imaging," Marquette University Innovation Funds, Marquette University.