Biography
Dr. Jenny Kidd Nickless is a Family Nurse Practitioner and Chair of the Orlando Nursing Program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. She brings over 16 years of nursing experience and more than a decade in nursing education. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lee University, her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
For more than 15 years, Dr. Nickless has practiced in the Pediatric Emergency Department, where she continues to serve on her practice day. Her emergency care background has shaped her leadership and teaching style—steady under pressure, clinically sharp, and deeply compassionate.
As Chair, she leads with a strong commitment to excellence, hospitality, and student formation. She is passionate about creating an environment where students feel seen, supported, and challenged to grow—not only as skilled nurses, but as leaders grounded in faith and integrity. Dr. Nickless believes nursing education is about more than mastering content; it is about shaping professionals who serve with courage, competence, and Christ-centered purpose.
Outside of nursing and academia, Dr. Nickless is actively involved in children’s cancer advocacy and community ministry. She lives in Winter Springs, Florida, with her husband and four children. An avid runner, triathlete, and marathoner, she believes endurance training mirrors nursing: discipline, perseverance, and heart.
Degrees
MSN in Nursing, University of Alabama at Birmingham