Family Nursing

Biography

Valerie Malinoski began her nursing career as an associate degree nurse graduating from Los Angeles Valley College. She continued on her educational path to obtain a BSN from California State University Los Angeles and her Master’s degree in nursing from UCLA. To expand her credentials, she returned to UCLA to complete a post master’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) certificate in 1995. To further her education, Valerie completed her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Loma Linda University and received a Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities” for Academic and Scholarship achievement award. Valerie’s nursing career has ranged from working as an RN in intensive care to fulfilling the educator role at Valley Presbyterian Hospital. Valerie obtained her Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) in 1995, and worked for several institutions including Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, Valley Internal Medicine and Nephrology Group and the COC Student Health Center. Now works part time with the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center in addition to her faculty position. She returned to her alma maters to become a clinical instructor at both CSULA and LA Valley College before beginning as a full time faculty member at College of the Canyons in 2003. She is currently the course coordinator for the final semester of the RN program as students are about to graduate and enter the nursing workforce. Valerie is actively involved in the campus by participating on a number of committees such as Commencement, Student Conduct, Community Education, and Scholarship and was a mentor in the Mentor Program. She maintains a professional membership in Sigma Theta Tau and has become an End of Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) trainer. She shares her expertise through community service by working seasonally in the Santa Clarita homeless shelter, volunteering at the annual Flu Clinic at College of the Canyons. She recently presented a poster at the Western Institute of Nursing (WIN) and a podium presentation at Providence Healthcare Systems Evidence-Based Research Day on her topic: Enhancing Nurse Confidence in Pain Assessment for the Nonverbal Hospice Patient. Valerie has been married for 30 years and they have 4 children. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors by camping with her family and gardening. Valerie and her family have fun by getting away and spending time together while cruising on the high seas. Their voyages have included Mexico and the Caribbean. Their dream trip is take an exciting cruise and sail to all the countries on the Mediterranean.

Research Interest

Enhancing RN Confidence in Pain Assessment for Nonverbal Hospice Patients