In many ways, Jackie L. Russell has been preparing all her adult life for her current work representing nurses in licensure and disciplinary matters. She pursued a career in nursing after an employer observed that she had the caring and competence to excel in that field.

Jackie loved practicing at the bedside as a registered nurse, and her assignments ranged from Open-Heart to emergency departments. Jackie practiced in multiple states, at various sized hospitals including a critical access hospital, community hospital, and large metro Level II Trauma Center where she was a charge nurse and cross-trained to AirLife. At one point, she considered pursuing advanced nursing education; when she reflected on all the health law issues she and her colleagues encountered regularly, she decided that law might be a better fit.

After graduating from law school, Jackie worked as an Assistant District Attorney in New Mexico for a year, but she missed the collaborative environment that she loved as a nurse, as well as the ability to support other nurses. When she was recruited by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) to serve as Nursing Practice and Regulatory Affairs Specialist, she readily accepted.

The MNA represents the interests of more than 22,000 nurses. As Nursing Practice and Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Jackie had the opportunity to help nurses address and resolve practice concerns before problems and complaints arose. One of the highlights of her work at the MNA was the ability to impact nurses’ work in a positive way. During her time at the MNA, she helped to successfully resolve nursing practice concerns raised by nurse members of the organization.

Jackie’s work with the MNA frequently involved in-depth research into legal issues and regulations affecting nursing practice, and gave her invaluable insight into the disciplinary process and the challenges facing nurses in a wide array of nursing practice areas, from remote critical access hospitals to large metro hospitals.  She also served as in-house General Counsel for the MNA. In that role she was involved in labor and arbitration matters as well as nursing practice issues.

As a nurse attorney in private practice, Jackie is even more committed to advocating for nurses throughout Minnesota. She knows from personal experience that nursing is more than just a job. She is also dedicated to supporting other nurse-attorneys nationwide: in addition to representing nurses who are facing a complaint, licensing issue, or other disciplinary matter, Jackie is the President of The American Association of Nurse Attorneys (TAANA).

Outside of the office, Jackie enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with their daughter, horses, two dogs, and Siamese cat.

• Mitchell Hamline School of Law, MN State Court Certified Rule 114 Mediation Course
• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, LLM, Health Law
• Arizona Summit Law School, JD
• Oregon Health & Science University, BSc., Nursing
• Kent State University College of Nursing, AD, Nursing
• Western Washington University, BA, American History

Court Admissions: 

Nursing:

• Minnesota