Natalie Rejto, PhD, MSN, RN

Clinical Assistant Professor

Natalie Rejto

Email: nrejto@plu.edu

  • Professional
  • Biography

Education

  • PhD, Nursing Science, University of Washington, 2024
  • BSN, University of Arizona, 2008
  • AA, Pima Community College, 2005

Areas of Emphasis or Expertise

  • One Health
  • Health Equity
  • Community-Engaged Research
  • Workforce Health and Well-Being
  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • Nursing Education

Selected Presentations

  • My Dog is My Home Conference, Human-Animal families, housing insecurity, and the One Health Clinic supporting health and staying together (2026)
  • Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Perceived Needs, Barriers, & Practices Related to Infection Prevention on Dairy Farms by Rejto, N., Ramirez, R., Drury, D., Palmández, P., Fenelon, H., Benoit, M., McConnel, Simcox, N., Rabinowitz, P., Meisner, J., San Francisco, CA (2026)
  • Western Institute of Nursing Conference, Occupational Trajectories & Mental Health Among Filipino Immigrants, presented as part of the symposium Navigating Work and Health: Nursing Perspectives on Occupation as a Social Determinant by Kwon, S., Rejto, N., & de Castro, A. B., San Francisco, CA (2026)

Selected Articles

  • Rejto, N., Meisner, J., Ramirez, V., Fenelon, H., & Rabinowitz, P.. "Dairy Worker Infection Prevention Knowledge, Beliefs, and Behaviors." Journal of Agromedicine 2026: 1-8.
  • Rejto N, Ramirez V, Fenelon HT, et al.. "The One Health Clinic: Care for Young Adults and Companion Animals Experiencing Homelessness." Journal of Primary Care and Community Health Vol. 16, 2025:
  • Rejto N, de Castro AB, Ward TM, Willgerodt M, Walsh E.. "Nursing Work Schedules, Specialties, Sleep Hygiene, and the Impact on Sleep Health." Western Journal of Nursing Research Vol. 47(10), 2025: 924-931.

Professional Memberships/Organizations

  • The Consortium of University for Global Health (CUGH)
  • The Alliance of Nurses for Health Environments (ANHE)
  • National Co-Sheltering Collaborative
  • Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma)
  • My Dog is My Home Conference, National Co-Sheltering Collaborative
  • Western Institute of Nursing Research (WIN)

Biography

Natalie Rejto is a clinical assistant professor and registered nurse whose work focuses on improving the health of individuals, populations, and communities through education, research, and community partnerships. Her clinical background includes more than a decade of bedside nursing experience in pediatric acute, critical, and perioperative care.

Dr. Rejto is passionate about competency-based nursing education and preparing the next generation of nurses to make meaningful contributions to the profession and the communities they serve while fostering clinical judgment, professional confidence, and leadership capacity.