Debra F. Hobbins
Debra F. Hobbins, DNP, APRN, LSAC, CARN-AP
Honored Alumna, Debra (Deb) Hobbins expressed gratitude for her BYU experience:
"The Gospel of Jesus Christ and truths contained in The Book of Mormon changed my life," she explained. "I came to BYU years ago as a nascent convert, unsure of myself and the intricacies of the Gospel. I was privileged to learn to become a nurse, with the Gospel as my foundation. While attending BYU, I met stellar examples of Christ-like living in classes, in clinical, and in the dorm. Faculty, students and patients alike strengthened my testimony."
After graduating with an associate degree in nursing from BYU in 1974, Debra F. Hobbins earned a bachelor's degree from California State University Long Beach, master's degree from California State University Dominguez Hills, and a DNP from the University of Utah. She is also certified as a Women's Health Care Nurse Practitioner.
Intensive care, labor and delivery, women's health, veterans and home health care are among the clinical settings where Dr. Hobbins has worked. She has been a faculty member at BYU and the University of Utah, teaching courses in maternal/newborn, women's health, physical assessment, and nursing fundamentals. She is currently active in local, state, and national committees dealing with substance abuse, addiction, and addiction treatment.
Dr. Hobbins was selected as Nurse Practitioner of the Year by the national Pfizer/American Academy of Nurse Practitioners in 1999. She was the 2004 president of the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
Despite a successful career in the nursing profession, Hobbins says her major life accomplishment is that of mothering ten children.
"Being a mother has taught me more about unconditional love, life, sacrifice, forgiveness, selflessness, and the veracity of the Plan of Salvation and our Father's love for us than anything else I have experienced in this life," she said.
Hobbins further noted, "President Hinckley encouraged us to 'stand for something.' It is crucial for each of us to take a stand for peace and offer Christ-like love to our fellow man. Let us determine to promote accessibility to clean, safe, and wholesome food, water, land, and air for all of our Father's children; for without such, health and healing are unattainable and our most sincere efforts in vain."
Dr. Hobbins is married to Dr. Douglas K. Furr. They reside in Salt Lake City, Utah.