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Faculty Member

Dr. Mykin Higbee

Biography

Dr. Mykin R. Higbee is an Associate Professor at Utah Valley University’s Department of Nursing. Her healthcare experience started as a home health aid which led to her obtaining her LPN and then RN license. Dr. Higbee has a BSN from Brigham Young University (1995), an MSN in Nursing Education from Utah Valley University (2013), and a PhD in Nursing Research from the University of Texas at Tyler (2017). Dr. Higbee is primarily a critical care nurse with 24 years of bedside experience. She has also worked in other clinical environments, including med-surg, fluoroscopy, a GI clinic, and the emergency department.

Her research interests include caffeine and energy drink consumption habits of nurses and nursing students.

In her free time, Dr. Higbee loves to spend time outdoors hiking, skiing, and visiting National Parks. She loves to travel with her husband and six kids when they can all be together.

Education

PhD, University of Texas at Tyler, 2017

Major: Nursing Research

MSN, Utah Valley University, 2013

Major: Nursing Education

BSN, Brigham Young University, 1995

Major: Nursing

Teaching

NURS 2420

Nursing Care of the Aging Population, Spring 2026

NURS 4410G

Nursing in Global Perspective, Spring 2026

NURS 2325

Nursing Practice Simulation and Skills Lab I, Spring 2026

NURS 3355

Nursing Practice Simulation and Skills Lab III, Spring 2026

Presentations

Higbee, Mykin , Gipson, Christine S, SIGMA Creating Healthy Work Environments Conference, "Exploring Energy Drink Consumption Habits Among Nursing Students", SIGMA, Washington DC. (March 20, 2026)
Higbee, Mykin , SIGMA Iota Iota Induction Ceremony, "Together We Are Sigma", Sigma, Provo, Utah. (February, 2026)
Higbee, Mykin , Cardiac Life Support Interventions, "Cardiac Life Support Interventions & EKG Review", JNF General Hospital - St Kitts, Dr. Daveen Wilkin, St Kitts. (May 29, 2025)
Higbee, Mykin , The Period Summit, "Period University 101", Utah Valley University and The Girl's Company, Keller Bldg, Utah Valley University. (September 20, 2024)
Higbee, Mykin , 12th World Congress on Nursing Education & Practice, "Caffeine Consumption Habits, Sleep Quality, Sleep Quantity, and Perceived Stress of Undergraduate Nursing Students", Prague, Czech Republic . (June 28, 2024)
Higbee, Mykin , Taylor, Noelle , Mulitalo, Karen , Betts, Andrea , Women in Medicine, "Women in Medicine Panel", UVU Student Nurses Association , UVU, Orem Utah. (March 26, 2024)

Scholarly/Creative Works

Higbee, Mykin , Gipson, Christine S., "IRB: Psychological Well-Being and Resilience in College Students_ The Role of Health Behaviors and Perceived Stress" .
Smith, Matti , Higbee, Mykin , Brinley, Julie , Monson, Natalie , "IRB: Impact of Math Moments on Medication Calculation Competency and Anxiety in First-Semester Nursing Students" .
Taylor, Noelle , Higbee, Mykin , Gaul, Raiden , (2025) "Promising Practices to Address Healthcare Needs Voiced By Local Native Americans" (Issue: 1, vol. 2). United States: Transforming Communities. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/tcjournal/
Higbee, Mykin , Gipson, Christine S, (2025) "Exploring energy drink consumption among nursing students_ A qualitative study" (Issue: 4, vol. 20). Elsevier Publishing: Teaching and Learning in Nursing. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1557308725000782
Maughan, Dale , Bagley, Katie , Jensen, Francine , Nichols, Nyree-Dawn , Higbee, Mykin , Ensign, Allison , (2025) "2024 ACEN Self-Study Document for Utah Valley University - Nursing Department" .
Gaul, Raiden , Higbee, Mykin , Taylor, Noelle , Ensign, Allison , Monson, Natalie , Price, Jared , (2022) "Response to Nursing Education_ Philosophical Perspectives on Current Challenges and Crisis in Competency_ A Defining Moment in Nursing Education" . United States: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. https://ojin.nursingworld.org/letters-to-the-editor/response-by-gaul-higbee-taylor-ensign-monson--price/

Awards

Faculty Senate University Teaching Award, First Place

Utah Valley University, Faculty Senate - April, 2026

I was nominated by my peers and subsequently submitted an application and teaching portfolio for the University Teaching Award. I was first selected from numerous nominees within my college (CHPS), and then chosen as the overall recipient among all college winners at UVU. This award is a significant distinction, and I am deeply honored and grateful to be recognized for my dedication, hard work, and commitment to teaching.

Excellence in Scholarship

Sigma Global Nursing Excellence - Iota Iota Chapter - February 25, 2025

I am honored to have been selected to receive an award recognizing my research and scholarly work focused on the use of energy drinks among nurses and nursing students. As the primary investigator, I have led both qualitative and quantitative studies exploring the patterns, motivations, and potential health implications associated with energy drink consumption in these populations. This recognition highlights the importance of addressing wellness and behavioral health within the nursing profession, and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important area of inquiry.

Nominated - CHPS Faculty Senate Award

Faculty Senate - January 20, 2025

I was nominated for the CHPS Faculty Senate Award, which recognizes full-time faculty who have made significant contributions to UVU's mission through demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Service Learning Superstar

Center for Social Impact - April 1, 2024

Each month during the academic year, the Center for Social Impact recognizes the fantastic work of service-learning faculty members on campus and in our community with a monthly Service-Learning Superstar Award. I was recognized for my work with nursing students and our interactions with older adults in the community and at Senior Centers in Utah, Salt Lake, and Summit counties.

Nominated - Faculty Excellence Award (FEA)

Faculty Senate - December 4, 2023

I was nominated for the University Faculty Senate FEA award which recognizes full-time faculty who have made significant contributions to UVU's mission through demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Nominated - Faculty Excellence Award (FEA)

Faculty Senate - November 8, 2022

I was nominated for the University Faculty Senate FEA award which recognizes full-time faculty who have made significant contributions to UVU's mission through demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.