Professor McDonald has worked as a RN in various positions over the span of a 37 year career in nursing. She obtained her Diploma RN in Toronto Canada and worked in Toronto until 1989 when she moved to Jacksonville, FL. Professor McDonald worked at Memorial hospital for 20 years. During that time she obtained her BSN and MSN at Jacksonville University and completed her MSN in 2005. Professor McDonald also worked at Baptist Downtown and Beaches Hospitals and has worked in various academic and clinical roles during her career. She joined Jacksonville University in September of 2016.