From upcoming 2024 Excellence in Nursing, College of Graduate Nursing: The Evolution of Nursing Leadership (2024)
POMONA VALLEY HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
CGN Dean Mary Lopez, PhD, MSN, RN, has a long-standing career as a nurse scientist. For more than ten years and serving several institutions. Lopez has been a health care knowledge broker who integrates evidence-based findings into practice.
“My goal as a nurse scientist is to enhance patient care and health outcomes while fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement,” Lopez said.
Lopez started her nurse scientist journey at Riverside Community Hospital in 2009, where she and CGN faculty member Patricia Shakhshir, PhD, RN-BC, CNS, established the first interprofessional research council in the Riverside area called “Research to Reality.” The council focused on increasing pain management techniques during tube and IV insertions across the hospital. One of several protocols the Research to Reality team implemented was the Buzzy Bee, an external skin stimulator that interrupts pain receptors during painful intravenous sticks.
“Just like cool running water soothes a burn, Buzzy uses a combination of cold and vibration to replace pain with temperature and movement,” Shakhshir said.
Following her passion for research and discovery, Lopez moved to PIH Health Whittier, guiding a team of nurses and physical therapists to implement a “Nurse-led Early Ambulation Program” that is still in practice today. Dr. Lopez passed the nurse scientist baton to Dr. Dawn Stone, who continues the nurse scientist role at PIH Health. “Mentoring the next generation of nurse scientists at PIH Health was very satisfying for me,” Lopez said. “Mentoring others always teaches me something as well.”
Today, Lopez works as the nurse scientist for Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, helping nursing leaders maintain their Magnet designation. Magnet organizations value the nursing workforce’s contributions to quality and safety. Such designation signals an organization’s achievement of the highest level of nursing excellence. Lopez partners with CGN alumna Carrie DuPée, DNP ‘16, RN, PCNS-BC, Program Manager for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice at Pomona Valley.
“Dr. Lopez has assisted us with writing abstracts leading to poster dissemination of a research study, provided a class on manuscript writing, and used a hands-on approach to provide guidance on statistical data input and analysis,” DuPée said. “Additionally, she has provided input to several of our clinical nurses and program managers on projects that they are considering implementing in the organization.”
The Nursing leaders at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center actively embrace this partnership with Lopez to establish and bolster research infrastructure, an essential component of new knowledge development. Part of the leader’s responsibility includes providing necessary resources, including establishing partnerships with nurse scientists to work with interprofessional staff to conduct research effectively.
“Ultimately, we look forward to the impact that this partnership will have on the quality of care we provide to the patients in our shared community,” DuPée said.
PIH WHITTIER
Dawn Stone, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, COHN-S, FAAOHN, is working directly with PIH Health Whittier Hospital to ensure safe, quality patient care. Stone describes her role as a nurse scientist as “serving as a member of an interdisciplinary team that continually strives for excellent patient care outcomes. Our team encourages initiation of quality improvement projects as well as conducting research to affirm the health and wellbeing of patients, families, communities, and the staff. My role as a nurse scientist was made possible through an academic-service partnership between PIH Health and CGN.”
CGN is an American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) member. AACN recognizes that academic service partnerships are collaborative relationships established at the senior leadership levels of two or more organizations. Academic services partnerships strengthen the power of nursing by maximizing the synergistic potential of the nurses within each organization.
“CGN and PIH Health have had a strong clinical partnership for many years. It was an easy expansion to add the academic service partnership. So far in my role, I have guided performance improvement through educational development,” Stone said. “Some of my work dovetails what I do at CGN, in that I have taught basic statistics at PIH Health and with CGN students. However, not all my interactions are structured in such a manner. Some of the most exciting parts of the role are the informal discussions with PIH Health staff members on clinical issues. Here, I strive to provoke critical thinking to inspire innovative interventions while providing helpful resources.”
“We welcomed Dr. Stone as a research consultant to the PIH Palliative Care Team to provide instruction and guide the integration of research in developing new knowledge about multidisciplinary palliative care,” said the Rev. Brian Lo, PIH’s palliative care chaplain. “As a nurse scientist, Dr. Stone is supporting our team of physicians, social workers, and chaplain during our pursuit to engage in research activities. The Palliative Care team provides care across the PHI Health enterprise in Los Angeles County and serves both inpatients and outpatients.”
“I straddle the best of both worlds. I am in touch clinically with real issues and able to help nurses,” Stone said. “I can bring those experiences back to my teaching at CGN. The partnership is a win-win for all.”