San Diego, CA – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) today presented its prestigious Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Educator of the Year Award to Terri Ares, PhD, RNC-NIC, CNS-BC, Lecturer and CNS Program Advisor at California State University, Dominguez Hills. The Award recognizes an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement as a CNS educator. It acknowledges the recipient’s excellence and innovation in preparing CNSs and in implementing the NACNS Statement on CNS Practice and Education.
As the resident expert on CNS education, Ares developed the current CNS curriculum at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Students report that the educational and clinical practicum she developed have been highly successful. Ares also combined the Parent-Child and Gerontology CNS programs to accommodate demand and instituted a Professional Portfolio Presentation requirement to help students hone their presentation skills.
“Dr. Ares has made significant improvements to CNS education at Cal State Dominguez Hills and has been recognized by faculty and students alike for her success in instituting new programming,” said NACNS 2015 President Peggy Barksdale, MSN, RN, OCNS-C, CNS-BC. “We are proud to honor her as the CNS Educator of the Year in recognition of her exemplary efforts to ensure that her students receive the highest quality CNS education.”
Ares recently completed her PhD program in nursing education at Villanova University, where she received the University’s “Best Dissertation Award.” She earned her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Mt. San Antonio College, and her BSN and MSN from California State University, Dominguez Hills.