Philadelphia, PA – The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) today presented its prestigious Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Researcher of the Year Award to Maureen Greene, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, ACNP-BC, Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Clinical Nurse Specialist-Intensivist and Nurse Research Coordinator at Wheaton Franciscan-St Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee. The Award was designed to nationally recognize an NACNS member for outstanding professional achievement as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who has conducted original nursing research that has significantly enhanced the science of autonomous nursing practice, patient and family outcomes, and/or health care systems. It acknowledges a nurse for an accomplished program of research that has significantly contributed to advancing the nursing profession. The Award was presented at NACNS’ Annual Conference.
As a Nurse Research Coordinator, Greene provides guidance on nursing research through Wheaton Franciscan-St Joseph hospital’s Institutional Review Board. She chairs the hospital’s Nursing Research Council, providing mentoring and instruction on research to student nurses, staff nurses and other health professionals.
Among her contributions to nursing research are: assisting in conducting a multi-site study on delirium screening and intervention; coordinating a demonstration project with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on continuity of care for senior patients that influenced CMS’ care standards and reimbursement rates; serving as the principal investigator on numerous studies, including Beta-testing computer programs and equipment to drive construction and layout of hospital rooms to improve compliance with hand hygiene; and leading a multi-year project to increase nurses’ skill, comfort, and sophistication with evidence and research methodology.
“Maureen’s skill at understanding and translating research evidence to improve health care delivery is exemplary,” said NACNS 2016 President Sharon Horner, PhD, RN, MC-CNS, FAAN. “She is committed to helping staff nurses and others appreciate the importance of evidence-based practice and implement it to ensure the highest quality health care. In addition to being an expert at conducting nursing research, Maureen is a role model for graduate and doctoral students, a coach to nursing staff in pursuing scientific inquiry and an inspiration to all who witness her ability to advance nursing practice through her research presentations and publications.”
Greene earned her PhD in nursing and her MSN from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her BSN from Marquette University-Milwaukee. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society of Nursing.