At its annual conference earlier this month, the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS) announced that Tracy Chamblee, PhD, APRN, PCNS-BC, CPHQ, CPPS, Senior Director, Quality and Patient Safety at Children’s Health, Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, has been named President-Elect of the 2018-2019 NACNS Board of Directors.
Chamblee has been a member of NACNS since 2005. She is also the current President of the Texas Clinical Nurse Specialists, an NACNS affiliate, and Secretary of the Clinical Nurse Specialists Institute, the nonprofit arm of NACNS. Chamblee served on the board of directors from 2015 to 2017, the NACNS Summit Planning Committee in 2015 and 2016 and the Malnutrition Taskforce.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help lead NACNS and improve the visibility of the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and the value it brings to heath care,” said Chamblee. “In my years serving on the board and on task forces I’ve seen firsthand the quality of CNS-led work and the impact that this work can have on not only clinical practice, but also quality of care and patient outcomes. I will dedicate my time as President-Elect to showcasing the value of CNS work to patients, families, communities and the broader health care system.”
“Tracy’s work promoting collaboration among professional organizations will be a tremendous asset as NACNS seeks to strengthen how the work of clinical nurse specialists is viewed in nursing and in health care,” said NACNS Executive Director Melinda Mercer Ray, MSN, RN. “Tracy is a passionate advocate for the CNS role and we’re very much looking forward to her leadership and guidance in the years to come.”
In addition to NACNS and the Texas affiliate, Chamblee is a member of the American Nurses Association, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and Sigma Theta Tau International, the National Honor Society of Nursing. She is also an active member of the National Alliance for Quality Committee, DFW Hospital Foundation Patient Safety and Quality Committee and Children’s Hospital Association Quality Forum. Chamblee is a current peer reviewer for the Clinical Nurse Specialist, Journal of Pediatric Health Care and The Joanna Briggs Institute.
Chamblee earned her PhD in Health Practice Research from the University of Rochester in New York; Post-Master’s Certificate in advanced practice nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas; MSN from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La.; and her BSN from Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, La.
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Founded in 1995, The National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists is the only association representing the clinical nurse specialist (CNS). CNSs are advanced practice registered nurses who work in a variety of specialties to ensure high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care. As leaders in health care settings, CNSs provide direct patient care and lead initiatives to improve care and clinical outcomes, and reduce costs. NACNS is dedicated to advancing CNS practice and education, removing certification and regulatory barriers, and assuring the public access to quality CNS services.