The Fruits of Partnership : Children ’ s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado College of Nursing Come Together
PARTNERSHIP LEADS TO JOINT FACULTY APPOINTMENTS AND MORE
ESTABLISHING A SHARED VISION AND JOINT RESEARCH STRATEGIC PLAN
The collaboration between Children ’ s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado College of Nursing began in the 1980s , but it wasn ’ t until 2014 that the first pediatric nurse scientist team was founded . At the time , the hospital nurse scientist role was early in its development nationwide , and despite successes in developing a research support system for bedside nurses , nurse-led research , and its potential for clinical practice , remained less understood by leadership , faculty and staff .
Since then , the contributions of this role have received more and more recognition , leading to increased support from both the hospital and college for nursing clinical inquiry . New collaborative efforts have strengthened the relationship between the two institutions , catalyzing the need for a joint research strategic plan . On Dec . 17 , 2021 , Pat Givens , DHA , EdM , BSN , RN , NEA-BC , senior vice president and chief nursing executive of Children ’ s Colorado , and Elias Provencio-Vasquez , PhD , RN , FAAN , FAANP , dean and professor at the CU College of Nursing , hosted a retreat with nurse scientist stakeholders from both institutions to begin drafting a shared vision and joint research strategic plan . Their goal was to continue cultivating and elevating nursing science to ultimately transform and improve child and family health . This strategic plan will establish the direction and scope of pediatric research efforts for years to come .
Cathy Kleiner , PhD , RN , director of nursing research , innovation and professional practice and associate professor at the CU College of Nursing , and Teri Hernandez , PhD , RN , nurse scientist at Children ’ s Hospital Colorado and professor and associate dean for research and scholarship at the CU College of Nursing , established a relationship that has resulted in full academic faculty appointments for five Children ’ s Colorado pediatric nurse scientists , providing them with invaluable career resources . Together , they also formed a nurse research advisory board for the Anschutz Medical Campus to secure multisite collaborative opportunities for clinical inquiry initiatives .
The partnership is also deeply supportive of education opportunities for nurses . In 2021 , Children ’ s Hospital Colorado supported CU College of Nursing research and quality improvement projects led by one PhD candidate , three doctor of nursing practice candidates , one clinical nurse specialist and two master of science in nursing candidates . Children ’ s Colorado also hosted 126 undergraduate students to complete their clinical practicum time and 71 graduate students to complete precepted hours , totaling 12,438 hours .
PAT GIVENS , DHA , EDM , BSN , RN , NEA-BC
ELIAS PROVENCIO-VASQUEZ , PHD , RN , FAAN , FAANP
CATHY KLEINER , PHD , RN
TERI HERNANDEZ , PHD , RN
2021 Nursing & PCS Year in Review