Five Questions with Amy Delaney
1. What motivated you to join the nursing faculty at the School of Nursing and Health Sciences?
My own background of my undergraduate experience at Georgetown University and coming from a basis of a liberal arts focused bachelor’s degree in nursing stemmed my initial motivation for investigating the opportunity a PC. I have spent my professional life as a pediatric nurse and advance practice nurse clinically, but also mentoring and educating countless nurses and members of care teams in the academic and clinical setting. It has been my desire to culminate my career paying it forward with delving into a faculty role to educate the next chapter of a much-needed workforce of nurses that strive for excellence and optimize outcomes in any setting. Once I read the mission statement and vision of PC, specifically that of the new School of Nursing and Health Sciences, being here at PC became a clear goal. The sense of community and support here at PC is exceptional, and the opportunity to be a part of an inaugural nursing program is one that comes along not often in one’s lifetime. Being a part of the development of this curriculum, program and now part of the Friar family with the students here on campus, feels exactly where I was supposed to be.
2. How do you plan to incorporate your expertise in pediatric nursing into the curriculum?
I am fortunate that I have a background in care and management of the pediatric population across several settings given my national certification in acute and primary care. This had allowed me to witness children and families in the acute, post-acute care and community settings, which enhances what I will bring to the curriculum. Although pediatric nursing falls in the 3rd year of the program as a core specialty course, my background will also allow a team-based teaching approach with the faculty group in earlier courses that will focus on the very core foundations of nursing as a discipline, as well as foundations of assessment and development. The core in pediatric nursing, is the goal of family/patient-centered care, and I look forward to delving into the specialty with the students and the sharing about moments they witness in their pediatric clinical settings (as children are not small adults and often the most resilient humans!). I also plan to consistently enhance evidence-based practice exercises with students, given the ever-changing landscape of health care delivery and best practice guidelines.
3. You were recently recognized by the Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse practitioners (MCNP) as the Massachusetts Distinguished Nurse Practitioner of the Year; can you tell us a little about that honor?
When I moved from the DC area to Boston in 1996 after completing my master’s degree at Catholic University of America, I wanted to continue my involvement in the legislative/policy arena, and since that time, have been an active member of the legislative committee as well as the political action committee for the MCNP. The MCNP is a non-profit professional membership organization for Nurse Practitioners in Massachusetts that provides state-based representation and support for NP practice and regulatory issues regardless of specialty or organizational affiliation. More importantly, the MCNP promotes high standards of advanced nursing practice, nursing education, and involvement in the legislative process. Last year, I was so honored to have received the MCNP Distinguished NP Award that recognizes a Nurse Practitioner who has made significant contributions in professional association activities and contributions, activities supporting the public image of the NP, a role model for excellence in the provision of health care services, significant research which supports the role of the NP, or significant contributions to NP education. This award exemplifies all that is possible with choosing a profession that has allowed me opportunity to participate in so many aspects of this career, and was truly a celebration of what teamwork, friendships and collegiality in my life.
4. Last Month (October 2-6) was National Pediatric Nursing week; why is it important to call attention to the critical work that pediatric nurses provide to improve healthcare delivery?
As nursing faculty, we all bring content expertise and many lenses to educating this next generation of nurses, and the gift of a 4-year BSN program is one that allows the students to have content focused on a breadth of specialties and core foundations. Students then have the power to realize the choices they have for a career path. Even within the “short” 30 years of my practice, I have witnessed infants and children now surviving into adulthood with what once was known to be left threatening diagnoses, now known as chronic diagnoses, due to scientific and nurse led advancements. These advancements are often led by pediatric specialists and nurses given how we have the chance to see so much in a short window in the life spectrum where so much takes place. National Pediatric Nursing week is a way to highlight and begin early on in the program the introduction to students to just this….to celebrate the prospect of a practice of nurses dedicated to promoting the optimal health of infants, children, adolescents and emerging adults and providing excellence in nursing care of children and their families. I look forward to fostering this introduction to students and mentoring those that are drawn to this work!
5. As a PhD candidate at Boston College, you understand how important research is within an academic environment. How do you imagine involving students in research endeavors at PC?
Florence Nightingale, known to be the founder of Modern Nursing (born in 1820!), was a nurse, social reformer and truly may be the original and first nurse scientist/statistician. She stated: “Were there none who were discontented with what they have, the world would never reach anything better”. This quote has resonated with me for many years of practice and is the momentum behind my lifelong goal of designing research methods to answer unanswered questions that arose from clinical work and progress towards policy change when needed. It is essential in my world to foster this and forward the mantra to the next generation of nurses. Having the opportunity to work with undergraduate students during my PhD studies and within my own program of research is what I bring to PC and will continue to foster. I already envision with this first cohort of students mentoring them and future cohorts in achieving their own academic goals, as well as opportunity for authorship, student presentations, and representation of PC Nursing at local, regional, and national meetings. Most importantly, all students will recognize they hold a position as change agents when questions arise in their futures.
