Nursing Board Member Honored for the Greatest Potential Contribution for Nursing and Midwifery Practice
May 5, 2009
Contact:
Kristy Croom
Sr. Communications Manager
Phone: (727) 942-0069
Cell: (727) 692-2670
Kristy.Croom@Rasmussen.edu
Chicago (Ill.) — University of Illinois-Chicago Professor Dr. Therese A. Fitzpatrick was recently honored by the Faculty for Nursing and Midwifery at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland with an award for The Greatest Potential Contribution for Nursing and Midwifery Practice for her recent research on optimizing nursing human capital by applying a mathematical optimization model for the development of a nursing staff.
Fitzpatrick's research focused on developing advanced strategies for staffing nurses in hospitals. She used advanced mathematical modeling and Lean strategies to develop systems for staffing nurses. Fitzpatrick also examined a systems approach to staffing and scheduling nurses and illustrated a methodology for making evidence-based staffing decisions that maximize staff preference and coverage while minimizing costs.
Fitzpatrick recently explained the importance of implementing sophisticated staffing strategies for nurses.
"This is a very challenging time in healthcare. We are redesigning systems, implementing technology at an unprecedented rate, and managing access to assure that all of our citizens receive the best in clinical care," Fitzpatrick said. "Nurses are at the very center of this effort. As never before, our healthcare system requires nurses educationally and experientially prepared to assume these important roles."
Therese recently presented the results of research on Optimizing Nursing Human Capital at the International Nursing Administration Research meeting, The Royal College of Surgeons Ireland, and the annual meeting of the American Organization of Nurse Executives.
In addition to her faculty role at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Fitzpatrick is a founding partner of The Optimé Group, an Evanston Illinois based consulting and technology firm. She is also a board member of Rasmussen College and a co-chair of the Rasmussen College School of Nursing Advisory Board.
"Rasmussen College is preparing nurses for the 21st century healthcare system with our evidence based curriculum, personalized teaching and mentoring programs, expert faculty, in affiliate organizations practicing state of the art medicine and nursing."
Prior to joining The Optimé Group as a principle, Fitzpatrick was the CEO of a clinical staffing company which successfully executed a merger to form the largest Chicago based staffing firm. She has served in the role of Chief Nursing Officer & Chief Operating Officer in both academic as well as community healthcare systems including a Top 100 hospital system.
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