Speakers

Staci Sue Reynolds, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN
Editor-in Chief, Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Associate Clinical Professor, School of Nursing, Duke University

Dr. Staci Sue Reynolds is an Associate Clinical Professor at Duke University School of Nursing in the USA. Dr. Staci Reynolds joined Duke in January 2016, with a joint position between Duke University School of Nursing and Duke University Hospital (DUH). At DUSON, Dr. Reynolds teaches in the ABSN Program (evidence-based practice) and DNP program (healthcare quality improvement methods). Clinically, she served as a neuroscience Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the inpatient neuro units at DUH for 3 years. In March 2019, she transitioned to being a CNS for the DUH Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology department. Additionally, Dr. Reynolds coordinates the Duke Advancement of Nursing, Center of Excellence (DANCE) academic-practice partnership. She is also the faculty lead for the post-DNP Quality Implementation Scholars Program that began in May 2019. Before coming to DUSON, she was a neurocritical care nurse and a neuroscience Clinical Nurse Specialist at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital. Dr. Reynolds received a baccalaureate degree in nursing science from Indiana University (IU) in Indianapolis, Indiana. She earned a Master’s degree as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at IU in 2011 and completed her PhD at IU in May 2016. Dr. Reynolds’ dissertation focused on the implementation of clinical practice guidelines, and her current research interests include evidence-based practice implementation and quality improvement.

Veronica Rankin, DNP, RN-BC, NP-C, CNL, NE-BC
Magnet Program Director Central Division
Clinical Nurse Leader Program Administrator
Carolinas Medical Center - Central Division Atrium Health

Dr. Veronica Rankin serves as a Director of Nursing Services in the role of Magnet Program Director for Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center Central Division, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also serves as the Administrator of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Program at this magnet-designated Level 1 Trauma Center. Dr. Rankin has been a nurse for more than 17 years and a certified CNL for more than 9 years. She earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree as well as her Postmasters certification as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner from East Carolina University. She earned her master’s as a CNL from Queens University of Charlotte in 2011. She serves as adjunct faculty for Queen’s University’s graduate nursing program and teaches CNL exam certification review sessions with CNL students regularly. As a published author and member of various professional organizations including Sigma International where she serves as treasurer of the Mu Psi Chapter, Dr. Rankin’s primary career goal is to promote and advance the profession of nursing.

Angie Hatley, DNP, MS, RN, NEA-BC, CNL
Associate Professor
Presbyterian School of Nursing, Blair College of Health

Dr. Angie Hatley is an Associate Professor at the Presbyterian School of Nursing, Blair College of Health, teaching in the graduate and undergraduate programs. She has over eight years in higher education and has taught across programs, including general education. Dr. Hatley has served as the Chair of Graduate Studies in Nursing and is currently the MSN Track Coordinator for the MSN program. Dr. Hatley is a 2014 Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate from Regis University. Her doctoral studies focused on transitions in nursing practice and completed her scholarly project on Nurse Preceptor Development and the Impact on the Self-Efficacy of Newly Hired Nurses. She has practiced as a clinical nurse, educator, and/or administrator since 2001, following graduation from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing degree and a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Education from Regis University in 2008. Following licensure as a Registered Nurse, Dr. Hatley served in various clinical and nursing leadership roles for more than 15 years with Atrium Health in Charlotte.

Speakers

Anita Catlin, PhD, FNP, CNL, FAAN
Manager of Nursing Research
Kaiser Permanente

Anita Catlin is Manager of Nursing Research at Kaiser Permanente, Vallejo, California. Anita taught in the CNL programs at both Touro University and University of San Francisco, becoming a CNL by challenge exam. Anita uses her CNL skills daily as mentor to nurses at all levels, and in several countries, in advancing their academic and clinical careers. Anita’s role includes writing grants to obtain funding for projects and she has multiple publications in research, ethics and in clinical care. She is currently the Editor of the Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing. She is an active member of Sigma Theta Tau in both California and Portugal. Dr. Catlin is a 2022 CNC CNL Innovation in Practice Award Winner for her project entitled, International Study of Pediatric Nurses Caring for Adult Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Sorayah Bourenane, MSN, RN, CEN, CNL
Clinical Nurse Leader
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Sorayah Bourenane has developed educational content and served as a subject-matter expert on Oncologic Emergency Nursing for the Board of Certified Emergency Nurses. She co-authored a chapter in a medical textbook for Oncologic Emergencies and assisted in the development of the institutional sepsis program at MD Anderson, which has resulted in decreased mortality. She also serves as Speaker of the Nursing Platform for the Global Sepsis Alliance and has presented nationally and internationally on oncologic emergencies, end-of-life care in the emergency department and in-flight medical emergencies. Sorayah is a 2022 AACN and CNC CNL Vanguard Award Winner.

Lauren Salinas, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN
Clinical Specialist
Texas Children’s Hospital

Lauren Salinas is a Clinical Specialist certified as a CNL at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Since graduating as a CNL, she has worked to improve patient outcomes and the patient-family experience while in the CICU through her coordination of care, quality initiatives, and innovation at the bedside. Lauren incorporated her knowledge as a CNL to decrease central line associated bloodstream infections through her innovative quality improvement projects surrounding central line care and quality rounding. Lauren has presented her quality projects at local and national conferences. She is passionate about incorporating the CNL focus of care coordination and transitions of care into her complex patient population. Lauren is a 2022 AACN and CNC CNL Vanguard Award Winner.

Speakers

Kristine M L’Ecuyer, PhD, RN, CNL
Associate Dean
Saint Louis University School of Nursing

Dr. Kris L'Ecuyer is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Pre-licensure Nursing Education at Saint Louis University Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing. She is a CNL educator and was the administrator for a Model C (direct entry) and Model A (BNS-MSN) CNL programs. She is a national advocate for the CNL role, and has worked on numerous committees for AACN and the CNC regarding development of the CNL role, administration of the CNL exam, and advocacy for the CNL role. She has contributed to CNL role dissemination through scholarship and research, and numerous presentations.

Tobie H. Olsan, PhD, RN, CNL
Professor Emeritus of Nursing
University of Rochester

Tobie H. Olsan, PhD, MPA, RN, CNL, NEA-BC, FNAP was the founding director of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) program and is now Professor Emeritus of Nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing (URSON). She received her Master’s in Nursing Administration, and a PhD from the University of Rochester, School of Nursing, and a Master’s in Public Administration, with a health emphasis from the College at Brockport, State University of New York. Dr. Olsan attended the first AACN education-practice partnership meeting launching the CNL and developed the first CNL program in New York State. She teaches courses about leadership, CNL role and skill set, health care system redesign, program evaluation, and interprofessional partnerships in the MS, Leadership Programs and in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. Collaborating with colleagues, Dr. Olsan helped develop a CNL to DNP program that enables nurse executives and other nurses with advanced nursing practice preparation to obtain a DNP. Dr. Olsan’s research is in the area of quality improvement, interprofessional education and collaboration, and the Veteran Administration’s home-based primary care, where a team of 10 investigators are studying the organizational factors and team-base care practices effective in supporting complex, chronically ill Veterans at home. Prior to obtaining her doctorate degree, Dr. Olsan was a nurse executive in acute care and long-term care.

Veronica Rankin, DNP, CNL
Magnet Program Director / CNL Program Administrator
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center

Dr. Veronica Rankin has been a nurse for more than 16 years with clinical expertise spanning primary care and inpatient medicine, surgical, and cardiac care areas. She serves as adjunct faculty in the graduate program of Queens University of Charlotte and provides CNL exam study sessions at her hospital for employed CNL students. Due to her study sessions, her hospital has achieved a 100% first-time CNL Exam pass rate for the last 5 consecutive years. She earned her BSN in nursing from UNC-Charlotte, her masters as a CNL from Queens University of Charlotte, and both her post-master’s certificate as an adult-gerontology NP and her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from East Carolina University. Dr. Rankin currently serves as the president of the Mu Psi Chapter of Sigma Nursing and has recently taken on the role of secretary for CNLA. She credits her greatest sources of pride as her husband, their three girls and being able to help nurses unlock their greatest potential in the face of doubt.

Holisa C. Wharton, PhD, RN, CNL
Dean
Lander University

Dr. Wharton is the Dean of the William Preston Turner School of Nursing at Lander University in Greenwood, South Carolina. She completed Bachelor degree programs in Biology (Wofford College, 1994) and Nursing (University of South Carolina Upstate, 1998). She holds a Master’s degree in Nursing Education and a Doctoral degree in Healthcare Genetics from Clemson University.

She has been a nurse educator for seventeen years. She began her teaching career at Piedmont Technical College in Greenwood, South Carolina, in the Practical Nursing and Associate Degree Nursing Programs. In addition to serving as Dean, she is an Associate Professor of nursing and teaches a first-year seminar course for nursing majors and CNL Practicum I, and Leadership in Health Care in the MSN-CNL program. Dr. Wharton initiated the collaboration with Self Regional Healthcare that culminated in the Clinical Nurse Leader Partnership (CNLP) Program. The CNLP is a joint education venture where Self Regional provides 80% of tuition for registered nurses enrolled in Lander’s MSN-CNL program. In addition, the Lander faculty and the nursing administrators of Self Regional have created a practicum learning experience that allows the registered nurse to earn practicum hours and gain leadership experience as CNL-Interns.