Rounds with Leadership: Moving Nursing Science from the Margin to Mainstream

Welcome to Rounds with Leadership, a new forum for AACN’s Board Chair and President/CEO to offer commentary on issues and trends impacting academic nursing.

June 27, 2018 - Moving Nursing Science from the Margin to Mainstream

Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Patricia Grady

In early May, AACN received the official notice that Dr. Patricia Grady, the long-time director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), would be retiring by summer’s end. Dr. Grady has been a true pioneer in elevating the science of nursing and carving out a stronghold for the profession within the National Institute of Health. She has been one of the nation’s leading proponents for leveraging nursing research to improve the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

As NINR Director for more than two decades, Dr. Grady has served as a visionary leader devoted to improving the discovery and translation of innovations stemming from nursing science. Her commitment to the field has resulted in a stronger foundation for evidence-based practice, the elevation of nursing science within the broader research community, the translation of evidence into health policy, and a strategic investment in the next generation of nurse researchers who will continue to conduct thoughtful and groundbreaking work. These pursuits are integral in shaping policies that impact care delivery, particularly those related to disease prevention, health promotion, and patient outcomes—all aspects that are central to the mission of NINR. Under her leadership, generations of nurse researchers have made tremendous strides toward improving the health and wellness of communities across the U.S. and around the globe. 

Since 1995 when Dr. Grady was appointed NINR director, nursing research has made great strides in advancing scientific discoveries that have changed how care is delivered. NINR was responsible in part for supporting studies, which found that transitional care from the hospital to home can significantly improve the health of older adults and cut healthcare costs; providing training in coping skills to young people with type 1 diabetes mellitus can greatly improve their quality of life; hospitals where nurses have lower patient loads are linked to substantially lower patient mortality rates; and interventions conducted by the healthcare team at the community level can reduce high blood pressure in young inner city African-American males. These are just a few examples of the hundreds of NINR studies conducted under Dr. Grady’s watch that have resulted in new approaches to health promotion and disease prevention in practice settings worldwide.

AACN has always valued Dr. Grady’s leadership and her dedication to our members. Deans and faculty have benefited greatly from opportunities to meet with her and learn how they can become further engaged in the work of NINR. She was a regular presenter at AACN’s Doctoral Education Conference and at our annual deans’ meetings in Washington, DC where she gave members critical insights on available funding opportunities and the latest scientific advances at NINR. For several years, she shared her expertise with faculty and students by participating in AACN’s Faculty Policy Intensive and Student Policy Summit. Given her passion for cultivating future generations of researchers and policy leaders for the profession, the association recognized Dr. Grady with AACN’s Policy Luminary Award in 2015.

Dr. Grady is a pillar of the nursing profession and a highly-respected colleague to AACN’s members and staff. We applaud her stellar career and celebrate her work to advance the quality and impact of nursing science to better serve the health of the nation. Read more about Dr. Grady’s career and professional accomplishments.