Professor receives nursing research award

By Teri Olsen
Collegian Staff
November 8, 2006

Dr. Patti Zuzelo received the nursing research award at the 2006 Nightingale Awards Gala held in Harrisburg, Pa., Oct 13. This award is one of several presented at the Nightingale Awards Gala.

The Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit foundation that recruits and rewards nursing professionals. The foundation offers a scholarship fund in addition to its awards program.

Zuzelo, in a joint faculty and research position, is Associate Professor of Nursing at La Salle and Associate Director of Nursing for Research at Albert Einstein Healthcare Network (AEHN). Zuzelo was nominated by Mary Beth Kingston, Chief Nurse Executive of AEHN and Elizabeth Menschner, Nursing Director, Clinical Care, AEHN.

Zuzelo found out that she was selected as a Nightingale Awards finalist in Nursing Research when she received a notification letter in June of 2006.

She did not know that she was one of six recipients chosen from over 100 nominees until she attended the awards ceremony with her husband, sons, mother and co-workers. When she won, Zuzelo was very excited about it.

“The whole night was so nice. It really was a pleasure to be there,” Zuzelo said. “It was exciting to have people talk about you professionally and to have your friends and family be able to hear it.”

Zuzelo was impressed that the Nightingale founders attended the gala and were still very active within the organization. She was also stunned by the camaraderie of the founders with the rest of the organization and the guests.

Zuzelo’s award is a crystal replica of the flame that burned from Florence Nightingale’s lamp as she went through the night, helping wounded soldiers who referred to her as the “Lady of the Lamp” during the Crimean War.

The nursing research award highlights people who are committed to excellence in nursing practice through research. Nursing research is important because it is the basis of future methods and practices for nurses, and helps to improve nursing education and patient care.

Zuzelo received the award for her involvement with nursing research at AEHN. Her research is primarily project-based, where she initiates and completes projects with the nurses. She also encourages and supports evidence-based practice and tries to inspire people to do research.

She often conducts research with people who have not previously conducted a research project. Zuzelo said she likes to see her co-researchers grow by carrying a project all the way through fruition and getting their work published.

“I want to get more people on board, show them that research is manageable and doable, and that research can even be fun,” she said.

Aside from research, Zuzelo coordinates the Clinical Nurse Specialist track for Adult Health and Illness graduate students. She also teaches undergraduate courses and classes in the RN to BSN program.

Zuzelo recently completed a book, The Clinical Nurse Specialist Handbook, published by Jones and Bartlett. Although it was a huge amount of work, the book was completed ahead of schedule.

“I’m really proud of it,” Zuzelo said. “It is unique and will hopefully contribute to Clinical Nurse Specialist education and practice.”

Zuzelo has been a full-time faculty member at La Salle since 1997. She earned her doctoral degree in higher education leadership at Widener University, and her master’s degree in nursing administration at University of Pennsylvania.

She received her BSN from Pennsylvania State University. She also has a certificate in Business Administration from Wharton School of Business.

olsent1@lasalle.edu