Audrey O'Brien Nelson is an American

registered nurse A registered nurse (RN) is a healthcare professional who has graduated or successfully passed a nursing program from a recognized nursing school and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar government-authorized ...

, research scientist, and professor in multiple colleges at the

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, Tampa, Florida, United States, and other campuses in St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, ...

. She is the director of the VISN 8 Evidence-Based Practice Center and the Biomechanic Research Laboratory at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa, Florida. Nelson is also a speaker on topics related to nursing research in

spinal cord injury A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. It is a destructive neurological and pathological state that causes major motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunctions. Symptoms of ...

occupational safety Occupational safety and health (OSH) or occupational health and safety (OHS) is a multidisciplinary field concerned with the safety, health, and welfare of people at work (i.e., while performing duties required by one's occupation). OSH is re ...

and

patient safety Patient safety is a specialized field about enhancing healthcare quality through the systematic prevention, reduction, reporting, and analysis of medical errors and preventable harm that contribute to severe outcomes for the patient. While health ...

. Nelson has managed multiple studies funded from various sources, including Health Services R&D, Rehabilitation R&D, American SCI Nurses Association, Center for Nursing Research (NSRA), the Veterans Administration, and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Products and procedures developed from her research on nursing interventions, biomechanical assessment, and equipment design in spinal cord injury patients have been applied nationwide in hospitals and nursing schools to foster nurse and patient safety. Nelson's research has played an important role in nurse safety and has been the basis of multiple nationwide nurse safety and training initiatives including the American Nurses Association "Handle with Care" campaign and the recently introduced Senate Bill, S.1788 - The Nurse and Healthcare Worker Protection Act. Nelson was a Consultant to the United Nations on Human Rights and Bioethics in the Development of Life and Health Sciences, and was selected to the OSHA National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics. Nelson received her B.S. in

nursing Nursing is a health care profession that "integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness and injury; facilitation of healing; and alle ...

in 1977, her

M.S. A Master of Science (; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree. In contrast to the Master of Arts degree, the Master of Science degree is typically granted for studies in sciences, engineering and medicine ...

in nursing at

Emory University Emory University is a private university, private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory. Its main campu ...

in 1980, and her

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...

in nursing from the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida and a preem ...

in 1990. She has joint faculty appointments at the University of South Florida in the Colleges of Engineering, Aging Studies, and Public Health, and is the associate director for Clinical Research in the College of Nursing. In 2005, the

Joint Commission The Joint Commission is a United States-based nonprofit tax-exempt 501(c) organization that accredits more than 22,000 US health care organizations and programs. The international branch accredits medical services from around the world. A majori ...

, which operates accreditation programs for hospitals and other health care organizations, recognized Nelson's work in "improv ngthe quality of care delivered to people with disabilities," and praised her for "magnif

ing Ing, ING or ing may refer to: Art and media * '' ...ing'', a 2003 Korean film * i.n.g, a Taiwanese girl group * The Ing, a race of dark creatures in the 2004 video game '' Metroid Prime 2: Echoes'' * "Ing", the first song on The Roches' 199 ...

the scope of practice for patient safety and einga tireless advocate for those with disabilities." It is estimated that her research has saved Americans billions of dollars in health care costs, injury expenses, and claims, as well as prevented countless injuries to nurses throughout the world.

Post-degree honors and awards

* Finalist

Service to America Medals The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and to transform the way government works. The Partnership's programs include t ...

, 2009 * John M. Eisenberg Award for lifetime achievement in Patient Safety, 2005 *Outstanding Contribution to SCI Nursing Award, AASCIN, 1994. Awards of the Academy of SCI Professionals

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Audrey Obrien 1956 births American nurses American women nurses C. Leon King High School alumni Living people Scientists from Tampa, Florida 21st-century American women