Gawlinski Presents 2008 Distinguished Research Lecture at NTI

Anna Gawlinski, adjunct professor at the UCLA School of Nursing and director of evidence-based practice at UCLA Medical Center, is the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Research Lecture Award. She will present her research Monday at 2:15 p.m.

Gawlinski’s research focuses on interventions that improve outcomes in acutely and critically ill patients. Her research on hemodynamics and oxygenation has assisted nurses to more accurately monitor and intervene to maximize oxygenation and correct hemodynamic derangement in critically ill patients. In addition, Gawlinski has contributed to the body of knowledge on the therapeutic effects of adjunctive interventions such as animal-assisted therapy and communication boards for the critically ill.

As the director of evidence-based practice at UCLA Medical Center, Gawlinski has developed and implemented an infrastructure that supports research and evidence-based practice initiatives in the Department of Nursing. Her mentoring of staff nurses and advanced practice nurses has helped clinicians apply research findings in day-to-day practice situations to improve patient outcomes. Her clinical expertise, coupled with her knowledge of research methodology and a pragmatic approach to problem solving, has energized clinicians at all levels and increased their commitment to research and evidence-based care. Her ability to clarify difficult research concepts and apply them in a meaningful way has helped clinicians become involved in research studies to test interventions for improving patient care. Few other clinicians or researchers have this ability, which ensures the integration of nursing research into practice.

Gawlinski collaborates with the Research and Quality Improvement teams at UCLA to facilitate research-based practice in the care of critically ill patients with advanced heart failure, acute myocardial infarctions, and other acute coronary artery syndromes. During the past two decades, UCLA’s Acute MI Quality Improvement Team has implemented a program that ensures that each patient receives evidence-based care. UCLA is one of the leading users of secondary prevention therapies for acute MI patients. Gawlinski notes that nationally, secondary prevention therapies are underutilized in treating patients with coronary artery disease, despite evidence that such therapies reduce mortality and morbidity in this high-risk population. To increase utilization, her team developed and implemented a protocol that focuses on initiating secondary treatment therapies prior to hospital discharge. Gawlinski said, “Our vision of facilitating research-based practice taps the best of nursing’s potential for ensuring quality patient care and outcomes.”

Part of AACN’s Circle of Excellence Recognition program, the Distinguished Research Lecture Award honors a nationally known researcher who has made significant contributions to acute and critical care research; is known for publications, presentations and mentorship relevant to acute and critical care; and is viewed as a consultant in his or her area of expertise. The Distinguished Research Lecture Award is sponsored by Philips.