Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently selected Elizabeth Bridges, RN, PhD, CCNS, FCCM, FAAN, as its 2015 Distinguished Research Lecturer.
The award recognizes nurses whose program of research significantly influences high acuity and critical care. Established in 1982, it is now funded by a grant from Philips Healthcare, Andover, Massachusetts.
With more than 30 years as a critical care nurse, Bridges is best known for her research and teaching related to the integration of hemodynamic data into clinical practice and the care of critically ill and injured patients, especially under unique and austere conditions.
For the past 10 years, she has served as a clinical nurse researcher at the University of Washington (UW) Medical Center, Seattle, helping to advance a culture of inquiry and the translation of research into clinical practice. As an associate professor at the UW School of Nursing, she teaches critical care nursing, clinical nurse specialist practice and the translation of clinical research and evidence-based practice.
Bridges is also a colonel in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Reserve, where she serves as the individual mobilization augmentee to the director, Air Force Nursing Services, Defense Health Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia.
She retired from the USAF in 2004 after 22 years of active duty service, during which her roles included deputy commander of the largest USAF clinical research facility and USAF consultant for nursing research. In 2005, she returned to USAF Reserve Nurse Corps, where she serves as a research scientist and currently as a member of the Air Staff.
Since 1998, Bridges has led a collaborative team of Air Force nurse researchers to study casualty care on the battlefield and in aeromedical evacuation and disaster response.
The largest operational nursing research program in the Department of Defense, this initiative has outlined strategies to optimize care of severely injured combat casualties and contributed to improved prevention of hypothermia and pressure ulcers.
Bridges led the effort to develop standardized training including the creation of the “Battlefield and Disaster Nursing Pocket Guide,” which has been given to more than 22,000 U.S. military nurses and medical technicians.
Funded by the TriService Nursing Research Program, her work led to the first comprehensive database of patient characteristics and care requirements for critically ill and injured patients transported by USAF Critical Care Air Transport Teams.
Her civilian research focuses on the care of critically ill patients including strategies to integrate hemodynamic data into clinical practice, and she actively supports the translation of evidence into practice through her role at the UW Medical Center.
Bridges serves on the editorial boards of the American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC) and AACN Advanced Critical Care and was co-editor of “Cardiac Nursing,” 6th edition.
AACN previously honored Bridges with its Flame of Excellence Award in 2011 in recognition of her sustained contributions to acute and critical care nursing. Among her numerous other awards, she is a fellow of both the College of Critical Care Medicine and American Academy of Nursing.
Prior to joining the Air Force, Bridges earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Oregon Health & Science University, Portland. She later completed graduate and doctoral degrees at UW.
As the Distinguished Research Lecturer, Bridges will discuss her career and research journey Monday, May 18, 2015, during AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI). The world’s largest educational conference and trade show for acute and critical care nurses, NTI takes place Sunday, May 17 through Thursday, May 21, 2015, in San Diego.
AJCC will publish an abstract of Bridges’ presentation in its May 2015 issue, followed by a complete manuscript in July 2015.
About AACN’s Distinguished Research Lectureship: AACN established the Distinguished Research Lectureship in 1982 to honor nationally known nurses who make significant contributions to high acuity and critical care research. The annual award, now funded by a grant from Philips Healthcare, Andover, Massachusetts, recognizes research that changes or improves patient outcomes and advances nursing education and practice. Recipients present their award-winning research at the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition and receive a $2,500 honorarium.
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme
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