13-05-2025
Wright State alum nationally recognized for improving nursing standards
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A Miami Valley native has been recognized by a national organization for her progress on improving nursing standards.
Jodi Mullen, senior quality improvement specialist at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Florida, is a recipient of the 2025 'Circle of Excellence' award. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses awards up to 25 health care professionals with the award each year.
According to the AACN, Mullen noticed 'communication failures' as causes behind numerous patient safety reports in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
In her position, she has implemented nurse integrated rounds through efficiency, management engineering rounds and nursing pre-implementation survey data. The AACN mentioned the results of her effort showed progress.
'Post-implementation nursing survey data and analysis of PSRs after six months revealed improvement in nurses' perceptions that patient care concerns were addressed,' said the AACN.
As additional nurses entered the facility, Mullen found the potential of the NIR to have been successful.
'She distributed the full pre-implementation survey to newly hired nurses and a modified version to incumbent nurses, and she reviewed PSRs for the entire time period,' said AACN. 'The results demonstrated a continued reduction in communication failures.'
Before Mullen obtained a bachelor's degree from Wright State University, a professor suggested she consider entering the pediatric field of nursing, specifically in the PICU.
'All of the work that I've done at the bedside with patients has been in pediatric critical care, and I credit her for seeing something in me and sending me in the right direction,' said Mullen.
Mullen spent 23 years of her profession at Dayton Children's Hospital, which is where she claims her passion for patient safety and quality was established.
'I feel like that hospital and that unit really set a strong foundation for me as a nurse because that's where I grew up as a new nurse in quality and patient safety, where I found my love of that,' said Mullen.
Staff nurse, charge nurse and clinical nurse specialist are just some of the positions Mullen has held in her career.
The award recipient also said people interested in pursuing a nursing career should find their niche, as there are many positions available in the nursing field.
'You have to understand the science of it and learn that in school,' said Mullen. 'It's when you really come out and you work with patients and families that you understand that the art of caring that goes along with being a nurse.'
The Circle of Excellence award is provided to AACN members who achieve measurable results, model a healthy work environment and provide data to analyze and eliminate barriers in the critical care and high acuity nursing practice.
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