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These courses strengthened my ability to critically evaluate nursing literature, ask meaningful clinical questions, and apply statistical concepts to practice, expanding my confidence in contributing to evidence-based practice

795 Biostatistics: Gained deeper understanding of statistics and improved ability to interpret research articles.

790 Evidence-Based Practice: Developed skills in formulating PICO questions and conducting thorough literature searches.

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The coursework enhanced my education knowledge by grounding me in theory, instructional design, and faculty responsibilities. This has expanded my focus to include preparing and supporting future nurses.

791 Instructional Strategies: Learned to write effective learning objectives.

794 Introduction to Nursing Faculty Role: Refined CV, and learned strategies for searching and applying for faculty positions.

787 Theoretical Foundations of Teaching and Learning: Applied educational theories to teaching practice.

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Hi everyone! I’m Laura, and I’ve been a pediatric nurse for 20 years. Throughout my career, I’ve cared for children across a variety of settings, and those experiences have fueled my passion for teaching and mentoring. I find great fulfillment in supporting colleagues and students as they grow professionally, helping them build confidence, clinical skills, and a strong sense of compassion. My goal is to inspire the next generation of pediatric nurses to provide excellent, patient-centered care while fostering a lifelong love of learning in nursing

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I'll be graduating from the University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing with a Masters in Health Services Leadership & Management (HSLM) with a concentration in Education

Expected graduation is right around the corner in May of 2026!

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For this degree, I'm a double Conway Scholarship recipient (UMSON & Children's National Hospital)

I have had great mentors who made me the nurse I am today, and I hope to do the same for my two mentees I currently have.

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Professional Goals:

Obtain my MSN in Health Services Leadership and Management (HSLM) with an Education concentration

Begin a national pediatric skin fellowship within my organization

Create a pediatric skin national certification for pediatric WOCNs (wound, ostomy, and continence)

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In 2024, I was honored to receive the national Daisy Nurse Leader Award in recognition of my leadership of our organization’s Skin Team and our efforts to reduce harm and prevent pressure injuries (PIs).

This recognition symbolizes more than individual achievement. It reflects the ability to influence at a system level by advocating for policy changes, embedding decision-support into workflows, and using data to drive safety and quality. It demonstrates how I lead with both authenticity and compassion.

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I've been working in the Nursing Quality Department for the last 3 years. I'd love to get my Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) credential, offered by the National Association of Healthcare Quality (NAHQ). Once I finish my MSN, I plan to take an exam review class and sit for the certification

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Children's National Hospital continues to be ranked among the nation's best children's hospitals

It is a freestanding, 323-bed pediatric acute care hospital located in Washington, D.C.

Children's National Hospital is also known for its research and innovation, including the Children's National Research Institute.

It has been designated as a Magnet® hospital since 2015, a recognition for demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery.

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This is my mentor, Dr. Pamela Hinds. She's simply the most inspiring human I've met in my nursing career. She is always helping me make and refine my personal goals.

She has published 354 peer-reviewed papers, 63 editorials, 24 book chapters and has co-edited five books.

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On a personal note, I’m a proud wife and a mom to two amazing girls, ages 4 and 7, who bring endless joy, laughter, and perspective to my life.

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I’m proud to share a photo of the incredible Skin Team I’ve had the privilege of leading since 2016. This team represents nurses from across the hospital including acute care, critical care, perioperative services, the emergency department, and a few ambulatory clinics.

Their passion, expertise, and commitment to patient care inspire me every day, and I feel so fortunate to lead and learn from such a talented group of professionals

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Email me at lwelch@umaryland.edu

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I published my first professional book chapters in the MacDonald's Atlas of Neonatology (2019).

I wrote a chapter on Wound Care and another on Ostomy/Gastrostomy Management. Currently working on the 2025 update for both chapters

Author(s) : Jayashree Ramasethu MBBS, DCH, MD, FAAP, Suna Seo MD, MSc, FAAP

ISBN/ISSN: 9781496394255

Publication Date: November 21, 2019

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Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN)

Organization: Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)

I'm so proud of this one! My first certification- I think I'll keep renewing it forever.

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Certified Ostomy Care Nurse (COCN)

Organization: Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nursing Certification Board (CWONCB)

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Certified Wound Care Nurse (CWCN)

Organization: Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Certification Board (WOCNCB)

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Nursing Professional Development RN, Board Certified (NPD-BC)

Organization: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

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Pediatric Nurse, Board Certified

Organization: American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

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20 years of Service at Children's National

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20 years of Service at Children's National

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This year, I was thrilled to celebrate 20 years of service at Children’s National Hospital.

It’s hard to believe how quickly the time has flown. It feels like yesterday and a lifetime ago all at once.

I’m so grateful for the experiences, the patients, and the amazing colleagues who have made this journey so meaningful!

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In my spare time, I love party planning: balloon arches, cake & cupcake decorating, creating backdrops. Here is a picture of my youngest daughter's "Donut Grow Up Cake" and homemade donuts for one of her birthdays

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In 2024, I was re-inducted into the Sigma Thera Tau International Honor Society for Nursing. This was significant and a full circle moment after completing this process during my undergrad back in 2006.

It was also extra special after presenting a Symposium Podium Presentation titled "Love the Skin You’re In: Pressure Injury Management" at the 2019 Sigma Theta Tau International Conference in Huston, TX

It consisted of 3 podium sub-presentations:

Optimizing Skin Integrity: One Simple Change for Hospitalized Children

Creating Sustainability: A Nurse Led Skin Program

Better Together: Pressure Injury Prevalence and Nursing Professional Development

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I am currently co-leading a nursing qualitative research study!

We are in the data analysis phase for a nurse led research study called "Why Nurses Stay" as a co-Principle Investigator. This study investigates the factors that keep nurses within an organization for longer than 5 years in a post-COVID environment

Welch, L., Ruiz, M., McLeese, R., Volchek, J., Hinds, P.

Role: Principle Investigator

2022- present

IRB ID: Study00000438

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Suzanna Feetham Research Award Recipient 

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Suzanna Feetham Research Award Recipient 

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In 2024, I was awarded the $2,000 Suzanne Feetham Research Support Award to fund my study on nurse retention in the post-COVID-19 era.

This grant allowed me to hire a transcription service to convert our interview recordings into documents suitable for coding and analysis

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I co-authored an article with my plastic surgery colleagues in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery on Peripheral Intravenous Infiltrations and Extravasation (PIVIE) injuries.

A Primer on the Acute Management of Intravenous Extravasation Injuries for the Plastic Surgeon

Maly, Connor BS*; Fan, Kenneth L. MD†; Rogers, Gary F. MD, JD, MBA‡; Mitchell, Benjamin BS*; Amling, June MSN‡,§; Johnson, Kara BSN§; Welch, Laura BSN§; Oh, Albert K. MD‡; Chao, Jerry W. MD‡,¶

Author Information

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open 6(4):p e1743, April 2018. | DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000001743

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A Primer on the Acute Management of Intravenous... : Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open

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of available interventions essential to the initial evaluation and management of these injuries. The goal of this article was to provide plastic surgeons and health care providers with a general overview of the acute management of intravenous infiltration and extravasation injuries. Though the decision for surgical versus nonsurgical management is often a clear one for plastic surgeons, local interventions, and therapies are often indicated and under-utilized in the immediate postinfiltration period. Thorough knowledge of these interventions should be a basic requirement in the armamentarium of plastic surgery consultants.…

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In my line of work, I present a lot of Nursing Research Posters. Here is an example from my work in our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit on a new initiative called 'Bear Huddles' that use a multidisciplinary strategy to prevent pressure injuries in our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit from earlier this year

I've presented over 20 Nursing Research Posters (Posters & Podium Presentations) since 2016

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Bear Huddles_A Multidisciplinary Approach to Zero Harm_ Research Poster - 48x48_FINAL

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Here's a list of my research posters I presented at conferences in 2024 while working on my MSN

Welch, L. 2024. Capturing the Credit: Elevating Pressure Injury Bundle Compliance through Unit-Led Quality Improvement,

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2024 (Finalist, Category: Quality Improvement)

Welch, L. 2024. The Turning Point: Improving Patient Positioning Practices in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

Symposium for Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) Conference, Poster Presentation, 2024

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2024

Welch, L., Ruiz, M., McLeese, R., Liljestrand, A. 2024. Gamified Rounding: Improving Quality & Empowering Nurses

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2024 (Finalist, Category: Quality Improvement)

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Coursework Knowledge: Public Health & Policy

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Coursework Knowledge: Public Health & Policy

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These classes broadened my understanding of health promotion and the nurse’s role in shaping policy, expanding my perspective from individual patient care to community and systems-level outcomes.

782 Health Systems & Policy: Enhanced understanding of how nurses can influence health policy and governmental structures.

780 Health Promotion: Increased knowledge of population health and health outcomes improvement strategies.

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Through finance, administration, and organizational theory, I expanded my leadership focus to include strategic planning, analysis, and team development, preparing me to influence nursing practice at a programmatic level.

690 Managerial Health Finance: Developed skills in budget management and Excel-based financial modeling.

692 Health Services Administration: Applied SWOT and gap analyses and practiced writing business cases.

691 Organization Theories: Strengthened feedback skills and explored personal leadership style.

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Certified Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Instructor

Organization: Crisis Prevention Institute

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Children's National earned our 4th Magnet re-designation, placing us in the top 2% of hospitals to continue Magnet designation.

I helped contribute to writing our Magnet document, with several exemplars, graphs, and outcomes resulting from the work I lead with our Skin Team nurse champion group

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Children's National Earns 4th Magnet® Designation for Nursing Excellence

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My CV is a dynamic document that continues to evolve as I grow in my career. It is the highlight reel of what I have accomplished to date in my career.

I am committed to advancing my professional development, building on my experiences, and continually striving for excellence in my practice and leadership.

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Here's a list of my research posters I presented at conferences in 2023 while working on my MSN

Welch, L. & Moore, K. 2023. Seeing Through the Pressure Injury: A Novel Organizational Review

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2023 (Finalist, Category: Quality Improvement)

Ruiz, M., Welch, L., McLeese, R., Liljestrand, A. 2023. Going to the Gemba: Utilizing Gamification to Enhance Nursing Sensitive Indicator (NSI) Knowledge

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2023

Welch, L. 2023. Implementing Skin Prevention Rounds

National Pressure Injury Advisory Pannel (NPAIP) Conference, Poster Presentation, 2023

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2023

Welch, L. 2023. Using Quality Improvement to Improve Wound Documentation

National Pressure Injury Advisory Pannel (NPAIP) Conference, Podium Presentation & Poster Presentation, 2023 (Winner, Category: Best Overall)

CNH Research & Education Week, Poster Presentation, 2023

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I've had a great career so far, working in roles that span education, leadership, research, and quality

Senior Clinical Outcomes Coordinator, Skin Team Lead, Nursing Quality Department, Children’s National Hospital, 2022-present

Professional Practice Specialist, 7East Medical Unit Children’s National Hospital, 2016 to 2022

Interim Nursing Safety Coordinator, Nursing Quality Department, Children’s National Hospital, 2020

Clinical Instructor, 7East Medical Unit, Children’s National Hospital, 2013-2016

Home Infusion Nurse, Walgreens Home Infusion Services, 2013-2015

Nursing Clinical Instructor, Georgetown University, 2013

Shift Coordinator, Medical Care Unit, Children’s National Hospital, 2009-2013

Staff Nurse, General Pediatrics Floor, Children’s National Hospital, 2006-2009

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Its been 20 years since I was in school last. We were using APA's 6th edition. I have learned a lot about APA formatting and have used this knowledge so many times in the last few years

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I am currently working on an ANA-funded grant to establish a new nursing competency called Hair for You. This initiative focuses on hair care while promoting diversity, inclusive practices, and high-quality nursing care for patients of all backgrounds.

A 67-page competency document is currently under ANA review, an IRB study protocol is pending approval, and a peer-reviewed article will follow once outcomes are available.

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I want to highlight the Biostatistics class I completed a few semesters ago. It was one of the most challenging courses I have taken, yet I was surprised by how much of what I learned applied directly to my daily practice as a nurse. While I’m not usually comfortable sharing my papers, this analytical proposal served as the final step in bringing everything together.

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I had the privilege of attending Emory University’s Wound, Ostomy, and Continence program before becoming a certified wound and ostomy nurse. This program shaped me in profound ways, not just in knowledge but in perspective.

I actually attended twice, first in 2016, and again in 2023, because I missed the opportunity to sit for boards within the five-year window after graduation. Going back the second time was humbling, but it also gave me a deeper appreciation for the field and allowed me to learn and grow even more from the experience.

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Another goal I’ve set for myself is to publish more of my work. Right now, I have about 5 manuscripts (in some form of development) that are waiting to be developed into formal publications. Sharing these will not only highlight the progress we’ve made but also help advance my specialty and spread the impact of the hard work being done.

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My mentor wrote an article on legacy mapping- dreaming as big as you can to envision what will be different as a result of your nursing career. I've attached mine here.

You can read more about legacy mapping here if you want to try one yourself: Hinds, P. S., Britton, D. R., Coleman, L., Engh, E., Humbel, T. K., Keller, S., Kelly, K. P., Menard, J., Lee, M. A., Roberts-Turner, R., & Walczak, D. (2015). Creating a career legacy map to help assure meaningful work in nursing. Nursing Outlook, 63(2), 211–218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2014.08.002

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One day, I hope to pursue my terminal degree, whether a PhD or DNP, as part of my continued commitment to growth and advancing the nursing profession.