Kristen Giera, MSN-NE, RN

Kristen knew she wanted to be either a nurse or a teacher from a young age, now she is both! K Kristen graduated with her BSN from Carroll University in 2018 and started her nursing career at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center on a medical surgical unit. On this unit she was a member of multiple committees that focused on patient safety and was a nurse lead in a research study aimed at evaluating the effects of mobilization of elderly adults while hospitalized. When making the decision to pursue her Master’s in Nursing with an emphasis in nursing education she decided to transition to the role of a Wound Care Nurse. Kristen has since worked as a Hyperbaric, Wound Care, and Limb Preservation Nurse since 2020. Kristen has worked in the foundational clinical setting and appreciates the opportunity to help students build confidence in their nursing skill set. Kristen aims to connect the lectures to the real world. Kristen is currently a Magnet champion for Aurora Medical Center- Washington County helping publicize nursing excellence within her hospital. Kristen is currently implementing a quality improvement project focusing on patient and staff satisfaction.

Education

BSN- Carroll University 2018

MSN- Carroll University 2023

Awards & Honors

Nominated six times for a Daisy Award for extraordinary nurses (2018-present).

Received the 2019 Aurora Rising Star in recognition of her positive attitude and willingness to be in the Advocate Aurora Health Care journey to provide patients with satisfying high-quality care.

Advocate Aurora Health Shared Governance awarded the 2021 Stronger Together Team Award to the MOVIN (Mobilizing Older adult patients Via a systems-based Intervention) research group that Kristen was a RN Lead on.

Professional Presentations

Kristen has presented on the multicomponent evidence-based research providing an overview of hospital-associated disability and rational supporting the need for nurse led mobility interventions, change in and sustainability in unit culture, and improving outcomes for hospitalized older adults.

• Advocate Aurora Health – The System Nursing Research Council and site NRC/EBP Committee- Nursing Grand Rounds August 20^th, 2020
  • Reducing Hospital-Acquired Disability by MOVIN (Mobilizing Older adult patients Via a systems-based INtervention)
• Building Bridges to Research Based Nursing Practice- Friday May 14^th, 2021
  • Using a Team Approach to Implement “MOVIN” to Prevent Hospital Acquired Disability