Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are registered nurses with specialized graduate-level education who provide expert clinical practice, research, education, consultation and clinical leadership with an identified patient population. The scope of the CNSs practice includes patients, nursing personnel and organizational systems. CNSs work in direct patient care and indirect care activities that affect a broad range of patients.

Steven Augustine, MSN, NP, CNRN, CCRN, AGPCNP-BC, AGACNP  Title: Advanced Practice Nurse Specialist

Specialty: Neuroscience
 
Clinical Interests:
Neurovascular/stroke, epilepsy, normal pressure hydrocephalus
 
Projects / Research:

  • Comprehensive neuroscience nursing education program
  • Quality improvement – acute care lumbar drains
  • Multidisciplinary protocol to improve NPH trial patient experience and diagnostic yield

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania – BSN, 2011
  • University of Pennsylvania – MSN, 2015

Other Certifications and Licenses:

  • Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse (CNRN)
  • Acute / Critical Care Nursing Certification (CCRN)

Publications / Posters:

  • Augustine, S.B., Tarpley, J., Lucas, L. & Baraban, E. (2019). Outcomes of Large Vessel Occlusion Patients in a Multi-Hospital System with
    NIHSS < 6 Treated with Endovascular Thrombectomy vs. Medical Management. Stroke, 50:ATP17.
    https://doi.org/10.1161/str.50.suppl_1.TP17
  • Roberts, W.M., Augustine, S.B., Lawton, K.J., Lindsay, T.H., Thiele, T.R., Izquierdo, E.J., … Lockery, S.R. (2016). A Stochastic Neuronal
    Model Predicts Random Search Behaviors at Multiple Spatial Scales in C. elegans. eLife, https:/doi.org/10.7554/eLife.12572

Awards:
Nursing Excellence Award 2023

Professional Memberships

  • American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
  • American Association of Critical Care Nurses
  • Neurocritical Care Society

Berit Bagley

Title: Diabetes Nurse Specialist CDCES, BC-ADM (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist & Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management)

Specialty: Diabetes

Education: MSN

Professional Memberships: ADCES (Association of Diabetes Care and Educational Specialists)

Abstracts/Presentations: “3 Things in 30 Minutes”, “Vizient Knowledge Transfer” “Inpatient Stroke Management in an Adolescent with Type 1 Diabetes and Home Insulin Pump”

Research Projects: “Use of Computer Vision to Identify the Frequency and Magnitude of Insulin Syringe Preparation Errors”, “DM COVID-19”, “Subcutaneous Insulin Protocol for Mild DKA”

Christa Bedford-Mu

Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialty: Neonatal, Parent & Child

Clinical Research / Interests: Wounds, skin and ostomy care, neurodevelopmental care, and telemedicine.

Education:

  • California State University, Chico, Bachelor of Science, Nursing, 1997
  • University of Phoenix, Master of Nursing, Nursing Education, 2016
  • California State University, Dominguez Hills, Clinical Nurse Specialist, 2017

Professional Memberships:

  • National Association of Neonatal Nurses
  • Academy of Neonatal Nurses
  • American Association of Critical Care Nurses
  • Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses
  • International Society of Pediatric Wound Care
  • Wound Associate Certification
  • CCRN- Neonatal Certification
  • C-ELBW- Extremely Low Birth Weight Certification

Abstracts/Presentations:

  • Use of Telemedicine for Transition of Care in the NICU. Podium presentation at the Society of Pediatric Nurses-Greater Sacramento Symposium, Sacramento, California, 2020
  • Bridging the Gap: A Collaborative Approach to fMMC Wound Healing. Podium presentation at the International Society of Pediatric Wound Care 2019 Annual Conference, Houston, Texas, 2019
  • Use of Telemedicine for Transition of Care in the NICU. Podium presentation at the International Society of Pediatric Wound Care 2019 Annual Conference, Houston, Texas, 2019
  • Siefkes, H., Kair, L., Tancredi, D., Vasquez, B., Garcia, L., Bedford-Mu, C., & Lakshminrusimha, S.  Oxygen Saturation and Perfusion Index-Based Enhanced Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening. American Journal of Perinatology. April 2019
  • An Innovative Method of Refeeding Ileostomy Effluent.  Poster Presentation at National Association of Neonatal Nurses Conference, Palm Springs, California 2016.

Research Projects:

  • Continuous Glucose Monitoring in the Neonate (2020- Present)
  • Pressure Mapping in the Pediatric Patient (2019- Present)
  • SPROUT Neonatal Tele-Signout (2018 - Present)
  • CPQCC Grow Baby, Grow (2018 – Present)
  • Peripheral Perfusion Index Study (2017 – 2018)
  • CPQCC NAS Project (2019- Present)

Awards:

  • SWADAAC Leadership Award Recipient—2020
  • Magnet Nurse of the Year—2019
    New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements
  • ANCC Daisy Award Recipient—2019
  • Friends of Nursing Honor Recipient—2016
  • Nursing Excellence Award Recipient—2015

 

Kellie Brendle, RN, MS, CNS.UC Davis Department of Neurology


Title
Stroke Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialty:

Critical Care,  Trauma and Stroke


Clinical Research / Interests

  • Transition of Care
  • Prevention and Community Awareness
  • Telemedicine
  • Trauma Care
  • Sepsis
  • Critical Care


Education

CSU, Sacramento BSN

UCSF - Masters of Science

UCSF -   Critical Care/Trauma Clinical Nurse Specialist

InProgress:  Post-master Acute Care Nurse Practitioner



Professional Memberships:

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist

American Association of Critical Care Nurses

American Association of Neuroscience Nurses

Society of Trauma Nurses

American Association of Nurse Practitioners – AANP

 

Abstracts/Presentations

  • Poster Board Presentation at Nursing Research Conference: “Fast Track to a Trauma Education Program - Design to Implementation in 90 days”
  • Presentation and lecture on Traumatic Brain Injury and Maxillofacial/Ocular injuries
  • Presentation of a new orthopedic total joint program. Responsible for putting on the conference/presentation and ensuring competency among staff.   Continuous evaluation of program with implementation of changes to provide a successful Orthopedic Program
  • Presentation and skills lab on pediatric pathophysiology of pneumothorax, chest tube placement, needle thoracentesis utilizing the simulation lab.
  • Presentation and skills lab for the pediatric transport team using the simulation lab.
  • Presentation and Poster board accepted at Pediatric & Neonatal transport conference: Can Pediatric nurses become successful at intubating pediatric patients using only simulation?
  • Presentation on Pediatric Airway Issues for Kaiser South Sacramento PACU nurses.
  • Presentation on pediatric airway issues at REACH on Tour conference.
  • Presentation on neonatal stabilization and intubation. Designed a presentation that included lecture and hands on training for intubation success.  The course was provided to a small rural hospital to help develop a program that would support neonates until they could be transported to a higher level of care.    
  • Presentation and evaluation of clinical knowledge and expertise for paramedic and nursing Flight crew during a 4 hour Clinical Training Lab
  • Poster Board for QI Symposium 2016 Trauma Codes:  The feasibility of Developing and Implementing In Situ Simulated Trauma Codes:  Matthew Kiefer, MD; Aaron Bair, MD; Christine Williams, RN, MS, CNS; Ian Julie MD, MAS, MS; Allison Shuken, RN, MS; Anthony Carden, MD; Bonnie McCracken, MSN, RN, NP-C, NEA-C; Erik Laurin, MD; Jennifer Mattice, RN, MS;  Joseph Galante, MD;  Kellie Brendle, RN, MS, CNS; Muna Aljahany, MBBS; Ryan Bales, RN, BSN; William Hammontree, RN, BSN; Edgardo Salcedo, MD
  • Presentation on Acute Ischemic Stroke Program and Process for  UCDavis Medical Center nurses
  • Picinich, C., Madden, L. K., & Brendle, K. (2019). Activation to Arrival: Transition and Handoff from Emergency Medical Services to Emergency Departments. The Nursing clinics of North America, 54(3), 313–323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnur.2019.04.001

Research Projects

Comprehensive Exam – UC, San Francisco, Masters of Science in Nursing/Clinical Nurse Specialist Critical Care/Trauma Program

  • Research on ARDS patients and the impact of High Frequency Oscillation Ventilation (HFOV) on Oxygenation and Ventilation.

Senior Project - CSU, Sacramento, Bachelor of Science nursing program

  • Developed general assessment questions written in English, Spanish and phonetically to be used when a Spanish translator was not available. Distributed throughout Mercy Healthcare.

Partial Quantitative research proposal – CSU, Sacramento, Bachelor of Science nursing program

  • The relationship between Jobst pressure garments and the degree of scarring for burn patients.

Maureen Craig
Title

Clinical Nurse Specialist-Nephrology
Yoga Instructor – UC Davis Integrative Medicine
Wellness Ambassador

Clinical Research / Interests

Mindfulness, Yoga, and Compassion
Whole Food Plant-Based Eating
Lifestyle Medicine
Motivational Interviewing
Patient Education and Wellness
Home Hemodialysis
Urgent Start Peritoneal Dialysis
Acute Care Dialysis
Slow Extended Daily Dialysis (SLEDD)
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies (CRRT)
Nursing Education, Testing, and Certification


Liscensure / Education / Certification

  • RN / Clinical Nurse Specialist – Board of Registered Nursing State of California
  • University of Nevada Reno – DNP, Nursing
  • Andrews University - MS, Nursing / BS, Nursing, Berrien Springs, MI
  • Registered Yoga Teacher 200 – Yoga Alliance
  • Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher – Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, UC San Diego
  • Certified Nephrology Nurse – Nephrology Nursing Certification Board
  • Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse – American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation
  • DipACLM – American College of Lifestyle Medicine


Professional Memberships

  • American Nephrology Nurses Association
  • American College of Lifestyle Medicine
  • Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society
  • Sigma Theta Tau, Nursing International Honor Society
  • Yoga Alliance

Honors and Awards

  • Ms. Craig was honored by the Patient Care Services Division at UC Davis Health with the Daisy Award in 2019.
  • Ms. Craig served for 7 years on the Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission. She held the roles, of Website Chair, Treasurer, President Elect, and President. She also worked on several Examination Item Writing Boards to support test development for Nephrology Nurses seeking certification in this specialty.
  • Ms. Craig was honored by the Patient Care Services Division as UC Davis Medical Center Nurse
    Educator of the year in 2007.

Recent Publications

Craig, M. (2022). Promoting Wellness in Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioners. In D. Hain & D. Bakerjian (Eds.), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nursing Evidence-Based Care for Patients Across the Lifespan. Springer Publishing Company. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7540-1429
Tamura, K., Craig, M., Morfin, J. (2015) Unplanned “Crash” Home Dialysis Starts:  Single Center Experience from a University Hospital in the United States. Poster Presentation from American Nephrology Society, San Diego, CA.
Depner, T. & Craig, M. (2012). Slow extended daily dialysis. In T. Ing, M. Rahman, and C. Kjellstrands (Eds.), Dialysis: History, Development and Promise, (pp.xxx-xxx). Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific Publishing Company Inc.
Craig, M. & Infante, S. (2011). Abdominal mysteries: Pain, peritonitis, pancreatitis, pseudocyst. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 38, (pp173-186).
Golper, T., Clark, J., Majors, D., Craig, M., & Marshall, M. (2009). Practical aspects of hybrid dialysis techniques. In C. Ronco, R. Bellemo, & J. Kellums (Eds.), Critical Care Nephrology (2nd ed.), (pp. 1354-1358). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.
Craig, M., Harty, A., & Williams, H. (Section Eds.). (2008). Acute care. In C. Counts (Ed.), Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing 5thed. (p.131-308). Pitman, NJ: American Nephrology Nursing Association.
Craig, M. & Currier, H. (2008). How to choose which examination to take and how to acknowledge certified nurses. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 35,(pp283-289).
Bogle, J. Craig, M., Williams, H., Garrigan, P., Davey-Tresemer, J., & Dalton, T. (2008). Hemodialysis in the acute care setting. In C. Counts (Ed.), Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing (5th ed.), (pp.176-214). Pitman, NJ: American Nephrology Nursing Association.
Craig, M. (2008). Slow extended daily dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy. In C. Counts (Ed.), Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing (5th ed.), (pp.231-278). Pitman, NJ: American Nephrology Nursing Association.

macraig@ucdavis.edu 

Shaunda Crane MSN, FNP-BCTitle
Nurse Practitioner, Advanced Practice Nurse Specialist


Specialty
Wound Care, Transitions of Care


Clinical Research / Interests
Limb Preservation & Diabetic Foot Care Equitable Access to Care Rural Health Social Determinants of Health/Public Health Outpatient Health Maintenance & Street Medicine Telemedicine & Information Technology Mental Health / Whole Person Wellness Environmental Care Community Safety Multi-Agency Collaboration Program Innovation


Professional Memberships
American Association of Nurse Practitioners California Association of Nurse Practitioners American Foot Care Nurses Association Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurses Society


Education

  • Masters of Science in Nursing/FNP 2020 Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, Ca
  • Masters in Social Research/Sociology 2005 California State University, Sacramento, Ca
  • Public Health Nursing Certified 2012 California State University, Sacramento, Ca Wound Care Certified 2010 Emory University, Atlanta, GA
  • Medication Assisted Treatment “MAT” Certified 2023 – American Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Abstracts/Presentations

  • Oral Presentation on Onsite Healthcare during Covid & Building Community Partnerships – 2022
  • Oral Presentation on Building Patient Trust through Wound Care in Street Medicine- 2021
  • Co-author of “UC Davis Nursing and Mobile Medicine”- 2023

Sharon DemeterTitle: Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse Midwife

Specialty: Behavioral Health and Women’s Health

Clinical Research / Interests:

  • Type II Violence Mitigation
  •  Mood Disorders
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Trauma-Informed Care
  • Perinatal Mood Disorders
  • Physiologic Birth

Education:

  • BA, Psychology, Brock University, Canada
  • MA, Clinical Psychology; York University, Canada
  • MSN, Nursing, UCSF, San Francisco
  • In Progress: Post-Master’s Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, UCSF, San Francisco

Professional Memberships:

  • CA Nurse Practitioners Association
  •  American Psychiatric Nurses Association
  •  American College of Nurse Midwives

Abstracts/Presentations:

  • Southourn, B., Brown, G., & Demeter, S. (April, 2019; Sacramento, CA). The future of health and housing: Bending the cost curve. Annual Housing California Conference.
  • Demeter, S. (March, 2019; Sacramento, CA). A community-academic partnership to improve the sustainability and quality of community health clinical placements. California Statewide Summit: Directors of Public Health Nursing.
  • Demeter, S. & Shaw-Battista, A.  (May 2014; Denver, CO). Perinatal mood disorders: A midwifery model for assessment, diagnosis, and management. 59th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
  • Shaw-Battista, J., Meyer, S., Bearman, S. & Demeter, S. (May 2014; Denver, CO). Labor and birth in water: How birthing women and emerging research can change midwifery practice. 59th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
  • Shaw-Battista, J., Meyer, S., Bearman, S. & Demeter, S. (May 2013; Nashville, TN). Labor and birth in water: How birthing women and emerging research can change midwifery practice. 58th Annual Meeting of the American College of Nurse-Midwives

Research Projects:

  • Behavioral Escalation Support Team (2020 – Present)

Elizabeth Gould

Title: ENT and Tracheostomy Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialty: Head and neck cancer, Tracheostomies, Laryngectomies

Clinical Research / Interests:

  • Free flap patient care
  • Tracheostomy Team
  • Patient and staff education

Education:

  • 2012 Masters of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner, Gonzaga University
  • 2006 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, California State University, Sacramento
  • 2001 Bachelor of Art in Economics, Business Management, University of California, Santa Cruz

Professional Memberships: Society of Head and Neck Nursing (SOHN)

Abstracts/Presentations:

  • Oral Presentation at SOHN conference “Centralizing Tracheostomy Resources” 2018
  • Oral Presentation of “Centralizing Hospital Tracheostomy Resources” at the Society of Head and Neck Nursing Annual Congress & Nursing Symposium September 2016
  • Oral presentation of research Effect of student nurse intern position on ease of transition from student nurse to RN at the 19th Annual Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Conference in Singapore, 2008
  • Oral presentation of research at the 2nd Annual Clinical Practice and Research Conference for Sigma Theta Tau at California State University, Sacramento, 2007

Research Projects:

  • Co-investigator: Use of a Non-ICU Specialty Ward For Immediate Post-operative Management of Head and Neck Free Flaps; A Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Co-investigator: Effect of student nurse intern position on ease of transition from student nurse to RN. Article published in July 2011 edition of “Journal of Nursing Management.”

Education Activities:

  • Video: Tracheostomy Reinsertion
  • Video: Tracheostomy Home Care for Patients – Grant from Medtronic, coming 2021
  • ENT Patient Care Class - biannual class
  • Tracheostomy Class – biannual class
  • New Grad Orientation Airway Class – Tracheostomies, quarterly classes

Amy Kuzmich

Title: Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialty: Pediatric Gastroenterology Nutrition and Hepatology

Clinical Interests: 

  • Short Bowel Syndrome
  • Food Allergy/Food Protein Intolerance
  • Central Line Management
  • Patient/Family Education
  • Nursing Education
  • Chronic Illness in the Pediatric Population and Developmental Needs
  • Transition of care of the pediatric patient to adult specialty care

Education:

  • University of California San Francisco
    Masters of Science, June 2004
    Specialty: Advanced Practice Pediatric Nursing
  • Creighton University School of Nursing Omaha, Nebraska
    Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 1996

Professional Memberships:

  • National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
  • The Association of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Nurses

Abstracts/Presentations:

  • 10/2018: San Diego, CA, Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes and 4/2019 Washington DC, Society of Pediatric Nursing. OUTPERFORMING THE CLABSI BENCHMARK: Practice Change versus Education; Sustainability on a Pediatric Unit; Amy Kuzmich RN, CPNP, MS; Wing Watson, RN, BSN; Jessica Yen RNC, BSN, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA.
  • 7/2013: Philadelphia, PA, Pediatric Nursing Journal Conference. OUTPERFORMING THE CLABSI BENCHMARK: A Multifactorial Approach to Changing the Culture of a Pediatric Unit; Amy Kuzmich, RN, CPNP, MS; Angelina Luper, RN, BSN; Jessica Yen, RNC, BSN, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA.
  • 11/2009: Washington DC, North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition. CHOLANGIOCARCINOMA: AN INSTRUCTIVE CASE OF OBSTRUCTIVE JAUNDICE IN APREVIOUSLY HEALTHY 10-YEAR‐OLD; Robert Cannon, MD, Amy Kuzmich, CPNP, Michael Haight, MD, Allison Wong, MD, Antonio Quiros, MD, Richard Quan, MD Pediatric GI &amp; Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA.

Comprehensive Exam:

  • Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner- Primary Care
  • Pediatric Nurse Credentialing Board

Acknowledgements:

  • 2011: Nurse Excellence Recognition: Nursing practice for exceptional contributions as a pediatric nurse.
  • 2014: Friends of Nursing Honors: Recognition in excellence for best practices that achieve optimal outcomes.
  • 2020:  Nursing Excellence Award: Nursing practice for exceptional contribution: Alaris Pump Integration Project
  • 2020: Nursing Excellence Award: Nursing practice for exceptional contribution: Central Line Infection Prevention Committee Member 

Rachael Lee. FNP, RNUC Davis Department of Pediatrics

Title
Inpatient Pediatric Diabetes Nurse Specialist

Specialty

Pediatric Diabetes

Philosophy of Care

I became a diabetes nurse specialist to bring the shared experience of living with diabetes to my patient interactions.  Through each patient experience, I value person-centered care. Using a strengths-based approach, I partner with patients and families to deliver age-appropriate care so patients can live their best life with diabetes.

Education

  • MSN – University of California San Francisco 2018
  • BSN – Samuel Merritt University 2011
  • BA Public Health – University of California Berkeley 2009

Certification

  • Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
  • Advanced Diabetes Management
  • Family Nurse Practitioner

Jessica MilesUC Davis Department of Oncology

Title
Oncology/BMT Clinical Nurse Specialist

Specialty
Acute Leukemia, High-grade Lymphoma

Clinical Research / Interests
Therapeutics for Leukemia & Lymphoma
Quality improvement
Infection prevention
Nursing education & certification

Education
University of Wisconsin – Madison, BSN, 2007
University of California – San Francisco, MS, 2014

Professional Memberships
Oncology Nursing Society
California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

Research Projects 
Thesis – UCSF, Master of Science in Nursing/Clinical Nurse Specialist Oncology Program

  • Evidence of Associations between Neurotransmitter Candidate Genes and Persistent Arm Pain Severity Following Breast Cancer Surgery

Awards
Graduate Scholarship in Cancer Nursing Practice – American Cancer Society, 2013
Roberta Scofield Memorial Certification Award – Oncology Nursing Society, 2012

Olga Sukhenko, MS, RN, AG-CNS, AG-ACNP, PCCNUC Davis Health Patient Care Services

Title: Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialist


Specialty: Geriatric

Groups/Professional Organizations:

  • American Delirium Society
  • California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

Clinical Interests
Early mobility, delirium, restraint reduction, palliative care and advanced care planning, multi-modal pain management, falls prevention

Education

  • Dominican University of California – Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • University of California San Francisco – Master of Science – Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • University of California San Francisco – Post-Master’s Certificate – Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

Lisa Tsang, RN, MN, CNS, CPHONUC Davis Department of Pediatrics

Title
Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
 
Specialty
Pediatrics
 
Clinical Research/Interests

  • Pediatric hematology/oncology
  • Pediatric bone marrow transplant
  • Central venous catheter management/CLABSI prevention
  • Infection prevention
  • Patient safety
  • Nursing education
  • Skin and wound care


Education

  • Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada – BScN, 2000
  • University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada – MN, 2005
  • San Francisco State University, California – CNS, 2016
     

Professional Memberships

  • Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
  • Infusion Nurses Society
  • California Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists

Certifications

  • Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse, ONCC – since 2009
  • Wound Treatment Associate, WOCN – since 2023
     

Research Projects

  • Impact of decreased heparin dose for flush-lock of implanted venous access ports in pediatric oncology patients – 2014
  • Gamification and microlearning for engagement with quality improvement – an intervention for the prevention of CLABSI - 2017
  • Pediatric Pressure Mapping and surface selection – in progress

Awards

  • UCSF Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing - 2018
  • UCSF Patient Safety Award for CLABSI Prevention work - 2019