Faculty & Staff

Mary Ellen Symanski, PhD, RN

Associate Professor and Department Chair

Education Background

• BSN – University of Delaware

• MSN (Nursing of Children) – University of Maryland

• PhD (Nursing) – Wayne State University

Areas of Interest

• Family Child Nursing

• Neonatal Intensive Care

• Integration of Catholic Values in Nursing Education

• Higher Education Leadership and Policy

Representative Courses Taught

• NUR 309 – Nursing and Human Responses I  (Family-Child Nursing)

• NUR 208 – Pharmacology

• NUR 408 – Introduction to Nursing Research

Selected Publications

• Symanski, M E.,  Hayes, M. & Akilesh, K. (2002).  Patterns of sleep-wake states of premature infants before and after nursing interventions. JOGNN, The Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 31, 305-313.

• Symanski, M. E. (2000) A Nurse on Mars? Why Not? AJN, 100 (10), 57-61.

• Symanski, M. E., Newman, C., Bachynski, B.  (1995).  Treating congenital cataracts.  MCN: The American Journal of Maternal-Child Nursing, 19, 335-338

Selected Presentations

• 6/17/08, Innovations in Faith Based Nursing Education Conference, Exploring Christian pro-life values in a maternal-child nursing course, (Poster), Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

• 3/27/08, Technologic Innovations in Nursing Education Conference (Drexel University), “A pediatric simulation experience blending technology and drama,”  Co-presented with Susan Wahl, Hilton Head, SC

• 4/27/06, Alvernia University Nursing Honor Society. “Newborn stabilization and transport,” Reading, PA

• 11/13/05, Sigma Theta Tau International, 38th Biennial Convention, “Tracking neonatal transport care practices and outcomes using the Neonatal Transport and Triage Database,” Co-presented with Susan Cullen, Indianapolis, Indiana.

• 6/22/01, American Holistic Nursing Society Annual Conference, “Using space nursing scenarios to develop critical thinking skills in nursing students,” (Poster) Huntsville, AL