Excellence in Nursing: SLU's Kristine L’Ecuyer Named Top Nurse Educator in Region
Kristine L’Ecuyer, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Nursing, was selected by St. Louis Magazine as the top nurse educator in the region. For seven out of the last eight years the magazine has given the award, a Saint Louis University faculty member has been named the top nursing educator.
“Kris L’Ecuyer is a long standing nurse educator who is very committed to the success of her students,” said Teri Murray, Ph.D., dean of the School of Nursing. “I am delighted that a Saint Louis University School of Nursing faculty member has once again won the St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing, Nurse Educator category.”
Kathryn Lindsay was a finalist in research. Other faculty members from the School of Nursing and a SLUCare nurse who works with patients in family practice were also recognized as finalists. Karen Moore was a finalist in the education category and Kelli Fuller was a finalist in acute care/family practice/general medicine category.
SLUCare nurse Susan Androff was a finalist in both the acute care/family practice/general medicine and community care/ambulatory categories.
Helen Sandkuhl, M.S.N., a School of Nursing instructor and the administrative director of nursing, emergency, trauma and disaster services at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, was selected as the honoree in the emergency department category. She was previously honored in 2013.
More than 200 nurses were nominated for St. Louis Magazine's nursing excellence awards. A team of seven judges from outside the St. Louis area narrowed the field to 64 finalists in 19 categories. The winning nurses are profiled in the magazine's May issue and were recognized at an awards banquet on April 19.
L’Ecuyer told St. Louis Magazine she believes nurses have a depth of understanding of the problems in health care today and should be at the table for broader conversations. She sees a growing role for clinical nurse leaders like those she teaches at SLU.
“Leadership skills are so important,” L’Ecuyer said. “Our students today are getting to participate in inter-professional education where we encourage them to be involved in the decision making.”
L’Ecuyer said she was proud to be honored for her work educating the next generation of nurses and of the work those young nurses are doing.
“It was wonderful to see one of my recent graduates – Joshua Fender – named a finalist in the emerging leader category,” L’Ecuyer said. “It makes me so proud to see our graduates doing well.”
L'Ecuyer is a reviewer for several nursing journals and has published in the areas of preceptor training, inter-professional education and certification for the Clinical Nurse Role.
Karen Moore, D.N.P., assistant professor, was SLU's second finalist in the educator category. Her research includes occupational health concerns, international travelers' health, pain management, evidence based practice and educational interventions
Kathryn Lindsay, M.Ed., M.S.N., a clinical nurse in surgery, was a finalist in research. She was honored by SLU for excellence in research in March.
Kelli Fuller, D.N.P., assistant professor, was a finalist in acute care/family practice/general medicine category. Her research is in cancer detection and prevention in primary care. She also has experience in developing alternative teaching strategies.
SLUCare family practice nurse Susan Androff was a finalist in both the acute care/family practice/general medicine and community care/ambulatory categories.
SLUCare Physician Group is the academic medical practice of Saint Louis University, with more than 500 health care providers and 1,200 staff members in hospitals and medical offices throughout the St. Louis region.
Founded in 1928, Saint Louis University School of Nursing has achieved a national reputation for its innovative and pioneering programs. Offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral nursing programs, its faculty members are nationally recognized for their teaching, research and clinical expertise.