NORA LYNN BOLLINGER, MSN, CMS, RN
Clinical Nurse Specialist, Department of Education
Kennedy Memorial Hospital – Stratford Campus
Stratford, New Jersey
As Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Department of Education, Ms. Bollinger is responsible for medical/surgical staff needs related to clinical skill as well as educational updates for orientation, new equipment and products, improvements, and changes in practice. To accomplish this, Ms. Bollinger creates and delivers clinical didactic programs and participates in specialty specific orientation and training. Since Nora Lynn is a constant presence in the hospital, she is utilized by staff as a resource. Her non-intrusive, supportive manner creates an environment that encourages staff to discuss complex patient issues and identify individual practice needs as she identifies general educational needs. Ms. Bollinger provides consultation on direct patient care as needed and facilitates the development and implementation of care plans related to high risk patients.
Ms. Bollinger models behaviors for staff on a daily basis through her professionalism and insistence on the provision of quality care. Nora Lynn sat for certification in an effort to indicate the value of certification for all nurses regardless of their formal educational preparation. She also spearheaded an effort to increase staff medical/surgical certification by developing and delivering a certification preparation course and individual coaching.
Ms. Bollinger facilitated the implementation of a Complex Care Conference, an interdisciplinary, nurse driven conference focusing on a new technology, service line, procedure, or a difficult patient case study. She was willing to speak at, recruit participants, and coordinate the project resulting in a conference on Bariatrics that included an interdisciplinary team and nursing input. Most important was the support Ms. Bollinger provided to those individuals who were not accustomed to speaking to groups, providing them with guidance through this process and assisting them in their professional growth.
Ms. Bollinger received the 2006 Excellence in Teaching Award from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. Nora Lynn has had a varied nursing career during which she had many opportunities to contribute to nursing as a profession as well as to individual nurses and nursing students. Ms. Bollinger is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army Reserve. She was on active duty in Washington and Japan followed by reserve duty with 338th Medical Group, the 348th General Hospital, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. She also held positions at Thomas Jefferson University and Helene Fuld School of Nursing.