Charles King, Jr. Memorial Scholars Aid Prize: Elisabeth Hurley
The Yale School of Nursing is known for graduating clinical experts who are leaders, researchers, and scholars. The recipient of this year's prize has grown remarkably while here at Yale, and is graduating today well on the way to becoming an expert clinician, respected leader, and serious scholar.
While a full-time student here, this student juggled multiple roles with outstanding results. She has excelled in her course work and has produced several very impressive papers and presentations.
She worked part-time on a busy hospital unit caring for acutely ill patients with challenging healthcare needs. This experience helped her hone the clinical skills she developed in her clinical rotations in intensive care and cardiovascular units at several Level One Trauma Centers. Her preceptors consistently rated her diagnostic skills and ability to care for critically ill patients and their families at the highest level.
She came to Yale with rich experience in research – from bench science to psychology studies to clinical research with patients with cancer. While here, she has made important contributions to two different faculty research studies. On one study, she has been instrumental in recruiting people with heart failure and collecting and organizing data. She is seen as a key member of this research team. On another study, she participated in the collection of clinical data from critically ill hospitalized patients. Her master's thesis came from this second study. Her analysis revealed significant problems with the placement of electrocardiographic electrodes on patients in cardiac units in 12 hospitals across the country.
Faculty view this student as mature, intelligent, self-directed, conscientious, and organized. Her fellow students see her as a role model and a very supportive friend. She has a warm and generous spirit, a consistently positive attitude, and a ready laugh.
For her many accomplishments and for her promise as an acute care nurse practitioner, leader, and scholar, we award the 2009 Charles King, Jr. Memorial Scholars Aid Prize to Elisabeth Hurley.
