Michelle McCarthy named to American Nurses Association advisory committee
The American Nurses Association’s innovation advisory board has invited Michelle McCarthy ’07, assistant professor in the Department of Nursing, to join its innovation advisory committee on education and communication. The committee aims to shape the future of nursing practices by providing professional development that empowers nurses to innovate educational practice and health care delivery.
“What an honor it is to be able to bridge nursing and innovation at both Salve and nationally through the American Nurses Association,” McCarthy said. “I am so excited to bring this experience and knowledge to Salve’s nursing program and students.”
McCarthy sees a clear association between the committee’s vision statement and Salve Regina’s mission. Both emphasize creating equity and inclusion, building on one’s knowledge and upholding values. “The connections that Salve is making with the American Nurses Association and bringing more awareness of opportunities that exist in the nursing profession help strengthen our nursing program,” she said.
With a strong passion for community service, McCarthy has encouraged Salve Regina’s nursing students to network with various health care professionals across the country.
“Professor McCarthy is a well-spoken medical professional who is very passionate and informative on the topics she teaches,” said nursing major Kayla Machado. “She has endlessly worked to provide resources to her students and to connect with them.”
Every year, McCarthy takes her nursing students to the National Student Nurses’ Association conference, opening their eyes to how the nursing profession is more than just working in a hospital. “Salve is graduating nurses that will challenge the status quo,” she said. “They will change health care with their ideas and innovations to positively improve the health care industry. They will do great things and truly make our world more harmonious, just and merciful.”
Born and raised in Newport, McCarthy was a nurse at Newport Hospital for 17 years, where she became well versed in clinical research, patient advocacy and medical-surgical skills. She transitioned into higher education as an adjunct professor at Salve Regina, teaching pediatrics and clinicals before taking a full-time faculty position.
McCarthy continues to practice as a registered nurse in local long-term care and rehabilitation centers, and she is also a nurse at Camp Marist in New Hampshire during the summer months. She earned her doctorate in education at Northeastern University and a master’s degree focused on nursing informatics at the University of Phoenix.
