Cheryl Waldron has been named Upstate Medical University’s newest nurse research scientist.

Waldron, MSN, RN, CCRN, CWCN, brings more than 20 years of nursing acute care experience, including more than 10 years of leadership experience at Upstate, to the position. Her board certifications include critical care and wound care nursing.

Upstate’s nurse research scientist leads the nursing staff in answering clinical questions through conducting research, presenting those findings, and incorporating them into bed-side practices. Additionally, this role supports the Nurse Residency Program, where more than 240 new-to-practice clinical nurses will receive support in the development and implementation of an evidence-based practice project.

Waldron started at Upstate in 2000 as a traveling nurse and from there became a shift coordinator, clinical training specialist, assistant nurse manager and clinical practice nurse consultant. Since 2020, she has served as Upstate’s nursing quality manager.

She was officially named to the nurse research scientist post last month.

Waldron said she has always been passionate about having a role that allows her to mentor, educate and enhance nursing knowledge. As nurse research scientist, she gets to take the next step in her career by having the ability to support Upstate’s efforts to improve quality care and link research to better patient outcomes.

“Knowing that we have a supportive nursing leadership team, that gives me the opportunity to be the leader in the development, coordination, implementation, evaluation, and dissemination of nursing research activities,” Waldron said. “With over 20 years of experience as a bedside nurse and most recently in Quality Improvement, I feel these experiences will serve as a basis to rapidly expand my knowledge base in clinical nursing research and evidence-based practice to educate, mentor, and enhance the knowledge of the nursing staff.”

Nursing research is a required component for Upstate’s Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which Upstate received in 2021. Magnet is the highest and the most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and patient care; less than 10 percent of U.S. hospitals have earned it.

“As a Magnet organization, nursing research is one of the key components to support nurses in the advancement of evidence-based practices and research in the clinical setting,” Waldron said. “Nursing excellence within Upstate supports a nursing research infrastructure that is innovative, supports the advancement of nursing research, nurses disseminating their research both internally and externally, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care, and the practice environment.”

Magnet Program Director Denise Letourneau DNP, RN, NEA-BC, said the department is excited to add Waldron to the role.

“In this role, Cheryl will support all levels of nursing with education and resources to support the advancement of nursing research,” said Letourneau, who also serves as Nurse Residency program director and associate director of Nursing Practice Excellence. “Cheryl will establish new ways of achieving high-quality, effective and efficient care to guide nurses in improving patient care and the nursing practice environment.

Waldron’s goals in her new role include building a robust nursing research infrastructure in collaboration with hospital and the College of Nursing. She will also help outline research initiatives based on Upstate’s strategic plan and ensure the high quality scholarly and scientific activity by the Upstate nursing staff.

Waldron will also serve as a role model and consultant related to the nursing research process, supporting nurses with submission for IRB approval, and grant funding process for nursing research. Promoting and facilitating evidence-based interventions at the bedside is vital to the role of nurse scientist. 

Caption: Cheryl Waldron is Upstate new nurse research scientist.