Dr. Maria Shirey, associate professor of nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at the University of Southern Indiana, is the 2012 recipient of the Ildaura Murillo-Rohde Award for Education Excellence, presented by the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN). The award honors NAHN members who have distinguished themselves in any scholarship area and/or nursing education. Qualifications for the award include, outstanding contributions in nursing education, research, and practice, recognized commitment to excellence in nursing, or distinguished clinical expertise.
Shirey will receive the award at a reception and gala on Friday, July 20, 2012, during the NAHN Annual Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“Dr. Rhode was a pioneer nurse leader, educator, and researcher. She was an inspiration for countless nurses and I am thankful to receive an award named in her honor,†said Shirey.
Shirey, a nurse executive with more than 30 years of experience in the health care field, teaches in the graduate program focusing on leadership and management in both the Master of Science (MSN) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs. Her research focuses on nurse manager work complexity to provide a better understanding of the nurse manager role and its unique contributions to health care systems. Her work on the relationship between leadership and the practice environment of nurses is considered a seminal contribution to the nursing literature.
She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida State University, a master’s degree in nursing from Texas Woman’s University, a Master of Business Administration from Tulane University, and a Ph.D. in nursing science from Indiana University. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in advanced nursing executive practice, and board certified in health care management and a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Her experience includes roles as staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, academic faculty, nurse manager, nursing director, hospital vice-president, and entrepreneur. She is active in multiple professional organizations such as the American Organization of Nurse Executives, Indiana Organization of Nurse Executives, Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), the American College of Healthcare Executives, and The Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS).
Dr. Shirey is active as a regional, national, and international speaker on various evidence-based leadership and management topics. She is a prolific author, editor, and scholar frequently contributing to peer-reviewed journals and professional venues. She is the recipient of multiple professional honors including two national awards from the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and three Circle of Excellence awards from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. In recognition of her national and international contributions to nursing and health policy, she was selected and inducted as a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Nursing.
