MARIA R. ASH, MSN, GNP-BC, ACHPN
104 Jade Drive
Wilmington, DE 19810
302-438-5440
mash0129@aol.com
PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
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Hired as a change agent for the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of the
Palliative Care/ & Geriatric Evaluation & Management Programs at Wilmington Veterans
Affairs Medical Center (WVAMC).
Provided leadership as both a coordinator and clinician (Nurse Practitioner) for the two
programs. Point of contact for the Hospice and Veterans Partnership (HVP).
Instrumental in obtained $3,000,000 grant funding for new in-patient Hospice Unit,
WVAMC. Developed and implemented staff education for the Hospice Unit. Provided
primary medical care for the Hospice Unit.
Partnered with Delaware Hospice and other Community Agencies to develop a grantfunded outreach program for homeless and rural veterans at end-of-life. This program is
now a national model for all Veterans Affairs Facilities.
Successfully piloted a Palliative Care Program (30 consults over 3 months) that developed
into a full service Palliative Care Consult Service (390 consults per year). The initial
startup of the program involved education about Palliative care throughout the Crozer
Chester Medical Center (CCMC), involving all disciplines and levels of Healthcare
providers.
Member, Ethics Committee, Crozer Chester Medical Center (CCMC) 9 years and Member,
Ethics Committee, WVAMC, 5 years, served as Co-chair for 3 years.
Provided primary care to residents at nursing home facility. Instrumental in the
development, implementation and marketing of the Caring for Older People (COP)
Program. Instrumental in the development, implementation and marketing of the Geriatric
Evaluation and Management Program, a comprehensive assessment for seniors, with the
goal to address their complex health care issues, CCMC.
Administratively and clinically accountable for planning, organizing, managing and
evaluating patient care and staff performance within a 26-bed trauma, surgical and medical
step down unit.
Instrumental in the startup and marketing of the Wound Care Center, Riverside Hospital.
Professional Experience:
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Coordinator Palliative/ & Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Programs
Wilmington VA Medical Center
2008-present
Wilmington, DE 19805
Faculty-Adjunct
2012-present
Wilmington University
Graduate and undergraduate level courses: Chronic Illness and Palliative Care, Leadership
Courses and Theories class (Advancing the Science of Nursing)
Maria R. Ash, MSN, RN, GNP-BC, ACHPN
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1-14-2014
Coordinator/Consultant: Palliative Care Consult Team
2006-2008
Nurse Practitioner
Crozer Chester Medical Center
Upland, PA
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
2004-2006
Crozer Medical Associates
Internal Medicine/ Geriatric Practice
Upland, PA
Clinical Coordinator Geriatric Evaluation and Management
2001-2004
Program
Crozer Medical Associates
Internal Medicine /Geriatric Practice
Upland, PA
Nurse Manager Critical Care Step Down Unit
1997-2001
Supervisor Patient Care Services
1995-1997
Crozer Chester Medical Center
Upland, PA
Care Manager : Wound Care Center
1991-1995
Geriatric Liaison for the Community and Hospital (PROJECT SHARE)
Emergency Room Staff Nurse
Riverside Hospital
Wilmington, DE
Staff Nurse
1977-1994
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Upland, PA
EDUCATION
 Widener University School of Law: currently a student
2012-present
Expected to receive; Master of Jurisprudence – May 2014
 Wilmington College, New Castle, DE. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN).
Gerontological Nurse Practitioner (GNP). 2003
 Wilmington College, New Castle, DE. Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). 1999
 Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA. Diploma
in Nursing. 1974
CERTIFICATIONS
 National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses: Advanced
Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (ACHPN)
 American Association of Nursing Credentialing (AANC)/ Board Certified: Geriatric
Nurse Practitioner (GNP-BC)
 Certificate, Nurses Improving Care for Health System Elders (NICHE) Leadership
Training Program, New York University
 Certificate, Essentials of Palliative Care, Villanova University
 National Trainer for HPNA (Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association)
Lectures
Maria R. Ash, MSN, RN, GNP-BC, ACHPN
1-14-2014
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
2013- Recognized for nomination as Top Nurse in Delaware; APN in Geriatrics
2011-Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Nursing: Veterans Affairs
2010 -Nursing Excellence Award in recognition for nomination for the National Secretary of
Veterans Affairs Award
2010-Recognition for nomination : “Nurse Excellence in End-of-Life Care Award” : Delaware
End-of- Life Coalition,
2009 - Recognition Award for Advancement of Palliative Care at Wilmington VA Medical Center
2007 - 2nd Place Winner for Research Poster Presentation on: COP Program (Caring for Older
People) at National Conference for Gerontological Nurse Practitioners, Cleveland, Ohio
1999-Recognition for Nomination for “Achievement in Nursing Management” CCMC
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:
 Board of Directors: Life Center at St. Francis; with oversight of Quality Assurance
 Gerontological Advance Practice Nurses Association: National and Local member:
Past- President (Local Delaware Valley Chapter)
 Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA): National and Local member: Serve on
the Board of Directors (Local Chapter)
 Trainer, HPNA: Palliative Care Assistant Training Program
 ELNEC (End of Life Nursing Education Consortium) Trainer
 EPEC (Educating Physicians on End of Life Care), Trainer
 Board of Director: Delaware End of Life Coalition (Past position)
 Member of Delaware Hospice Network
 Chairperson for Delaware Hospice and Veterans Partnership
 Member of the American Nurses Association
 Member of the Delaware Nurses Association
 Member, End of Life Committee, CCMC 9 years (Past position)
 Member, Sub-committee, Palliative Care, CCMC (Past position)
 Chair, Palliative Care Committee, VA Medical Center, presently
 Member, Pain and Palliative Care Committee, Christiana Care Health System (Past
membership)
 FrontLine Leadership Level 1/ Zenger Miller
 FrontLine Leadership Level 11/ Zenger Miller
PRESENTATIONS:
(A sample of presentations)
Annual Alzheimer’s Association Annual Conference, Delaware: Enhancing End of Life Care for
the Dementia Patient
Pain Conference Presenter “Pain Assessment”
Speaker at W.I.S.H. Education Retreat – Christiana Care Health Systems
Addressing the Special Needs of Veterans at End-of-Life – throughout Delaware
Maria R. Ash, MSN, RN, GNP-BC, ACHPN
1-14-2014
Poster Presentation on Special Needs of Veterans at End-of-Life at Palliative Care
National Leadership (VA) Conference in St. Louis, MO
Anesthesia and Sedation: Recovery for the Geriatric Patient, Nursing Education Program
Quality Insights of Pennsylvania (CMS) – Consultant Educator – Dementia in the Elderly,
Depression in the Elderly
Trauma in the Elderly: Case Studies, Trauma Update, CCMC
Trauma Care in the Elderly: Trauma Course, CCMC
Trauma Risk Factors in the Elderly: Trauma Update, CCMC
Ethics in Health Care: Guest Speaker, Business Ethics Class, Wilmington College
Ethical Issues in Trauma: Trauma Update, CCMC
Caring with Confidence: Using Research to Guide Nursing Practice, Roundtable Leader, CCMC
PUBLICATION:
Reporter Delaware Nurses Association. May, June, July 2002. Ethics and the Dementia Patient.