Andrea Sue Nelson Prentiss
ACADEMIC PREPARATION:
Currently enrolled in PhD Program: Florida International University
Post Master’s Certificate in Pediatric ARNP: Florida International University,
Miami, Florida, August 2006
M.S.N./Clinical Nurse Specialist, University of South Alabama, 2004
B.S.N., Florida International University, 2001
Diploma in Nursing, Jackson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, 1976
LICENSURE:
Registered Nurse, Florida, since 1976
Pediatric Nurse Certification, since 1996
Pediatric Critical Care Registered Nurse, since 1998
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner – Pediatrics
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Pediatrics
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Research Scientist
4/10/2011- present
Baptist Health South Florida
 Leads the development and coordination of the clinical research program
 Enhances translation of evidence to practice for quality patient care
 Contributes to the professional development of staff
 Provides guidance for the development of physician clinical trials, nursing and non-nursing
research studies
 Serves as co-chair to Baptist Hospital research council
 Participates in Magnet site visits
 Collaborates system wide with interdepartmental clinical staff and leadership for performance
improvement, evidence-based practice, nursing and advancement, and research
 Review for peer review journals
Clinical Nurse Specialist
4/2008 – 4/2011
Baptist Children’s Hospital
 Utilize evidence to develop, teach, guide, and implement best practices, professional
standards, and organizational policies
 Mentor nurses for research activities for advancement opportunities
 Collaborate with the healthcare team throughout the system to identify improvement
opportunities, utilize the performance improvement process and evidence-based methods,
develop and implement policies procedures, protocols, standards of care, and/or guidelines to
improve outcomes.
 Serve as an expert resource to patient/family/community, nurses and other healthcare
professionals, and the healthcare organization.
 Seek out current evidenced based practice standards, research and national benchmarks for
system initiatives
 Serve as system expert/consultant for pediatric harmonization
 Apply critical thinking skills within an educational setting assessing individual and group
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needs, planning and implementing educational programs or systems, and evaluating the
results.
Facilitate and participate as faculty in educational programs related to specialty—nursing
orientation, conferences, etc.
Identify unit/department specific clinical questions for research investigation and assists in
the research process
Use the evidence-based practice model to guide nursing practice and the development of
policies, procedures, protocols, standards of care, and/or guidelines.
Author and actuate policies, procedures, protocols, standards of care, and/or guidelines using
the evidence-based practice model
Educate and implement Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals utilizing evidenced
based practice
Assist with ethical decision making by mentoring nurses and other professionals to deliver
equitable and safe care, distinguish ethical vs. non ethical problems and assist patients and
families to address end-of-life issues with dignity
Nurse Specialist, Performance Improvement, Quality, Research Consultant
7/2006 – 4/2008
Baptist Children's Hospital
Advanced Patient Care Facilitator
9/04 – 6/06
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Children’s Hospital
Clinician/Care Coordinator
1/02 – 9/04
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Children’s Hospital
Pediatric Educator
12/00 – 1/02
Homestead Hospital, Homestead Florida
Staff Nurse
7/99 – 1/02
Pediatric Emergency Room, Homestead Hospital
Staff Nurse
5/93 – 7/99
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Baptist Children’s Hospital
Home Health Agencies
1989 – 1994
Miami, Florida
Staff RN
12/89 – 7/92
Rx TLC, Extended Care Facility
Miami, Florida
Staff RN, 1976 – 1991
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Miami Children’s Hospital
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Miami Children’s Hospital
RESEARCH:
Publications
Prentiss, A. (2012). Early recognition of pediatric venous thromboembolism: A risk-assessment tool.
American Journal of Critical Care, 21(3), 178 – 185.
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Grants
NIH RO1 Site co-investigator with Florida International University
Children’s responses to sibling death in NICU/PICU in 3 racial/ethnic groups
Under review:
Sherry Kranys: Foundation Grant: Recruitment Coordinator
The Benefits of Bilingualism for Children Born Premature
Research: Completed
What are the characteristics of an extraordinary nurse as defined by patients and families?
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: to identify unique qualities of an extraordinary nurse as defined by patients and families
using DAISY nomination letters to extrapolate common themes defining an extraordinary nurse.
What is an extraordinary nurse as defined by their peers?
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: to identify unique qualities of an extraordinary nurse as defined by their peers. DAISY
nomination letters were utilized to extrapolate common themes defining an extraordinary nurse.
What impact do patient factors have on successful intravenous cannulation utilizing various assistive
techniques?
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: to determine if there was a relationship between patient factors, AccuVein AV300 device
and other assistive techniques on successful intravenous cannulation using a randomized control
methodoloty.
Do race, age, parity, and marital status affect outcomes of postpartum depression screening
utilizing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale?
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: Information obtained will help to identify knowledge deficits and to improve the care of the
patients.
Do race, age, parity, and marital status affect outcomes of postpartum depression screening utilizing the
Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale?
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: To investigate the effects of race, age, marital status, and number of prior children in the
screening outcome for postpartum depression risk utilizing the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression
Scale (EPDS)
A comparison study of the knowledge base of pediatric nurses in the subject area of pediatric
asthma prior to and after completing an Asthma Caregiver training program
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an Asthma Caregiver Training
program (ACT) on increasing the knowledge base of said nurses on pediatric asthma
management.
Determination of the reliability and validity of a pediatric venous thromboembolism risk assessment tool
and Determination of the reliability and validity of a pediatric venous thromboembolism risk assessment
tool: Logistic regression analysis.
Role: Principal Investigator
Aim: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of a Pediatric VTE Risk
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Assessment tool.
Research: In Progress
Hearing the child’s voice: Their lived experience in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Role: Principal Investigator
Aim: this qualitative, phenomenological study is to investigate school-age children’s and
adolescents’ perceptions of PICU hospitalization (a) in the PICU – within 24- 48 hours of their
being alert and able to speak and, (b) in the GCU – within 24 – 48 hours following their transfer
from the PICU.
Pulse Oximetry Use in Detecting Congenital Heart Defects in Asymptomatic Infants: A Look at how
Recommendations are Implemented in the Hospital Setting
Role: Co-Investigator (With Florida International University Medical Students)
Aim: to determine if the recommendations to screen all newborns using pulse oximetry
before discharge from the hospital is being properly implemented in a large health care
organization.
Neonatal Simulation Evaluation Tool: Validity and Reliability
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: to conduct validity and reliability testing on Baptist Children’s Hospital (BCH)
Neonatal Simulation (SIMS) Team Evaluation Tool which incorporates five domains or
scales of resuscitation competency: team leader/circulating nurse, airway support,
circulation/ arrhythmia recognition, medication administration, and communication.
Neurological symptoms in children with intussusception and their outcomes at a large community
hospital
Role: Co-Investigator (With Florida International University Medical Students)
Aim: to determine if the presence of neurological symptoms in children diagnosed with
intussusception is associated with a worse prognosis.
The missing link: Antibiotic administration time and outcomes in the pediatric oncology patient with fever
and neutropenia.
Aim: to identify in the pediatric febrile/neutropenic patient mean antibiotic administration times.
and correlations between time of antibiotic administration and adverse outcomes.
Is it time to get out the big guns: The efficacy of intraosseous access in the Emergency Department
Role: Principal Investigator
Aim: to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of intraosseous (IO) vascular access
devices.
Post partum depression: Assessing for risk
Role: Co-Investigator
Aim: the second part of a study investigating postpartum depression risk in the postpartum
patient admitted to the postpartum unit of Baptist Hospital
Presentations
Crashing Kids: A Journey to a Successful Mock Code Program. Present at the 2006
N.A.C.H.R.I conference, Alexandria, Virginia
Refusal of Care Algorithm: Communication is key to safety. Presented at the 2007
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N.A.C.H.R.I. conference. Miami, Florida
Pediatric Venous Thromboembolism Risk Assessment Tool. Presented at the 2010 N.A.C.H.R.I.
conference. Orlando, Florida.
What are the Characteristics of an Extraordinary Nurse as Defined by Their Peers? Presented at the 30th
anniversary of nursing at FIU Research Symposium. October 12, 2012. Miami, Florida
Pediatric Head Trauma: Parent Reactions, Social Support, and Mental Health at Hospital
Admission and Discharge. SNRS 7th annual conference: poster. 2/27/2013
Post Partum Depression: Assessing for Risk. Nursing Consortium of South Florida, Inc.; poster.
2/28/2014
Effects of a Neutral Pressure Connector on Central Line Rates and Catheter Related Blood Stream
Infections; poster, Intravenous Nurses Society, Phoenix Arizona, 2014.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
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American Association of Critical Care Nurses
American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Miami Chapter
American Nurses Association
National League of Nurses
Sigma Theta Tau: Inducted Oct. 2001
Sigma Theta Tau: Pi Alpha Chapter
Society of Pediatric Nurses
Society of Pediatric Sedation, 2010
Southern Nurses Research, 2012
HONORS AND AWARDS:
Unit Nurse of the Year, 1998, 2000
Hospital Nurse of the Year 1999-2000
Nominee: 2006 Nursing Spectrum Nurse of the Year, Mentoring Category
2008 Employee of the month
REFERENCES: Letters of reference available upon request
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