Professional Experience

Specialty Director Clinical Nurse Leader Program,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2022 - Current

Specialty Director Leadership in Health Care Systems Program,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2021 - Current

Co-Specialty Director Leadership in Health Care Systems Program,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2020 - 2021

Retention Officer Nursing Practice,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2015 - 2021

Nurse Manager Acute Medicine,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2010 - 2015

Assistant Nurse Manager Adult Service Education,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2000 - 2010

Interim Nurse Manager Adult Flex Team,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 2008 - 2009

Assistant Nurse Manager GYN Oncology,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 1998 - 2000

Assistant Nurse Manager Intermediate Coronary Care Unit Strong Memorial Hospital,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 1992 - 1997

Assistant Nurse Manager Phase II Cardiac Rehabilitation Program,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 1990 - 1992

Staff Nurse Phase 1 Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Strong Memorial Hospital,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 1986 - 1990

Assistant Nurse Manager Surgical Intensive Care Unit Strong Memorial Hospital,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 1981 - 1985

Staff Nurse Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Strong Memorial Hospital,

University of Rochester, Rochester/New York, NY, US. 1979 - 1981

Awards

Leadership in Precepting Award

University of Rochester, 2014

Bronze Star Recipient

University of Rochester, 2014

Greater Rochester Quality Council Platinum Award for Team Excellence

Greater Rochester Quality Council, 2014

Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award - National Nurses Week

University of Rochester, 2013

URMC Medical Center Board of Excellence Team Award - 43400 Acute Medicine

University of Rochester, 2012

Nursing Practice Fostering Professionalism Award - National Nurses Week

University of Rochester - - Rochester/New York, NY, 1995

Presentations

WCI Preceptor Retreat: Revise, Refresh, Revitalize

URMC Wilmot Cancer Institute Nursing Preceptor Retreat, 2021

Empathy

URMC Psychiatric Nursing Assistant Nurse Manager Retreat, 2021

A Silent Epidemic: Nurses Neglecting Self Care and Wellness

GCH NICU Nursing Annual Retreat, 2020

Debriefing Nursing a Pandemic

URMC Nursing Practice, 2020

Most Valuable Resource

URMC Surgical ICU Nursing Retreat, 2020

Staffing: Recruitment and Retention A Panel Discussion

FLONEL Finger Lakes Organization of Nurse Executives and leaders, FLONEL, 2020

Balance and Wellness for the Nurse Leader Part 1

URMC Nursing Practice Leadership Development Series, 2019

Golden Opportunity

URMC Med/Surg Flex Team Nursing Retreat, 2019

Wellness

URMC 4-1200 Palliative Care Nursing Leadership Retreat, URMC, 2019

Striving for Work Life Balance

GCH 7 South Pediatric Surgery, Renal and GI Nursing New Graduate Support Group Meeting, URMC, 2019

Wellness

URMC OBGYN Nursing Leadership Retreat, 2019

Expectations and Pitfalls of Nursing Leadership

URMC Oncology Nursing Leadership Retreat, 2019

Improving Nursing Retention Utilizing Exit Interview Data

NYS 6th Annual ANA Conference, NYS ANA Conference, 2018

Albany, New York

7-1600 Preceptor Program Reevaluate, Revise, Refresh, Revitalize

URMC 7-1600 CVICU Nurse Residency Program Presentation, 2018

Nursing Exit Interview Data 2nd Quarter 2018

URMC Nurse Manager Education Series, 2018

Compassion Fatigue

URMC 7-1600 CVICU Nurse Residency Program Presentation, URMC, 2018

Building Trust and Culture through Effective Communication

URMC Neuro ICU Nurse Staff Retreat, 2018

Preparing for Professional Interviews

St John Fisher SON Senior Nursing, 2017

Nursing Retention

URMC Professional Nursing Council, 2017

4-3400 New Hire Support Day

URMC 4-3400 Solid Organ Transplant Nursing New Hire Support Group Retreat, URMC, 2017

Retention Officer Role: Key Findings and Strategies to Retain Staff

Highland Hospital Leadership Team Retreat, 2017

Transformational Leadership

URMC Nursing Practice Leadership Empowerment Series, 2017

Work Life Balance

URMC Lattimore Women’s Center Staff Retreat, 2016

Performance Improvement Plans to Improve Success

Leadership Development Series, URMC Center for Nursing Professional Development, 2016

A Strong Care for Being ARMED with RNs

Karen Gastle, Amanda Skermont

Best Practice Showcase National Nurses Week, University of Rochester, 2015

Rochester/New York, New York

Nursing Retention and Mentorship

Professional Nursing Council Annual Retreat, 2015

Transplant Nurses Rock

URMC 4-3400 Solid Organ Transplant New Nurse Support Group Retreat, URMC, 2015

Career Sculpting

URMC Nursing Leadership Retreat, 2014

Economic Information for Nurse Leaders

URMC Professional Nursing Council Monthly Education Series, 2014

Giving Constructive Feedback

URMC Med/Surg Nursing Leaders, URMC, 2012

Introducing CDIFF CUSP Bundle

URMC Interdisciplinary Teams, URMC, 2012

CDIFF CUSP Update

2nd Annual Rochester Area Infection Prevention CDIFF Conference, 2012

Rochester, New York

Publications

• Dzikowicz, D. J., Schmitt, L. A., Gastle, K., Skermont, A., Carey, M.G. (2020). Comparing an all-RN unit to a mixed-skill unit at a hospital. JONA, 50 (12), e14-e22.
  
  
• Harris, J. &Schmitt, L. (2004). National patient safety goals guide safe care. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 19 (2), 88-91. PMID: 15077823 DOI: 10.1097/00001786-200404000-00002