Mary Susan Stanek, PhD, MSN/Ed, RN

(Pronouns: she/her/hers)

Director, Center for Lifelong Learning
Assistant Professor of Clinical Nursing

Education

PhD in Nursing and Health Science, 2020. University of Rochester. Rochester, NY
Masters in Nursing Education, 2012. Roberts Wesleyan College. Rochester, NY
BS in Nursing, 2010. Roberts Wesleyan College. Rochester, NY
AAS in Nursing, 2002. Monroe Community College. Rochester, NY
AS in Business Administration, 1990. Community College of the Finger Lakes. Canandaigua, NY

Bio

Susan Stanek, PhD, MSN/Ed, RN, is an assistant professor of clinical nursing at the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Stanek currently teaches in the MNE and DNP programs with a concentration on statistics and evidence-based practice. In addition to her teaching role, Stanek serves as director of the Center for Lifelong Learning and instructional design coordinator for the PhD program at the School of Nursing. She specializes in education with a master's in nursing education and supports students with data management and DNP project planning. Her courses and research completed in the PhD program gave her the skills and desire to teach others how to ask questions, find the best evidence, synthesize the information, and use that information to improve practice and inform policy. As a member of the educational innovation team, she’s creative in helping others prepare/present information to students. Stanek has received various awards since joining the UR School of Nursing faculty. Most recently, she was honored with the Josephine Craytor Nursing Faculty Award, which recognizes outstanding nurse educators and provides an annual monetary award to further the professional development and research efforts of exceptional nursing faculty.

Professional Experience

Director, Center for Lifelong Learning,: University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY. 11/2020 - Current
Instructor of Clinical Nursing,: University of Rochester School of Nursing (Adult Medical/Surgical), Rochester, NY, US. 5/2012 - Current
Adjunct Faculty,: Genesee Community College (Geriatrics), NY, US. 8/2011 - 12/2012
Palliative Care and Hospice Nurse,: Lifetime Care (Home Health Hospice and Palliative Care), Rochester, NY, US. 6/2011 - 10/2012
Adjunct Faculty - Clinical Instructor,: Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES (Medication Administration), Rochester, NY, US. 5/2011 - 8/2011
Staff Nurse,: Strong Memorial Hospital (Cardiac step-down, electrophysiology), Rochester, NY, US. 3/2003 - 12/2006

Awards

Josephine Craytor Nursing Faculty Award: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2022
Jill Thayer Award: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2018
Loretta C. Ford Fellowship: University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2013
Distinguished Future Educator Award: Roberts Wesleyan College, 2012
Academic Achievement Award: Roberts Wesleyan College, 2010
Strong Star: Strong Memorial Hospital, 2006
Excellence in Nursing: Monroe Community College, 2002
Merit Award for Service Above and Beyond: Perinton Ambulance Corps, 2000
Outstanding Adult Student Award: Community College of the Finger Lakes, 1990

Presentations

Exploration of the research process using a study on expressions of uncertainty from patients with advanced cancer when speaking with the palliative care team: Wilmont Cancer Institute Nursing Research Conference, 2021
Expressions of Uncertainty Among Patients with Advanced Cancer Receiving Palliative Care: Gramling, R., Cole, R., Norton, S.; 31st Annual Eastern Nursing Research Society Meeting, 2019; Providence, Rhode Island
When Patients with Advanced Cancer Express Uncertainty in Palliative Care Consultations: Exploration of Frequency, Domains, and Association to Prognosis: Gramling, R., Cole, R., Norton, S.; American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care Annual Assembly, 2019; Orlando, Florida
Use of Secondary Data for Doctoral Dissertations: Dougoud, N., Norton, S., Gramling, R.; 29th Annual Eastern Nursing Research Society Meeting, 2017; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Baby Loss: Grief Scape, Lifetime Care, 2007; Rochester, New York
Health Benefits of Reiki: Unity Hospital's Heart Healthy Fair for Families, Unity Health, 2006; Rochester, New York

Publications

Blazey, M., Zhang, Y., Stanek, S., & Norton, S. (2022). The experience of uncertainty in individuals with high risk for pancreatic cancer. Cancer Nursing.
Gramling, R., Stanek, S., Han, P. K., Duberstein, P., Quill, T. E., Temel, J. S., . . . Norton, S. A. (2018). Distress due to prognostic uncertainty in palliative care: Frequency, distribution, and outcomes among hospitalized patients with advanced cancer.. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 21 (3), 315-321. PMID: 28920751 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0285
Norton, S. A., Wittink, M. N., Duberstein, P. R., Prigerson, H. G., Stanek, S., & Epstein, R. M. (2018). Family caregiver descriptions of stopping chemotherapy and end-of-life transitions. Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer. PMID: 30056528 PMCID: PMC6338326 DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4365-0
Stanek, S. (2017). Goals of care: A concept clarification. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 73 (6), 1302-1314. PMID: 28000241 DOI: 10.1111/jan.13243
Gramling, R., Stanek, S., Ladwig, S., Gajary-Coots, E., Cimino, J., Anderson, W., Norton, S., & the AAHPM Research Committee Writing Group (2016). Feeling heard and understood: A patient-reported quality measure for the inpatient care setting.. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 51, 150-154. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.018
Gramling, R., Gajary-Coots, E., Stanek, S., Dougoud, N., Pyke, H., Thomas, M., . . . Norton, S. (2015). Design of, and enrollment in, the palliative care communication research initiative: A direct-observation cohort study.. BMC Palliative Care, 14 (1). PMID: 26286538 PMCID: PMC4544824 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-015-0037-8