telephone: (215) 481-5505
e-mail: cburns@amh.org

Role at Dixon
Colleen Burns is responsible for the recruitment and admissions duties at the Abington Memorial Hospital Dixon School of Nursing. She is also a member of the faculty. Colleen chairs the Admissions Committee and is a member of the Faculty Organization, Curriculum, Systematic Plan of Evaluation, Diversity, and Advisement and Counseling committees.

Education
1982 – BSN – Villa Maria College
2007 – MSN – Widener University

Professional Experience
Medical Surgical Nursing 1982-1983
Emergency Trauma Nursing 1983- 2006
Faculty Dixon School of Nursing 2006
Advanced Life Support Instructor-Provider
Emergency Trauma Center

Professional Awards and Recognition
Certified Emergency Nursing for 15 years
Certified in Trauma Nursing- PA Trauma Systems Foundation 1987
Emergency Nursing Excellence Award 1990
Nominated for Emergency Nursing Excellence 2004
Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Spring 2006
Williamson Awardee 2007

Nursing Education As A Career
Emergency nursing is a specialty that many new graduates become interested in as a result of their clinical rotation. Regardless of a special interest in emergency nursing, many nurses will face critical challenges. Preparation for the unexpected and developing critical thinking skills is an essential element of a nurse’s philosophy of practice. My years of emergency clinical and leadership experience and knowledge has provided me with a solid level of competency to mentor and nurture the development of competent nurses for our future. As an educator with an advanced practice degree, I look forward to developing the novice nurse’s potential.

"Caring with Confidence"
Nursing as a profession allows an individual to make connections with humans in ways that are unique. Nursing is a profession that promotes the use of all of our senses. The ability to reach out to those in need or those who require support is not exclusively done through verbal communication. There is an element of therapeutic touch, intuitiveness, and caring that nurses need to possess. I believe these qualities are truly the motivating tools that nurses should possess. This caring trait is a gift. Nurses, regardless of their specialty, are in unique positions to assist with major life events that occur to family, friends, and others. The Dixon School of Nursing is dedicated to sharing the knowledge and “caring with confidence” philosophy to their students.