Margaret Avallone

Dr Avallone’s scholarly activity focuses on improving care for older disadvantaged individuals and evaluating educational outcomes to prepare practice-ready graduates. Dr Avallone is the subrecipient PI for Rutgers School of Nursing-Camden, collaborating with the NJ Institute for Successful Aging, Rowan University School of Medicine on a $3.75 grant from DHHS/HRSA to develop evidence-based competencies to improve the care of the vulnerable older adults in the community. She has developed and evaluated programs to use peer teaching students to provide patient-centered transitional heart failure education, and standardized the handoff educational curriculum for nursing students.  She has presented her findings at national and international conferences and has published on these topics. 

DNP (Nursing Practice/Education): Duquense University of the Holy Spirit, 2015

MSN (Critical Care Nursing): University of Pennsylvania, 1988

BSN (Nursing): Villa Marie College, 1985

Diploma (Nursing): Sisters of Charity School of Nursing, Buffalo, New York, 1981

Geriatric baccalaureate education

Critical care nursing

Patient safety and communication

Transition to practice

Education pedagogy

Articles in Refereed Journals

• Avallone M., Perweiler E., Pacetti S. (2020). Using the 4Ms framework to teach geriatric competencies in a community clinical experience. Nursing Forum.1-6.  DOI: 10.1111/nuf.12511.
• Cantwell ER, Avallone M, Bowler G. (2020). Using new careers in nursing research findings to develop and evidence-based pre-entry immersion program. Journal Professional Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.04.004
• Avallone M, Cantwell, R., Pacetti S. (2019). Clinical introduction to population health management using a peer mentoring strategy. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. 9(14). 79-85. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v9n4p79.
• Avallone, M., Cantwell, R. (2016). Teaching nursing students to provide patient-centered transitional education to heart failure patients using a peer teaching strategy. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 7(2), 84-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v7n2p84
• Avallone, MA, Weideman, YL. (2015). Evaluation of a nursing handoff educational bundle to improve nursing student handoff communications: A pilot study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5(8), http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v5n8p65
• Avallone, M., Cantwell, R. (2016). Teaching Nursing Students to Provide Patient-Centered Transitiona lEducation to Heart Failure Patients Using a Peer Teaching Strategy. Journal of Nursing Education andPractice, 7(2), 84-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v7n2p84
• Avallone, MA, Weideman, YL. (2015). Evaluation of a nursing handoff educational bundle to improvenursing student handoff communications: A pilot study. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 5(8),http://dx.doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v5n8p65

Articles in Non-refereed or General Journals

• Cantwell, E.R., Avallone, M., Kushary D., Nelson, J. (2017). New Careers in Nursing: Pre-Entry Immersion Programs (PIP) and Relationship to Graduation from Accelerated Nursing Programs. The Advisor. 37(2), 19-26.

Electronic Publications, Refereed

• Avallone, M., Cantwell, R. (2016) Teaching Nursing Students to Provide Patient-Centered Transitional Education to Heart Failure Patients Using a Peer Teaching Strategy. Virginia Henderson Global Nursing E-repository. Refereed Abstract. Retrieved from :http://www.nursinglibrary.org
• Avallone, M. (2016). A Bundled Approach to Improve Handoff Education in Prelicensure Nursing Virginia Henderson Global Nursing E-repository. Refereed Abstract. Retrieved from: http://www.nursinglibrary.org

Selected presentations

• Avallone M. Pacetti S., Perweiler E. Using the Age-Friendly 4Ms Framework to Redesign a Community Clinical Experience. Gerontology Society of America (GSA) Nov. 2020. Poster presentation
• Avallone M. Promoting Age-Friendly Communities for Low Income Elders through an Interprofessional Healthcare Team Experience. National League for Nursing (NLN) Education Summit 2020. Orlando, FL. Podium presentation, Sept 2020.
• Avallone M. Cantwell ER, Pacetti S. An Interprofessional Service-Learning Experience with Low-Income Elders: Use of a Near-Peer Teaching Strategy. Sigma Theta Tau 30th International Nursing Research Congress. Calgary, AB Canada, July 2019. Podium presentation
• Avallone M. Building Safer Systems by Improving Nursing Student Handoffs using a bundled strategy. National League for Nursing (NLN) Education Summit. Chicago, IL. Sept 13-15. 2018. Poster presentation
• Avallone M. Improving Safety with the Nursing Handoff Educational Bundle (NHEB). Rutgers University-Camden Faculty Research and Creative Activities Symposium. Nov 28, 2018.
• Avallone M. Improving the Safety and Effectiveness of Nursing Student Handoff Communications with the Nursing Handoff Educational Bundle (NHEB). ENRS 30th Annual Scientific Session. April 13, 2018. poster presentation.
• Cantwell ER, Avallone M. New Careers in Nursing: Pre-Entry Immersion Programs and Relationship to Graduation from Accelerated Nursing Programs. Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Education Research Conference, Washington D.C. April 20, 2018. Podium presentation.
• Avallone M. Promoting Engaged Learners using Digital Teaching Strategies. Lessons Learned. AACN 2017 Faculty Development Conference. Atlanta, GA. Nov. 2017. Poster presentation.
• Cantwell ER, Avallone M. New Careers in Nursing: Pre-entry Immersion Programs (PIP) and Relationship to Graduation from Accelerated Nursing Programs. AACN 2017 Baccalaureate Education Conference, Atlanta, GA. Nov. 17, 2017. podium presentation
• Avallone M. The Handoff CEX: Standardizing the Evaluation of Handoffs during Clinical Experiences. AACN 2017 Faculty Development Conference, Atlanta, GA. Nov. 2017. Poster presentation.
• Avallone M. Handoff Safety Communication, Semmelweis University. Budapest, Hungary. Feb 14, 2017. Podium presentation
• Avallone M. Medication Safety: Way Beyond the Five Rights. Semmelweis University. Budapest, Hungary, Feb 14, 2017. podium presentation
• Avallone M. A Systems Approach to Improving Patient Safety. Semmelweis University. Budapest, Hungary. Feb 15, 2017. podium presentation
• Avallone M. Reflective Journaling and Clinical Judgment: Exploring the Evidence. Semmelweis University. Budapest, Hungary, Feb 15, 2017. podium presentation
• Clark M., Avallone M. Use of screencasts to provide education to staff nurses who care for patients with Parkinson’s disease in Acute Care Hospitals. . 4th World Parkinson’s’ Conference, Portland, OR. Sept. 20-23, 2016. podium presentation
• Avallone M. Teaching Nursing Students to Provide Patient-Centered Transitional Education to Heart Failure Patients Using a Peer Teaching Strategy. Doctors of Nursing Practice, Inc. Transforming Healthcare Through Collaboration. Oct. 6, 2016, Baltimore, MD. podium presentation
• Avallone M. Evaluation of a Nursing Handoff Educational Bundle to Improve Student Handoff Education. Doctors of Nursing Practice, Inc. Transforming Healthcare Through Collaboration. Oct. 6, 2016, Baltimore, MD. Podium presentation
• Avallone M. A Bundled Approach to Improve Handoff Education in Prelicensure Nursing Students. Sigma Theta Tau International Leadership Connection 2016, Indianapolis, IN. Sept. 19, 2016. podium presentation
• Avallone M. Cantwell ER. Teaching Nursing Students to Provide Patient-Centered Transitional Education to Heart Failure Patients Using a Peer Teaching Strategy. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Conference. July 23-27, 2015. San Juan, Puerto Rico. podium presentation

• 2014
  Project Title: Evaluation of a Handoff Educational Bundle to Improve Safety and Effectiveness of Handoff Communications for Prelicensure Students
  Implementation: Fall 2014
  Role: Primary Investigator

• 2013–2016
  Project Title: A Peer Teaching Strategy to Assist Nursing Students to Provide Transition of Care Education for Patients Diagnosed with Heart Failure
  Implementation: Fall 2013, Spring 2014, and Spring 2016
  Role: Primary Investigator

• 07/2020–07/2021
  Grant Amount: $90,000
  Title: CARES Act GWEP COVID Supplement to Support Telehealth
  Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
  Principal Investigator: A. Chopra, Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine
  Role: Subrecipient Principal Investigator

• 2020–2025
  Grant Amount: $3,750,000
  Title: New Jersey Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)
  Grant Number: U1QHP28714
  Agency: HRSA
  Principal Investigators: A. Chopra & E. Perweiler, Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine
  Role: Subrecipient Principal Investigator

• 2017–2019
  Grant Amount: $2,550,000
  Title: New Jersey Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP)
  Agency: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services / HRSA
  Principal Investigators: A. Chopra & E. Perweiler, Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine
  Role: Subrecipient Principal Investigator

• 01/2017–05/2017
  Grant Amount: $1,000
  Title: Impact of Pre-Immersion Programs (PIP) and Relationship to Graduation Outcomes
  Agency: American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) / Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), New Careers in Nursing
  Principal Investigator: E. Renee Cantwell
  Co-Investigators: M. Avallone, D. Kushary, J. Nelson
  Role: Co-Investigator

• 01/2017–04/2017
  Grant Amount: $1,000
  (Duplicate project listed for cross-reference)
  Title: Impact of Pre-Immersion Programs (PIP) and Relationship to Graduation Outcomes
  Agency: AACN / RWJF
  Investigators: E. Renee Cantwell, M. Avallone, D. Kushary, J. Nelson
  Role: Secondary Contributor

• 02/2017–03/2017
  Grant Amount: $1,900
  Title: Erasmus Plus Faculty Higher Education Mobility Grant
  Agency: Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
  Role: Grantee / Faculty Mobility Participant

Professional Awards

• 2019 - Outstanding Nurse Educator Award, Rutgers University - School of Nursing - Camden

• 2019 - Grand Champion, ACP-MIT Hacking Medicine Challenge Hackathon

• 2015 - Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, Rutgers University - Camden

Fellowships

• 2016 - Digital Teaching Fellow, Rutgers University - Camden

• 2015-2016 - Edmund J. Safra Visiting Nursing Faculty Scholars Program for Parkinson’s Education, University of Pennsylvania

• 2013-2015 - Faculty Development Collaborative Program in Geriatrics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - HRSA

• New Jersey RN license 26NR09380200
• Pennsylvania RN license RN 244640L
• Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) NLN 539256
• Adult Critical Care RN certification (CCRN)-K, American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) Certification, American Heart Association

• 2013–present - American Nurses Association (ANA)

• 2013–present - American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)

• 2008–present - New Jersey State Nurses Association (NJSNA)

• 2016–2017 - American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)