Ellen Tracy, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

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Ellen Tracy, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, is senior director of Oncology and Medical Nursing and Clinical Operations at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Areas of Expertise: Leadership, Nursing administration, Patient safety
Locations: Main Campus
Appointments and Referrals: 1-800-TRY-CHOP (1-800-879-2467)

Background

As a Director of Nursing, my role is to lead and influence nursing practice and patient safety across the division. I especially enjoy partnering with nurses, physicians, and patients/families to create our culture of safety; developing future nursing leaders and working with nursing leaders to improve the cancer experience for patients and families. My area of specialty is nursing leadership. From a clinical perspective, my area of expertise is grief and loss.

Over the 30 years that I have worked in Pediatric Oncology, I am most struck by the resilience of families when a child is diagnosed with cancer and I have learned that nurses are key to helping patients and families cope with cancer diagnosis and treatment. Pediatric Oncology nurses are a unique group, very driven to bring out the best in a family to enhance the cancer experience for each family.

I have authored (co-authored) several articles (or presented posters, or lectures) that focus on patient safety and nursing leadership. My research interests are nursing retention, patient safety, and palliative care.

Education and Training

Board Certification

NEA – BC
Nurse Executive, Advanced (NEA-BC)

Undergraduate Degree

BSN - Villanova University, Villanova, PA

Graduate Degree

MSN - Villanova University, Villanova, PA

Titles and Academic Titles

Senior Director, Oncology and Medical Nursing and Clinical Operations

Departments and Services

Publications

Papers

2002

Womer RB, Tracy E, Soo-Hoo W, Bickert B, DiTaranto S, Barnsteiner JH. Multidisciplinary systems approach to chemotherapy safety: rebuilding processes and holding gains. J Clin Oncol. 2002; 20(24):4705-12. Cited in PubMed: PMID 12488417. Read the abstract

2001

Manning ML, McGowan K, Tracy E, DiTaranto S, Bell L. Successful control of vancomycin-resistant enterococci transmission in a pediatric oncology unit: a four year experience. Am J Infect Control. 2001.

Abstracts

2001

Tracy E. Vancomycin resistant enterococcus on a pediatric oncology unit [abstract presentation]. Children’s Oncology Group Nursing Meeting, Chicago, IL, Apr 2001.

Posters and Presentations

2006

Tracy E. A celebration of the first year of the professional practice model [presentation]. Nursing Grand Rounds, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; 2006 Aug; Philadelphia, PA.

2005

Tracy E. Who moved my cheese: navigating organizational change [presentation]. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Clinical Nurse IV Forum; 2005 May; Philadelphia, PA.

Tracy E. Creating a program to mentor staff in poster presentations [presentation]. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Clinical Nurse IV Forum; 2005 Oct; Philadelphia, PA.

2004

Tracy E. Successful reduction of chemotherapy adverse drug events [presentation]. National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions Collaborative; 2004 Oct; Philadelphia, PA.

Tracy E. The benefits of professional organization membership [presentation]. Panel presenter, Nursing Grand Rounds, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; 2004; Philadelphia, PA.

2003

Tracy E, Simms S. Working with challenging families. University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Graduate Program; Mar 2003; Philadelphia, PA.

Tracy E. Stressbusters: helping pediatric oncology nurses navigate the rough spots [poster presentation]. Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses Annual Meeting; 2003 Oct, Philadelphia, PA.

Leadership and Memberships

Leadership positions

2009-present, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Nursing Conference
2008-present, Retention Collaborative, CHOP
2007-present, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
2005-present, CHOPLink project
1998-present, Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program

Memberships in professional organizations

American Cancer Society

  • Childhood Cancer Advisory Committee

American Organization of Nurse Executives
Oncology Nursing Society
Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses
American Cancer Society, Nursing Education Committee
Southeastern Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders
Children’s Oncology Group