Nursing faculty member publishes 30th book

Augusta University College of Nursing faculty Cynthia Chernecky, PhD, has published her 30^th book, Clinical Care Expert, published by Cognella Publishers.

The publication is an interactive online Q&A learning method containing expert clinical information. It’s a perpetual project where experts share their knowledge in nursing to help students and nurses with increasing demands within health care.

“It goes beyond book learning. My hope is this learning style can be applied to other areas in and outside health care, too,” said Chernecky, a professor in the Department of Nursing Science and a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing.

In addition to her published books, Chernecky has over 800 citations and has written more than 200 chapters and journal articles. Her two major areas of research are oncology and vascular access.

“Dr. Chernecky is an internationally-recognized expert in vascular access and cancer symptoms and has published many peer-reviewed papers and has some of the most successful clinical reference books in the nation,” said College of Nursing Dean Beth NeSmith, PhD.

Chernecky wrote the first book on critical care oncology and invented the ABCDE Clinical Education Pedagogy and HATS Research Model. Her book “Advanced and Critical Care Oncology Nursing” won a Book of the Year award from the American Journal of Nursing.

“I was inspired to begin writing books for nursing because I found a disconnect between clinical work and book knowledge,” said Chernecky.

She began her career as a clinical nurse specialist in oncology. Her formal education and work in that field propelled her into writing to help others.

“I wrote my first chapter while in graduate school after being encouraged by my oncology nurse mentor,” said Chernecky. “Then I wrote my first book during doctoral studies to help oncology nurses with chemotherapy, cancer risk factors and diagnostic tests.”

Chernecky’s foremost passion is oncology nursing, and “Advanced and Critical Care Oncology Nursing” was the first book written on critical nursing care of a client with cancer, which made an international impact in cancer care.

While the idea of writing a book can be daunting, she urges other faculty members to publish, citing that it is a professional obligation to share wisdom.

“With experience comes wisdom,” she said. “Every nurse has expertise that others can benefit from in their profession and everyday lives. My passion is helping nurses combine clinical reality with academic knowledge and thinking. Nursing is a vast profession and discipline, so that is why I have so many books.”

Beyond publishing, her accolades include a 2016 Best Professor in Nursing honor from the International Nurses Association, Worldwide Leaders in Health Care and recognition as a “Who’s Who” in Medicine and Healthcare in 2012. She was also awarded the Mary Nowatny Excellence in Cancer Nursing Education award, sponsored by the Oncology Nursing Society.

She has been recognized by institutions across the nation and was a visiting Research Post Doctoral Scholar at the University of California Los Angeles. She is also the recipient of the University of Connecticut’s alumni award, The Beverly Koerner Outstanding Alumni Award for Education in Nursing.

Looking forward, Chernecky hopes to submit abstracts to GANE and ONS Congress to share the learning resource of a clinical care expert.

“Giving back to your profession is a lifetime commitment and responsibility,” said Chernecky.