AACN Board
July 2016 - June 2017
Karen McQuillan, RN, MS, CNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, FAAN, serves as immediate past president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) board of directors and chair of the Nominating Committee. She was president from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2016, president-elect from July 1, 2014, through June 30, 2015, and a director from July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2014.
McQuillan is a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical System, Baltimore, a position she's held since 1987. She was a critical care CNS at Greater Laurel Beltsville Hospital, Maryland, from 1986 to 1987 and held staff nurse positions at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and Doctor's Hospital of Prince George's County, Lanham, Maryland, from 1981 to 1987.
An investigator, author and presenter on issues related to trauma and nursing, McQuillan holds a faculty associate position with University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore.
She has lectured on neurological and trauma topics at numerous regional, national and international conferences. Also well published on neurological and trauma topics, McQuillan has reviewed and edited many manuscripts and served as lead editor for "Trauma Nursing: From Resuscitation Through Rehabilitation," 3rd and 4th editions. She has mentored other nurses as speakers and authors. McQuillan has served as an investigator on a number of studies exploring various aspects of trauma nursing care. In addition, she has worked in countries around the world, including India and Brazil, to foster improvements in trauma care.
A member of AACN's Chesapeake Bay Chapter since 1987, McQuillan has chaired the NTI Program Planning Committee and served on the Evidence-Based Practice Resource Group, Continuing Education Review Panel and NTI Evaluation Team.
McQuillan belongs to the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, American Nurses Association, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Society of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Trauma Nurses and National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. She was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2011.
Her numerous honors include the 2011 Society of Trauma Nursing Trauma Leadership Award, the Nursing Spectrum, Washington/Baltimore edition, 2007 Excellence Award for Teaching and the 1997 Nurses of Excellence.
McQuillan earned a pre-nursing degree from University of Maryland at College Park in 1979, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Maryland, Baltimore in 1981, where she graduated magna cum laude, and a Master of Science in trauma/critical care nursing in 1986.