Mitzi M. Saunders
Mitzi M. ÌýSaunders
Professor
Coordinator, Graduate Clinical Nurse Specialist Program
Degrees
- Ph.D. in Nursing, Wayne State University
- MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Oakland University
- BSN with Distinction, University of Kansas
Biography
Dr. Saunders has been the Program Coordinator for the Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) program since 2010. She has over 20 years of experience as a certified Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist. Dr. Saunders is committed to growing the numbers of AGCNSs nationwide and showcasing the impact of the CNS role. She actively speaks on practice issues affecting nursing and remains involved in legislative processes at the state and national level. She is an active member of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists. Besides teaching in the AGCNS program, Dr. Saunders teaches an interprofessional course in health policy. Her research interests are family caregiving, CNS role and methods in on-line learning. Dr. Saunders is certified by the Association of College and University Educators in effective teaching practices in higher education.
Dr. Saunders edited the book 10 Nursing Interventions for Family Caregivers, published in 2024. It is a book for all levels of nurses, healthcare providers and even family members caring for ill family members. It is mission-driven in that the family caregiver is the vulnerable and often silent patient in patient care. The book is about teaching nurses to advocate for the family caregiver's needs, to intervene, listen, craft policy, inform on legal issues like advance directives, etc., for various types of patients and situations. .
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Research Interests
- Family Caregiving - Focus in Dementia and Heart Failure
- Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist