Ellen Eckes is a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Research and Practice Development Service at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).  Her specialty areas include Cardiology and Pulmonary Vascular Medicine.
Ellen began her career as a diploma nurse, graduating from Jackson Memorial School of Nursing in1979, and working as an intensive care unit staff nurse with a concentration in the specialty of cardiovascular surgical intensive care.  She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Central Florida in 1990 and her Master of Science in Nursing at The Florida State University in 1995, completing both aspects of Advanced Nursing Practice:  Family Nurse Practitioner  and CNS. Through the years she held positions of charge nurse, shift coordinator, Nurse Manager, shift supervisor, Family Nurse Practitioner, among others.  In 1995 she worked as a CNS in the Medical Service for the Veterans Administration, principally working to open the new hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida. Prior to relocation to Virginia, she worked as a Nurse Practitioner with an invasive Cardiology practice in Florida.

Ellen has taught clinical and didactic nursing since 1981 within License Practical Nursing programs, Associate Degree Nursing programs, and for the Bachelor of Science, Nursing program at The Florida State University. She has been a member of American Association of Critical Care Nurses since 1978 and has served in various capacities at local chapter level.  She has been involved as a Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiac Life Support instructor at various points throughout her career, while maintaining current provider status.

Since arriving at the CC at the NIH in 2007, Ellen has assumed coordination of the Medical-Surgical Internship (MSNIP) Program, revising and redesigning it. She also leads the nursing department skills laboratory. In collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, she has developed cardiac medication guidelines and implemented these with staff in clinical practice. She coordinated a Concepts Course for staff on the 5SE Medical Surgical Unit.

Program Interests

NIH Emergency Response for Clinical Care
With CNS colleagues, revised the Standard of Practice for Clinical Nursing Staff, devised Surge Center design layout to maximize flow, and Procedure for use during emergency activation of the Surge Center within the NIH Clinical Center.

Medical-Surgical Nursing Internship Program
The Internship is a 2 year program for the newly boarded Registered Nurse. The program encompasses various modalities of educational experiences and is developed in conjunction with the Medical-Surgical Nurse Managers.

ELNEC Program
The ELNEC program was developed and presented to impart the knowledge and skills needed by nursing to be prepared to care for patients and families facing end-of-life/palliative care issues.

Nursing Skills Lab
The Skills Lab will afford an environment for practice, retraining or revalidation of clinical skills, to ensure effective, efficient, and safe patient care practices. 

Committees

CRN 2010: Intensity Measurement
Emergency Surge Committee