Debra Siela has been an assistant professor in the School of Nursing since 1996 and before that was an instructor since 1990. She teaches both undergraduate and graduate level courses. Deb is an Indiana native, although she lived in southern California for thirteen years during the late 1970s through the 1980s. Her bedside clinical experience includes working as a staff nurse in intensive care and emergency department nursing for over twenty-five years.  

Deb has been a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) or an advanced practice nurse since 1980. Her clinical focus has been working with patients who have pulmonary disorders/illness and critical care. She is currently working one day per week at Ball Memorial Hospital as the CNS for the intensive care unit.

Deb is also active in conducting research with patients with pulmonary disorders and illness and critical care nursing issues.  Her work has included research regarding dyspnea perceptions of people with COPD and patients receiving mechanical ventilation. She is currently a co-investigator in survey research regarding family presence during CPR that includes nurses, physicians, and patients. 

She is active in many professional nursing organizations.  Deb is a past-president of the Respiratory Nursing Society.  She is active in the American Association of Critical Care Nursing (AACN) and recently served as a member of the selection committee for the distinguished researcher lecturer for NTI 2006.  She also reviews research abstracts for the annual research conference of the Midwest Nursing Research Society.

Deb also enjoys her teaching role.  She is a student advocate and mentors students throughout the undergraduate program.  She continually searches for better methods on enabling students to critically think and look at the “big picture” as they learn to provide care for patients and clients. 

She also enjoys teaching graduate level students and learns from their experiences as nurses in the process.  In addition, she is coordinating the new adult health clinical nurse specialist track (CNS) for BSU graduate nursing students in our master’s program.

Education:

Certifications:

• CCNS (clinical nurse specialist [CNS] in acute and critical care nursing from AACN) since 1998
• APRN,BC (board certified clinical nurse specialist [CNS] in medical-surgical nursing from ANCC) since 1997
• CCRN (critical care nurse from AACN) maintained since 1977
• RRT (registered respiratory therapist from NRBC) since 1984
• Certification in Respiratory Therapy-East Los Angeles College-Respiratory Therapy Program, Monterey Park, CA (1983)

Publications

  Refereed Articles:

• Siela, D. (2006). Managing the multigenerational nursing staff.  American Nurse Today, 1(3), 47-49.
• Anderson, P., Twibell, R., and Siela, D. (2006). Delegating without doubts.  American Nurse Today,1(2), 54-57.
• Siela, D.(2003). Use of self-efficacy and dyspnea perceptions to predict functional performance in people with COPD. Rehabilitation Nursing, 28(6),197-202.
• Twibell, R., Siela, D., & Mahmoodi, M. (2003). Subjective perceptions and physiological variables during weaning from mechanical ventilation. American Journal of Critical Care, 12(2), 101-112.
• Siela, D. (2002). Using chest radiography in the intensive care unit. Critical Care Nurse, 22(4), 18-27.
• Siela, D. (2000). Taking a breather from COPD. Nursing 2000, 30 (4), 32hhl-32hh2, & 32hh4.
• Siela, D. (1998). Self-efficacy in managing dyspnea in COPD. Perspectives in Respiratory Nursing, 9 (1), 9 & 12.

  Abstracts:

• Twibell, R., Siela, Debra, Mahmoodi, M., (2003).  Ready to Wean?  Patient Perceptions, Assessments, and Outcomes When Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation.  American Journal of Critical Care, 12(3), 275.
• Siela, D. (2001).  Predictors of Dyspnea and Functional Performance in Post-Polio Survivors.  Perspectives in Respiratory Nursing, 10(3), 7.

  Book Chapter:

• Twibell, R, Siela, D., Townsend, T. (2007).  Cultural Issues in Critical Illness. In R. Kaplow and S. Hardin (eds.) Critical Care Nursing: Synergy for Optimal Outcomes (pp.95-108).  Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
• Siela, D. & Wieseke, A. (2000) Stress, Self-Efficacy, and Health. In V. Rice (ed.) Handbook of Stress, Coping and Health (pp.495-515). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishing Inc.

  Non-Refereed Articles:

• Siela, Debra.  (2005). Research in Clinical Practice.  Nursing Research Reports Critiques Part 2. White River Connections-American Association of Critical Care Nurses 6(3) (March).
• Siela, Debra.  (2005).  Research in Clinical Practice.  Nursing Research Reports Critiques. White River Connections-American Association of Critical Care Nurses 6(2) (January).
• Siela, Debra.  (2004).  Research in Clinical Practice-Creating your own evidence. White River Connections-American Association of Critical Care Nurses 6(1), 5 (September).
• Siela, Debra.  (2004).  Foreword.  Respiratory Care Made Incredibly Easy!  Philadelphia:  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Siela, Debra.  (2004).  Research Column.  White River Connections-American Association of Critical Care Nurses 5(3), 5 (April).
• Siela, Debra.  (2004).  Research in Nursing Practice.  White River Connections-American Association of Critical Care Nurses 5(2), 5-6 (January).
• Siela, D., Twibell, R., & Mahmoodi, M.  Using VAS in Critically III Patients (2002). MNRS Connection, 18(1), http://www.mnrs.org/connection/May-2002/Acute-1.html
• Siela, D.  (2001).  President's Message.  Perspectives in Respiratory Nursing, 10(3), 1.
• Twibell, R., Siela, D., Jones, J., & Mahmoodi, M.  (2001).  Research in Progress:  Prediction of Outcomes of Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation-issues in Logistical Regression.  MNRS Connection, 17(1), 7.
• Siela, Debra.  (2001).  President's Message.  Perspectives in Respiratory Nursing, 10(2), 1.
• Siela, Debra.  (2001).  Impact of Pain for Respiratory Nurses.  Pain Management Nursing, 2(1), 5-6.
• Siela, Debra.  (2001).  President's Message.  Perspectives in Respiratory Nursing, 10(1), 2.
• Siela, Debra.  (2000).  President's Message.  Respiratory Exchange:  Official Newsletter of the Respiratory Nursing Society, 6(3), 1.

Presentations:

• Presentations are over forty plus, a list is available upon request.

Professional Organizations / Memberships / Activities:

• Respiratory Nursing Society (RNS) Past President
• American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)-(Served on Distinguished Researcher Lecturer for NTI 2006)
• AACN-White River Chapter (Muncie)
• American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago-Nursing Assembly
• National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists (NACNS)
• Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Member of Sections of Acute Care, Chronicity and Stress/Coping
• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Beta Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International (Muncie)
• American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC)

Courses Taught:

• NUR 230 Health Appraisal
• NUR 320 Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers
• NUR 322 Nursing Research
• NUR 330 Adult Health 1
• NUR 430 Adult Health 3
• NUR 603 Nursing Theory
• NUR 610 Concepts 1, Health Promotion 
• NUR 614 Concepts 3, Chronic Illness & Aging
• NUR 638 Pharmacology
• NUR 680 Advanced Care of the Adult (CNS Track)