Beth McNutt-Clarke, M.Sc.A, M.B.A., RN, CWOCN, believes her specialtyāwound managementāis critical for the well-being of both patients and hospitals. McNutt-Clarke, who obtained her masterās degree in nursing from McGill University in Montreal, most recently served as an advanced practice nurse at Torontoās Bridgepoint Hospital, where she oversaw management of wounds such as pressure ulcers. āWith some knowledge and good assessment, you can actually prevent a lot of pressure ulcers,ā says McNutt-Clarke, noting that these common hospital-acquired wounds are painful and can take several years to heal. Severe cases, which can cost hospitals upwards of $60,000, also put a strain on clinical budgets.
Her other passion is community health nursing, which sheāll teach as a clinical instructor at the Connell School. āStudents need to learn not just nursing skills, but how to interact with people,ā says McNutt-Clarke, who is a vocal proponent of the value of strengths-based nursing, an emerging treatment approach that eschews formulaic prescriptions and promotes health by exploring how patients can help themselves. āI feel like Iām a detective and Iām going to find the best way to work with a patient,ā she says.
āTimothy Gower, photograph by Caitlin Cunningham