Education
Sep 2019 - Aug 2024
PhD in Nursing
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Specialized in health services and health policy research with a focus on postoperative opioid prescribing in vulnerable populations.
Pittsburgh, PA
Awards and Recognitions
2022 Ruth and Bill Fincke Endowed Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh
2021 Rising Stars of Research and Scholarship, Sigma Theta Tau International
2021 School-Selected Student Poster for Eastern Nursing Research Society
Annual Conference
2019 Rose E. Constantino Endowed Scholarship, University of Pittsburgh
Research Funding
E. Jane Martin PhD Student Research Award - $8,353 9/1/23-8/31/24
The Relationship Between Postoperative Prescriber Networks and Opioid Prescribing Discoordination
​
Leslie A. Hoffman Endowed Acute Care Nursing Research Fund - $4,000 9/1/22-8/31/23
The Relationship Between Postoperative Prescriber Networks and Opioid Prescribing Discoordination
National Institute on Drug Abuse, 5F30DA057037 - $140,308 9/1/22-8/31/24
The Relationship Between Postoperative Prescriber Networks and Opioid Prescribing Discoordination
​
Sigma Theta Tau, Eta Chapter, Research Award - $2,000 6/1/21-5/31/22
The Role of Outpatient Services in Improving Postoperative Opioid-Related Outcomes
Judith A Erlen Nursing PhD Student Research Award - $761 7/1/20-9/31/21
Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use in Patients with Serious Mental Illness
Presentations
International
Jun 2024 International Network for Social Network Analysis Sunbelt Conference
Poster: Postoperative Patient-Prescriber Networks and Prescribing Coordination
Nov 2021 Sigma Theta Tau International 46th Biennial Convention
Rising-Star School-Selected Poster: Comparing Methods to Evaluate Risk of Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use in Patients with Serious Mental Illness
National
Jun 2024 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting
Poster: Associations between PDMP Strength and Prescribing Coordination
Jun 2023 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting
Poster: Delivery of Behavioral Health Medication Management By Nurse Practitioners Compared to Physicians
Jun 2022 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting
Poster: Behavioral Healthcare and Postoperative Opioid-Related Outcomes
Jun 2022 UPMC St. Margaret Clinical Research Forum
Podium: Preoperative Mental Healthcare Affects Postoperative Outcomes
Jun 2021 AcademyHealth Annual Research Meeting (Virtual)
Poster: Comparing Methods to Evaluate Risk of Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use in Patients with Serious Mental Illness
Oct 2020 American Psychiatric Nurses Association Annual Conference (Virtual)
Podium: Prolonged Postoperative Opioid Use in Patients with Serious Mental Illness
Publications
Nilsen, E.A., Chu, K.H., Scott, P.W., Donohue, J.M., Martsolf, G.R. (2024). Associations of Prescriber Connections and Postoperative High-Risk Opioid Prescribing in Patients with Chronic Opioid Use: A Social Network Analysis. Anesthesia & Analgesia [under review].
Nilsen, E.A., Scott, P.W., Mitchell, A.M., Martsolf, G.R. (2024). Associations Between Patient-Prescriber Networks And Concurrent Opioid-Benzodiazepine Prescribing. Psychiatric Services [manuscript drafted].
Nilsen, E.A., Scott, P.W., Donohue, J.M., Martsolf, G.R. (2024). Impact of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs on High-Risk Postoperative Opioid Prescribing: The Role of Prescriber Networks. Health Services Research [manuscript drafted].
Nilsen, E. A., Mahmoud, K. F., Mitchell, A. M., & Germack, H. D. (2021). Creating an operational definition for prolonged postoperative opioid use through the use of concept analysis. Applied Nursing Research, 62, 151506. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2021.151506
Sep 2019 - Aug 2024
DNP-CNS
Training as an advanced-practice adult-gerontology clinical nurse specialist.
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Pittsburgh, PA
DNP Project
Increasing Access to Non-Opioid Therapies for Surgical Patients Through Policy Interventions
Clinical Rotations
Apr 2024 - Jul 2024 UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center, adult surgical services CNS
Nov 2022 - Apr 2023 Pittsburgh V.A. Medical Center, advanced heart failure clinic
​
Projects and Presentations
Improving Compliance with SCD Application in Adult Surgical Services
​
Outpatient IV Diuretic Clinic: Ongoing Evaluation of Patient Outcomes
Presented at Durham V.A. 11th Annual APP Symposium (virtual)
​​
Incorporating a Heart Failure Mortality Risk Score into Progress Notes to Guide Care
May 2017 - Apr 2018
BSN
Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing
University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing
Pittsburgh, PA
Sep 2009 - Dec 2013
B.A.
Majors in Psychology and English
Minor in Spanish
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington, PA