Regi Freeman, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, FCNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist - Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
University of Michigan Health System
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Room 4726C
Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5859
Interests
- Cardiovascular surgery
- Critical care
- Mechanical circulatory support
- Evidence based practice
- Quality improvement of nursing quality indicators
Regi Freeman is the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at University of Michigan Health. Her guiding principles include the 3 spheres of influence in CNS practice (nursing/nursing practice; patient/family; system). As a critical care nurse, Ms. Freeman, has integrated a strong practice base through direct mentorship of bedside nurses. Regi has worked on multiple nursing practice implementations, policy and procedure developments, and quality improvement projects. She has presented nationally on heart failure, mechanical circulatory support, heart transplant, alcohol withdrawal management and pressure ulcer prevention in high-risk critical care patients. Regi has published multiple peer reviewed articles with topics including continuous glucose monitoring in the CVICU, heart transplant, mechanical circulatory support, mobility in CVICU, pressure injury reduction, medication safety, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), patient hand hygiene and infection reduction in addition to a text book chapter on transplant and an invited ask the experts column on mobility with femoral catheters. She has presented a vast number of posters nationally at multiple conferences and has received several grants for quality improvement projects. In 2019, Regi was inducted as a Fellow of the National Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute.
Current Research Grants and Programs
- Post extubation swallow screening in the Cardiovascular ICU.
Teaching
Ms. Freeman has instructional roles in both the graduate and undergraduate levels, she focuses on leadership and management skills required of nurses in the clinical setting specifically the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role. Using a variety of teaching strategies, she covers concepts of team building, delegation, negotiation and problem solving; all within an organizational content. Primary areas of focus are evidence based practice and quality improvement. At the graduate level she has precepted and mentored multiple students in the CNS role. Ms. Freeman assists CNS students to integrate into the 3 spheres of CNS practice including nursing/nursing practice, patient/family, and system.
Affiliations / Service
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, 2009-present
- Michigan Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists, 2010-present (Board member at large 2019)
- American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, 2006-present
- Sigma Theta Tau International, 2008-present
- Michigan Nurses Association, 1999-2000 & 2007-present
Notable Awards / Honors
- Institute of Professional Nursing Leadership Award, 2019.
- Silver Beacon Excellence Award from American Association of Critical Care Nurses CVICU Michigan Medicine, 2019.
- Fellow, National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialist Institute, 2019.
- Michigan Medicine Advanced Practice Nursing Award Clinical Practice Clinical Nurse Specialist 2018.
- Michigan Medicine Advanced Practice Nursing Award Leadership Clinical Nurse Specialist 2017.
Education
- MSN, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 2010
- BSN, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 1998
Publication Highlights
Casida, J. M., Abshire, M, Widmar, B., Combs, P., Freeman, R., Baas, L. (2019). Nurses' Competence Caring for Hospitalized Patients With Ventricular Assist Devices. Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, 38(1), 38-49. doi: 10.1097/DCC.0000000000000332
Freeman, R. & Koerner, E. (2018). Instituting a Standardized Mobility Aid in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. Crit Care Nurs Q, 41(3), 289-296. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000208
Freeman, R., Koerner, E., Clark, C., & Halabicky, K. (2016). Cardiac Transplant Postoperative Management and Care. Crit Care Nurs Q, 39(3), 214-226. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000116.
Freeman, R., Smith, A., Dickinson, S., Tschannen, D., James, S., & Friedman, C. (2017). Specialty linens and pressure injuries in high-risk patient in the intensive care unit. AJCC, 26(6), 474-481. doi: 10.4037/ajcc2017530.
Haverstick, S., Goodrich, C., Freeman, R., James, S., Kullar, R., & Ahrens, M. (2017). Patients' Hand Washing and Reducing Hospital-Acquired Infection. Crit Care Nurse, 37(3), e1-e8. doi: 10.4037/ccn2017694.
Freeman, R., Koerner, E., Clark, C., & Halabicky, K. (2016). Cardiac Transplant Postoperative Management and Care. Crit Care Nurs Q, 39(3), 214-226. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000116.
Freeman, R., Koerner, E., Clark, C., & Halabicky, K. (2016). The Path From Heart Failure to Cardiac Transplant. Crit Care Nurs Q, 39(3), 207-213. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0000000000000114.
Freeman, R. & Maley, K. (2013). Mobilization of intensive care cardiac surgery patients on mechanical circulatory support. Crit Care Nurs Q, 36(1), 73-88. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0b013e31827532c3.
Freeman, R., McKee, S., Lee-Lehner, B., & Pesenecker, J. (2013). Reducing interruptions to improve medication safety. J Nurs Care Qual, 28(2), 176-185. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0b013e318275ac3e.
Freeman, R., Nault, C., Mowry, J. & Baldridge, P. (2012). Expanded resources through utilization of a primary care giver ECMO model. Critical Care Nursing, 35(1), 39-49. doi: 10.1097/CNQ.0b013e31823b1fa1.
