Christine T Kovner

Christine Tassone Kovner, PhD, RN, FAAN is a Professor Emerita. She was the Mathy Mezey Professor of Geriatric Nursing at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and a professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Kovner is the Editor-in-Chief of Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice. She is a highly respected nurse educator and researcher with more than 150 published articles. Her research focuses on quality improvement, RN working conditions, and nursing care costs. For five years she was the principal investigator for the TL1 Pre- and Post-Doctoral Program of NYU's NIH funded Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Dr. Kovner was the principal investigator of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant studying the career trajectories of newly licensed registered nurses over the first ten years of their careers. As a clinical nurse, she was proud to provide COVID vaccinations at Langone Health.

Dr. Kovner was a visiting scholar at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Policy for two years and has served on many government policy committees, including New York’s State Hospital Review and Planning Council. She has served as a grant reviewer for the NIH, NIOSH, and the Department of Defense among others.

Among her many honors, Dr. Kovner was awarded the Diane O. McGivern Award in 2024. The award recognizes an NYU Meyers graduate for outstanding work in legislation and policy on behalf of professional nursing. Dr. Kovner received the Excellence in Policy Award from Nursing Outlook for “Diversity and education of the nursing workforce 2006-2016,” in 2019, the IRGNI Research Mentorship Award from Academy Health (2018), the Eastern Nursing Research Society Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Research Award (2018), the Golden Pen Award from the Journal for Healthcare Quality (2007), and the Lavinia Dock Distinguished Service Award from the New York Counties Registered Nurses Association.

PhD - New York University

MSN - University of Pennsylvania

BS - Columbia University School of Nursing

Post-doctoral Fellowship - Robert Wagner School of Public Service, NYU

Nursing workforce

Community/population health

American Academy of Nursing Fellow

AcademyHealth

Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science

Sigma Theta Tau

International Association of Clinical Research Nurses

Diane O. McGivern Award, NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing (2024)

Excellence in Policy Award, Nursing Outlook (2019)

IRGNI Research Mentorship Award, Academy Health (2018)

Distinguished Contributions to Nursing Research Award (2018)

Treasurer, CGFNS International, Inc. (2016)

Distinguished Alumna Award, New York University, College of Nursing (2012)

Nursing Outlook Excellence in Policy Award for “State Mandatory Overtime Regulations and Newly Licensed Nurses’ Mandatory and Voluntary Overtime and Total Work Hours.” (2012)

Vernice Ferguson Faculty Scholar Award, New York University, College of Nursing (2010)

Golden Pen Award for “Exploring the Utility of Automated Drug Alerts in Home Healthcare,” Journal for Healthcare Quality (2007)

Health Policy and Legislation Award, New York University, College of Nursing (2006)

Honorary Recognition Award, New York Counties Registered Nurses Association (1999)

Best of Image Award in Health Policy Scholarship, for “Nurse Staffing Levels and Adverse Events Following Surgery in U. S. Hospitals," Journal of Nursing (1999)

Alumni Award for Distinguished Career in Nursing, Columbia University-Presbyterian Hospital Alumni Association (1996)

Distinguished Nurse Researcher, Foundation of the New York State Nurses Association (1994)

Lavinia Dock Distinguished Service Award, New York Counties Registered Nurses Association (1992)

Martha E. Rogers Scholarship Award, Upsilon Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau (1983)

The Impact of the Early COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Nurses’ Intent to Stay in Nursing

Yu, G., Kovner, C. T., Glassman, K., Devanter, N. V., Ridge, L. J., & Raveis, V. H. (2023). Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 24(3), 168-177. 10.1177/15271544231160694

Abstract

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for registered nurses. Media reports, most of them anecdotal, have reported upticks in nurse resignations, and plans to resign and/or leave nursing due to COVID-19. This article reports findings from an online anonymous 95-item survey completed by about 1,600 nurses from a New York City metropolitan area health system's (HS) four hospitals and ambulatory care centers about their COVID-19 experience in the spring of 2020, their intent to stay at the HS, and their intent to stay working as a nurse. Conducted early in the pandemic, this survey addresses a major gap in the literature, as there was no timely evaluation of nurses’ intent to leave during the “Great Attrition” wave or to stay during the “Great Attraction” trend. Among those nurses completing the survey, 85.7% reported that they planned to work as a nurse one year later and 77.9% reported that they planned to work at the HS one year later. Those nurses who obtained a master’s or doctoral degree as their first professional degree in nursing, or had a high level of mastery, were less likely to report an intent to stay at the HS. Those with no children, those who thought the HS was more supportive, and those who thought that registered nurse–medical doctor relations were higher were more likely to intend to stay at the HS. Those nurses who reported worse communication with their nurse manager were less likely to report an intent to stay in nursing. Those who reported lower stress, who were unmarried and had no children were more likely to intend to work as nurses. Our findings on nurses’ intent to leave their organization and their intent to leave nursing are much lower than reports in the popular press. Our data were collected early in the pandemic and it may not reflect the accumulated stress nurses experienced from witnessing the death of so many patients.

Caring for Older Adults

Kovner, C., & Cortes, T. (2022). Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 23(3), 147-149. 10.1177/15271544221105996

COVID-19 and the supply and demand for Registered Nurses

Kovner, C. (2022). International Nursing Review, 69(2), 118-120. 10.1111/inr.12759

Abstract

Abstract

There are concerns that the future balance between the supply and demand for nurses will result in major nursing shortages around the world. Some think that nurses are leaving nursing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, nurses may be leaving their jobs, but not nursing. Enrollments in nursing programs have increased. Nurse migration to the United States has decreased. This paper, using examples from the United States mainly, aims to explore the issue of supply of nurses and argues that it is not clear that we will have a worldwide nursing shortage going forward.

Eileen Sullivan-Marx Interview of Representative Lauren Underwood (Democrat-Illinois 14th District)

Sullivan-Marx, E., & Kovner, C. T. (2021). Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 22(4), 292-296. 10.1177/15271544211032561

Eileen Sullivan-Marx Interview of Representative Lauren Underwood (Democrat-Illinois 14th District).

Sullivan-Marx, E., & Kovner, C. T. (2021). Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 22(4), 292-296. 10.1177/15271544211032561

The psychosocial impact on frontline nurses of caring for patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in New York City

Kovner, C., Raveis, V. H., Van Devanter, N., Yu, G., Glassman, K., & Ridge, L. J. (2021). Nursing Outlook, 69(5), 744-754. 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.03.019

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Infectious disease pandemics, such as COVID-19, have dramatically increased in the last several decades. Purpose: To investigate the personal and contextual factors associated with the psychological functioning of nurses responding to COVID in the New York City area. Method: Cross sectional data collected via a 95-item internet-based survey sent to an email list of the 7,219 nurses employed at four hospitals. Findings: 2,495 nurses responded (RR 35%). The more that nurses cared for COVID patients as well as experienced home-work conflict and work-home conflict the higher the nurses' depression and anxiety. When asked what has helped the nurses to carry out their care of patients the most common responses were support from and to co-workers, training in proper PPE, and support from family/friends. Discussion: Understanding the potential triggers and vulnerability factors can inform the development of institutional resources that would help minimize their impact, reducing the risk of psychological morbidity.

The psychosocial impact on frontline nurses of caring for patients with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in New York City.

Kovner, C., Raveis, V. H., Van Devanter, N., Yu, G., Glassman, K., & Jean-Ridge, L. (2021). Nursing Outlook, 69(5), 744-754. 10.1016/j.outlook.2021.03.019

Abstract

Abstract

Infectious disease pandemics, such as COVID-19, have dramatically increased in the last several decades.

Psychosocial resilience: Challenges and facilitators for nurses from four New York City hospitals responding to the first wave of COVID-19, spring 2020: Qualitative findings from a mixed-methods study

Devanter, N. V., Raveis, V. H., Kovner, C., Glassman, K., Yu, G., & Ridge, L. J. (2021). Journal of Emergency Management, 19(9), 147-158. 10.5055/jem.0619

Abstract

Abstract

Frontline workers are at great risk of significant mental health challenges as a result of responding to large-scale disasters. We conducted a mixed-methods study to identify the challenges experienced and the resources nurses drew upon during this first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020 in New York City (NYC). The qualitative data presented here are on 591 nurse participants in the qualitative arm of the study. Responses to qualitative questions were reviewed by one of the investigators to identify emerging themes. Two qualitative researchers used both deductive (guided by the Resilience Theory) and inductive approaches to analysis. Challenges identi fied by nurses included concerns about well-being and health risk; mental health symptoms such as depres sion, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping; fears about the ability to care for patients with severe life-threatening symptoms; and home-work challenges such as risk to family and friends; and lack of availability of institutional resources, particularly, personal protec tive equipment (PPE). Facilitators of resilience were institutional resources and support available; social support from coworkers, friends, and family; and positive professional identity. Recommendations for promoting resilience in future disaster/pandemic responses included clarification of disaster-related professional responsibilities, integration of disaster preparedness into professional education, and engage ment of nurses/frontline workers in preparation plan ning for disasters.

Research Informs Policy

Kovner, C. (2021). Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 22(2), 83-84. 10.1177/15271544211005048

Variables Associated With Nurse-Reported Quality Improvement Participation

Djukic, M., Fletcher, J., Witkoski Stimpfel, A., & Kovner, C. (2021). Nurse Leader, 19(1), 76-81. 10.1016/j.mnl.2020.06.009

Abstract

Abstract

Lack of staff engagement in quality improvement (QI) is a persistent challenge in improving quality in health care. In this study, we examined variables associated with nurse-reported participation in QI using data from over 500 registered nurses employed in US hospitals. Of the 16 studied variables, based on the adjusted multivariate regression analysis, the following were positively associated (p < 0.05) with nurse-reported participation in QI: working in advanced practice nursing and manager roles versus staff nurse role, working a full-time work schedule versus a part-time work schedule, and reporting higher levels of procedural justice, quantitative workload, and work motivation.

Faculty