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)

Implementation of a variety of computerized bedside nursing information systems in 17 New Jersey hospitals.

Hendrickson, G., Kovner, C. T., Knickman, J. R., & Finkler, S. A. (1995). Computers in Nursing, 13(3), 96-102.

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines issues of implementing nursing information computer systems in 17 hospitals in New Jersey and the initial effects of such systems as perceived by users. Unlike previous studies that examined the effects of one system in one hospital, this study examines the effects of several major systems in a variety of settings. Many of the hospitals experienced major delays or other problems with implementation; the hospitals in which timely implementation occurred were the ones that had purchased a commercially available stand-alone nursing system and did not try to develop interfaces or do extensive development. While these hospitals did meet with difficulties and needed some software customization, the problems were not so severe as to impede timely implementation. On the other hand, most of the hospitals that had major delays had planned more ambitious projects. These hospitals either required development work with vendors or were implementing a nursing information system while simultaneously putting in place a hospital system. Initial staff impressions of the effects of the system were positive; nursing department staffs reported that they liked the nursing systems. They said that documentation was better (more readable, complete, and timely) and they also believed that care was improved because the computer prompted nurses on what to look for and what to do. Support for these systems from hospital administration, outside of nursing, was cautious and based primarily on cost/benefit results.

Letter to the editor

Kovner, C. (1995, January 1). In The American Nurse (Vols. 27, Issues 3, p. 5).

Nursing

Kovner, C. (1995). In T. Kovner (Ed.), Health care delivery in the United States (5th eds., 1–, pp. 101-121). Springer.

An analysis of vacancy rates, turnover, and wages among nursing occupations in New York state hospitals, nursing homes, and diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Kovner, C., Stave, C. M., Lavelle, K., & Ferrara, E. (1994). The Journal of the New York State Nurses" Association, 25(3), 20-27.

Abstract

Abstract

This study investigates the balance between the supply and demand for nurses and nurse assistive personnel in New York state. Data collected in 1992 and 1993 from three surveys of hospitals, nursing homes, and diagnostic and treatment facilities are combined, reported, and analyzed. Although there were regional differences, the mean non-New York City vacancy rate was 4% for registered nurses and 5% for licensed practical nurses. The 6-month mean turnover rate for registered nurses was 8%; however, licensed practical nurses, nurse technicians, and nurse attendants had mean turnover rates of 16% and over. Turnover rates were lowest in hospitals. Nurse anesthetists earned the highest salary, a mean of about $61,000 per year. Salaries for nurse anesthetists and other nurses varied substantially by region.

Innovation in nursing: a benefit/cost analysis.

Finkler, S. A., Kovner, C. T., Knickman, J. R., & Hendrickson, G. (1994). Nursing Economic, 12(1), 18-27.

Abstract

Abstract

This study found that costs of implementing projects aimed at improving nurse recruitment and retention vary substantially. At 37 hospitals the costs ranged from a mean of $1,029 per bed for shared governance to $8,399 per bed for computer projects. For a typical 30-bed unit implementing a non-computer project, an average of 1,800 hours of personnel time was devoted to implementation. In most cases, hospitals found that the projects took more resources than expected to get off the ground. The benefit/cost results indicate that the potential annual savings in hospital operation costs associated with reduced length of stay were approximately $3,015 for each $1,000 of one-shot implementation costs spent per bed.

Marketing for nurse managers

Finkler, S. A., & Kovner, C. (1994). In R. Spitzer-Lehman (Ed.), Nursing management desk reference (1–, pp. 629-650). W.B. Saunders.

Nursing care delivery models and nurse satisfaction

Kovner, C. T., Hendrickson, G., Knickman, J. R., & Finkler, S. A. (1994). Nursing Administration Quarterly, 19(1), 74-85. 10.1097/00006216-199401910-00009

Abstract

Abstract

The relative impact of various nursing care delivery models and management interventions on nurse satisfaction was assessed in 37 New Jersey hospitals. Nurses ranked pay as the most important factor, followed by autonomy and professional status. Changes in scores between pilot and comparison units were significantly different for satisfaction with interactions and task requirements. Change in satisfaction with interaction was significant for all initiatives in aggregate, as well as for each of the five types of initiatives separately. The change in satisfaction with task requirements was significant for all initiatives taken as a group and for those units that implemented reorganization, computer, and education initiatives. Even among nurses who eventually liked the new environment there was a period of initial dissatisfaction.

Bedside terminals and quality of nursing documentation.

Marr, P. B., Duthie, E., Glassman, K. S., Janovas, D. M., Kelly, J. B., Graham, E., Kovner, C. T., Rienzi, A., Roberts, N. K., & Schick, D. (1993). Computers in Nursing, 11(4), 176-182.

Abstract

Abstract

In this article, the authors report on part one of a three-part investigation studying the impact of bedside terminals at New York University Medical Center, New York, NY. Using a before-after parallel control-group design, the quality of computerized nursing documentation was studied before and after adding computers to patient rooms. The quality of documentation was defined by timeliness and completeness of data. The study hypothesis, which predicted a positive relationship between the presence of bedside terminals and the quality of nursing documentation, was not supported. Study results showed a minimal use of the computer terminals located in patient rooms. A surprising result was the use of terminals located in rooms other than that of the patient for which documentation was made.

Changing the delivery of nursing care: Implementation issues and qualitative findings

Kovne, C. T. (1993). Journal of Nursing Administration, 23(11), 24-34. 10.1097/00005110-199311000-00008

Contemporary issues in the workplace

Mason, D., McEachen, I., & Kovner, C. (1993). In D. Mason, S. Talbott, & J. Leavitt (Eds.), Policy and politics for nurses (2nd eds., 1–, pp. 223-240). W.B. Saunders.

Faculty