Sean Clarke

Faculty

Sean Clarke Headshot

Sean Clarke

PhD RN FAAN

Ursula Springer Professor in Nursing Leadership

1 212 998 5264

433 First Ave
New York, NY 10010
United States

Sean Clarke, PhD, RN, FAAN is the Ursula Springer Professor in Nursing Leadership at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. He is a nursing health services researcher with interests in quality and safety of nursing care, nurse workforce issues, management of nursing services, as well as questions related to health systems changes and their impacts on the nursing profession. He has taught nursing leadership and professional issues, health policy, research, and clinical science courses in universities in the United States, Canada, and beyond. He currently the Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Outlook, the official journal of the American Academy of Nursing and serves on a number of editorial boards and grant review panels.

Clarke is currently co-principal investigator of Towards Magnet 3.0, a multimethod evaluation study of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program, and principal investigator of the evaluation of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s $51 million 5- year Nursing Initiative that is supporting workforce strategies in 13 hospitals caring for vulnerable populations in New York State.

Prior to joining the faculty at NYU Meyers, Clarke was a tenured faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Toronto, and McGill University and held endowed chairs and codirected and directed research centers and other initiatives at those institutions before serving as Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing from 2014 to 2018. He served as Executive Vice Dean at NYU Meyers from 2019 to 2024.

Among his many honors, Clarke was named a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2006. He has held visiting and honorary appointments at universities around the world, and in 2025 received the Academy’s Civitas Award, which recognizes extraordinary dedication to excellence in promoting quality care.

Post-MS certificate, Adult Critical Care Nurse Practitioner, University of Pennsylvania
PhD, Nursing, McGill University
MSc(A), Nursing, McGill University
BA, Psychology, Carleton University
BSc, Biochemistry-Nutrition, University of Ottawa

Acute Care
Adult Health
Health Services Research
Health Outcomes
Health Policy
Nursing Leadership
Nursing Professional Issues
Nurse Occupational Health
Nursing workforce

American Nurses Association
American Academy of Nursing
Sigma Theta Tau International

Civitas Award, American Academy of Nursing (2025)
Creative Teaching Award, Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto (2011)
Dean’s Award for Undergraduate Teaching, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing (2007)
Junior Faculty Research Award, Biobehavioral and Health Sciences Division School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania (2006)
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2006)
Class of 1965 25th Reunion Term Chair, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing [for enduring contributions to undergraduate education] (2006)
American Academy of Nursing Media Award for coverage of Aiken, Clarke et al., JAMA, October 23/30, 2002 (2003)
Article of the Year, Academy Health [Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy] for Aiken, Clarke et al., JAMA, October 23/30, 2002 (2003)
American Academy of Nursing Media Award for coverage of Aiken, Clarke, et al. Health Affairs, 2001 (2002)
Induction into Sigma Theta Tau, Xi Chapter (1999)

What you need to know about the NCLEX-RN®

Clarke, S. P. (2017). Nursing Management, 48(10), 21-23. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000524821.72029.0a

The BSN entry into practice debate

Clarke, S. P. (2016). Nursing Management, 47(11), 17-19. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000502806.22177.c4

Canadian nursing supervisors' perceptions of monitoring discipline orders: Opportunities for regulator-employer collaboration

Ismail, F., & Clarke, S. P. (2016). Journal of Nursing Regulation, 6(4), 68-72. 10.1016/S2155-8256(16)31005-5
Abstract
Abstract
Employers are uniquely situated to assist regulators by monitoring nurses practicing with conditions and restrictions resulting from a discipline order by a regulator. However, attitudes, perceptions, and contextual factors may impact employers' participation, and their education and training needs must be considered. A quality-improvement study was conducted to target these areas and provide direction to regulators in developing education and outreach efforts for employers.

Current and long-range forecast

Clarke, S. P. (2016). Nursing Management, 47(11), 20-25. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000502798.99305.10

Education and role title as predictors of enacted (actual) scope of practice in generalist nurses in a pediatric academic health sciences center

Déry, J., & Clarke, S. P. (2016). Journal of Nursing Administration, 46(5), 265-269. 10.1097/NNA.0000000000000341
Abstract
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to document the enacted (actual) scope of practice (SOP) of nurses in pediatric settings in relation to education level and position. BACKGROUND: Baccalaureate-prepared staff nurses routinely carry out only a fraction of the activities essential for quality of care and patient safety they have been educated for. A direct care nurse clinician role exists for nurses with bachelor’s degrees in Quebec, Canada. METHOD: Survey of 301 nurses in a pediatric university hospital in Quebec was conducted. RESULTS: Enacted (actual) SOP for baccalaureate-educated nurses was significantly broader than that of nurses with junior college diplomas and nurse clinicians (baccalaureate-educated) carried out complex activities more frequently. CONCLUSION: The creation of job titling and role descriptions that reflect the upper range of nursing competencies could be an important tool for promoting broadened SOP for baccalaureate nurses.

Ensuring positive capstone experiences for students and staff

Smith, A., & Clarke, S. P. (2016). Nursing Management, 47(3), 12-14. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000480767.08955.61

Get your hands dirty! Improving student clinical experiences

Logan, P., & Clarke, S. P. (2016). Nursing Management, 47(5), 10-12. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000482499.82817.f2

Navigating a research-focused doctoral program in nursing

Clarke, S. P. (2016). Nursing Management, 47(1), 19-21. 10.1097/01.NUMA.0000475634.98128.83

Optimizing full scope of practice for nurse practitioners in primary care: A proposed conceptual model

Poghosyan, L., Boyd, D. R., & Clarke, S. P. (2016). Nursing Outlook, 64(2), 146-155. 10.1016/j.outlook.2015.11.015
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Nurse practitioners (NPs), if utilized to their optimal potential, could play a key role in meeting the growing demand for primary care. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to propose a comprehensive model for maximizing NP contributions to primary care which includes the factors affecting NP care and patient outcomes and explains their interrelated impact. Method: We synthesized the results of the published literature to develop a model, which emphasizes NP scope of practice regulations, institutional policies, NP practice environment, and NP workforce outcomes as determinants of NP care and patient outcomes. Discussion: Our model provides a framework to help explain how variations in scope of practice regulations at the state-level and institutional policies within organizations directly and indirectly influence the practice environment of NPs, NP workforce outcomes, and patient care and outcomes. Conclusion: Aligning policy change, organizational innovations, and future research are critical to NP optimal utilization and patient care and outcomes.

A protocol to assess the impact of adding nursing support workers to ward staffing

Duffield, C., Roche, M., Twigg, D., Williams, A., & Clarke, S. (2016). Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(9), 2218-2225. 10.1111/jan.12965
Abstract
Abstract
Aim: To assess the impact of adding nursing support workers to ward staffing. Background: Nurses' capacity to provide safe care is compromised by increased workloads and nursing shortages. Use of unregulated workers is an alternative to increasing the number of regulated nurses. The impact of adding nursing support workers on patient, nurse and system outcomes has not been systematically evaluated. Design: A mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional design using administrative data sets and prospective data from a sample of wards. Methods: Payroll data will identify wards on which unregulated staff work. To assess the impact on nursing-sensitive outcomes, retrospective analysis of morbidity and mortality data of all patients admitted to Western Australia hospitals for over 24 hours across 4 years will be undertaken. For the cross-sectional study, a sample of 20 pairs of matched wards will be selected: 10 with unregulated workers added and 10 where they have not. From this sample the impact on patients will be assessed using the Patient Evaluation of Emotional Care during Hospitalisation survey. The impact on nurses will be assessed by a nurse survey used extensively which includes variables such as job satisfaction and intention to leave. The impact on system outcomes will be explored using work sampling of staff activities and the Practice Environment Scale. Interviews will determine nurses' experience of working with nursing support workers. Discussion: The study aims to provide evidence about the impact of adding nursing support workers to ward staffing for patients, staff and the work environment.