Lauren Diegel-Vacek, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP
Executive Associate Dean
Clinical Associate Professor
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing Science
Pronouns: She/Her
Contact
Address:
845 S. Damen Ave., MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612
Office Phone:
Email:
Related Sites:
About
Dr. Diegel-Vacek is the Executive Associate Dean of the College of Nursing. She is a Certified Nurse Educator and family nurse practitioner. She has previously served as Director of the DNP program and specialty director of the Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP track.
Selected Publications
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2023). Faculty Practice Toolkit, 2nd edition. Diegel-Vacek, L. & Moss, A. (Editors). NONPF Faculty Practice Toolkit 2023
Diegel-Vacek, L., Reising, V., Bertini, K., Mischak, R., Eichenberger, J., Hagstrom, B. & Corbridge, C. (2022). Leveraging an Academic Practice Partnership to Support a COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic. Journal of Nursing Education; 61(6):308-313. doi: https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20220404-17.
Diegel-Vacek, L. & Yonkaitis, C. (2022). A Novel Approach to Fostering Academic-Practice Partnerships: The DNP Project Executive Summary. Journal of Nursing Education; 61(3):156– doi: https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20211128-03.
Diegel-Vacek, L. & Carlucci, M. (2021). An Innovative Virtual Poster Session for DNP Student Project Presentations. Journal of Nursing Education; 59(12):697-700. doi: https://doi.org/10.3928/01484834-20201118-07.
Diegel-Vacek, L., Cotler, K., Reising, V. & Corbridge, S.J. (2021). Transition of nurse practitioner faculty practice and student clinicals to telehealth: Response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 17(3):317-321. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.12.023.
Fitz, S., Diegel-Vacek, L. & Mahoney, E. (2020) Implementation of a Discharge Bundle to Decrease Lung Transplant Readmissions. Progress in Transplantation. June 2020. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/1526924820933832.
Sedlock, J., Green, J. & Diegel-Vacek, L. (2020). Implementation of a Geriatric Fracture Program. Orthopaedic Nursing, 39, (3). Pp 165-168. (ANCC contact hour article).
Diegel-Vacek, L. & Vuckovic, K. (2019). Pharmacotherapeutic Preparation for Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority. Journal for Nurse Practitioners 15, (7), pages e131-e134.
Potts, L., Murchek, A., Diegel-Vacek, L., Ryan, C. (2018). Improving Patient Flow Utilizing a Standardized Electronic Nursing Handoff Process. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48 (9) 432-436.
O’Dell, A., & Diegel-Vacek, L. (2018). Development of an RN Training Toolkit for Value-based Care Models. Viewpoints, American Association of Ambulatory Nursing. Vol. 40, Issue 6.
Publication Aggregators
Professional Leadership
Chair, Faculty Practice Special Interest Group (2017-2022), National Organization Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Board Member, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society , UIC Alpha Lambda Chapter (2014-2020)
Notable Honors
2020, Fellow, American Association Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Education
BSN Lewis University, Romeoville IL
MSN University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
DNP University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing
Licensures and Certifications
Licenses:
Registered Nurse, State of Illinois
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, Certified Nurse Practitioner, State of Illinois
Certifications:
Family Nurse Practitioner, ANCC
Certified Nurse Educator, NLN
Professional Memberships
American Association Colleges of Nursing-Practice Leadership Network
American Association Nurse Practitioners
American Nurses Association
National Organization Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Alpha Lambda Chapter
Selected Presentations
Carter, A. & Diegel-Vacek, L. (2022). Efficacy of an EMR alert to increase pre-procedure screening rates in a structural heart program. University of Iowa National Evidence-Based Practice Conference. Coralville, IA, April 2022. (Virtual conference).
Dedmon, D. & Diegel-Vacek, L. Using Innovative self-reflective activities for DNP students to demonstrate leadership competencies. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Education Conference. Naples, Fl, January 2022. (Virtual conference).
Reising, V., Diegel-Vacek, L. & Corbridge, S. Using the Collaborative Care Model to Address Social Determinants of Health. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Faculty Practice Conference. Naples, Fl, January 2022. (Virtual conference).
Corbridge, S., Diegel-Vacek, L. & Reising, V. Leadership for the Future of Nursing: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic. 11th Hong Kong International Nursing Forum. December 2021. (Virtual conference).
Cotler, K., Vaez, K., & Diegel-Vacek, L. The Collaborative Care Model: Using Nurse Practitioners to Improve Access to Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Opioid Use Disorder. International Nurse Practitioner/APN Nursing Conference. (August 2021). (Virtual conference).
Reising, V., Diegel-Vacek, L. & Corbridge, S. Advanced Practice Nursing: Integrating Behavioral Health & Primary Care using the Collaborative Care Model. International Nurse Practitioner/APN Nursing Conference. (August 2021). (Virtual conference).
O’Rourke, S., Diegel-Vacek, L. & Perkovic, A. Increasing Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccination in Immunosuppressed Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. University of Iowa National Evidence-Based Practice Conference. Coralville, IA, April 2021. (Virtual conference).
Diegel-Vacek, L.; Cotler, K.; Reising, V., Martinez, M. & Corbridge, S. Collaborative Care: Implementation of an integrated model of healthcare at a nurse-led faculty practice clinic. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Faculty Practice Conference, January 2021. (Virtual conference).
Diegel-Vacek, L.; Cotler, K.; Reising, V. & Corbridge, S. Transition to Telehealth: Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 10th Hong Kong International Nursing Forum cum 3rd Sigma Asia Region Conference. Hong Kong, China. December 2020. (Virtual conference).
Sparbel, K., Diegel-Vacek, L., Reising, V. & Corbridge, S. (2020). Teaching Systems Thinking: Strategies for Implementation across the Curriculum. National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Fall Conference: Excellence in Virtual NP Education. (Virtual conference).
Fitz, S., Diegel-Vacek, L., Mahoney, E. (2019). Reducing 30-Day Hospital Readmissions Among Lung Transplant Patients. Fuld Institute for Evidence-based Practice Summit, Ohio State University. Columbus, OH
Diegel-Vacek, L. (2019). Benefits of Faculty Practice. National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) preconference workshop. Atlanta, GA,
Diegel-Vacek, L. (2019). Plenary session. Faculty Practice for Schools of all Sizes: Innovative models of sustainable faculty practice. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Faculty Practice Conference, San Diego, CA
Diegel-Vacek, L. (2018). Building Academic-Practice Partnerships for Interprofessional DNP Projects. American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Doctoral Practice Conference, Naples, FL
Diegel-Vacek, L. (2013). Use of Evidence-based Architectural Design to Promote Hand Washing. Midwest Nursing Research Society (MNRS) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL