Photo of Diegel-Vacek, Lauren

Lauren Diegel-Vacek, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, FAANP

Executive Associate Dean

Clinical Professor

Department of  Biobehavioral Nursing Science

Pronouns: She/Her

Contact

Address:

845 S. Damen Ave., MC 802, Chicago, IL 60612

Office Phone:

(312) 413-3457

Related Sites:

About

Dr. Diegel-Vacek is Clinical Professor and 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.

HONORS/AWARDS

2023     UIC College of Nursing Distinguished Mentor of Faculty Award

  • Annual award to recognize a faculty member who has made an outstanding contribution to faculty mentorship.

2020     Fellow, American Association of Nursing Practitioners

  • Awarded to nurse practitioner leaders for outstanding contributions to nurse practitioner education, policy, clinical practice, and/or research.

Selected Publications

Alexander, S., Diegel-Vacek, L. & Williams, C. (2024). Increasing Rates of Bedside Shift Report and Improving Patient Satisfaction Scores: A Quality Improvement Initiative. Med Surg Nursing, 33(4):170-174. https://doi.org/10.62116/MSJ.2024.33.4.170

 

National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. (2023). Faculty Practice Toolkit, 2nd edition. Diegel-Vacek, L. & Moss, A. (Editors). NONPF Faculty Practice Toolkit 2023

Gruss, V., Diegel-Vacek, L., King, M. (2023). Chapter 6: Preventative Screenings and Immunizations. In: Gerontology & Geriatrics for Advanced Practice Providers: An Interprofessional Approach. Editors: Jill R. Beavers-Kirby & Freddi I. Segal-Gidan. Elsevier, St. Louis, MO. ISBN 9780323608459

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.

 

 

 

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