Patricia Conlon, DNP, APRN, MS, PCNS-BC, PNP-BC, CRNI

Dr. Patricia Conlon serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at the School of Nursing. With over 30 years of diverse clinical experience in Ireland and the USA, she brings real-world expertise to her academic role. She has worked as a registered nurse in various clinical areas, including pediatric general care, oncology, home care, infusion therapy, integrative health, and ambulatory care. For the last 21 years, Dr. Conlon has worked as a Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist and is actively involved in clinical practice and professional service. Her CNS role ensures her teaching remains grounded in current healthcare realities and continues to evolve with the changing landscape of healthcare delivery. She actively collaborates with colleagues to implement evidence-based care and share their findings with the healthcare community. Dr. Conlon has been involved in advising DNP projects, publishing manuscripts, co-authoring presentations, and serving on committees focused on improving healthcare outcomes.

Research Summary

Complementary and integrative medicine, nurse-initiated protocols, improving communication between patients/families and the care team, nurse education, education using virtual reality, learning through simulation, and student well-being through self-care strategies

DNP, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN

MS, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

BSN, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

RN, School of Nursing, The Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

RN, School of Nursing, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

• Pediatric Nursing: didactic content on pediatric topics
• Virtual Reality (VR) Education: Co-teaching the BSN VR program in Rochester, MN
• Simulated Learning: Co-teaching the BSN simulated learning program in Rochester, MN
• BSN classes

• Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist-Mayo Clinic Children's Center 

     Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota since 2004

• Gold Level Certification: Mayo Clinic Quality Fellow, 2022
• Recognized as Excellence Through Sepsis Superstar by the for leading the Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center - Children’s Hospital Association, 2022
• Outstanding Preceptor, Pediatric CNS Program, University of Minnesota, 2018
• Individual Award for Excellence - Employee Recognition Program, Department of Human Resources, 2000.
• Save Our Skin Award - Minnesota Hospital Association, 2011, 2017
• Service Excellence Awards Celebration: Pediatric Cardiology - Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, 2012
• Third Place in Clinical Practice Poster Award Presented at Society of Pediatric Nurses National Convention - Society of Pediatric Nurses, 2012
• Society of Pediatric Nurses: Third Place: Education Poster Award Practice Makes Perfect: Simulation Enhances the Quality of a Pediatric Moderate Sedation Curriculum - Patricia Conlon, APRN, MS, CNS, CNP Amy J. Chihak, MSN, RN-BC, and Deb Rowekamp, RN, MS, 2011

• Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
• Children’s Oncology Group
• Infusion Nurses’ Society
• Sigma Theta Tau Global Nursing Excellence Honors' Society
• Society of Pediatric Nurses
• The Nursing Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Hakim, H., Richardson, T., Riggs, R., Auletta, J. J., DiGerolamo, K., Hron, J. D., ... & IPSO COLLABORATIVE INVESTIGATORS. (2025). Sepsis mortality in hospitalized children with cancer is associated with lack of a screening tool. Hospital Pediatrics, e2024007956. Conlon, P. M.: Collaborative Investigator.

Omdahl, T. K., Stenzel, J. L., Pike, M. L., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2023). Pediatric chemotherapy infusions in outpatient examination rooms: A novel patient care approach. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing, 40(3), 195-202. https://doi.org/10.1177/27527530221140067

Schafer, M., Gruhler De Souza, H., Paul, R., Riggs, R., Richardson, T., Conlon, P., et al. (2022). Characteristics and outcomes of sepsis presenting in inpatient pediatric settings. Hospital Pediatrics, 12(12), 1048-1059. https://doi.org/10.1542/hpeds.2022-006592 Conlon, P. M.: Collaborative Investigator.

Larsen, G. Y., Brilli, R., Macias, C. G., et al., IMPROVING PEDIATRIC SEPSIS OUTCOMES COLLABORATIVE INVESTIGATORS. (2021). Development of a quality improvement learning collaborative to improve pediatric sepsis outcomes. Pediatrics, 147(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2020-1434 Conlon, P. M.: Collaborative Investigator.

Scott, H. F., Brilli, R. J., Paul, R., Macias, C. G., et al., IMPROVING PEDIATRIC SEPSIS OUTCOMES (IPSO) COLLABORATIVE INVESTIGATORS. (2020). Evaluating pediatric sepsis definitions designed for electronic health record extraction and multicenter quality improvement. Critical Care Medicine, 48(10), e916-e926. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0000000000004505 Conlon, P. M.: Collaborative Investigator.

Kawai, Y., Rohlik, G., Neu, L., Mujic, A., Duncan, J., Feigal, S., Rowekamp, D., Fetterly, B., Fryer, K., Conlon, P., et al. (2018). De-escalation of care through pediatric intensive care unit liberation rounds and a daily checklist. Pediatric Quality and Safety, 3(2), e062. https://doi.org/10.1097/pq9.0000000000000062

Conlon, P. M., Haack, K. M., Rodgers, N. J., et al. (2017). Introducing essential oils into pediatric and other practices at an academic medical center. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 35(4), 389-396. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898010116677400

Bos, B. S., Wangen, T. M., Elbing, C. E., Jr., Rowekamp, D. J., Kruggel, H. A., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2016). Pressure ulcer prevention: Where practice and education meet. Journal of Nurses Professional Development, 32(2), 94-98. https://doi.org/10.1097/NND.0000000000000228

Roskos, P. L., Conlon, P. M., Blazejak, D. L., & Siebrecht, A. L. (2016). Improving care of patients following minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair with standardization and collaboration. Journal of Pediatric Surgical Nursing, 5(1), 22-27.

Holland, D. E., Conlon, P. M., Rohlik, G. M., et al. (2015). Identifying hospitalized pediatric patients for early discharge planning: A feasibility study. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 30(3), 454-462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2014.12.011

Holland, D. E., Conlon, P. M., Rohlik, G. M., et al. (2014). Developing and testing a discharge planning decision support tool for hospitalized pediatric patients. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 19(2), 149-161.

Arteaga, G., Engler, C., Feigal, S., Rohlik, G., Sorensen, L., & Conlon, P. (2014). Nurse perceived barriers to topical analgesia use prior to venipuncture procedures in pediatrics [Meeting Abstract]. Critical Care Medicine, 42(12), A1575.

Wockenfus, A. M., Koch, C. D., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2013). Discordance between urine pH measured by dipstick and pH meter: Implications for methotrexate administration protocols. Clinical Biochemistry, 46(1-2), 152-154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2012.10.018

Conlon, P., Rowekamp, D., & Chihak, A. (2011). Simulation enhances a pediatric moderate sedation curriculum. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 26(4), e23.

Conlon, P. M. (2009). Assessment of pain in the paediatric patient. Paediatrics and Child Health, 19, S85-S87.

Book Chapters

Conlon, P. (2024). The child with respiratory dysfunction. In M. J. Hockenberry, E. Duffy, & K. Gibbs (Eds.), Wong's nursing care of infants and children (12th ed., pp. 871-948). Elsevier.

Conlon, P. M. (2017). The child with respiratory dysfunction. In M. J. Hockenberry, D. Wilson, & C. C. Rodgers (Eds.), Wong's essentials of pediatric nursing (10th ed., pp. 636-688). Elsevier.

Conlon, P. M. (2013). The child with respiratory dysfunction. In M. J. Hockenberry & D. Wilson (Eds.), Wong's essentials of pediatric nursing (9th ed., pp. 706-761). Elsevier.

Conlon, P. M. (2013). The child with respiratory dysfunction. In M. J. Hockenberry & D. Wilson (Eds.), Wong's nursing care of infants and children (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Conlon, P. M. (2013). Overview of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. In M. J. Hockenberry & D. Wilson (Eds.), Wong's nursing care of infants and children (10th ed.). Elsevier.

Conlon, P. (2012). Essentials of pediatric nursing, Chapter 23: The child with a respiratory dysfunction. In M. J. Hockenberry & D. Wilson (Eds.), Essentials of pediatric nursing (9th ed., pp. 706-761). Elsevier.

Invited National or International Presentations

Conlon, P. M., & Zunker, H. (2015, May 13). Pain-less blood draws [Pediatric phlebotomy] [Web-based presentation]. Mayo Medical Laboratories Education, Rochester, MN.

Conlon, P. M., & Huskins, W. C. (2018, July 19). Dislodged gastrostomy tube event [Patient Safety Organization webinar].

Conlon, P. M., & Huskins, W. C. (2018, August 31). IPSO roundtable discussion on sepsis huddles [Web presentation]. Children's Hospital.

Conlon, P. M., & Hutchins, K. (2018, August 31). IPSO roundtable discussion on sepsis huddles [Web presentation]. Mayo Clinic.

Conlon, P. M., Wittwer, B., & Clark, M. (2021). Pain-less blood draws [Pediatric phlebotomy] [Web-based presentation]. Mayo Medical Laboratories Education, Rochester, MN.

Conlon, P. M. (2022, April). Pediatric sepsis webinar [Webinar]. National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Conlon, P. M. (2023, January). Oral resources for nurses [Presentation].

Conference Presentations

Conlon, P. M., Chihak, A. J., Cambern, K. L., Omdahl, T. K., Olive, D. N., & Sorensen, L. D. (2010, October). Resources for nurses: Have you looked at developing a pediatric oncology unit web site? Paper presented at the Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Nurses 34th Annual Conference & Exhibit, Rochester, MN.

Conlon, P. M., Rohlik, G., Tomlinson, A., Gillard, K., Raadt, D., & Holland, D. (2014, April 11). Developing hospital discharge planning decision support. Paper presented at the Society of Pediatric Nurses Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ.

Conlon, P. M., Rohlik, G., Tomlinson, A., Gillard, K., Raadt, D., & Holland, D. (2014, April 11). Development of a pediatric discharge planning screen. Paper presented at the Society of Pediatric Nurses Annual Meeting, Scottsdale, AZ.

Boyum, A. C., Burkhartzmeyer, H. L., Conlon, P. M., Delgado, D., Nelson, D. E., & Tiwaa, N. A. (2024). Inclusive skin and hair care in the hospital setting. Paper presented at RISE for Equity: Reflect, Inspire, Strengthen & Empower 2024, Washington, DC.

Poster Presentations

Conlon, P. M. (2024, June). Implementing photobiomodulation as part of a nursing oral care bundle to prevent oral mucositis in the pediatric hematology and oncology population. Poster presentation at the Mayo Clinic Quality Conference, Rochester, MN.

Boyum, A. C., Burkhartzmeyer, H. L., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2024, July). Inclusive skin and hair care in the hospital setting. Poster presentation at the Mayo Clinic Holistic Conference, Rochester, MN.

Conlon, P. M., Stenzel, J. L., Petersen, A. E., et al. (2023, April). IVAD access: Numb the skin and win! Poster presentation at the Mayo Nursing Fair, Mayo Clinic.

Conlon, P. M. (2023, April). Numb the skin and win. Poster presentation at the University of MN Nursing Research Day, Rochester, Minnesota.

Omdahl, T. K., Stenzel, J. L., Pike, M. L., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2023, April). A chemotherapy infusion therapy pilot. Poster presentation at the University of MN Nursing Research Day, Rochester, Minnesota.

Conlon, P. M., Stenzel, J. L., Petersen, A. E., et al. (2023, April). IVAD access: Numb the skin and win! Poster presentation at the APHON Annual Conference, Palm Springs, Florida.

Conlon, P. M. (2022, September). A chemotherapy infusion therapy pilot. Poster presentation at the Mayo Nursing Fair, Kahler Grand Hotel, Heritage Hall, Rochester, MN.

Conlon, P. M. (2021, October). Implanted vascular access devices: Rising to the challenges of accessing. Poster presentation at the APHON Virtual Conference & Exhibit.

Omdahl, T. K., Stenzel, J. L., Pike, M. L., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2021, October). A chemotherapy infusion therapy pilot: Improving access, efficiency, and patient satisfaction. Poster presentation at the APHON Virtual Conference & Exhibit.

Omdahl, T. K., Stenzel, J. L., Pike, M. L., Conlon, P. M., et al. (2021). A chemotherapy infusion therapy pilot. Poster presentation at the Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing Conference, St. Louis Park, Minnesota.