Faculty & Staff

Susan Ohlson, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor
Director, Office of Continuing Studies
Administrative Specialty Director
Coordinator, Administrative Nursing Leadership Certificate Program

NURS 543
UIC College of Nursing
845 South Damen Avenue (MC 802)
Chicago, IL 60612-7350

Phone: 312.413.7809
Email: sohlso1@uic.edu

Research / Discovery
Dr. Ohlson is interested in nursing workforce issues, including transition to practice, employee engagement, governance, and leadership development. She has a particular interest in emotional intelligence and how this may impact transition from student to practitioner and from clinician to manager as well as the nursing work environment. She is interested in how emotionally intelligent leaders may impact systems, particularly related to safety and quality.

Teaching / Learning
Dr. Ohlson coordinates the Administrative Nursing Leadership Certificate Program. As the Director of the Office of Continuing Studies, Dr. Ohlson works with a variety of individuals and organizations to identify learning needs and develop programs to meet those needs. Programs are live or online, for UIC students, or students external to UIC. Dr. Ohlson is the nurse planner for the Illinois Nurses Association Continuing Education Unit at the College of Nursing . Dr. Ohlson occasionally lectures at the undergraduate and graduate level and also developed a module in the Patient Safety Leadership Program on communication breakdown.

Service / Practice
Dr. Ohlson is a member of the National Nursing Staff Development Organization, and an active member of the Chicago Area Nursing Staff Development Organization. She is a member of the Midwest Nursing Research Society, Sigma Theta Tau, and the Council on Graduate Education for Administration in Nursing.. Additionally, she is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Chicago Area Executive Forum, the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and serves on the Policy Committee for the Illinois Organization of Nurse Leaders. She lectures and consults on emotional intelligence development as well as nursing workflow, shared governance, process improvement, transformational leadership, and is on the Nursing Advisory Board for Rasmussen College.