Sharon Y. Irving, PhD, CRNP, FCCM, FAAN, FASPEN
Associate Professor of Pediatric Nursing
Vice-Chair, Department of Family and Community Health
Chair, Undergraduate Curriculum Committee
Telephone: (215) 746-2741
Email: ysha@nursing.upenn.edu
Through my clinical practice, inquiry and program of research, I strive to improve clinical outcomes and enhance nutrient delivery for critically ill infants and children. This includes educating providers to the importance of good nutrition and providing such, to even the most critical pediatric patients.
Through my clinical practice, inquiry and program of research, I strive to improve clinical outcomes and enhance nutrient delivery for critically ill infants and children. This includes educating providers to the importance of good nutrition and providing such, to even the most critical pediatric patients.
Education
- PhD, University of Pennsylvania, 2011
- MSN, University of Pennsylvania, 1993
- BSN, Marquette University, 1980
Teaching
Dr. Irving teaches in the undergraduate pediatric nursing course and guest lectures in the clinical tract of the school’s Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Practitioner Program. She also participates in the ongoing education of clinicians in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
Research
As standing faculty on the Clinician Educator track, Dr. Irving uses her hands-on clinical experience to guide her research and uses insights from her research to inform clinical care delivery, particularly nutrition care delivery for critically ill infants and children at CHOP. In one project, for example, she is evaluating outcomes of the nutrition pathway, exploring questions such as: When in the course of illness is enteral nutrition (EN) initiated?, When and how well are target nutritional goals achieved in this population? and Is there a direct association between nutrient delivery and overall outcomes for critically ill pediatric patients?
Clinical Practice
Dr. Irving practices as a pediatric nurse practitioner at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where she provides patient care in the pediatric intensive care and pediatric progressive care units. She led a multi-disciplinary ICU-Pediatric Nutrition Team (ICU - PNuTs) in designing and implementing a nutrition pathway to improve the way infants and children receive nutrition during and immediately following critical illness. This pathway has been fundamental in identifying the need for similar feeding and nutrition initiatives at CHOP, targeting specific populations. The ICU-PNuT includes physicians, registered dieticians, advance practice and clinical nurses, and a clinical pharmacist.
Opportunities to Learn and Collaborate at Penn Nursing
Dr. Irving entered Penn Nursing as a graduate nursing student in 1991, and later returned to the PhD program in 2006. She joined the faculty in 2012. As Dr. Irving has experienced, Penn Nursing offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in cutting-edge clinical practice. She mentors students in their research inquiry, quality improvement initiatives, and clinical work.
Selected Career Highlights
- Fellow of American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2021
- Distinguished Nutrition Support Nurse, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2019
- Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2016
- Fellow, American College of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Critical Care Medicine, 2014
- Distinguished Alumna in Service to Nursing Award, Marquette University, 2013
- Dean’s Award for Exemplary Professional Practice, University of Pennsylvania, 2013
Accepting Mentees?
- Yes
Accepting Fellows?
- No