Mary Amdall-Thompson RN MS CNS is a clinical nurse specialist with experience in psychiatric nursing, consultant to in-patient psychiatric facilities and a children’s hospital. She was nurse manager and psychotherapist in an in-patient neuro-psychiatric unit. Ms. Amdall-Thompson’s master’s degree is in child, adolescent and family psychiatric nursing. She has published and presented at local, regional and national conferences on the effects of hospitalization on chronically ill children, their siblings and family. She spoke about methods for decreasing the psychological trauma of extensive hospitalization.
From February of 1982 to February of 2003, Ms. Amdall-Thompson was employed by the Oregon State Board of Nursing as Program Executive for Professional Services. She gave advice to licensed nurses, in clinical practice, administration, education, in advanced practice and those who practiced nursing outside the traditional settings. She also supervised the investigation of complaints against nurses and the regulatory functions related to imposing disciplinary sanction and civil penalties.
In addition, she spoke to groups of nurses and presented at state and regional conferences on scope of practice, investigation and discipline issues, nursing liability, legal aspects of nursing practice in Oregon, nurse delegation and professional aspects of nursing practice. She presented 30-40 times each year, reaching several thousand nurses each year. She kept the Board apprised of trends in nursing practice and advised the Board of the need for policy development to guide nursing practice in Oregon. Other boards of nursing across the United States have used a number of the policies drafted by her and adopted by the Board.
While at the Oregon State Board of Nursing, Ms. Amdall-Thompson’s interest in holistic nursing was enhanced due to her experiences with complementary therapies after an automobile accident. She was instrumental in assisting the Board adopt a policy statement that defines complementary therapies and other activities that are within the scope of nursing practice.
Ms. Amdall-Thompson can be reached through e-mail at mamdall@comcast.net