Dr. Mary Jo Kocan

Biography

Mary Jo Kocan, MSN, RN, is an Adjunct Clinical Instructor and Clinical Nurse Specialist in the Neuro Intensive Care Unit/Stroke Unit at the University of Michigan Health System. With a career spanning several years, she has held various clinical and administrative positions in neuroscience critical care nursing. Mary Jo focuses on enhancing patient care through innovative evidence-based practices. Her current projects include developing early mobility protocols for Neuro Intensive Care Unit patients and utilizing nursing swallow screens to identify dysphagia in stroke patients. Additionally, she is involved as a co-investigator in a research grant examining external ventricular drain-associated infections. In her teaching role, Mary Jo emphasizes staff development, orientation for new nursing staff, and incorporates simulation into stroke educational programs. Over her career, she has lectured on various neuroscience nursing topics for undergraduate and graduate courses, while also mentoring nursing students in clinical settings. She actively participates in several professional organizations, including Sigma Theta Tau and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, further contributing to her field through leadership and service.

Research Interests