Marlene Dufault

Dr. Marlene Dufault is a Professor at the University of Rhode Island (URI) College of Nursing, specializing in translational research, evidence-based practice, and competency-based evaluation. Her work bridges academic research with clinical applications to improve patient, clinician, and organizational outcomes. She teaches courses in clinical program evaluation, research utilization, leadership, and evidence-based practice.

• Education:
  • PhD in Education, University of Connecticut
  • MS in Nursing, University of Rhode Island
  • BS in Nursing, Alverno College

Her research focuses on pain management, clinical handoffs, and decision-support technologies. She leads projects on near-miss clinical education and remote cancer symptom management. Her publications span over 35 years, emphasizing evidence-based clinical guidelines and technology integration. She serves on editorial boards for Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing and Journal of Nursing Measurement, and advises hospitals on Magnet Award designation. She has delivered over 150 consultations and presentations globally, working with interdisciplinary teams to enhance healthcare delivery.

Current Research Trends: Her recent work highlights translational nursing research, leveraging technology for cancer symptom management, and refining clinical communication protocols. Subfields include pain management, outcomes evaluation, and evidence-based clinical pathways.

Professional Affiliations:

• Delta Upsilon Chapter-at-Large
• Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society for Nursing
• American Nurses Association
• RI Health Department Arts and Health Advisory Board

Labs & Teams: Dr. Dufault collaborates with academic scientists, clinicians, and students in interdisciplinary research teams to develop and evaluate evidence-based practices.