Perioperative Education Specialist
AORN
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Dr. Karen Cochran is a perioperative education specialist at AORN. Dr. Cochran earned her master’s degree in nursing education from Gardner-Webb University and her PhD from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She has been a nurse for 26 years. Prior to joing AORN she gained 19 years of clinical experience and 7 years of experience in an academic setting. Her clinical experience includes a variety of positions including scrub and circulating nurse in the OR, as well as manager and educator the surgical services departments, staff nurse in PACU, and providing sedation for minimally invasive procedures. Dr. Cochran is certified as a perioperative nurse (CNOR) and has earned a certificate of mastery in surgical services education. During her time at the university Dr. Cochran was the HRSA grant program director which included oversight of more than 8 million dollars of federal funding and also served as faculty for the school of nursing. She was honored with the distinguished faculty award in 2017. Other awards bestowed include the Doctoral School of Nursing Alumni Award (UNCG), the Darlene J. Gravett Citizen Scholar Award, and an Academic Achievement Recognition Award. She is a member of the National Rural Health Association, the North Carolina Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Association, and the Association of Operating Room Nurses. Dr. Cochran serves as treasurer for her local Sigma chapter.