Colleen J. Klein is an Education & Research Scientist in the Center for Advanced Practice at OSF HealthCare and an Ethicist for the northern region.

Dr. Klein is responsible for leading and developing advanced practice nursing research. She previously held leadership roles as Chief Nursing Officer, Director, Faculty, and now serves as an Adjunct Professor at Saint Anthony College of Nursing. Her enduring passion for a competent workforce and nurse mentorship has led to significant contributions in education and practice. Dr. Klein has provided nurse leaders with guidance in professional practice, shared governance, and evidence-based practice, nationally and internationally. Her early career experience using simulation and the Competency Outcomes Performance Assessment (COPA) Model inspired her research to further adoption; its concepts now used widely and cited. Dr. Klein’s grant writing, research, and scholarly contributions include support of transition-to-practice for nurses and advanced practice nurses, burnout, resilience, and health equity. As an experienced researcher, she currently leads an interdisciplinary team studying novel digital health strategies designed to improve access to care and health outcomes in the Medicaid population.

Dr. Klein earned her BSN, MS, and post-master’s certificate as a family nurse practitioner from Northern Illinois University and her PhD from Illinois State University.