Ruth A. Cook, DNP, ARNP

Dr. Cook's expansive career in nursing education and orthopedics spanned Missouri, Maryland, Oregon, New York and Washington.  She culminated her clinical practice at the prestigious Harborview Medical Center (UW) where she worked 10 years evaluating and managing outpatients in the orthopedic hand clinic.  Throughout her years in clinical practice she independently evaluated and managed the care of adults with orthopedic problems of the hand, foot/ankle, hip, knee, shoulder and spine to improve patient flow.  And as part of her passion to improve patient communication, she developed educational materials to improve patient satisfaction and compliance that have proven to be invaluable tools on the road to recovery. 

 

Earlier in her career Dr. Cook notably developed a National Basketball Association (NBA) longitudinal pilot study on the   

relationship of fitness and injury to career longevity. 

 

As an earlier adaptor of preventative medicine, Dr. Cook developed a wellness program including detailed fitness reports that provided recommendations for improved health and fitness to executive clinic patients and professional athletes alike.

 

More recently, Dr. Cook devloped clinical pathways for total joint surgery at Silverton Hospital. 

 

As part of her continued education on the road to her Doctor of Nursing Practice advanced degree, Dr. Cook developed and instituted the use of PTSD screening at the Harborview Hand Clinic that remains an invaluable resource to date.  

 

Dr. Cook has served on a number of committees and boards, lecturing extensively, including:

• NAON initial committee to develop orthopedic nursing national certification exam

• Preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students from NYU and Columbia U. 

• NAON national research committee. Identified potential areas for nursing research.

• Served on board to establish initial NAON local Portland chapter.

• Lectured to groups on aspects of health, including fitness and sports medicine.

• Lectured to Nurse Practitioner students at New York and Columbia Universities on orthopedics.

• Participated in New York University health fair by discussing health related questions with students and other participants.

• Taught screening and diagnostic techniques to school nurses for scoliosis screening in Oregon public schools.