About

Dr. Crystal Lawson is an expert in nursing and leadership development at all levels, with extensive experience in the national leadership development space. She currently provides consultant services to equip, inspire, and empower leaders to generate positive disruption.

Dr. Lawson served as the Senior Director for Nursing Leadership Development at Ascension, serving >60K nurses. Previously, she was the Education Director for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), where she was responsible for the development, implementation and evaluation of AONL’s educational programs and services for leadership development of nurses at all levels. Prior to AONL she worked at the University of Tennessee Medical Center where she held a variety of clinical and administrative roles, including clinical nurse, nurse manager and Director of Nursing Education and Professional Development. Crystal has also worked as a role player for developmental leadership for managers and executives from various industries in the public and private sectors.

Crystal earned her DNP from the University of Tennessee, focusing on transition from expert clinician to the nurse manager role. She holds the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice from AONL. Crystal currently resides in Tennessee.

Meet Crystal

Crystal Lawson, DNP, RN, CENP is nationally known for her work in leadership development and expertise in brain based learning strategies that result in sustained behavior change.

Publications & Recognitions

  • • Lawson, C. & Truelove, A. Fostering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Through the Lens of Gratitude. Nursing Administration Quarterly. 2024; Jan-March.

    • Lawson, C. & Weberg, D. Leading Through Times of Transformation: Purpose, Trust, and Co-Creation. Nurse Leader. 2023; March.

    • Gerardi, D. & Lawson, C. Coaching in Community: Fostering Resilience for Nurse Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Nurse Leader. 2021; 19(3): 233-238.

    • Lawson, C. Strengthening New Nurse Manager Leadership Skills Through a Transition-to-Practice Program. Journal of Nursing Administration. 2020; 50(12):618-622.

  • • Lawson, C., Hancock, B. & Sweeney, S. Into the Unknown: Taking the Plunge into Virtual Education, NCPD Summit ANCC, Atlanta, GA, 2021.

    • Lawson, C. & Ingram, M. Escaping the Lecture, Viizient Nurse Residency Conference. Savannah, GA, 2018

    • Lawson, C. & Meadows, S. Implementing a Nurse Residency Program, Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives, 2015

    • Lawson, C. & Downing, J. Reducing Falls: Less is more, Academy of Medical Surgical Nursing, 2016.

    • Lawson, C. Wired to the Workplace, Tennessee Organization of Nurse Executives, 2015.

    • Lawson, C. Increasing Professional Certification for the Clinical Nurse, University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2015.

    • Lawson, C. & Bennett, S. Innovation: September Madness. University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2014.

    • Lawson, C. & Bennett, S. Quality and Safety: Fall Prevention and Clinical Alarm Reduction. University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2014.

    • Lawson, C. & Anderson, N. Increasing Education Among Patients with COPD. University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2013. First Place Award

    • Lawson, C. & Baker, H. Improving Participation and Efficiency in Shared Governance. University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2012.

    • Lawson, C. Organizational Change in Scrub Uniform Colors. University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2011.

    • Lawson, C. Improving Communication with Other Disciplines and Increasing Time for Nursing Care. University of Tennessee Medical Center, 2010. First Place Award

    • Lawson, C. & Quick, M. Decubitus Ulcer Prevention Project. Nursing Symposium. Las Vegas, NV, 2010.

  • • Chancellors Award for Exemplary Professional Promise

    • Silver Lamp Award

    • American Organization of Nurse Executives – Nurse Manager Fellow

    • Nursing Excellence Leader Award Winner

    • Florence Nightingale Award

    • Nursing Excellence Award

    • QUEST Clinical Leader recognition

  • • University of Tennessee, Center for Executive Education, Role Player for Developmental Leadership Simulation Exercise

    -Engage in leadership development with managers and executives from various industries in the public and private sectors. Key skills and responsibilities include developing knowledge of dimensions of leadership behavior through full course of frame of reference training; responding flexibly to fast-paced situational changes in order to elicit behavior, and applying sound professional judgment to determine the appropriate course of action in ambiguous situations.

    • Serve as preceptor to DNP and MSN students

    • QUEST sponsor

    • Clinical Trial Research team for Cystic Fibrosis and COPD

    • Volunteer for Tennessee Promise Program and Tennessee Achieves Mentor

    Professional Organizations

    • American Organization for Nursing Leadership

    • American College of Healthcare Executives

    • Sigma Theta Tau, the national honor society for nurses

Listen in on this podcast interview to get to know Crystal a bit better.

Partial Client List