Rowena M. Mallari-Durand, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC
Rowena Mallari-Durand, BSN, RN, CCRN, CSC, is a highly experienced critical care nurse with nearly four decades of clinical practice, beginning her nursing career in 1989. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of the Assumption and has built an extensive background in critical care settings across the Philippines and the United States. Her career spans roles as a staff nurse, charge nurse, assistant head nurse, preceptor, mentor, and clinical educator, reflecting her long-standing commitment to both patient care and nursing leadership.
Since 2000, Rowena has been a registered nurse at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, where she currently serves in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. Her clinical expertise includes CCU, ICU, neuro ICU, cardiac cath lab, CVICU, and CPACU/CTICU. She holds certifications in critical care (CCRN) and cardiac surgery care (CSC), and has advanced training in Cardiac Advanced Life Support (CALS-CSU), specializing in post–cardiac surgery resuscitation and advanced cardiac interventions. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in multiple quality improvement initiatives, including CAUTI and CLABSI prevention, amiodarone prophylaxis for atrial fibrillation, and staff engagement and communication improvement projects using SBAR.
In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Rowena is deeply involved in hospital leadership, shared governance, and research initiatives. She has served as Unit Practice Council Chair and Facilitator for several years and actively contributes to committees focused on infection prevention, nursing quality, patient experience, and professional development. She has also presented numerous research projects and abstracts at regional and institutional conferences, including AACN and CBMC Quality Fairs, contributing to evidence-based practice improvements in critical care nursing. Known for her dedication to mentorship and education, she regularly precepts and guides new nurses while fostering a collaborative and empowered clinical environment. Rowena’s career is driven by a lifelong passion for patient advocacy, clinical excellence, and improving outcomes through both hands-on care and system-wide innovation.
• BSN
• Assumption University
• Philippines
• 1989
• CCRN-CSC
• RN
• BSN
• Daisy Award
• Nursing Excellence Award (received twice
• Mentorship Award
• Employee of the Month
• Operating System Recognition
• AACN
• ANA
• AACN New Jersey Chapter
• Organization of Nursing Leaders in New Jersey
• Hospital community wellness services
• School health and exercise education programs
• Sharing network organ donation campaigns
• Cardiac walk
• Diabetes walk
• Cancer walk
• Church soup kitchen service
Rowena regularly reads professional journals including AACN journals, ANA journals, Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Anesthesia to stay current with evidence-based practices and research. She actively listens to lectures, research presentations, and conferences in her free time to continue her professional development and bring current, proven practices to her clinical work.
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Cardiothoracic Intensive Care
- ICU
- Cardiac ICU
- Cardiovascular
- Neuro ICU
- Cath Lab
- Hospital Acquired Associated Infections Committee
- Nursing Quality and Improvement Process Council
- Professional Innovation and Research Council
- Patient Experience Council
- Reward and Recognition Council
- Unit-Based Council
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most is making a difference not just to the patients, but to the nurses as well. After almost 38 years, you become like a mother to them. I love being able to sit down with patients and really listen to their stories - hearing what they're going through, not just financially, but their physical and psychological aspects of everything. I found that being a listener is incredibly rewarding. When I was young, I loved dealing with our elderly population, always being in the midst of them during conversation. It's rewarding to be able to hear from them. I saw the impact of nursing when I started doing clinical as a student - how the patient responded to the care that we were doing. That's when I knew this is what I meant and want to do. The beauty of being a long-term nurse is that you get to meet different aspects of our diversity of patients and people, and what they're going through in their life.