Audrey J. Schmerzler, RN, MSN, CRRN, NE-BC, is the Director of Nursing for the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center. She is responsible for leadership of nursing practice and operation throughout the Rehabilitation Center including management of clinical nursing practice, staff recruitment, staff education, employee performance evaluation, labor relations, quality improvement, supply chain and budget, medical records, and internal and external regulatory and survey requirements.

Ms. Schmerzler promotes patient satisfaction from day of admission through discharge, achieving this through advocating an environment of care and concern for both the patient and staff. She rounds with patients and staff in order to become better acquainted with patient and staff issues and concerns and then actively acts to resolve any issues that may have been brought up.

Ms. Schmerzler has a strong interest in administration, staff education and development of nurses and new managers. Ms. Schmerzler fosters a collaborative working relationship among interdisciplinary teams and staff by seeking their involvement in unit decision making, program development, and staff satisfaction. She advocates equality among staff on a personal level, with individual professional roles and responsibilities identified, acknowledged and respected.

In addition, Ms. Schmerzler has coauthored a book for the Lippincott Fact Finder Series entitled, "Nursing Management of Individuals with Disabilities." Ms. Schmerzler is also a CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) surveyor.