Michael L. Williams, PhD, RN, CCRN, CNE

Dr. Michael Williams comes to The Beach from Eastern Michigan University, where he served as the School of Nursing Director for 10 years, the longest appointment in that position at the college. He was an associate professor of nursing for the prior 14 years. Over the entire 38-year-span of his career, he has practiced bedside ICU nursing. Prior to serving his academic career, Dr. Williams was a Clinical Nurse Specialist for the University of Michigan Health System in the Cardiothoracic ICU and stepdown unit.  

Dr. Williams’ teaching interests include pathophysiology, pharmacology, fundamentals of nursing, and adult health nursing and leadership. In addition, his research interests include support of family members during critical illness, and increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in nursing. Dr. Williams’ hobbies include reading, boating, theatre and spending time with his family -- he is the proud father of three daughters and five granddaughters.

  • BS, Michigan State University
  • ADN, Lansing Community College
  • MSN, Grand Valley State University
  • Ph.D., University of Michigan

  • Methods to infuse writing into nursing curricula
  • Content related to acute and critical care of the adult
  • Evaluation of clinical performance
  • Families responses to acute and critical care.
  • Any psychosocial phenomena in critical care, including environmental impact on patients and families in the ICU.

  • Fundamentals of nursing
  • Adult health nursing
  • Pathophysiology
  • Health care trends
  • Professional issues in nursing

  • Ferguson, R., Williams, M.L., and Beard, B., (2010). Combining quality improvement and staff education to decrease PCA pump errors. Journal of Nursing Staff Development, 26(5), E1–E4.
  • Williams, M. L., Donaldson, C., and Shakarjian, L. (1998). Nursing options for bathing patients. Journal of Nursing Jocularity, 8(1), 8–9.
  • Williams, M. L. (1998). Caring and thinking within a holistic framework. In Hudak, Gallo and Morton, Chapter One, Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach, pp. 3–8.
  • Williams, M. L. (1998). Patient and family education. In Hudak, Gallo and Morton, Chapter Six, Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach, pp. 59–68.
  • Williams, M. L. and Kewman, S. (1998). Impact of the critical care environment on the patient. In Hudak, Gallo and Morton, Chapter Four, Critical Care Nursing: A Holistic Approach, pp. 31–39.
  • Williams, M. L. (1998). Making the most of learning needs assessments. Journal of Nursing Staff Development, 14(3), 137–142.
  • Williams, M. L., Donaldson, C., and Watts, J. K. (1997). Developing an orientation program for assistive personal in the ICU. Dimensions of Critical Care Nurse, 16(5), 266–273.
  • Williams, M. L. and Robertson, K. (1997). Workplace violence: Prevalence, Prevention and First Line Interventions. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 9(2), 221–229.
  • Moloney-Harmon, P. and Williams, M. L. (1997). Violence across the lifespan. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 9(2), xi–xii.
  • Williams, M. L. (1994). What the interviewer really meant...Journal of Nursing Jocularity, 4(1), 29