About
Keila Pilgrim, MSN, RN, NE-BC, is a nurse executive and clinical leader with 23 years of healthcare experience, and more than six years in nursing leadership at Prisma Health Oconee Memorial Hospital. She currently serves as a Nurse Manager II, overseeing multiple inpatient departments including Surgical Specialty, Orthopedic Surgery, Dialysis, and Inpatient Wound Care. Ms. Pilgrim earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Clemson University and a Master of Science in Nursing with a concentration in Leadership and Management. She is board certified as a Nurse Executive and was recognized as a 2024 Palmetto Gold Award recipient for excellence in nursing leadership and clinical practice. Her professional interests include nursing workforce innovation, patient safety, quality improvement, and applied clinical research. She has an established research partnership with Clemson University and was a co-investigator on a funded study examining bundled interventions to improve medication administration practices in rural hospital settings. Ms. Pilgrim is also leading a clinical research study evaluating a Registered Nurse Virtual Nursing Program utilizing autonomous mobile telehealth robots.
How their research is transforming health care
My research focuses on advancing nurse-led innovation to improve patient outcomes while addressing the increasing workload and complexity of acute care environments. Through the integration of technology, leadership science, and evidence-based practice, my work supports improved care coordination, patient education, medication safety, and nursing efficiency.
I am currently leading a quasi-experimental study evaluating a Registered Nurse Virtual Nursing Program that utilizes autonomous mobile telehealth robots across four inpatient units at Oconee Memorial Hospital. This study compares baseline pre-implementation data with five months of post-implementation key performance indicators to assess the impact of virtual RN support on patient outcomes, nurse burden, and care delivery processes.
Previously, I served as a co-investigator on a funded research study examining the effects of bundled interventions on nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to medication administration in the rural hospital setting. This work contributed to improved understanding of medication communication, nursing practice behaviors, and patient safety in resource-limited clinical environments.
Outcome measures across my research have included HCAHPS domains, medication communication, discharge information, nursing-sensitive indicators, and operational metrics. Collectively, this body of work seeks to determine how nurse-led innovations—both technological and process-driven—can enhance patient-centered care, strengthen transitions of care, and reduce bedside nurse workload while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
Through collaboration with Clemson University faculty, my research bridges academic scholarship and real-world clinical practice, generating practical, scalable solutions that improve patient experience and support sustainable nursing practice.
Health research keywords
Virtual Nursing, Nurse-Led Innovation, Nursing Workforce Outcomes, Patient Experience (HCAHPS), Telehealth and Mobile Health Technologies, Care Coordination, Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, Nursing Leadership, Rural Health Care
