June Headlines: UMSN Faculty Expand Global Partnerships, Advocate for Nursing Practitioners, Take on High-Profile Positions

UMSN is working to inform policy and advance nursing  science.

“The Latest Data on Primary Care Nurse Practitioners and Physicians: Can We Afford to Waste Our Workforce?” was co-authored by UMSN Professor Joanne Pohl, Ph.D., ANP-BC, FAAN, FAANP, alumna Debra Barksdale of University of North Carolina, and Kitty Werener of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. The HealthAffairs blog highlights the striking difference in the number of nurse practitioners (NP) who choose primary care specialties compared to the lower percentage of medical students choosing primary care. In addition, the authors call for “removing the barriers to NP practice in every state… to maximize our existing primary care workforce.”

Dean Kathleen Potempa, Ph.D., RN, FAAN,  also advocates for removing barriers to NP practice in a Detroit Free Press editorial, “Nurses Can Fill the Need for Health Care Practitioners” co-authored with fellow deans with Barbara Redman of Wayne State University's College of Nursing and Mary H. Mundt of Michigan State University's College of Nursing. Michigan Senate Bill 2 would give certified nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and clinical nurse specialists the autonomy to provide primary care without the currently required supervision of a physician. The deans urge Michigan legislators to take action for the public’s benefit: “Passing this legislation will effectively begin the process of increasing access to primary care while providing for reasonable and cost-effective regulation and offering more one-on-one attention to patients.”

Dean Potempa has joined the Wall Street Journal’s online roundtable The Experts: Health Care. She and the other health leaders share their expertise on topics such as the impending physician shortage and the biggest dangers of Americans’ eating habits. The public forum features brief essays on assigned topics  to bring thought-provoking and informative content from different viewpoints.

Susan Pressler, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, FAHA, associate dean and professor, recently visited Australian Catholic University (ACU) as part of her appointment as a Distinguished Visiting Research Fellow. She’s working with ACU researchers to plan an intervention study that will evaluate a new model of care intended to improve memory and self-care for heart failure patients. During her visit, Dr. Pressler also conducted a workshop for Early Career Researchers and held research presentations on campus and through videoconferences. Dr. Pressler plans to return to Australia in August as an international speaker for the Cardiovascular Society of Australia and New Zealand annual scientific meeting.

Antonia M. Villarruel, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, associate dean and professor, co-authored an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report advocating for greater efforts to inform underserved patients about their health care options as health reform moves forward.  “Amplifying the Voice of the Underserved in the Implementation of the Affordable Care Act” stresses the importance of patient involvement while also calling for improved communication to communities about the expansion of health care.

Professor Anne Sales, Ph.D., RN, reflects in a recent blog post on a “milestone in the ongoing journey of studying and reporting on the relationship between nursing care and outcomes for patients, providers, and systems of care.” Dr. Sales shares her experience with projects funded through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative (INQRI) program in Reflecting Back: INQRI Special Issue of Medical Care.

A viable option for reducing injuries to nurses and other hospital staff includes training lift team members in body mechanics, and letting them train other staffers, Marjorie McCullagh, Ph.D., RN, PHCNS-BC, COHN-S, tells Advance for Nurses in “Staying Safe: Hospitals Explore Different Patient Movement Options.” Dr. McCullagh is an associate professor and director of UMSN’s Occupational Health nursing program.  

UMSN’s sexual risk reduction program aimed at Latino youths is seeking facilitators from agencies that serve Latino and youth populations. ¡Cuídate!  is an evidence-based program to reduce rates of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.  Cuídate is accepting applications now, with the first facilitator training session occurring July 19. Other dates occur throughout the summer and early fall.

Associate Professor and Chair for UMSN’s Division of Health Promotion and Risk Reduction Programs Kristy K. Martyn, Ph.D., RN, CPNP-PC, FNP-BC, has been selected for induction as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing. Read more in UMSN Accolades.

Assistant Professor Lisa Kane Low, Ph.D., CNM, FACNM, received a Distinguished Service Award from the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM). This award recognizes exemplary effort in the field of community service, innovation in midwifery practice, education, or research. Read more in UMSN Accolades.

“What is a Doula?” Check out the informative and appealing video made by Second Career student Kevin Leeser.