July Highlights

--Janean E. Holden, PhD, RN, FAAN, has been officially approved by the University of Michigan Regents as the U-M School of Nursing (UMSN) Associate Dean for Research. Dr. Holden has been consistently funded for her research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1999 and brings many years of experience and expertise to the position.

 

"Dr. Holden has made significant discoveries related to neural pathways that contribute to chronic pain," says UMSN  Dean Kathleen Potempa, PhD, RN, FAAN. "She continues to pursue a focused program of research and regularly disseminates her research as evidenced through numerous scientific publications and presentations. Her scientific papers are noteworthy because of their depth of evidence often including a series of experiments around the scientific hypotheses in a single publication. She is currently investigating drugs in an animal model that may interfere with pathways that sustain the chronic pain cycle.” Learn more about Dr. Holden's latest publication here.

 

Dr. Holden is also highly respected as a master teacher and has significant experience working with undergraduate and graduate students, most notably in the area of pathophysiology and pharmacology. She has served in leadership positions of professional organizations, including at the NIH and Midwest Nursing Research Society.

 

--UMSN has received funding from the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) and The Fogarty International Center to implement a training plan in nursing and health systems research aimed at improving prevention, primary care, and long-term chronic disease management in Thailand. The five-year grant includes a long-term postdoctoral research training program at UMSN, mentored research projects in Thailand, short-term training options at UMSN, and yearly workshops in different geographical regions of Thailand for all levels of post-doctoral health scientists. Potential applicants will soon be able to learn more about the application process at a website currently under construction.

 

--Expanding opportunities for its students to improve cultural competency and foreign language skills are available through UMSN’s Spanish-language patient-care videos. Clinical Assistant Professor Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, Clinical Associate Professor Dana Tschannen PhD, RN, Dr. Leslie Davis and Jesica Pedroza from UMSN's Office of Global Outreach,  and U-M language instructor Maria Dorantes designed video case studies focusing on the experiences of Spanish-speaking patients. First utilized for the Fall 2013 semester, the team reported great success and used funds from a U.S. Department of Education Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language (UISFL) grant to create additional videos in July 2014 for future courses. Clinical Assistant Professor Cindy Fenske, DNP, RN, CNE, and Clinical Professor Elizabeth J. Brough, PhD, RN, used the first set of Spanish videos as part of an assignment in which students had to respond verbally in Spanish using Voice Threads™--a program where they can record their answers to questions posed by the faculty. Students said they learned how challenging it can be to speak to patients about medical problems in another language and found it helpful to practice the scenarios, as well as their Spanish language skills.

 

--Associate Professor Patricia Abbott, PhD, RN, FAAN, led a section of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Big Data in Symptoms Research Boot Camp. The one-week, intensive program was designed to provide a foundation in methodologies for using Big Data in research and to increase research capability of graduate students and faculty. Through guest speakers, classroom dialogues, and hands-on training, attendees will discuss strategies for incorporating novel methods into research proposals. Dr. Abbott’s session, “The Emerging Role of Nurse Informatics,” was part of the “Clinical Practice: Big Data in Symptoms Research” segment.

 

--"With the changes in healthcare, more highly educated nurses will be able to provide higher quality care to an increasing number of patients,” Bonnie M. Hagerty, PhD, RN, UMSN associate dean of undergraduate studies, tells ADVANCE for Nurses. The feature article “Entry-Level Nursing Education: Despite research supporting the BSN, many believe the ADN is here to stay,” addresses the concerns and benefits of making the baccalaureate degree the minimum requirement for nurses.

 

--Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN, clinical associate professor at UMSN and the U-M Department of Psychiatry, was an invited author for a special issue of Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice.  This issue was dedicated to prevention and screening across a variety of medical conditions in primary care, ranging from cancer to unintended pregnancy.  Dr. Strobbe’s article focused on prevention, screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for substance use in primary care.  Guest editors for this issue were Dr. Mack T. Ruffin IV and Dr. Cameron G. Shultz, also from the University of Michigan.  In relation to their respective topics, authors were also asked to address the “impact of changes within health care,” including electronic health records, the Affordable Care Act, and Patient-Centered Medical Homes. 

 

 “It was an honor to be invited to contribute to such an important effort,” said Dr. Strobbe. “Substance use and related disorders are a major public health concern, adding to increased health care costs, and needless human suffering.  It is gratifying to see increased emphasis finally being placed on prevention and early intervention.  Primary care clinicians—including physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and physician assistants—are in prime positions to identify potential risks—and to act sooner rather than later—to help improve the health of patients, families, and communities.” 

 

--Assistant Professor Ellen Lavoie Smith, PhD, APN-BC, AOCN®, and her son Asa Smith, a UMSN student, traveled to Kenya with MichiKen, a nonprofit organization.  The Smiths taught a class to high school seniors on the basic structure of the nervous system with an emphasis on reflexes.  Asa also highlighted HIV neurologic manifestations as reported in the literature based on a descriptive study of children with HIV in Nigeria.  Dr. Smith and UMSN alumna Terri Voepel-Lewis toured a local hospital and nursing school to discuss recommendations for training, general nurse care and infrastructure related to their goals to establish a chemotherapy outpatient clinic.  Coming soon: A special article on how UMSN faculty and students are using the summer to increase their global health proficiencies.

 

-- A newly published book is supporting the growing trend of patient empowerment and a team atmosphere in health care. “Person and Family Centered Care,” was written Jane Barnsteiner, PhD, RN, FAAN, Joanne Disch, PhD, RN, FAAN, who are both UMSN alumni, and Mary K. Walton, MSN, MBE, RN. The writers say their own experiences as professional nurses, as patients, and as family members of patients inspired them to create a guide for more effective and satisfying health care for patients, families, and health care professionals. The book provides context for the evolution of person- and family-centered care in the United States and abroad, as well as models and strategies to promote this approach.  Topics include the patient engagement, the power of an inter-professional team, helping nurses avoid compassion fatigue and emerging trends. The book is published by Sigma Theta Tau International.

 

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Faculty members, Drs. Lisa Kane Low, Marjorie McCullagh, and Denise Saint Arnault, have been selected for induction as fellows in the American Academy of Nursing. Candidates need the sponsorship of two current fellows and are reviewed by a panel of fellows for evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care. The new fellows will be inducted during the AAN’s annual conference. It will be held in October, in Washington, DC. After induction, the new fellows will be able to use FAAN credentials.

 

UMSN would also like to recognize the following alumni selected as fellows: Tess L. Briones, PhD, RN, Lorraine B. Robbins, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, Tsu-Yin Wu, PhD, RN, Karen K. Kirby, RN, MSN, NEA-BC.