The Hartford Institute Selects 2006 Geriatric Nursing Research Scholars

Thursday, Aug 03, 2006

Honors Emerging Leaders

The at New York University has selected 14 Scholars and one Fellow from a large number of highly qualified applicants to participate in its annual Geriatric Nursing Research Scholars Program. This program, now in its ninth year and cosponsored by the American Journal of Nursing is designed to foster the careers of new gerontological nursing researchers. Its long-term goal is to boost the contributions of researchers to enhance evidence-based practice and improve the quality of health care for older adults. Beginning this year, the Hartford Institute will receive $50,000 each year for five years from the American Academy of Nursing to implement this program-as part of the Academy’s Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Scholars Award Program.

The Scholars were chosen from a national pool of outstanding applicants actively involved in gerontological nursing research. All participants are doctorally prepared nurse researchers who serve as faculty at universities and colleges or who are clinically based researchers at medical centers.

The 14 Scholars attended a weeklong seminar led by Elizabeth Capezuti, PhD, RN, APRN-BC, FAAN, co-director of the Hartford Institute, at New York University College of Nursing from July 17 to 21, 2006. During the seminar, the Scholars met with teaching faculty-all nationally recognized nursing researchers-for an intensive and interactive experience in which they gained critical analytical and research skills.

This year, the faculty teaching partners are Patricia G. Archbold, DNSc, RN, FAAN, and Barbara Stewart, PhD, both professors emerita from Oregon Health & Science University. Topics included building significant programs of research, challenges in research design, and measurement.

Judith Matthews, PhD, MPH, RN, assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, was selected as the 2006 Hartford Institute Geriatric Nursing Research Fellow. She will be working with Drs. Gail Powell-Cope and Audrey Nelson of the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital Patient Safety Center in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Matthews is interested in the development of mobile robotic devices that may enhance functional status and quality of life among older adults.

The 2006 Hartford Institute Geriatric Nursing Research Scholars and their areas of research are:

* Meredith Flood, PhD, APRN-BC, University of North Carolina, Charlotte An examination of the relationships among creativity, depression, and successful aging.
* Johannah Glover, BSN, MNSc, MSCR, PhD, University of Arkansas Testing of the effectiveness of a non-pharmacologic intervention promoting sleep in community-dwelling persons with dementia.
* Kathy Haugh, PhD,MSN, BSN, University of Virginia Study of patient-reported indicators of heart failure of African Americans
* Susan Hink, PhD, RN, Missouri State University Development of interventions to address fatigue in community-residing older adults.
* Cheryl Lehman, PhD, MSN, RN, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston Measuring patient outcomes associated with Acute Care for the Elderly hospital units.
* Elizabeth Macera, PhD, RN, NP-C, University of California Examination of the relationship of the assisted-living environment to sexuality and intimacy of residents.
* Carol Ott, PhD, RN, LPC, University of Wisconsin Testing an intervention to improve coping strategies that enhance personal growth and decrease grief among family members of persons with Alzheimer’s disease.
* Olimpia Paun, PhD, APRN-BC, Rush University Testing an intervention to address Alzheimer’s Disease caregivers’ needs following placement of their relative into a nursing home.
* Suzanne Prevost, PhD, RN, Middle Tennessee State University Development and testing of interventions to improve end-of-life care in nursing homes.
* Mary Shekley, PhD, ARNP, Virginia Mason Medical Center Study of palliative care for older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease.
* Mo-Kyung Sin, DSN, RN, Seattle University Study of the relationship between acculturation and cardiovascular disease in elderly Korean immigrants.
* Anne Thomas, PhD, APRN, BC, ANP, GNP, University of Michigan Study of decision-making processes that maintain and improve the health of older Latina breast cancer survivors.
* Patricia Ursomanno, PhD, RN, ANP, New York University Medical Center Development of interventions to improve functional-status outcomes of older adults with advanced cardiac disease.
* Rebecca Veltman, PhD, MSN, BSN, Grand Valley State University Examining interventions to maintain or improve cognitive abilities of older adults.

The John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing seeks to shape the quality of health care that older Americans receive by promoting the highest level of geriatric competency in all nurses who deliver care. By raising the standards of nursing care, the Hartford Institute aims to ensure that people age in comfort and dignity. Its initiatives include education, practice, research, policy, and consumer education.

N-444, 2005-06

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Elaine Gould

New York University

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