Feature Stories 2021: Nursing students and faculty play a leading role at eastern U.S. conference

At the recent annual conference of the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS), UMass Dartmouth’s College of Nursing & Health Sciences Associate Dean June Horowitz and faculty  led  workshops, symposiums, and oral presentations and served on conference committees. In addition, nursing PhD, doctor of nursing practice (DNP), and undergraduate nursing students presented posters at the conference, attended virtually by nursing faculty, students, and practitioners from the eastern United States.

This year’s conference, held last month and themed, “Generating Nursing Science to Meet the Needs of a Diverse Society,” was designed to advance nursing science among practicing nurse researchers and nursing science students and faculty from the nation’s leading nursing programs.

Jillian McMahon ‘13 received the 2021 ENRS Student Conference Scholarship Award for her DNP poster presentation, “End-of-Life Communication Training for Oncology Nurses.”

McMahon will receive her DNP degree from UMass Dartmouth this spring. She has worked at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) since 2013 and is currently a nurse on a medical oncology unit. She has also worked in the Emergency Room and on an orthopedic/urology surgical floor at MGH.

“I chose the topic of end-of-life communication because it is very applicable to my current practice as a nurse, especially with the oncology population,” McMahon said. “In our training/education, we do not receive communication skills training to help appropriately address end-of-life. I provided a communication skills training program to the oncology staff nurses on the medical oncology unit at MGH with the hopes of increasing their knowledge and confidence  in this topic. The long-term goal is to increase the number of conversations that happen so that patients can have their wishes met.”

Hazel Wood ’21 received a first-place award for her undergraduate poster, “Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Differences in Knowledge and Perception Between Black and Caucasian College Students.”

“The purpose of my study was to assess the knowledge and perception of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in college students and determine if there were any differences between Black and Caucasian students,” Wood said. “I chose to examine this population because health inequities related to CVD exist in our country, evidenced by earlier development and higher incidence of CVD among Black Americans relative to any other race. Early detection of CVD risk factors is crucial in promoting health behaviors that will decrease one’s risk.”

Wood has accepted a position on a medical-surgical unit at Newport Hospital after she graduates. She also plans to earn a master’s degree in nursing education so she can teach future nursing students.

UMass Dartmouth presenters at the 2021 ENRS conference include:

Workshop

Applying Research Findings in Diverse Populations and Settings: The Role of the Replication Study with Live Q&A, Melissa L. Desroches, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Symposium: Responding to COVID-19 to Deliver Family And Community-Based Research Using Virtual Formats 

Responding to COVID-19 to Deliver Family And Community-Based Research Using Virtual Formats presented by June Andrews Horowitz, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Susan DeSanto-Madeya, PhD, APRN-CNS, FAAN, University of Rhode Island College of Nursing, and Karen D’Alonzo, PhD, RN, APN-c, FAAN, Rutgers University School of Nursing

Lessons Learned; Transitioning To Telehealth Delivery Of Perinatal Mental Health Services presented by June Andrews Horowitz, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences Bobbie Posmontier, PhD, CNM, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, Jefferson University, Pamela Geller, PhD, Drexel University, Mona Elgohail, PhD, Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professionals

Oral Presentations

Internet Recruitment of a Diverse Population of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Nurses presented by Shannon Avery-Desmarais, PhD, AGPCNP-C, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Interprofessional Value-Based Health Care: Nurse Practitioner - Dentist Model presented by Maria C. Dolce, PhD, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Oral Presentation by PhD Student

New Graduate Registered Nurse Transition and Reflective Practice Theory: A Theory Synthesis presented by Joyce H. Cadorette, MSN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Poster Presentations by PhD Students

Personality, Social, Institutional and Cultural Factors Affecting Elders' Transition to Long Term Care: Certified Nursing Assistant Perspectives presented by Susan Wareing, MSN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Caregiver Self-Care Needs and Practices: An Integrative Review presented by Kathryn K. Sabo, MS, RN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Guided Reflection in Nursing Simulation-Based Education: An Integrative Review presented by Julianne A. Walsh, MSN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

A Socioecological Theory of Heart Failure Self-Care presented by Michelle Diane Whyte, MSN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Perceptions of Racial Microaggressions in Prelicensure Nursing Education Among Students of Color: An Integrative Review presented by Karen Hunt, MS, RN, RD, CNE, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Poster Presentation by DNP Student

End-of-Life Communication Training for Oncology Nurses presented by Jillian McMahon, BSN, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences (received ENRS travel grant/"2021 ENRS Student Conference Scholarship Award.")

Poster Presentation by Undergraduate Student

Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Differences in Knowledge and Perception Between Black and Caucasian College Students presented by Hazel Wood, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth College of Nursing and Health Sciences (1st place award for undergraduate posters)

ENRS Planning Committee

Elizabeth Chin

Susan Hunter Revell

Awards Committee

Kristen Sethares