Publication and presentation roundup — December 2023
The latest scholarly work from the UNC School of Nursing
Carolina Nursing faculty, staff and students are actively sharing their research findings on critical health care topics through publications in academic journals and presentations at national and international conferences.
Take a look at the selection of publications and presentations below to learn more about how Carolina Nursing experts are advancing health for all by addressing the greatest health care challenges of our time.
Please note that the following list was compiled based on information submitted by our researchers and is categorized into presentations and publications.
Have a publication or presentation to share? School of Nursing faculty, students and staff can submit publications and presentations here to be included in the next roundup.
Publications
In this study, Becky Salomon, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, and colleague explored the complex relationships between stressors, perceived stress, and salivary cortisol levels in 73 pregnant women during their third trimester. For the analyses, they used the prenatal data collected as part of Dr. Sandra Weiss’s longitudinal R01 project (HD081188).
Participants self-collected saliva samples at four distinct times over two days. Alongside these biological measures, participants self-reported their perceived stress levels and number of stressors. For our analyses, they applied multiple linear regression models to explore the relationships among these variables, focusing on the cortisol awakening response, diurnal slope, and the overall secretion of cortisol (measured by area under the curve).
They observed that higher levels of perceived stress were associated with a decrease in overall cortisol secretion throughout the day, contrasting with the number of stressors. While the number of stressors was significantly linked to perceived stress, it did not show a direct association with salivary cortisol levels. Their results suggest that there may be a unique relationship of perceived stress on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function during late pregnancy. If replicated in larger studies, this insight could inform targeted perinatal stress interventions, potentially improving outcomes for pregnant individuals and their babies.
Hot Topic/Hot Take: Real-time Solutions for Future Nurses
Nancy Thompson, DNP, MSN-ED, RN-BC, and Rumay Alexander, EDD, RN, FAAN, shared their teaching tip on a guided reflective strategy to bring the hottest topics related to nursing practice (i.e. nursing shortage, inclusive excellence, burnout, retention) into an undergraduate leadership course. The teaching tip also explored how student driven discussion combined with faculty facilitated reflective practice was incorporated to support critical thinking and increase clinical judgment.
Screening for the social determinants of health: Referring patients to community-based services
Assistant Professors Leigh Mullen, DNP, APRN, FNP-C, and Leslie Sharpe, DNP, FNP-BC; Associate Professor Jean Davison, DNP, RN, FNP-C; and Associate Professor Emeritus Marianne Cockroft, PhD, RN have just published their latest work on vulnerable populations in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (JAANP). The paper titled, “Screening for the social determinants of health: Referring patients to community-based services,” details the implementation of a quality improvement project performed at the UNC School of Nursing Mobile Health Clinic. The project implemented an evidence-based screening tool to identify SDOH needs among clinic clients for targeted referrals and educated and surveyed volunteer staff and students about their confidence and knowledge related to patient referrals to resources. Marilyn Oermann, Thelma M. Ingles Professor of Nursing at Duke University, collaborated on the project and publication.
A recent publication by Natasha Burse, DrPH, MS, presents the findings of a dissertation study titled “Exploring Quality of Life Experiences and Concerns of Black Breast Cancer Survivors: a Narrative Approach.” The study delves into the survivorship experiences and concerns of Black women with a personal history of breast cancer. Ten survivors participated in semi-structured interviews. For the qualitative analysis, the research team used a narrative approach and thematic analysis to address the study aim. Five major themes (e.g., phases of cancer) were identified. There were a few significant statements cited by the survivors. The results suggest that this group has multiple survivorship issues. Healthcare providers and researchers should evaluate and address the survivorship issues of this underrepresented group.
Presentations
Experiential learning and reflective practice increase clinical reasoning and judgment in undergraduate nursing education
Drs. Nancy Jo Thompson, DNP, MSN-ED, RN-BC, Jennifer Alderman, PHD, MSN, RN, CNL, CNE, CHSE, Susana Barroso, PhD, RN, and Carol Durham, EdD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, FSSH, presented a podium presentation at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Transform Conference on Dec 1, 2023. Transform is AACN’s national conference specifically designed for faculty teaching in baccalaureate and/or master’s nursing programs. Together they shared how structured debriefing following student participation in virtual simulation led to a substantial increase in clinical reasoning and judgment among pre-licensure students. Thompson and team also highlighted the AACN Essentials, which provide a blueprint for competency-based education while emphasizing reflective practice.
Investigating The Association Between Exercise and Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors in The Black Women’s Health Study
Natasha Burse, DrPH, MS, presented her abstract titled “Investigating The Association Between Exercise and Quality of Life Among Breast Cancer Survivors in The Black Women’s Health Study” at the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 5-9, 2023 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas. This international scientific symposium allows for the important interactions and exchanges between basic scientists and clinicians devoted to improved diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Dr. Burse’s abstract explores the critical issue of suboptimal quality of life (QoL) experienced by Black breast cancer survivors in comparison to their White counterparts. The study focuses on the multidimensional concept of QoL, emphasizing various aspects of wellbeing. Read more here.