UF College of Nursing holds first research day

Three University of Florida College of Nursing doctoral students recently took top honors at the college’s first research day.

Taking first place was doctoral student Susan M. McLennon, M.S.N., A.R.N.P., who studied the way that chronic pain is associated with negative physical and psychological consequences in late life.

McLennon studied adults between the ages of 60 and 95 and found that those who are unable to participate in physical and social activities were more prone to depression and perceived themselves as sicker. Her faculty mentor was Ann Horgas, Ph.D., R.N., an associate professor and National Institutes of Health-funded researcher.

In second place was doctoral candidate Cheryl McGhan, M.S.N., C.N.M., who is studying the factors that may contribute to the recurrence of gonorrhea or chlamydia in teens evaluated at the Duval County Health Department STD clinic. Researchers are seeking to develop intervention strategies for these patients. McGhan, who is being mentored by Associate Professor Sharleen Simpson, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., is conducting in-depth interviews with patients between the ages of 14 and 19 who have had at least two infections with gonorrhea or chlamydia within two years.

Tying for second place was doctoral student Lynn Smith, M.S.N., R.N., who, with the guidance of Assistant Professor Susan Schaffer, Ph.D., A.R.N.P., is determining which children are more likely to seek ongoing care for asthma in emergency rooms. Previous research has shown that low-income, minority and uninsured children use the emergency department more often for asthma care and are more likely to die than insured children from other socioeconomic groups.

During the event, more than 35 College of Nursing faculty members and students presented research posters in areas such as adult and elderly nursing, pain, health-care environments and systems, and women’s, children’s and family nursing.

Keynote speaker was Margaret M. Heitkemper, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., a professor and chairwoman of biobehavioral nursing and health systems at the University of Washington. She spoke on irritable bowel syndrome, describing research from the bench to clinical trials.