University of Florida nursing student chosen as national geriatric scholar
A doctoral student from the University of Florida College of Nursing has been chosen as one of a select group of predoctoral students nationwide to receive a $100,000 scholarship for nursing scholars in gerontology.
Amanda Floetke, M.S.N., received a Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity award, funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and administered by the American Academy of Nursing. The scholarship, which provides $50,000 a year for two years, will enable Floetke to concentrate on research.
Floetke, who is enrolled in the college’s accelerated B.S.N.-to-Ph.D. program, works as a research assistant for Ann Horgas, Ph.D., R.N., a College of Nursing associate professor and core faculty with the Institute on Aging. The B.S.N.-to-Ph.D. program is designed to allow exceptional baccalaureate students to earn a doctoral degree in nursing science at an accelerated pace.
The Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Program is one cornerstone in the nationwide movement to strengthen geriatric nursing education and practice. With the support of the John A. Hartford Foundation, this five-year program, which began in July 2000, aims to develop geriatric nursing leaders through its scholars program and other leadership building initiatives. It also is expected to increase the body of geriatric nursing research.
“This award depends on many factors, including the strength of the student and mentor, and their working relationship and shared research interests,” Horgas said. “It also heavily relies on a strong academic and research environment in aging and on a wealth of resources for the student to draw on while they conduct their research, which Amanda will have with the strong core of UF geriatric nursing researchers, as well as those at the UF Institute on Aging.”
Floetke’s research interests align with those of Horgas, a well-known expert in the field of aging, who currently is using a $523,636 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to study patterns of pain behavior in nursing home residents.
“I owe this all to Dr. Horgas’ guidance and support,” Floetke said. “With this scholarship, I will be able to work on my research full-time and work toward my goals in my area of interest.”
Working with Horgas gave Floetke the opportunity to become proficient in research and build her own research interests. Her planned dissertation topic is the methodological comparison of observational strategies of pain assessment in patients with dementia.
Floetke joins Sue McLennon, M.S.N., A.R.N.P., another College of Nursing doctoral student, who received one of the 12 program scholarships awarded in 2002.