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April 26, 2002
College of Nursing Expert
Researchers
Delve into Diverse Health Topics
The invaluable role of nursing in the
nation’s health care settings will be
recognized during National Nurses Week, May 6
– 12. Faculty researchers at the Washington
State University Intercollegiate College of
Nursing are making significant contributions to
the profession through specific research and
expertise.
Minority Student Representation
Declining: The number of minority
enrollments and graduates from nursing schools
nationwide has not significantly increased over
the past five years. Nationally, only 0.5 percent
of nurses are Native American and 2 percent of
nurses are Hispanic. An increase in minority
student representation is essential to
successfully meet the health care challenges of
these unique populations. For example, farm
workers, the poorest and most medically
underserved of all groups, depend heavily on
providers who know their language and culture to
gain access to quality care.
Research by Intercollegiate College of
Nursing/WSU College of Nursing Assistant
Professor Dr. Bronwynne Evans focuses on the
experience of Hispanic/Latino and American Indian
individuals as they prepare for and enter the
profession of nursing, beginning with middle
school student. Barriers to completion of the
nursing degree and support systems that enable
retention of these students are being
investigated through ALCANCE, a $474,000 federal
grant. For assistance in reaching Evans,
evansb@wsu.edu, contact Susan Nielsen, College of
Nursing communications director, at (509)
324-7372, susann@wsu.edu.
Prevent amputations with improved foot
care: Each year 85,000 persons with
diabetes have a foot and/or leg amputated.
According to Intercollegiate College of
Nursing/WSU College of Nursing Assistant
Professor Dr. Cindy Corbett approximately 50
percent of these amputations can be prevented
with improved foot care. Corbett's research
demonstrates that six weeks after a 15-minute
educational session, people with diabetes
significantly improved their knowledge of
appropriate foot care and their ability to care
for their feet. Improving foot care education in
this manner for persons with diabetes has the
potential to save up to $1.7 billion. For
assistance in reaching Corbett, corbett@wsu.edu,
contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing
communications director, at (509) 324-7372,
susann@wsu.edu.
Research to assist couples affected by
breast cancer: In 2001, approximately
192,200 women were diagnosed with invasive breast
cancer and nearly 40,200 women died from the
disease. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast
cancer is the most common cancer in American
women; however, little is known about the impact
of advanced cancer on the daily lives and
routines of women and their partners.
Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of
Nursing Associate Dean for Research and Professor
Dr. Mel Haberman and Dr. Frances Marcus Lewis of
the University of Washington are researching the
overall quality of life and adjustment of couples
experiencing recurrent breast cancer that has
spread to distant sites in the body. This
research will lead to new clinical interventions
for enhancing support services offered to
couples, as well as provide new strategies for
assisting couples in their efforts to handle the
daily challenges of advanced disease. For
assistance in reaching Dr. Haberman, haberman@wsu.edu,
contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing
communications director, at (509) 324-7372,
susann@wsu.edu.
Helping overweight children: The
number of overweight children has increased from
five percent in the 1970s to 13 percent in 2002.
In addition, most children watch television or
engage in video games for over two hours every
day. Many cases of diabetes now diagnosed in
children are type 2 diabetes, historically a form
of diabetes that used to be seen only in adults.
Research being done by Intercollegiate College of
Nursing/WSU College of Nursing Associate
Professor Dr. Ruth Bindler identifies the
patterns of overweight, high fat food intake, and
lack of physical activity that place children at
increased risk for the development of diabetes
and cardiovascular disease. Interventions based
on Bindler’s research outcomes are being
tailored to meet the specific needs of children
in various ethnic groups. For assistance in
reaching Bindler, bindler@wsu.edu,
contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing
communications director, at (509) 324-7372,
susann@wsu.edu.
Support for grieving children:
While some 6,000 people die in Eastern Washington
each year, it is not known to what extent these
deaths affect the lives of school-aged children
and adolescents who had a significant
relationship with the deceased. Children and
adolescents may have difficulty with schoolwork
as they work through their grief. School
counselors and school nurses are charged with
providing help and support to these children, but
it is not known if this is fully effective for
the grieving child. Research being done by
Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of
Nursing Dr. Jan Lohan will determine how much
support school nurses and school counselors
provide, and whether additional support may be
needed to help grieving students achieve success
in school. For assistance in reaching Lohan,
lohan@wsu.edu,
contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing
communications director, at (509) 324-7372,
susann@wsu.edu.
Postpartum depression in abused
women: Did you know that for every ten
women who give birth, one or two of them will
experience postpartum depression? The incidence
of postpartum depression is even more frequent
for women in abusive relationships. These women
and others are part of a National Institutes of
Health funded research project being conducted by
Intercollegiate College of Nursing/WSU College of
Nursing Drs. Kathie Records and Michael Rice. For
assistance in reaching Records, recordsk@wsu.edu,
or Rice, ricem@wsu.edu, contact
Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing communications
director, at (509) 324-7372, susann@wsu.edu.
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