The Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden dean-designee and invited faculty and students will represent the school with distinction at the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) 2018 Scientific Sessions held April 11-13 in Newark, N.J. The conference, “Celebrating 30 Years of Nursing Science: Building a Legacy of Innovation, Dissemination, and Translation,” features an opening keynote by renowned nurse leader Susan B. Hassmiller, RN, PhD, FAAN, Senior Advisor for Nursing at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
School of Nursing–Camden faculty researchers have earned recognition for investigating topics within a framework of social justice, health promotion, and population health. They explore the intersections of poverty, vulnerable communities, and social determinants of health with an emphasis on building partnerships across sectors and disciplines.
"What outstanding scholarship on behalf of the faculty and students. So proud that we will have such robust representation from Rutgers University–Camden!" remarked Donna M. Nickitas, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CNE, FAAN –treasurer of the ENRS and a noted health policy scholar– who joins the School of Nursing–Camden as dean on July 1. Dr. Nickitas, editor of the journal Nursing Economics, will contribute her editorial expertise at the ENRS Scientific Sessions workshop “Publishing: Methods Matter!” on April 11. The dean-designee encourages all ENRS participants to join the Closing Awards Ceremony brunch, sponsored by the School, on April 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
“Presenting at ENRS affords me the opportunity to encourage nurses, nursing students, and other health professionals to promote the health of all people by contributing to knowledge development," said Rahshida Atkins, an assistant professor at the Rutgers School of Nursing–Camden who works to alleviate depression in disadvantaged mothers. "My research on participatory action aims to empower others to employ self-management strategies to enhance their mental and physical health. ENRS allows for networking between professionals and students as we exchange ideas on how to think outside the box.”
Faculty researchers invited to offer podium and poster presentations at the 2018 ENRS Scientific Sessions include: Rahshida Atkins, PhD, APN-C, RN; Margaret Avallone, DNP, RN, CCRN; Cynthia Ayres, PhD, RN; Janice Beitz, PhD, RN, CS, CNOR, CWOCN, CRNP, APNC, FAAN, ANEF; Kathleen Jackson, DNP, RN, APRN, BC-ADM; Bonnie Jerome-D’Emilia, PhD, MPH, RN; Nancy M. H. Pontes, PhD, RN, APN, FNP-BC, DRCC; and Patricia D. Suplee, PhD, RNC-OB. In addition, two Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree candidates, Stephanie Gerace and Denise Hare, will present research posters.
“I’m very excited to be presenting at ENRS where I get the opportunity to connect with peers during a critical time in my educational and professional career. If just one person walks away from my poster presentation and considers implementing my project into a practice setting, then all of the hard work, time, and effort will have been worth it,” noted Gerace, a Mt. Laurel, N.J. resident who will graduate with a DNP degree from the School of Nursing–Camden in May.
Established in 1988, the ENRS is comprised of RNs and others interested in promoting nursing research, and dedicated to creating a community of nurses interested in promoting research in the Eastern Region of the United States.