For more than 20 years, Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) has been committed to improving the welfare of patients through high-quality nursing research. In September of 2015, Marilyn Hockenberry, PhD, RN, PNP-BC, FAAN, Bessie Baker Professor of Nursing, was appointed associate dean for research affairs. Since her appointment, Hockenberry has hit the ground running, advancing the Center for Nursing Research to ensure that the School continues to provide resources for supporting knowledge and discovery that furthers the science of nursing.
DUSON is a diverse community of scholars, clinicians, staff, and students with strong research interests in pediatrics and adult populations and areas such as chronic illness and disease management, gerontology, oncology, health disparities, genomics, informatics and technology. In 2015, the School received more than $4.8 million in annual funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), making it 9th among nursing schools engaged in NIH-funded research.
“We have faculty researchers who are on the cutting edge of utilizing mobile health applications and virtual environments to explore chronic disease management,” Hockenberry said. “We have faculty who are advancing cognitive and affective symptom science in chronic illness in order to empower patients and their caregivers to achieve optimal management of symptoms and enhance their quality of life.”
NIH-funded research currently being completed by both faculty and students includes research aimed at improving the recovery of children undergoing leukemia treatment, addressing tobacco use disparities using mobile phone intervention, exploring engagement in care among women aging with HIV, studying the impact of diabetes management through virtual environments, enhancing the role of nurse management in nursing home care, improving health care and pain management for patients with sickle cell disease and much more.
With so many robust research efforts taking place, it’s critical that nurse researchers have the support they need. This is why Hockenberry and her team at the Center for Nursing Research developed four cores — Faculty Science, Research Design and Statistics, Pre-Award Liaison Services and Research Oversight and Compliance led by DUSON faculty and staff. “We wanted to increase our capacity and scope to provide support for nurse researchers who are at various stages of their research,” she said. “Our cores provide a type of specialty shopping that allows us to tailor support based on individual needs, whether it’s mentoring, assistance with grant writing and organizing or obtaining donors for grants.”
The Faculty Science Core is led by Hockenberry and senior researchers Isaac Lipkus, PhD, professor, and Constance Johnson, PhD, MS, RN, FAAN, associate professor. This core area is responsible for the mentoring and development of research faculty. “Mentoring allows us to help junior faculty with the skills, knowledge and self-confidence they need to become successful researchers,” said Lipkus.
Johnson added: “As mentors we provide feedback and critical review of the mentee’s research grants and associated research papers. We also assist the mentee with the development of their research strategic plan. All of this is critical to the future of the School since it fosters academic accomplishments for success at the School and in the nursing profession, in addition to building a professional community among junior and senior faculty.”
The Research Design and Statistics Core is led by Wei Pan, PhD, associate professor and biostatistician and is staffed by PhD and master’s-prepared statisticians. The core provides statistical consultation and grant design and analysis. “Evidence-based practice has become a common practice in health care, and it’s revealed through data analysis,” Pan said. “Our area conducts methodological studies applicable to social, behavioral and health care research. We also provide statistical support for research conducted at DUSON through collaboration and consultation activities with faculty, postdocs and graduate students.”
The Pre-Award Liaison Services Core is led by Robbin Thomas. This core oversees the grant preparation and submission processes. Specialists in this area are assigned to proposals early to reduce the administrative burden of the submission process, which allows faculty and students to focus on the science of the project. “As a top 10 school of nursing, we recognize that the quality of research submissions equals more funding and recognition,” said Thomas. “Our goal is to act as the grease in the machine of the grant submission process to ensure nursing researchers avoid potential delays or barriers that would be costly in time and energy.”
The Research Oversight and Compliance Core is led by Phyllis Kennel, MS, RD, LDN. The core provides education, study start-up, Institutional Review Board support and research compliance training. “We’ve always been a part of the research area,” Kennel said. “However, we’ve restructured to provide a concierge feel that allows researchers to get the best continual assistance with their work.”
With all of the recent changes, the Center for Nursing Research is providing systems and tools that showcase its commitment to the success of faculty and students. The center is dedicated to helping faculty focus and be successful researchers and supporting students as they engage in research - all to improve health care through the development and translation of knowledge.