Nursing Research Transforms Healthcare

School of Nursing Faculty's publications and current research in the news.

Health Equity Reimagined Graphic with Test Tube

Collaboration to Advance Research in Equity

December 6, 2023

Through a collaboration designed to advance research in health equity and social drivers of health, the Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) and the Center for Precision Health have partnered with the Center for Nursing Research at the Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) to bring more than 20,000 biological samples and linked data from a community-based registry at Duke Kannapolis to investigators at DUSON.

A nurse sitting on the floor with her head in her hands

Alum Studies Nursing Trauma Related to COVID

March 20, 2025

PhD graduate Melissa Powell published four studies related to burnout and trauma in nursing after the COVID-19 pandemic. Her findings show that more still needs to be done to support and prepare nurses for the next pandemic.

Associate Professor Hanzhang Xu

Xu Awarded Bass Connections Projects

January 12, 2024

School of Nursing Assistant Professor Hanzhang Xu, Ph.D., RN, was recently awarded two Bass Connection Projects by the Global Health Theme of Bass Connections for her proposed 2024-25 Bass Connections projects, “Empowering Family Caregiving Research in the Philippines,” and “Long-Term Care in China and Worldwide.”

Professional headshots of Dr. Marissa Abram and Dr. Sophia Smith

Pilot Projects for Cancer Survivors and HIV

November 18, 2024

Dr. Marissa Abram and Dr. Sophia Smith earned pilot funding for studies aimed at improving health outcomes for young cancer survivors and people living with HIV who use illicit substances.

A nurse goes over a form with a patient

Gap Study On Patient Experiences

July 9, 2024

Dr. Amie Koch explores a unique challenge facing LGBTQ+ patients in healthcare settings – whether to disclosure their sexual identity.

Sickle Cell Disease

Fight Continues Against Sickle Cell Disease

June 18, 2024

June 19 is World Sickle Cell Day. A number of Duke faculty continue to publish important research in the effort to mitigate the effects of the disease.

A nurse attaches a sensor to the foot of an infant in the NICU

The Harmful Impact of Racial Bias in the NICU

October 23, 2024

Desi Newberry, DNP, NNP-BC and colleagues are researching how racialized labels are harmful to health outcomes.

A nurse or doctor gives a pregnant woman an ultrasound.

Barriers to Opioid Treatment in Pregnancy

March 5, 2025

A recent review of research examines the barriers to successful treatment for opioid use disorder for pregnant and postpartum individuals, highlighting the importance of early intervention, appropriate dosages, and addressing social determinants of health to improve treatment outcomes.

Karin Reuter-Rice

Professor Concussion Research Recognized

February 1, 2024

Karin Reuter-Rice, PhD, CPNP-AC, FCCM, FAAN, is working to improve diagnosis and treatment of children with traumatic brain injuries.

Stock image of youth in American football gear in a huddle

Adolescent Concussions: Long-Term Effects

January 8, 2025

One in five children in the U.S. will suffer a concussion by age 16, most often caused by falls, sports injuries, and motor-vehicle accidents. Dr.

Drs. Michael Cary, Schenita Randolph, and Tolu Oyesanya stand in a sunlit hallway

Duke Nurse Scientists Inspire Future Leaders

January 28, 2026

Associate Professor Michael Cary, PhD, RN, FAAN; Associate Professor Tolu Oyesanya, PhD, RN; and Associate Professor

Bonnie Hepler and Kristin Tully stand beside a poster for Trinity College Dublin's Centre for Maternity Care Research

Advancing Inpatient Sleep after Childbirth

August 27, 2025

Duke Nursing faculty Bonnie Hepler and her colleagues emphasize the need for better postpartum sleep, starting in the hospital, for the wellbeing of caregivers and their infants.

Brandon Knettel, PhD

Opioid Use and Mental Health in HIV Care

November 29, 2024

Examining the challenges and benefits of integrating opioid use disorder and mental health treatment within HIV care, Duke researcher emphasizes the need for additional resources and training to improve patient outcomes.

X-Ray images of a brain

School Faculty Support Brain Injury Awareness

March 25, 2024

The Duke School of Nursing (DUSON) works tirelessly to research and study brain-related issues, achieve healthcare breakthroughs, and highlight brain-related injuries. This was especially significant in March during Brain Injury (BI) Awareness.

Associate Clinical Professor Blanca Iris Padilla

Inequities in Hispanic/Latino Diabetes Care

December 18, 2024

Hispanic and Latino patients with diabetes face higher rates of complications and readmission after moving from hospital care back home.

Mariam Kayle

Health Surveillance to Improve Outcomes

January 3, 2024

Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) Assistant Professor Mariam Kayle, Ph.D., RN, CCNS, FAAN, and her team have been working to implement the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funded North Carolina Sickle Cell Data Collection Program (NC SCDC, https://sites.duke.edu/ncscdc/ ).

Schenita Randolph

Focus on Health Inequities in Black Community

January 22, 2024

Schenita Randolph, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN, is an associate professor at DUSON and the founding director and principal investigator of the HEEAT Lab, which addresses health disparities. 

Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda and Jay Pearson

Erosion of the Latino Health Advantage

October 8, 2024

Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda and Dr. Jay Pearson examined the decline in health outcomes among the Latino population in the US post-COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the need for systemic policy changes.

Stephanie Ibemere

Professor works to combat Sickle Cell Disease

January 4, 2024

Stephanie Ibemere, Ph.D., RN, Duke School of Nursing (DUSON) assistant professor, is working to combat sickle cell barriers globally through research, dissemination, and education.

Tracey Yap

Preventing Nursing Home Pressure Ulcers

February 12, 2024

In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1.3 million people were living in nursing homes, and that number is expected to double by 2050. The CDC also reports that one in 10 nursing home residents will develop pressure injuries, or bedsores, a medical condition where skin and tissue breaks down because of prolonged pressure from sitting or lying long periods of time, introducing the risk of serious infection and even death.

Duke Nursing Students working in Pamlico County

Working Across Duke to Support Rural Health

August 27, 2025

Dr. Devon Noonan shares the approach and priorities of Duke’s Interdisciplinary Hub for Rural Health Equity.

Smiling people posing for a group photo

Integrating Suicide Prevention into HIV Care

December 1, 2025

Duke Nursing faculty member Brandon Knettel, PhD, discusses an intervention he led to address high rates of suicide among people living with HIV in Tanzania.

A younger Asian woman assists and older Asian woman in wheelchair with an iPad. The older woman is wearing headphones, and they are seated outdoors in a park-like setting.

Music App to Improve Sleep for Dementia

February 28, 2025

Traditional drugs for insomnia can have negative side effects, so nonpharmacologic therapies like music listening offer safer alternatives.

Emergency Department Ambulances

JAMA Paper Tackles Emergency Sickle Cell Care

June 17, 2025

A recent Duke-led study addresses barriers facing patients with sickle cell disease when they arrive at emergency departments.

AnnMarie Walton

AnnMarie Walton Co-Edits Book

April 2, 2024

Duke School of Nursing faculty, AnnMarie Walton, PhD, MPH, RN, OCN©, CHES, FAAN has co-edited the recently launched fourth edition of Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs with MiKaela M. Olsen, D.N.P., APRN-CNS, AOCNS©, FAAN of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

An African American woman on a surgical table with a respirator mask on.

Disparities in Anesthesia Care

April 3, 2025

New research from the School of Nursing’s Dr. Hideyo Tsumura examines disparities in intraoperative anesthesia care, revealing significant differences in medication use between African American and non-Hispanic white patients during surgery.

Older adult studying while using a laptop

Preventing Dementia with Later-Life Learning

June 16, 2025

A study led by Associate Professor Hanzhang Xu yields promising results: continued learning later in life can reduce dementia risk for the entire population, regardless of race/ethnicity or prior education.

FAIR Health Conference

School of Nursing New AI Initiative

April 4, 2024

Duke University School of Nursing has launched a new resource called Fostering AI Research for Health Equity And Learning Transformation Hub.

Dr. Schenita Randolph and Dr. Ragan Johnson

Randolph and Johnson in New England Journal

March 1, 2024

The New England Journal of Medicine has published a study by Duke University School of Nursing professors Dr. Schenita Randolph, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN and Dr. Ragan Johnson, DNP, MSN, APRN-BC in which the two studied the feasibility of integrating salon stylists, edutainment videos, and PrEP navigators to help educate Black women on the benefits of PrEP (preexposure prophylaxis) in preventing HIV infections. This innovative new approach to HIV/AIDS prevention can be found in the Journal’s February 29th issue.

Associate Professor Hanzhang Xu

Cognitive Health for Aging Chinese Americans

September 11, 2024

The study aims to improve cognitive health in aging Chinese Americans by developing a culturally relevant mobile health app and collaborating with local communities.

Button batteries and a watch

Button Batteries Pose Risk to Kids

August 6, 2024

A review of studies on the pediatric risks around button batteries finds both cause for concern and tips to reduce the chance of an emergency.

Four nursing faculty pose together in the school's atrium

Nursing Pilot Projects Address Rural Health

September 23, 2025

The Center for Nursing Science and Innovation at Duke University School of Nursing has granted funding for three faculty-led pilot projects that will support health equity in rural settings, from substance use care to surgery.

Sickle Cell MMWR

Multi-State Study on Sickle Cell Disease

March 29, 2024

The Multi-State Study shows that almost two-thirds of babies born with sickle cell disease live in disadvantaged areas.

Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda

Professor Participates in a NASEM Study

January 26, 2024

Duke University School of Nursing Associate Professor Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda, Ph.D., MPH, RN, FAAN was recently a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Consensus Study on Essential Services for Intimate Partner Violence during Public Health Emergencies.

Associate Professor Mitch Knisely

Chronic pain study for underserved

August 21, 2024

The GAIN Study explores the use of community acupuncture to address chronic pain in rural and medically underserved areas, aiming to provide a cost-effective and sustainable options for non-pharmacological treatment.