Person-Centered Research

I seek to understand the experience of chronic illness and management of symptoms through exercise. Linda Piacentine, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, Associate Professor

Person-centered care is fundamental to my work in geriatrics, palliative care, and advance care planning. One of the four cornerstones to quality geriatric care is "what matters most" to the patient. Similarly, "what matters" is a key tenet of advance care planning, palliative care, and end-of-life care. Stacy Barnes, PhD, Associate Professor of Practice

My person-centered program of research involves family self-management, stress, family functioning, quality of life, challenging behaviors during healthcare encounters, procedure preparation and exercise as medicine for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. I work on an interdisciplinary team as part of the Marquette Autism Initiative. Norah Louise Johnson, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, FAAN

Dr. Guttormson’s program of research seeks to enhance patient centered care in the intensive care unit. Specifically, her research is focused on a) improving symptom identification and management during critical illness b) interventions to support patient ability to communicate during mechanical ventilation c) understanding critical care nurses’ practice when caring for mechanically ventilated patients. Jill Guttormson MS, PhD, RN

My program of research involves antenatal probiotic interventions to modify the perinatal microbiome and reduce Group B Strep. My scholarship includes exploration and application of low technology approaches to labor and birth care. I have expertise in experimental design, team science and clinical trials. Lisa Hanson PhD, CNM, FACNM, FAAN

My research is focused on describing infant and maternal toxic stress. Using the ecodevelopmental framework as a guide, I am seeking to connect toxic stress from hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the social determinants of health, and epigenetic alterations so to describe and optimize the health and development of premature infants and their families. Kathryn J. Malin PhD, RN,

My specific research interests include the intersection of person-centered care, translational research, and innovative healthcare solutions. My program of research is focused on improving survivorship and long-term outcomes for critically ill patients and their families. Krista A. Knudson, PhD, MSCR, RN; Assistant Professor

The aim of my program of research is to improve the long-term outcomes of critical illness survivors. My program focuses on post intensive care syndrome and improving the recovery experience of critical illness survivors after hospital discharge. Kelly Calkins, PhD, RN, CCRN, Assistant Professor

My program of research aims to enhance communication among pediatric patients with serious illness, their families, and health care clinicians, particularly around goals of care, values, and care preferences. Eliciting the voices of patients and families is an integral part of this work as we aim to develop interventions to meet communication needs. Amy R. Newman, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, Assistant Professor

My overarching goal as a nurse researcher is to increase patient and family engagement in healthcare through the delivery of nursing care that is individualized to each patient’s unique situation. Nurses can engage patients and families in their care through methods such as information-sharing, encouraging decision-making and goal-setting, inviting patients and families to collaborate with the care team, and encouraging the use of electronic health records. My current project is focused on the mutual goal-setting process between nurses and patients. Teresa Jerofke-Owen, PhD, RN Associate Professor

My program of research focuses on the transition from hospital to home and family self-management for families of children with a complex chronic illness. Stacee Lerret, PhD, RN, CPNP, FAAN

I am a self-management researcher, focused on nurses coaching pregnant and postpartum people to set and meet physical activity goals in a way that will make movement a lifelong choice. I also study the lived experience of engaging in physical activity for women and nonbinary folks, especially those in larger bodies. Jennifer Ohlendorf, PhD, RN, Associate Professor

Identity development is instrumental to a person’s sense of purpose, self-concept, and sense of authenticity. Living with a rapidly disfiguring chronic illness can affect one’s sense of self, creating a loss of self. Donald Miller, PhD, MS, RN

My program of research focuses on uses of positive cognitions, resourcefulness, and resilience in overcoming stress/adversity in vulnerable populations, including older adults, and family caregivers of persons with mental illness, dementia, and autism as well as Middle eastern immigrants and nursing students. My research focuses on integrating the individual’s and family’s unique preferences, values, and needs to plan and deliver our Positive Thinking Training interventions and to evaluate outcomes. Abir Bekhet PhD, RN, HSMI

My program of research focuses on facilitating optimal wellness of mother-infant pairs impacted by maternal opioid use disorder. I am particularly interested in the recovery self-management work mothers engage in to meet the needs of the mother-infant pair during pregnancy and early parenting. Nicole Mattson PhD, RN, CNS-BC Assistant Professor

I am working on a research project looking at diagnostic error. This project aims at understanding the complex sociotechnical environments in which we work to ultimately improve patient outcomes. I'm also working on research related to team dynamics and patient outcomes of including a quality CPR coach on resuscitation teams in the pediatric intensive care unit. Christine Schindler, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC/PC; Clinical Professor

My studies are centered in the promotion of the voices and experiences of the poor and the historically marginalized groups. Alexandre A. Martins, Ph.D, associate professor

I have tested an online intervention for 4-8th grade children and their parents as well as a prebiotic fiber to reduce childhood obesity. Marilyn Frenn Ph.D., R.N., CNE, ANEF, FTOS, FAAN Professor & Interim Associate Dean for Research

As emeritus faculty, I continue to be an active researcher, extending my longstanding program on the contribution of acute care nurses to patient outcomes at discharge and post-discharge. This research includes the impact of nursing staffing structure and quality of discharge teaching on readiness for hospital and post-discharge return to hospital for readmission or ED visits. With my collaborators, this work focuses on intervention studies and large sample and multi-site studies of the characteristics and performance of the individual nurse, the complement of nurses within a nursing unit, and the interprofessional team in relation to patient care outcomes including inpatient mortality, patient safety outcomes, and discharge transition outcomes. My current work centers around the conceptualization and measurement of the economic value of nursing. Marianne E. Weiss DNSc, RN

My research centers on workplace well-being for health care professionals, professional empowerment and advocacy for health care professionals, burnout prevention and retention and unionization in health care. Jackie Christianson, Ph.D., FNP-C, CNE