Collaborative Research Day Partners College of Nursing with Lakeland Regional Health

On Friday, November 15, the USF College of Nursing launched an important new partnership with Lakeland Regional Health (LRH). Hosted by LRH in Lakeland,  “Discovery: Stronger Through Partnership, the Inaugural Collaborative Nursing Research Day,” was a daylong event that featured podium and poster presentations from College of Nursing faculty, as well as nurses and administrators from LRH.

The objectives for the research day included increasing research interest among clinicians and faculty and determining ways to best disseminate research findings.

In her welcoming remarks to the nearly 200 attendees, Janet Fansler, DNP, RN, CENP, chief nurse executive of LRH and executive vice president of the LRH Medical Center, stressed the need for both the hospital and the college to help students reach their potential as nurses. “Our work feeds healthy communities,” she said.

April Novotny, MSN, RN, CENP, CEN, vice president of LRH Clinical Services, said of the partnership, “there is so much synergy to be gained by our working together.” Novotny will assume the role of chief nurse executive in January 2020.

Lauren Morata, clinical nurse specialist and research coordinator at Lakeland Regional Health, speaks at the Inaugural Collaborative Nursing Research Day on Nov. 15.

Lauren Morata, DNP, APRN, CCRN, CCNS, clinical nurse specialist and research coordinator at LRH, delivered the morning keynote titled “Using Research to Positively Change the World.” She discussed the importance of understanding evidence-based practice for quality and safety, as well as the challenges related to how medical professionals adapt to change and new technology.

The afternoon keynote, “Establishing a Research-Friendly Environment,” was delivered by Andrew Bugajski, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the College of Nursing. He explained that quality improvement can affect a nursing unit or a hospital, while research can affect entire populations. He also observed that nurses need “generous leadership” for research to be successful, emphasizing the importance of training, encouragement, empowerment, and financial support from college and hospital administrators.

Denise Maguire, vice dean of graduate programs at USF College of Nursing, discusses nursing education and practice in Latin America at the Inaugural Collaborative Nursing Research Day at Lakeland Regional Health on Nov. 15.

Other presentation topics included stress and infection during pregnancy, reducing readmissions for pediatric asthma, and emerging valve therapy.

“It is imperative that we understand the science of disseminating and implementing research findings,” said Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, vice dean of Research at the College of Nursing. During her presentation, she also addressed the average 17-year journey that spans from initial research funding to the eventual implementation of research findings in medical practice, putting health care in the position of “constantly trying to catch up.”

Victoria L. Rich, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing, ended the day by noting how important it is to match academic research with clinical implementation. She also praised the event, noting that “academic service partnerships begin with passion.”

Story by Lucia Raatma, USF College of Nursing