The School of Nursing advances health discoveries through nursing research and scholarship. It is nurse-driven, ecological in philosophy, and has equitable health for all people, populations and the planet at its core.
School unveils new research framework
The School of Nursing unveiled its new research framework that better reflects the nursing research being conducted at the school and reflects the health needs of the community. At its core is equitable health for all people, populations and the planet. The values that support that mission are innovation and bold ideas, community engagement, social justice and human dignity, patient-centered care, data-driven solutions and interprofessional collaboration.
Study seeks to increase the quality of adolescent preventive health visits
Primary care clinicians and parents know that the most important topics to address in adolescent health — including sexual and mental health — can also be the most sensitive. In response, an interdisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians at the University of Minnesota’s Healthy Youth Development – Prevention Research Center, including School of Nursing Professor Renee Sieving, PhD, RN, FAAN, FSAHM, designed TALK: Toolkit for Adolescent Care to provide training and resources to support conversations with adolescents about potentially sensitive health topics. The TALK study, which was supported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding, includes an easy-to-use adolescent health communication toolkit featuring one-page resources, training opportunities and videos.
Community collaboration enhances diabetes research
A collaborative study Assistant Professor Mary Whipple, PhD, RN, PHN, FSVM, is leading aims to help Black Minnesotans with type 2 diabetes live healthier lives by disrupting their sedentary time. The Interrupt T2D study is supported by NIH-funded Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota. After an initial funding rejection in 2022, Whipple made a decision that would prove transformative: she established a Community Advisory Board composed of Black North Minneapolis residents, many living with diabetes themselves. Their input proved invaluable in refining the study’s approach. 10 Year in Review 2024-2025
Study examines TikTok’s influence on youth sexual health decisions
At the Minnesota State Fair, School of Nursing researchers explored how young people use TikTok for sexual and reproductive health information. Clinical Associate Professor Stephanie Delkoski, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, with Clinical Associate Professor Maria Ruud, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, and Assistant Professor Camille Brown, PhD, RN, PHN, sought to describe the prevalence of youth using social media platforms as a source of sexual and reproductive health education and how they evaluate the accuracy of the information they gather. They also examined the differences in experiences by sexual orientation and gender identity. Of the 244 youth surveyed, 42% reported using social media to help them to make a sexual or reproductive health decision. Of these people, at least 50% said their decisions informed by TikTok were in the areas of relationships, contraception, menstrual cycles, sexual and reproductive rights, and body positivity.
Nursing Research Day showcases better health outcomes
The vital role nursing science plays in promoting health was the focus of Nursing Research Day, which was held April 11 at McNamara Alumni Center and virtually. This year’s theme was Bridging the Gap: Empowering Innovative Nursing Research, Education and Policy for Better Health Outcomes. Vincent Guilamo-Ramos, PhD, MPH, LCSW, RN, ANP-BC, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, who serves as executive director of the Institute for Policy Solutions and the Leona B. Carpenter Chair in Health Equity and Social Determinants of Health at Johns Hopkins, delivered the keynote Nursing Science’s Role in Redesigning the U.S. Broken Health System and Ending Unequal Treatment.
Hoffman receives Community-Engaged Scholar Award
The Office for Public Engagement named Associate Professor Sarah Hoffman, PhD, MPH, RN, a recipient of the 2024 University of Minnesota Community-Engaged Scholar Award. The award represents one of the University’s highest honors for community-engaged scholarship. Hoffman studies the longitudinal health of refugees post-resettlement and the intergenerational effects of trauma in families, specifically intrafamily trauma communication. She also practices as a sexual assault nurse examiner.
Mayo Clinic, University of Minnesota collaboratory awards seed grant
The University of Minnesota School of Nursing and Mayo Clinic academic-practice partnership awarded a seed grant to School of Nursing Associate Professor Kristin Sandau, PhD, RN, FAHA, FAAN, and Mayo Clinic Nurse Scientist Samantha Conley, PhD, RN, for their study Care Partners and Patients Navigating Year 1 of Dyadic Self-Management post-LVAD. The joint seed grant is awarded each year to collaborating teams of investigators consisting of one School of Nursing faculty member and one Mayo Clinic nurse scientist.
Study analyzes if exercise reduces inflammation, depression in people with HIV
Researchers from the University of Minnesota are partnering with health professionals from Mildmay Hospital in Uganda to determine if exercise reduces inflammation and depression in people with HIV. School of Nursing Associate Professor Ryan Mays, PhD, MPH, FAHA, FSVM, traveled to Kampala, Uganda to begin the initial steps for the study Supervised Treadmill intervention to Reduce Inflammation and Depression through Exercise in HIV: The STRIDE Pilot Study. 12 Year in Review 2024-2025
Understanding home food environments
The Food at Home study research team, including Professor Jayne Fulkerson, PhD, study PI, and Professor Mary Hearst, PhD, developed the Home Food Inventory (HFI), which is a checklist of foods and beverages available in the home, with the aim to shed light on how home food environments are related to health. With new grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, the team updated the HFI so that it is shorter and made sure it is useful for both native English and native Spanish speakers.
Austin selected for Menopause Society mentorship
Associate Professor Robin Austin, PhD, DNP, DC, RN, NI-BC, FAMIA, FAAN, was accepted into a two-year research mentorship program through the Menopause Society to examine integrative therapies, chronic pain and resilience during perimenopause and menopause.
NSF grant supports planning for research to disrupt human trafficking
The Human-Centered Action Research to Disrupt Trafficking (HART) team, led by Associate Professor Lauren Martin, PhD, received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to support the planning of a research agenda aimed at disrupting human trafficking. The HART team uses a novel scientific approach by converging social sciences, health sciences, and computational modeling with lived experience expertise from survivors of trafficking and other key stakeholders.