Laura Kirk, PhD, RN

Laura Kirk, PhD, RN is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. Her nearly 30-year nursing career has been driven by an enduring interest in the health and well-being of older adults across care settings. Kirk is passionate about educating nurses to provide high-quality care and develop programming to meet the needs of the rapidly growing older adult population. Her approach to teaching mirrors the collaborative nurse-patient relationship, providing opportunities to role model safe, effective, and ethical nursing practice. Kirk's research has explored topics like long-term outcomes of exercise interventions for peripheral artery disease. She has been recognized for her excellence in research and dissemination, receiving the Sigma Founders Award - Elizabeth McWilliams Miller Award. In addition to her faculty role, Kirk has served as president of the School of Nursing Alumni Society Board.

Courses: N2001, N3806, N4777W
Guest Lecturer: N4205V, N4205W
Teaching Assistantship: N8194

Austin, R., Chi, C., Delaney, C., Kirk, L., Michalowski, M., Pruinelli, L., Rajamani, S., Monsen K. (2021). COVID-19 response empowered through nursing knowledge generated through existing IT infrastructure. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI), 25(1). Available at https://www.himss.org/resources/online-journal-nursing-informatics 

Austin, RR., Kirk, L., Voss, M., Kristoferson, G., Gozum, S., Koithan, M., Kreitzer, MJ. (under review). Building a Pathway for Integrative Nursing Research. Creative Nursing, 28(2).

Elgersma, KM., Brown, RJL., Salisbury, D., Stigen, L., Gildea, L., Larson, K., Schorr, EN., Kirk, LN., Treat-Jacobson, D. (2020). Adherence and exercise mode in supervised exercise therapy for peripheral artery disease. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 38(3), 108-117. DOI: 10.1016/j.jvn.2020.07.002

Abrahamson, K., Davila, H., Kirk, LN., Alarcon, G., Mueller, C. (2020). Can a Nursing Home Psychotropic Reduction Project be Successfully Implemented in Assisted Living? Journal of Applied Gerontology. DOI: 10.1177/0733464820948328

Horning, ML., Schneider, R., Beacham, B., McKechnie, AC., Kirk, L., Emery, D., Lindquist, R. (2020). Appreciation of the Research-Practice Link: Using An Authentic Learning Environment for a Writing-Intensive Nursing Course. Nursing Education Perspectives, 41(6). 361-363. DOI: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000568

Kirk, L., Smith, G. E., Gaugler, J. E., Hepburn, K., Knopman, D., Lewis, M., 2018. Development and testing of a neuropsychiatric symptoms model in mild cognitive impairment. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44 (1): 21-30.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3928/00989134-20170908-02

Rich, K., Treat-Jacobson, D., DeVeaux, T., Fitzgerald, K., Kirk, L., Thomson, L., Foley, A., Hill, D., 2017. Society for Vascular Nursing—Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) updated nursing clinical practice guideline. Journal of Vascular Nursing, 35 (2): 90-111.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvn.2017.03.004

Current Research

Title: AACN Pilot School: A Competency-Based Approach to Leadership Development and Resilience for Student Nurses
Funding Source: Johnson & Johnson
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Amount/% Effort: $10,000
Time Period: 12/2022-6/2023

Title: Writing Enriched Curriculum - Legacy Writing Plan
Funding Source: Office of Undergraduate Education – University of Minnesota
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
Amount/%Effort: $1,800
Time Period: 9/2022-9/2024

Title: Writing Enriched Curriculum (WEC) Legacy edition Writing Plan
Funding Source: Office of the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education
Role: Co-Liaison
Amount/%Effort: $3,000
Time Period: June, 2021 – June 2023

Title: Social Isolation in Older Adults
Role: Principal Investigator
Funding Source: Unfunded

Selected Completed Research

Title: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Total Body Recumbent Stepping (TBRS) in Senior Living
Funding Source: School of Nursing Foundation
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount/% Effort: $3,000
Time Period: 3/1/18-9/30/19

Title: Promoting Healthy Aging and Mobility in Rural Minnesota: The PAD PRAIRIE Initiative 
Funding Source: Margaret A. Cargill Foundation
Role: Co-Investigator
Amount: $1,645,967
Time Period: 6/1/15 to 5/31/18

Title: Upper Body Arm Ergometry in Senior Living: A Feasibility Study
Funding Source: University of Minnesota Grant-in-Aid
Role: Principal Investigator
Amount/% Effort: $36,245
Time Period: 12/1/16-1/15/18

Title: Adherence to Non-Group Based Exercise Interventions in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 
Funding source: School of Nursing Foundation 
Amount of award: $3,000
Time Period: 12/1/2015-12/31/2016

• Effect of aerobic exercise on physical function, cognition and mood in sedentary older adults in senior living
• Relationship-based care in senior living/long-term care
• Nursing informatics to examine health and wellbeing outcomes in older adults