Nursing Research Day focuses on collective power of nurses

Faculty, students, staff and community partners gathered in person and online April 17 for Nursing Research Day. This year’s theme was Inquiry, Equity, and Action: Harnessing Nursing Science for a Collective Impact on Health.

In her introductory remarks, Dean Connie White Delaney, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FNAP, emphasized the intersection of nursing science and action.

“Nurse scientists don’t just observe. They translate evidence into action, finding solutions that advance true whole-person health for all. Nursing’s unwavering commitment to equity ensures that our scientific inquiry reaches those often overlooked, striving for a collective impact that leaves no one behind,” said White Delaney. “The knowledge and relationships cultivated by each of you in this room and online are so vital in shaping a brighter future of health and health care.”

Keynote speaker Katie Boston-Leary, PhD, MBA, RN, FADLN, FAONL, FAAN, serves as the senior vice president of Equity and Engagement at the American Nurses Association, focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging  and workforce challenges in the nursing profession. In her keynote, Inquiry, Equity, and Action: Harnessing Nursing Science for a Collective Impact on Health, she discussed how nurses can harness research and collective power to improve the profession and build a stronger, more just world.

“When we do the work, conduct the research, and lean into our power, the world we’re going to create is one that values diversity, is one where people can hold multiple views without fear, is fair, equitable and just,” Boston-Leary said.

Throughout the day, faculty, students and community members participated in breakout presentations and discussed research posters that showcased findings from innovative research and evidence-based projects.

Poster award winners were announced at the event. Sophia Gregg placed first for Vicarious Trauma Among APRN’s at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System: A Quality Improvement Project. Jodi Olson placed second for Culturally Inclusive End-of-Life Simulation for Undergraduate Nursing Students. Meagen Otto placed third for Improving Outcomes Through Standardized RN Documentation of High-Priority Telemetry Events.