News & Events

“Without data, you’re just another person with an opinion.” W. Edwards Deming, an American composer and economist born in 1900, said that — and Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, president and chief executive office of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, reminded the audience of this quote during her keynote presentation at the 2025 State of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Symposium, held Oct. 24 at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). The symposium is the signature event of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center (MNWC), housed at UMSON, and this year’s theme was “Data Trends and Future Readiness,” underscoring the critical role of data-driven decision-making in shaping a resilient and sustainable nursing workforce. The symposium is a “vital space for us to really collaborate, think about innovations, think about how we promote and advocate together,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and professor, during her welcome to the audience, which included more than 160 nursing professionals, educators, policymakers, and health care leaders. “Hopefully you’ll meet somebody new and begin to forge a new partnership so that we can chart a bold path forward for nursing.” Leading Nursing Through Data In diving into “Lead, Don’t Lag: Why Data Must Guide Workforce Strategy, Organizational Health, and Policy Engagement,” Trautman addressed how challenging the current nursing landscape is: “I have had the privilege of being in the profession for many years now,” she said. “I have experienced, as many of you have, significant times of challenge and uncertainty. I have not in my career experienced them where they’ve been as significant at the same time, in academia, in practice, and in policy. This is the perfect storm in all three of those environments. So, it’s very important for us to have and rely upon data and our stories as we work to make changes at an organization level, at a state level, and, most importantly, at a national policy level.” Trautman offered two salient examples of how data has been used effectively to shape policy. First, she spoke of the bipartisan PRECEPT Nurses Act (H.R. 392, S. 131), a bill currently before Congress that provides a $2,000 tax credit for nurses who serve as clinical preceptors. “It was data that helped us convince members of Congress and their staff about why this is so important, and this is an example of legislation where there is agreement on both sides of the aisle,” she said. She also recounted some challenges with messaging around the 2014 Affordable Care Act that affected its popularity, but the efficacy of the act’s provisions are clearly shown in the data. “The messaging matters,” she explained. “We can have great policy, but if we can’t speak to it, know about why it’s important, it is an even more difficult situation for individuals to understand. But the good news here is the data shows states who have not adopted those expansion benefits of the law continue to experience higher rates of uninsured than those who do not, and this has been consistent.”  Using data to inform policy is nothing new for nurses, Trautman explained. “Florence Nightingale was a trailblazer,” she said. “She made a significant difference in improving health because she helped point out to people, ‘No, what you think is the problem is not,’ and it was data that did that.” But Trautman underscored the need for the nursing profession to use data more frequently and proactively and to share data among agencies and organizations. “Our profession hasn’t always been great about speaking with one voice at times when it’s very important, and we’re facilitating a nursing community that works on building consensus,” she said. Following Trautman’s keynote, the symposium included two panel discussions on “Using Data to Strengthen Organizations: Insights for Academic and Clinical Nursing Leaders” and “Advocacy in Action: Leveraging Public Engagement, Policy Collaboration, and Legal Strategies to Strengthen the Nursing Workforce.” After lunch and networking, Amy Alsante, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CHEP, LSSGB, chief nursing officer at Sunburst Workforce Advisors and president elect of the Maryland Organization of Nurse Leaders, presented “Bridging Nursing Education and Workforce Demands: Faculty Development, Clinical Training, and Workforce Readiness.” Improving Health Care Access and Workforce Stability Wrapping up the day as the symposium’s endnote speaker, Maryland Del. Bonnie L. Cullison (District 19, Montgomery County), vice chair of the Health and Government Operations Committee, discussed policymakers’ and legislators’ work to improve health care access and workforce stability. Cullison emphasized high turnover rates driving a critical shortage of health care professionals, with the largest number of vacancies being among registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, respiratory therapists, and nursing assistants, “all of which are critical to the operation of hospitals and health care settings,” she said. Echoing Trautman’s remarks, Cullison stressed the importance of data. “We believe that data is important to help us prepare for the future,” she said. “Health care fields, in general, have significant levels of unpredictability, but by using data, we can help prepare for what we can’t anticipate. What the hard data allows us to do is, in combination with your voices, identify the best treatments, guide the educational programs, and predict changes.” As the health care landscape evolves, nursing leaders must be equipped to address emerging challenges, including faculty shortages, nurse retention, and the integration of emerging health technologies, Cullison said. “I truly believe that nurses are the backbone of our health care systems,” she continued. “And we (legislators) believe that we need to support them in any way we can, by incorporating the analysis of the data and its trends and listening to your voices, your leadership. That’s what’s going to help us understand the daily experiences and which factors most influence health care occupation choices.” Wrapping up the day, Crystal DeVance-Wilson, PhD ’19, MS ’06, MBA, BSN ’00, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor, vice chair of UMSON at the Universities at Shady Grove, and director of the MNWC, expressed gratitude for the Nurse Support Program (NSP) II  grant that supports the center; NSP II is funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “I cannot leave without once again mentioning the value of support that the NSP II gives us,” she said. “The NSP II team are encouraging, they’re honest, and they want this program to win in everything that we do.” She also said she is already looking forward to the 2026 symposium. “I’ll see you next year,” she told attendees. “No, I’ll see you before then, because we’re going to be doing lots of stuff in the coming months, so we’ll be in touch.”  

It’s amazing what you can grow in 10 years. In its decade of operation at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, the UM Scholars program has expanded from two students and two faculty mentors to 12 students placed with seven mentors. This year’s scholars are among 35 who have participated since 2016, 32 of whom have matriculated to UMSON. These are numbers that tell a story of a successful collaboration, part of the University of Maryland Strategic Partnership: MPowering the State. This alliance between the state’s two most powerful public research institutions — the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) — provides a summer opportunity for UMCP students to conduct important research alongside UMB faculty. Now more than ever, bolstering the conduit of early-career researchers is critical, paving the way for continuity and developing expertise. On July 31, UMSON celebrated the dozen UM Scholars who conducted nursing research during this year’s program, as they presented their findings, which included background, results, purpose and aim, methods, discussion and steps, acknowledgments, and references. “Once I became a bedside nurse, I became very aware of the need to do research when I was working in the NICU,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, NNP, FNAP, FAAN, the Bill and Joanne Conway Dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing and professor, during her opening remarks. “I wondered why babies who looked like me were more likely to die before they reached their first birthday. There are deep factors within our communities that often drive those outcomes. It took me on a wonderful path, but we can’t understand the drivers of poor health outcomes if we don’t do research, if we don’t have people who are curious like you.” As the scholars presented their research findings, they thanked their mentors and other supporters. Ogbolu reinforced this appreciation, saying, “Mentoring students in research is very important work, and sometimes those mentors become lifelong mentors. I’m sure they’ve put an imprint on you and your life.” The scholars shared aspects of their research that surprised them, which ranged from the amount of paperwork to the number of moving parts to the lack of research done to date. “I wasn’t expecting how collaborative research can be, especially at the beginning when you’re designing it,” said UM Scholar Georgia Bardi. The consensus among the scholars was for students to take advantage of opportunities to engage in research whenever possible. “If there’s a research opportunity, just go for it,” said UM Scholar Kayla Morris. “There are so many things that can be incorporated into it, whether you come from a background of computer science or you’ve never used an Excel spreadsheet. It also makes you grow up a little bit, getting to be in a professional setting all the time.” “You always are going to learn something new. You might love research, you might learn that you don’t,” Bardi added. “It helps you in your future; knowing what the process is behind it helps you understand it better.” This year’s scholars, mentors, and projects are: Ozioma Agoh | mentored by Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, professor: Investing in The Role of Expectations in a Virtual Reality-Based Intervention in People with Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) Ayanna Arroyo | mentored by Colloca: Effects of Immersive Virtual Reality on Experimental and Clinical Pain in Patients with TMD Georgia Bardi | mentored by Hannah Murphy Buc, PhD, RN, assistant professor:The New Imperative: Measuring Primary Palliative Care Education for Undergraduate Nursing Students Megha Chander | mentored by Colloca:Ongoing Study: Virtual Reality as a Home-Based Pain and Wellness Intervention in Cancer Survivors Zuzana Huserova | mentored by Colloca:The Impact of Social Discrepancy on Expectancy-Induced Analgesia: Preliminary Analysis Jackson Kerner | mentored by Amber Kleckner, PhD, assistant professor:Qualitative Analysis of Cancer Survivors’ Experience in Nutritional Clinical Trial Christina Lee | mentored by Kim Mooney-Doyle, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, FAAN, associate professor:Mapping Mindfulness to Reduce Psychosocial Suffering for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer Alejandra Mata | mentored by Buc:From Conference Presentation to Journal Publication: Restorative Practices to Strengthen Student-Faculty Relationships Kayla Morris | mentored by Colloca:Ongoing Investigation of The Impact of Virtual Reality on Orofacial Pain Intensity and Interference among Participants with TMD Rachel Ni | mentored by Ian Kleckner, PhD, MPH, associate professor:Efficacy of Exercise on Improving Cardiovascular Function in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Hooria Umer | mentored by Rachel Breman, PhD ’18, MPH, RN, FAWHONN, associate professor:Randomized Control Trial of Flange Fitting for NICU Pumping Parents to Explore Improved Milk Production and Satisfaction Daphney Waller | mentored by Colloca: Ongoing Study Investigating Virtual Reality as an At-Home Intervention for TMD

Three University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been awarded a collective $5.3 million in grants from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) to advance research aimed at improving the care and quality of life of older adults in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted-living facilities. Brittany Burch, PhD, RN, assistant professor; Joan Carpenter, PhD, CRNP, ACHPN, FGSA, FPCN, FAAN, associate professor; and N. Jennifer Klinedinst, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, FAHA, associate professor, will each lead projects that address critical issues affecting aging populations — from physical activity and hospital recovery to dementia care and apathy among long-term care residents. “This new research is critically important today as we develop the next generation of researchers and research ideas,” said Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor, Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, and associate dean for research. “It is these individuals who will help address and assure that the growing number of older adults anticipated over the next decade will receive the best possible and most up-to-date care.” Burch was awarded a five-year, $610,201 grant from the NIA for her project “Preserving Ability Through Virtual Exercise (PAVE): An Intervention to Increase the Physical Activity of Hospitalized Older Adults.” The study will focus on the use of virtual reality to increase older patients’ physical activity while minimizing hospital staff time investment. Although some studies have suggested that virtual reality physical activity is feasible among older adults and could help maintain physical function, these studies have been small, and a dearth of research exists in the hospital setting, where functional decline is widespread, according to Burch. The overall objective of the study is to: determine the feasibility of the virtual reality intervention among hospitalized older adults, compared to an education control group test the hypothesis that patients exposed to the virtual reality intervention will demonstrate greater time spent in physical activity throughout their hospital stay and better maintain their physical function when compared to those exposed to the education control. Carpenter was awarded a five-year, $3.9 million grant from the NIA for her project GOals of Care-ADdressing Variation for Alzheimer’s Disease Nursing Home Care at End of Life (GOC ADVANCE). Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) disproportionately impact Black Americans. Most people with ADRD and their family decision-makers prioritize comfort, yet burdensome interventions and lack of shared decision-making about goals of care are common in nursing homes with a high proportion of Black residents.  The study aims to conduct a real-world efficacy cluster randomized control trial comparing communication and care management outcomes among ADRD decision-makers in nursing homes implementing the GOC ADVANCE intervention. Additionally, the study will evaluate the implementation of the GOC ADVANCE intervention. Klinedinst was awarded a $802,000, two-year grant from the NIA for her project “The Volunteering-in-Place Program for Apathetic Assisted Living Residents with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias.” Apathy, defined as “the quantitative reduction of self-generated voluntary and purposeful behaviors” affects over half of individuals with ADRD. Apathy is associated with increased disability, poorer quality of life and mortality among older adults with ADRD. Moreover, apathetic adults with ADRD are also more likely to be sedentary for long periods of time, which results in declines in function, and negatively impacts overall health and quality of life. She will be the principal investigator in a research study to test the efficacy of an individualized volunteering intervention to decrease apathy and sedentary behavior in assisted living residents with mild to moderate cognitive impairment, including those with ADRD.  Additionally, she will explore self-efficacy and feelings of usefulness as mechanisms for volunteering to reduce apathy among assisted living residents with ADRD. These projects advance UMSON’s leadership in gerontological research and its commitment to improving outcomes for older adults in diverse care settings. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.