June 1, 2017 | There are few times nurses from various backgrounds and specialties are able to come together and learn from one another. More than 300 nurses and nursing students from Arkansas and surrounding states had that opportunity April 21 at UAMS at the Arkansas Nursing Research Conference.
The conference is a collaboration between UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System that allows nurses from administration, clinical, faculty and education settings to present research and receive feedback. This year’s theme was “Nursing Research Across the Lifespan.”
“It’s one of the few opportunities we get to come together, share and learn from one another,” said Patricia Wright, PhD, event chair and assistant professor in the UAMS College of Nursing. “For some students, this might be their first and only exposure to research not found in a textbook. They get to hear from other nurses doing research and see their results. Faculty and clinicians are able to disseminate their research to a wider audience and learn about new scientific findings.”
There were more than 100 peer-reviewed abstracts presented, including 31 from BSN students, 11 from master’s students, 13 from DNP students, 13 from PhD students and 20 from clinicians.
Nursing students and professionals were present from UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Baptist Health, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Southern Arkansas University, Henderson State University, the University of Central Arkansas, Texas A&M and the University of Texas.
In addition to numerous learning opportunities, Ellyn Matthews, PhD, associate professor in the College of Nursing, said the conference is an excellent setting for College of Nursing students and faculty to present research conducted across its numerous programs, and network with other nurses in the state. Matthews served as chair of the abstract subcommittee for the conference.
Alexa Stuifbergen, PhD, was the event’s keynote speaker. Stuifbergen is dean of the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Nursing. She spoke about her more than 20 years of research on chronic and disabling conditions.