Visiting scholar headlines Collaborative Nursing Research Day

The 24th Annual Collaborative Nursing Research Day will be held from 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the East Carolina Heart Institute.

The free event provides a venue for continuing education while giving nurses an opportunity to learn measures to speed translation of research. The event’s keynote speaker is Dr. Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, an internationally recognized expert in interventional research and champion of evidence-based practice.

“Collaborative Research Day is a real gift to nurses in this area, especially when you consider Dr. Melnyk, her expertise and her national reputation,” said Dr. Patricia Crane, East Carolina University College of Nursing associate dean for research and creative activity.

Melnyk is associate vice president for health promotion and university chief wellness officer at Ohio State University. She also is dean of the OSU College of Nursing and professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the college of medicine. Her record includes more than $19 million of sponsored funding from federal agencies as principal investigator. She has produced more than 250 publications and is co-editor of four books.

In addition to the keynote address, the event will include research poster sessions in completed research, evidence-based practice scholarship projects and literature reviews or synthesis of research.

“Supporting scholarship, honoring projects at different phases and acknowledging the contribution of people at all levels helps us grow the science of nursing,” Crane said.

Those attending the program will include registered nurses from various practice settings, nursing school faculty and nursing students. Organizers expect about 200 attendees and hope to continue to grow the event in the future.

Collaborative Research Day is jointly organized by the East Carolina University College of Nursing, Vidant Health System, the Beta Nu chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Eastern Area Health Education Center Department of Nursing Education.

There is no charge to attend the program, but registration is required. Register at www.eahec.ecu.edu by Feb. 6. Visit www.ecu.edu/cs-dhs/nursing/research_cnrd.cfm to download the full event program and a PDF registration form.

— Elizabeth Willy, College of Nursing