Research Interest Groups
Advancing nursing science through collaborative research with RIGs
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Collaborative Research with RIGs
Research Interest Groups (RIGs) provide a dynamic platform for faculty and students to collaborate on advancing nursing science. These groups foster interdisciplinary dialogue, support innovative research initiatives, and promote scholarly development across a wide range of health-related topics. RIGs serve as incubators for impactful research that aligns with the School’s mission to lead through excellence by improving health outcomes.
Health Equity, Population and Community Health
Reduce and ultimately eliminate the systemic and structural inequities that place some at an unfair, unjust, and avoidable disadvantage in attaining their full health potential. Research addresses critical challenges that shape health within and across populations and communities.
Population and community health research focuses on factors that shape the distribution of health within and across populations/communities, examines pathways/mechanisms through which these factors shape the health of individuals, or examines interventions and other approaches to improve the health of populations/communities. These include interventions that are developed in partnership with communities in medically underserved areas of Kentucky, and the education of nurse practitioners from diverse populations, including underrepresented minorities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Lead:
Luz Huntington-Moskos - Air quality and asthma in adolescents, community-engaged research, and rural exposure to environmental factors (metals, extreme weather, climate change, etc).
Mental Health and Health Promotion
Identify effective approaches to improve mental health and quality of life by addressing the conditions in which people are born, grow, learn, play, live, and age, and their structural drivers.
Lead:
Candace Harrington – Gerontology Nurse Scientist, risk and autonomy in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, and social determinants of health of caregivers of patients with AD/ADRD
Patient Safety and Systems/Models of Care
Changes in nursing resources and practice over time within hospitals are related to changes in quality of care and patient safety. Administrators and policymakers must consider this information when determining ways to improve healthcare, patient safety and improve quality of care.
Lead:
Imelda Wright – Normalization of deviance, and operating room safety and culture
Innovations in Nursing Education
This group explores strategies, technologies, and pedagogical models that enhance learning outcomes, and prepare nurses for the evolving demands of healthcare. The goal is to bring together educators, researchers, and practitioners committed to explore advancements in curriculum design, including competency-based models and interprofessional learning, while embracing technology-enhanced instruction such as simulation, virtual reality, and AI-driven platforms. This RIG supports faculty development through novel approaches to mentoring and teaching effectiveness, and prioritizes student engagement by promoting resilience-building strategies. Additionally, the group investigates evaluation and assessment frameworks to measure learning outcomes and program impact.
Lead:
Oncology
The Oncology Research Interest Group provides a collaborative platform for faculty and students to advance nursing science related to cancer care. This group fosters interdisciplinary dialogue, and promotes scholarly development focused on improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by cancer. Areas of interest include cancer prevention and screening, survivorship, psychosocial oncology, symptom management, and health equity in cancer care.
Lead:
Jean Edward