Faculty Scholarship Showcase

Louise Sullivan, Ph.D., R.N.

Associate Professor | Nursing

Dr. Sullivan has been a full-time faculty member in the Nursing department since 2015. She began her career in health-care as a staff nurse, and achieved her PhD in Nursing from University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in 2015. Dr. Sullivan’s research interests include the Long-Term Care (LTC) population, exploring Human Animal Interactions, and promoting student engagement with an interest in advancing knowledge in these areas. Her scholarly endeavors have drawn from her experience in healthcare, collaborative research efforts, and commitment to student engagement. In 2019 she began working with the Nursing Student Research group on research projects involving pet therapy and college student stress with former Salve faculty member Dr. Ellen McCarty.

Engaging Undergraduate Nursing Students in Collaborative Research

Louise Sullivan, Ellen F. McCarty, Emily Wood, and Emily Cabral

Background:   Nurses are expected to base practice on evidence from research, which requires an understanding of the research process. However, baccalaureate nursing students may find research courses uninteresting or feel unprepared to conduct research. Participation in experiential research projects may affect their research attitudes, knowledge, and skills.
Method:   Nursing investigators engaged nursing students in an experiential, active learning research project centered on the effects of pet interaction involving university students. Faculty mentored and partnered with nursing students, immersing them in all research processes.
Results:   Students confirmed that participation in the project enhanced their understanding of research, improved their clinical and communication skills, and fostered professional growth. Students presented results in a scientific poster at the University’s research event.
Conclusion:   Collaborative faculty-student research projects enhance students’ interest in and appreciation of evidence- based research, and support professional development, confidence in assuming research roles, and feelings of connection with faculty, each other, and the university.

Access
Journal of Nursing Education, April 2024
Abstract Only:   DOI 10.3928/01484834-20240318-01
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