In May 2015, Drs. Sharon Denham, Kathyrn Anderson, and Marcia Van Riper provided their family nursing expertise in the doctoral intensive education week as part of the Interprofessional Approach to Prepare APNs to Care For Underserved Families Dealing with Multiple Chronic Conditions grant awarded to Georgia Southern University School of Nursing (Dr. Deborah Allen, PI) by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Research and Service Administration (HRSA). The purpose of the grant project is to incorporate an interprofessional education (IPE) model into the graduate nursing program (MSN-FNP, BSN-DNP) at Georgia Southern University (GSU) to serve the needs of rural and underserved communities, so they can treat persons with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) upon graduation. The program design includes families as care recipients.
Dr. Sharon Denham shared her expertise and research on working with families with chronic illness, particularly focusing on diabetes research and illness management. Dr. Marcia Van Riper instructed students about genetics and genomics in chronic illness and the considerations for caring for families with multiple chronic conditions. Dr. Kathryn Anderson shared her expertise on how family and personality characteristics influence provider relationships in interdisciplinary teams and adjustment to graduate school. Students who complete the program will be eligible to receive a certificate from GSU in Interdisciplinary Approaches with Underserved Families in Multiple Chronic Conditions to address the healthcare needs of rural persons with multiple chronic conditions (MCC), veterans, and their families in Georgia. For more information contact IFNA member, Kathyrn Anderson: [email protected]