Dr. Lois Evans teaches a required mental health and aging course and mentors doctoral and postdoctoral students in their research related to behaviors in dementia. As a faculty director, Dr. Evans played a major role in launching clinical practices of the School of Nursing, offering primary care to both frail elders and low-income families who otherwise might go without health care.

Dr. William J. Puentes' research focuses on the development and testing of a model to explain the dynamics of Simple Reminiscence, the type of reminiscence used to manage anxiety. This is the first step in the development of interventions generated from the model. Over the course of his 20-year career, Dr. Puentes has focused his clinical practice, research and teaching in the area of geropsychiatric nursing. Dr. Puentes' program of research, "The Simple Reminiscence Intervention: Impact on the Anxiety Levels of Individuals Diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Mild Alzheimer's Disease" represents the application of a reminiscence intervention to individuals in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's disease. We typically find significant co-morbidity in these individuals, such as anxiety. Development of interventions aimed at managing these comorbid conditions will improve quality of life for these individuals. Dr. Puentes will work in collaboration with the Alzheimer's Disease Center - University of Pennsylvania Health System as he conducts his study. Dr. Puentes is an Assistant Professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Nursing. He works primarily with undergraduate students in both classroom and clinical settings.

• July, 2004 – June, 2006: American Academy of Nursing/John A. Hartford Foundation; John A. Hartford Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Scholar
• Invited to attend John A. Hartford Foundation, Institute for Geriatric Nursing, 2002 Summer Scholars Program, New York University, New York, NY, June 17-21, 2002
• Invited to attend Research Training: Developing Nurse Scientists, National Institute of Nursing Research & Clinical Center Nursing Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, July 18-21, 2000
• August, 1988, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nurses, Eta Mu Chapter

RESEARCH PROJECTS (GRANTS, PILOT STUDIES)

• 07/03 to 06/05, Principal Investigator - Busch Biomedical Research Grant; Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; funds to support a pilot study entitled, "Anxiety, Coping and Simple Reminiscence." This study was designed to evaluate sampling, instrumentation, methodology and intervention structure to be used in a larger study regarding the use of Simple Reminiscence as an anxiety management strategy.
• 05/00 to 12/01, Principal Investigator - Christian R. & Mary F. Lindback Foundation Minority Junior Faculty Award Grant to fund costs associated with a descriptive correlational study entitled, "Coping Styles, Anxiety Levels and Simple Reminiscence in Healthy, Community-Residing Older Adults". This descriptive correlational study was developed to evaluate the dynamics and characteristics of the concept of Simple Reminiscence.

• Puentes, W. J. (In Press). Abstract: Development and Empirical Validation of the Stress Adaptation Model of Simple Reminiscence. The Gerontologist, (Accepted for publication July 23, 2004).
• Puentes, W. J. (2004). Cognitive therapy integrated with life review techniques: An eclectic treatment approach for affective symptoms in older adults. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 13(1), 84-89.
• Puentes, W. J., & Wassel, M. (2003). Using Peer Education to Enhance Family Life Education. The Journal of School Nursing, 19(6), 313-318.
• Puentes, W. J. (2002). Simple Reminiscence: A Stress-Adaptation Model of the Phenomenon. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 23(5), 497-511.
• Puentes, W. J. (2002). Abstract: Coping styles, time orientation and reminiscence . The Gerontologist, 42(Special Issue 1), 395.
• Puentes, W. J. (2001). Coping styles, stress levels and the occurrence of spontaneous Simple Reminiscence in older adult nursing home residents. Issues In Mental Health Nursing, 22(1), 51-61.
• Puentes, W. J., & Cayer, C. A. (2001). Effects of a modified version of Feeley's 'Campus Wellness Vacation' on baccalaureate registered nurse students' knowledge of and attitudes toward older adults . Journal of Nursing Education, 40(2), 86-89.
• Puentes, W. J. (2000). Using Social Reminiscence to teach therapeutic communication skills . Geriatric Nursing, 21(6), 315-318.
• Puentes, W. J. (1999). Effects of Reminiscence Learning on nurses' attitudes and empathy with older adults. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31(1), 94.
• Puentes, W. J. (1998). Incorporating Simple Reminiscence techniques into acute care nursing practice. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 24(2), 14-20

• Puentes, W. J. (2004). Development and Empirical Validation of the Stress Adaptation Model of Simple Reminiscence. In T. W. Pierce (Chair) Stories with a Purpose: Perspectives on Explaining the Therapeutic Effects of Reminiscence and Life Review. Symposium conducted at the 57th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Washington, DC, November 19-23, 2004 (Accepted for presentation July 23, 2004).
• Puentes, W. J. (2003). The Stress Adaptation Model of Simple Reminiscence: A Framework for Understanding the Coping Function of Reminiscence. In International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review (Eds.) Program and Abstracts: International Reminiscence and Life Review Conference 2003, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, October 8-11, 2003. Madison, WI: International Institute for Reminiscence and Life Review.
• Puentes, W. J. (2003). Simple Reminiscence and Coping: A Descriptive Correlational Study. In Royal College of Nursing (Eds.) Program and Abstracts: Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference, Manchester, England, UK, April 10-12, 2003. London, UK: Royal College of Nursing.
• Puentes, W. J. (2002). Coping styles, time orientation and reminiscence. In the Gerontological Society of America (Eds.) Program and Abstracts: The Gerontological Society of America's 55th Annual Scientific Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, November 22-26, 2002. Washington, DC: The Gerontological Society of America.
• Puentes, W. J. (1998). Reminiscence: A Proposed Taxonomy of the Phenomena. In Southeastern Conference of Clinical Specialists in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (Eds.) Program and Abstracts: The Twentieth Annual Southeastern Conference of Clinical Specialists in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee, September 23-26, 1998. Nashville, TN: Southeastern Conference of Clinical Specialists in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing.
• Puentes, W. J. (1998). Effects of a Reminiscence Learning Experience on Registered Nurses' attitudes toward and empathy with older adults. In Jacksonville University School of Nursing (Eds.) Program and Abstracts: Evaluation of Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice, Jacksonville, Florida, January 23, 1998. Jacksonville, FL: Jacksonville University School of Nursing.
• Puentes, W. J. (1997). Effects of a Reminiscence Learning Experience on Registered Nurses' attitudes toward and empathy with older adults. In Sigma Theta Tau International (Eds.) Program and Abstracts: 9th International Nursing Research Congress, Vancouver, Canada, June 20 & 21, 1997. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
• Puentes, W. J. (1996). Effects of a Reminiscence Learning Experience on Registered Nurses' attitudes toward older adults. Program and Abstracts: National AJN Conference, Orlando, Florida, October 20-23, 1996. New York: American Journal of Nursing.