Areas of Research Interests

• Gerontology
• Palliative care
• End of life

She is interested in model development and testing, developing web-based geriatric nursing curriculum, and evidenced based practice in end of life nursing. She would like to expand from research in oncology populations to end stage heart failure.

In her own words 

My extensive clinical experience motivates me to conduct research that will enable us to better understand how to improve quality of life for people in end of life. My personal commitment is exemplified by a career spent caring for older adults in acute care, long term care, and community care settings. 

The overall objective of my research is to develop a quality of life instrument for the older adult in end of life with HF.  Of particular interest is the effect of culture and spiritual/existential well-being on quality of life for the older adult with HF.  The development of an instrument to capture the experience of the end of life HF patient would enable the development of plans of care that positively impact quality of life in this at risk older population.

Faculty Mentor/Team

• Barbara J Riegel, DNSc, RN, FAAN, FAHA