August 2024

The leading cause of disability for people living in the U.S., chronic pain affects nearly 20 percent of the nation’s population. Rural residents with chronic pain often face geographical barriers to treatment. Add in the well-documented opioid epidemic, and for many patients, the perfect storm of reduced access to care coupled with potentially addictive medications can pose seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Associate Professor Mitch Knisely, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, PMGT-BC, FAAN, is seeking to address that very problem with an innovative new approach.

Button batteries are a part of everyday life, found in thousands of appliances and household items like remote controls, toys, and greetings cards. However, their shiny appearance often attracts young children, leading to accidental ingestion. Duke School of Nursing’s Emily Funk, DNP, CRNA, recently published a review of literature in The Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing that investigated this little known, but unfortunately common, threat to pediatric health.

Duke School of Nursing doctoral students Kevin Gao, MSN, RN-BC, and Bonnie Hunt, BSN, RN, CCRN, have been named by Jonas Nursing and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) as Jonas Scholars for the program’s 2024-2026 cohort. Providing $12,000 of university-matched student support over two years, the program aims to improve healthcare by expanding the pool of PhD and DNP-prepared nurses needed to educate the next generation of nurse leaders. Scholars receive an additional $6,000 if they serve in a faculty role for at least a year after graduation.

In June 2024, the Duke School of Nursing’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging hosted eight students on campus for its summer MAP program (Mentoring to Increase Access to Health Professions). Particularly focused on supporting underrepresented minority students, the program addresses known barriers to successful progression in healthcare education by offering mentorship from health professionals and faculty. This mentorship is crucial in helping students navigate the complexities of health profession programs and achieve their career goals.

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