Dr. J. Margo Brooks Carthon, Professor and Associate Director at the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, continues to make significant strides in advancing nursing and health equity. Her THRIVE: Equity-focused Transitional Care Model was recently designated as an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing, recognizing it as an exemplary, nurse-designed approach that delivers meaningful clinical, financial, and community outcomes. This prestigious designation highlights the innovative impact of the THRIVE model in addressing health disparities through sustainable, scalable solutions. In addition to this accomplishment, Dr. Brooks Carthon was honored with AcademyHealth2024 IRGNI Mentorship Award, a testament to her profound influence on those she has guided and mentored throughout her career. Further reflecting her leadership and expertise, she was appointed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Board in February, where she continues to champion equitable healthcare practices. [More]

Although EU Horizon funding has ended, the Magnet4Europe initiative will continue its impactful work through ongoing partnerships between European and US Magnet® hospitals. Several hospitals have completed their twinning collaborations, while many others are committed to sustaining the progress made in clinician well-being. Plans include an annual in-person conference, the expansion of the network to new countries, and continued technical assistance to European hospitals. Magnet4Europe Study Directors, CHOPR Founding Director, Dr. Linda H. Aiken and Co-Director, Prof. Walter Sermeus are presenting the findings from the Magnet4Europe intervention trial evaluation at the National Magnet/Pathway Conference in New Orleans, October 31, 2024. 

A recent study published in Medical Care reveals that replacing registered nurses (RNs) with lower-wage staff, such as licensed practical nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel, in hospital care settings leads to increased patient mortality, higher readmissions, longer hospital stays, lower patient satisfaction, and elevated costs of care. The research, conducted by CHOPR faculty, Drs. Karen Lasater, K. Jane Muir, Douglas Sloane, Matthew D. McHugh and Linda H. Aiken underscores the dangers of alternative nurse staffing models in high-stakes hospital care. These findings have generated significant media attention, with The Washington Post running a feature, titled "Study: Subbing lower-paid staff for RNs could cause patient deaths," sparking over 270 comments. Some other notable placements include: Becker’s Hospital Review, NewsGram, and The Day. [More]

Dr. Rebecca R.S. Clark, CHOPR faculty member and Assistant Professor of Perinatal Nursing, Midwifery, and Women’s Health, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Maternal Mortality Review Committee (MMRC) as a registered nurse representing maternal healthcare. In this role, she will contribute her expertise to addressing maternal health challenges across the state. Dr. Clark’s appointment marks an important step in her ongoing work to improve maternal outcomes and reduce health disparities. [More]

We’re excited to officially welcome Dr. K. Jane Muir, as Assistant Professor at Penn Nursing! Jane is no stranger to us, having spent the past two years as a postdoctoral fellow at CHOPR. In addition to her role at Penn Nursing, she holds a dual appointment in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Penn Medicine. Her research continues to focus on improving timely and equitable care, especially in emergency departments and community health clinics, with a particular passion for reducing emergency department re-visits for patients with limited English proficiency. She’s also dedicated to minimizing workplace violence exposure for clinicians—a vital topic for our community. Beyond her academic work, Jane practices as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Puentes de Salud.

CHOPR Welcomes New Research Project Manager

Erin Babe is an experienced public health professional with expertise in project management, research, and program development. She has extensive experience in cultivating stakeholder relationships, coordinating interdisciplinary collaborations, and utilizing data to inform policy and decision-making to promote health equity and remove barriers to care. Her knowledge in leadership development and addressing barriers to care through her work with federally qualified health centers brings a unique and rich perspective to the important health equity research Dr. J. Brooks Carthon facilitates at CHOPR.

Dr. Linda H. Aiken has been recognized among the top female scientists in the world in Research.com’s Top 1000 Female Scientists, a testament to her continued impact in nursing and healthcare research. Rankings are determined using a scholar’s H-index, reflecting their significant contributions to the field. Notably, Dr. Aiken’s research has been cited nearly 70,000 times in the literature, further solidifying her influence on the global healthcare landscape. [More]

Dr. Karen Lasater, Associate Professor of Nursing at CHOPR has been appointed Associate Director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research. In this role, she will continue to advance the Center’s mission of improving healthcare outcomes through policy-relevant research, focusing on critical issues like nurse staffing, hospital quality, and patient safety. Her appointment reflects her longstanding commitment to improving healthcare delivery through evidence-based research and her leadership in shaping policy that promotes better health outcomes.

Dr. Rebecca R.S. Clark, CHOPR Faculty member; and, Dr. Danielle Altares Sarik, CHOPR Senior Fellow, have been selected for Fellowship in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), a prestigious recognition of their substantial and lasting contributions to health and healthcare. Their induction will take place during the 2024 Health Policy Conference on November 2, where they will officially become Fellows and be granted the FAAN credential. 

Dr. Christopher R. Friese, the Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor of Nursing and a nationally recognized leader in improving cancer care delivery, has been named Vice Provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan. Friese brings a wealth of experience in nursing research, workforce development, and health care policy. He is a proud alumnus and Senior Fellow of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his PhD. His research, which has shaped clinical practice guidelines and health policy, continues to impact patient outcomes across high-risk care environments. In this new role, Friese aims to further support faculty excellence and development across the university. [More]

Dr. Danielle Altares Sarik, Director of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice for Nicklaus Children's Hospital, joins the 2024 cohort of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators. Her fellowship project focuses on addressing pediatric health equity through nurse-led NICU transition models, with mentorship from CHOPR Associate Director, Dr. J. Margo Brooks Carthon. Notably, her nurse-designed model project, "Baby Steps: Nurse-led Telehealth for Transition of Care," was recognized as an AAN Edge Runner, underscoring her innovative contributions to improving transitional care.

Dr. Linda Flynn, Professor and Dean, recently retired from her role as Dean of the Rutgers School of Nursing, concluding a distinguished tenure marked by transformative leadership and advocacy for nursing education. Before first arriving at Rutgers in 2003, Flynn completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. Linda H. Aiken. The 2024 summer issue of Rutgers Nursing paid tribute to her remarkable contributions with a feature titled "A Leader of Leaders," highlighting her efforts to expand academic programs, foster research, and elevate the school’s national standing. Dean Flynn's legacy continues to inspire the next generation of nursing professionals and scholars. [More]

Dr. James Buchan, Professor, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, has received an honorary fellowship from the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). The ACN is the peak professional body and leader of the nursing profession. Dr. Buchan is also a Senior Fellow of the Health Foundation, an independent charitable organization working to build a healthier UK. Buchan has a new blog on nurse safe staffing from the Health Foundation.

Dr. Frances Hughes, Registered Nurse and General Manager of Nursing and Clinical at Oceania Healthcare, participated as a panelist at the Health Summit in New Zealand. She joined the Honourable Matt Doocey, Minister of Mental Health, Rachel Smalley, and Rachel Brown, CEO of the National Hau Ora Coalition, for a discussion titled "Using Localism Strategies to Create Solutions for Mental Health." Dr. Hughes contributed valuable insights on the use of digital technologies in health innovations for mental health.

Dr. Julie A. Fairman, Penn Emeritus Professor of Nursing and CHOPR Senior Fellow, has been recognized as a 2024 Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing. This prestigious honor highlights her profound impact on nursing history, education, and health policy. Former Penn Professor and distinguished geriatric nurse leader, Dr. Mathy D. Mezey also was named as a Living Legend.

Dr. Lusine Poghosyan, Stone Foundation and Elise D. Fish Professor of Nursing and Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia, has been selected to receive the 2024 Welch/Woerner Path-Paver Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research. This prestigious recognition honors her pioneering contributions to nursing research and leadership.

Dr. Allison Squires, Professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, has been selected to participate in an international policy project aimed at addressing the intersection of climate change and health. This initiative, organized by the Global Observatory on Planetary Health, will bring together top experts from various fields to develop policy recommendations that mitigate the health impacts of climate change. Dr. Squires’ selection reflects her expertise in health policy and her commitment to global health, furthering her contributions to shaping international health strategies. [More]

Our recent study on COVID-19 and nurse staffing, published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies, has garnered significant media attention. Dr. Linda H. Aiken and Dr. Karen Lasater were quoted in the following stories:

CHOPR Research in the Media

Revolutionizing Nurse Work Environment Research

New research from the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research (CHOPR) has validated a streamlined version of the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI). This innovative tool, called the PES-5, simplifies the measurement of nurse work environments around the globe. Dr. Eileen T. Lake, the Edith Clemmer Steinbright Professor in Gerontology and CHOPR Associate Director, originally authored the PES-NWI in 2002 and is the lead author of this publication in Research in Nursing & Health. [More]

Lake ET, Gil J, Moronski L, Mchugh MD, Aiken LH, Lasater KB. Validation of a short form of the practice environment scale of the nursing work index: The PES‐5. Research in Nursing & Health. 2024 Apr 26.

Carthon JM, Brom H, Maye A, Iroegbu C, Gil J, Rizzo J, Amenyedor K, Montalvo W, Villarruel AM. Burnout and psychological distress among Hispanic nurses across Illinois and New York hospitals: Implications for structural and person-centered solutions. Nursing Outlook. 2024 Sep 1;72(5):102234.

Lasater KB, Muir KJ, Sloane DM, McHugh MD, Aiken LH. Alternative models of nurse staffing may be dangerous in high-stakes hospital care. Medical Care. 2024 Jul 1;62(7):434-40.

Lake ET, Smith JG, Rogowski JA, Cramer E, Hovsepian V, Chen H, Weldeab N, Ulrich C. Nurses’ moral distress and leadership communication in hospitals serving Black patients during COVID-19. Nursing Outlook. 2024 Jul 1;72(4):102189.

Catania G, Zanini M, Musio ME, Aiken L, Sasso L, Bagnasco A. CN53 Healthcare professionals’ wellbeing in post-pandemic oncology settings: A cross-sectional multisite study. Annals of Oncology. 2024 Sep 1;35:S1184.

Lasater KB, McHugh MD, Aiken LH. Hospital nurse staffing variation and Covid-19 deaths: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2024;158:104830. 

Maier CB, Gurisch C, Köppen J, Kleine J, Aiken LH. Nurse‐sensitive quality and benchmarking in hospitals striving for Magnet® or Pathway® designation: A qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2024 May 27.

Mason A, Spatz D, Clark R, Lake E. Literature review of the influence of hospital nursing resources on breastfeeding outcomes. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing 2024.

Rosenbaum KE, Lasater KB, McHugh MD, Lake ET. Hospital performance on Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System ratings: associations with nursing factors. Medical Care. 2024 May 1;62(5):288-95.

Riman KA, (...) Lasater KB, Montgomery AP, Olanrewsju S, Porat-Dahlerbruch J, Smith JG. Investing in the future of nursing: insights from the AcademyHealth Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues preconference. Journal of Nursing Regulation. 2024 Jul 1;15(2):57-60.

The CHOPR Newsletter is published by
The Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. [October 1, 2024]