Students present research at Nashville nursing conference

Ten Salem State University nursing majors attended the National Student Nurses’ Association’s (NSNA) annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee in April, and four of them presented research that they conducted for their senior theses.

The students are all members of the university’s chapter of NSNA known as the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA). As part of the event in April, four of them, all seniors in the Commonwealth Honors Program, joined nursing students from across the country displaying posters that outlined their research.

“The importance of having our students attend the conference was twofold,” said Salem State Nursing Professor Marion Frost, who accompanied the group. “First, it provided them the opportunity to discuss their work with others in the nursing field. Secondly, our students got the chance to learn about the research that other nursing majors from across the country are doing.” 

Seniors presenting at the conference included:

• Kacy Cameron of Duxbury. Presenting thesis: “Myths, Implicit Bias, and Pain Disparities for Patients of Color in Emergency Department Settings.” 
• Alicia Donoso of Lynn. Presenting thesis: “Interventions to Reduce Overprescribing and Adverse Effects of Opioids for Post-Operative Pain Management.”
• Rachel Gray of Peabody. Presenting Thesis: “The Comprehensive Care of Pregnant Women with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): The Application of Evidence to Nursing Practice.”
• Kaleigh Lessieur of Lowell. Presenting Thesis: “Treatments for Adolescents Affected By Eating Disorders: A Systemic Review of Literature.”

Additional SSU student nursing leaders attending the conference:

• Molly Egan, of Norwood, on SNA’s executive board
• Kelsey Payne, of Everett, on SNA’s executive board
• Lauren Springer, of Arlington, on SNA’s executive board
• Erika Cheever of Revere, SNA member
• Julia Desharnais of Medford, SNA member
• Kassia Robinson-Hidas of Amherst, SNA member
• Lauren Springer, of Arlington, SNA member