Brittany Punches

Image
Brittany Punches portrait
First Name
Brittany
Last Name
Punches
Credentials
PhD, RN, CEN, FAEN
Associate Professor
Address
1577 Neil Avenue
City
Columbus
State
OH
Zip Code
43210

 

Research Interest

Dr. Brittany Punches, an Associate Professor at the Ohio State College of Nursing, is a doctorally-prepared nurse scientist and emergency care researcher with significant experience in emergency department (ED) clinical operations, patient perceptions of emergency care, and qualitative methods. Her research is focused on 1) addressing the complex phenomenon of trauma recovery, pain, and addiction, 2) understanding patient, nurse, and provider interactions and experiences in episodic, acute care environments such as the ED and 3) translating that understanding into effective health services and behavioral interventions that are demonstrated to improve health outcomes.

Dr. Punches’ clinical and scientific training focus on applying health service research to develop and test emergency care prevention interventions to address population health. Her primary focus surround disparities in pain management, substance use, and trauma recovery. Her work is funded by a NIH/NIDA K08 mentored grant encompassing development and psychometric testing of a decision-making instrument for opioid use following an emergency department visit for acute pain. Her long-term goal is to optimize emergency care psychosocial interventions to prevent and increase access to treatment.

View all published works

Publications
Recent Research Activities

News

October 21, 2025

New research shows that overall, the prevalence of adverse and positive childhood experiences reported by parents of teenagers hasn’t changed substantially in the United States in recent years. 

The findings suggest that interventions designed to boost positive family experiences and shield children from negative experiences may not be hitting the mark on a national scale, the study’s authors say.

Read the Ohio State News story

October 10, 2025

The Ohio State University is investing $14 million into expanding one of its programs.

The university plans to nearly double undergraduate enrollment within the College of Nursing amid a nationwide nursing shortage.

“We need to answer that call, answer the calling to care and help people in the healthcare community,” said Dr. Wendy Bowles, Associate Dean for Baccalaureate Programs at Ohio State’s College of Nursing.