February 22, 2024

College ranks 6th among public institutions

For the first time in its history, The Ohio State University College of Nursing vaulted into the nation’s top 10 colleges of nursing in funding support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research (BRIMR), an independent nonprofit organization, compiled research funding amounts for colleges of nursing throughout the United States. Ohio State ranks #10 overall and #6 among public institutions with $7.8 million in NIH grant support. This recognition highlights the college's growing reputation and firm commitment to advancing healthcare research and nursing science. 

"This outstanding achievement is only possible because of the tireless dedication, innovation and impact of our nurse scientists and their student protégés,” said Karen Rose, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, dean and professor of the College of Nursing. “I often say that if Ohio State can’t change and shape the future of healthcare, I don’t know who can. We are so proud of our Buckeye nurses and researchers who answer their calling to care every day." 

Since 2006, BRIMR has published rankings of institutions, departments and investigators based on the funding they receive from NIH, specifically recognizing institutions that secure this funding to support research initiatives that drive scientific discovery and advance healthcare delivery and quality.

“I could not be more grateful to work with such passionate, collaborative, forward-thinking individuals who are dedicated to identifying pathways to advance knowledge and improve lives,” said Susie Breitenstein, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor and senior associate dean for research and innovation at the College of Nursing. “This milestone is not an endpoint, but rather continued motivation for us to pursue academic and research excellence that identifies healthcare solutions that will benefit humanity.”

December 21, 2023

Despite improvements in recovery procedures and outcomes after cardiac surgery, impaired cognitive function is still a quite common complication. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 2.6 million American adults over age 65 develop delirium each year and cardiac surgery patients are among the most at risk for postoperative delirium.

October 16, 2023

Professors Jodi Ford and Natasha Slesnick lead a new $6.9M NIH/NIDA grant to create tested approaches for nurses, counselors, community and mental health service professionals to intervene

October 16, 2023

Published report documents invasive mental health questions on nursing licensure applications across U.S.

A new national review conducted by The Ohio State University and published today by the top-tier journal Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing finds that nearly three-quarters of the United States use nursing licensure applications that include intrusive and stigma-inducing questions regarding mental health and substance use that can discourage nurses from seeking the help they may need.

“Far too often, nurses forgo mental health care that they need because of stigma and fear of losing their jobs,” said Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, vice president for health promotion and chief wellness officer at The Ohio State University and Helene Fuld Health Trust professor of evidence-based practice at Ohio State’s College of Nursing, who led the review. “Some of the questions we found in applications used across the country go far beyond any current situation or ask for unnecessary information that deepens stigma and deters nurses from seeking needed treatment. We must do better for the people who we desperately need and count on to take care of us.”


To view the special webinar hosted on October 30
featuring Dr. Melnyk and J. Corey Feist from the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation,
please click on this link.


This Phase I audit examined licensure applications for registered nurses (RN) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) nationwide using a standardized toolkit created by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and endorsed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The Remove Intrusive Mental Health Questions from Licensure and Credentialing Applications Toolkit includes a checklist through which to judge the application questions, including whether the questions:

  1. Surpass current impairment, contain invasive language or request disclosure around mental health
  2. Mention time-off or breaks in practice relating to mental health or substance use
  3. Include non-supportive language
  4. Ask about past treatment
  5. Include unnecessary fine print
  6. Separate mental and physical health

At least one application for both RN and APRN applicants was obtained from 41 states. Only RN applications were obtained from six states, while only APRN applications were obtained from three states. In the course of the review of the applications obtained, only 13 states – Hawaii, California, Utah, Arizona, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, Maryland, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts – fully adhered to the tool-kit checklist and were deemed “compliant,” mostly due to not including any mental health or substance use questions.

The next phase of this work will include a verification review by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation. J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA, president and co-founder of the foundation, led a similar review of state medical boards and health systems.

“It is imperative for the future of healthcare and our healthcare system that we look very closely at how we are supporting clinicians in all facets, including in what we ask them on licensure applications,” Feist said. “It may be unintentional, but invasive questions and requests threaten to drive more people away from treatment or out of healthcare altogether. If we are serious as a country about destigmatizing mental health, then urgent action is needed to rectify this situation for our healthcare heroes.”

The audit notes that the Federation of State Medical Boards “released recommendations [in 2018] concerning removal of invasive mental health and substance use questions from physician licensure applications … The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has not released comparable guidance.”

“We are eager to partner with the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and work shoulder-to-shoulder to develop standardized recommendations that serve to lift the mental health stigma that is still pervasive across our nation for our most trusted profession,” Melnyk said. “With the high level of burnout, mental health issues and suicide rate in nurses, we must do all we can to support and help nurses who are struggling to get needed treatment.”

The Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation created a WellBeing First Champions program for its state medical board/health system review. It is working on launching a national Champions Challenge to extend the program for nursing licensure as this work progresses.

October 16, 2023

Innovative study may have major future impact on maternal-infant health

The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research (NIH/NINR) has awarded Shannon Gillespie, PhD, RN, assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, and Seuli Brill, MD, FAAP, FACP, associate professor at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, a five-year, $3.8 million grant to study how models of postpartum primary care affect the health of mothers and infants during the first year after childbirth.

Their clinical trial, entitled "The mom and infant outcomes study: A trial of perinatal outpatient delivery systems” (The MOMI Study) aims to produce critical data toward addressing pregnancy-related illness and death, which has more than doubled over the last twenty years, particularly among minoritized and low-income populations.

"Our long-term goal is to reduce risk for pregnancy-related illness and death by systematically delivering exceptional care to mothers and infants using models that are effective, equitable, and scalable," Gillespie explained. "By critically considering how care is delivered, we hope to address the alarming and persistent socioeconomic, racial, and ethnic disparities in pregnancy-related illness and death witnessed in nations such as the United States and improve overall maternal and infant health outcomes." 

Co-investigators for this project include Kamilah Dixon, PhD; McKenzie Jancsura, PhD, RN; Alicia Bunger, PhD; and Lai Wei, PhD, MS. Together, this transdisciplinary team will compare two approaches to maternal and infant care during the year after childbirth, particularly among mothers and infants that are transitioning out of high-risk pregnancy. While the approaches both offer the standard components of primary care, they differ based on how patients are scheduled, how healthcare providers communicate, how the health history informs care, and how referrals are made. In a randomized controlled study like the MOMI Study, participants will be assigned to a model of care, and their health will be tracked over time and compared.

If successful, findings from this clinical trial will be disseminated through the Ohio Care Innovation and Community Improvement Program (CICIP) and the state's Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network. The MOMI Study aligns with relevant state and national initiatives on maternal health innovation and evidence-based practice and equity, many of which aim to prevent and better address complications during pregnancy and postpartum.

Gillespie shared that this research is more than a research project; it's a calling driven by her experiences. "I became a nurse 15 years ago, inspired by the loss of my mother at a young age," said Gillespie. "Being part of this remarkable team and having the opportunity to contribute to improving the care of every mother and baby is a deeply personal and meaningful endeavor for me." 

September 15, 2023

Dr. Failla to study pain in adults with autism

The National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NIH/NINDS) has awarded Michelle Failla, PhD, research assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing, a five-year, $2.6 million grant to understand how pain is experienced by adults with autism.

The prestigious R01 grant supports Failla’s study entitled “Measurement and mechanisms of pain in autistic adults.” Failla and her team will conduct carefully-designed, laboratory-based tests with safety measures incorporated to understand how autistic and non-autistic adults between the ages of 18 and 40 respond to pain. The tests will involve applying pressure and heat to measure sensitivity and pain thresholds, complemented by surveys to assess pain, mood and general health. The team will also use MRI technology to see how the participants’ brains react to pain.

“Most health care providers might ask what your pain is on a scale of 1-10, but we’re trying to find out if there is a better scale for autistic adults,” said Failla, who will serve as principal investigator. “We're also looking into factors that might contribute to more long-lasting pain in autistic adults. For example, autistic people are often more sensitive to things like clothing tags or bright lights, and we want to know if these sensitivities affect how they feel pain.”

Failla said the team’s ultimate goal is to improve pain management and overall health for autistic individuals, including develop new methods for assessment.

“Everyone deserves to have their pain adequately managed,” Failla explained. “For autistic adults, who may be experiencing more pain than others and have more difficulty communicating about their pain, it is important that we develop proper tools to address their pain. Pain is often the first sign of illness or injury, so differences in how people feel or express pain can lead to delays in diagnosing and treating serious health conditions.”

Co-investigators from Ohio State who are joining Failla in this work include three affiliate faculty with the Nisonger Center, a federally-funded University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities: Luc Lecavalier, PhD, Katherine Walton, PhD and Jewel Crasta, PhD. Alai Tan, PhD, research professor at the College of Nursing, will serve as the statistician.

June 29, 2023

Christina Dyar to study cannabis use disorder risk among LGBTQ+ individuals

The National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA) has awarded Christina Dyar, PhD, assistant professor at The Ohio State University College of Nursing and a Provost’s Early Career Scholar, a five-year, $3.5 million grant for a study aimed at identifying factors associated with an increased risk for cannabis use disorder among LGBTQ+ individuals.

The prestigious R01 grant supports Dyar’s study entitled “Testing a multistage model of risk factors for cannabis use utilizing a measurement burst design among sexual minority women, sexual minority gender diverse individuals and heterosexual women.”

“LGB+ women and non-binary individuals are four times more likely to have a cannabis use disorder compared to cisgender, heterosexual individuals,” said Dyar, who will serve as the principal investigator. “Understanding factors contributing to cannabis use and cannabis use disorder among LGBTQ+ individuals can help us to identify factors that could be targeted in interventions that aim to help LGBTQ+ individuals who want to decrease their cannabis use. Such interventions, in turn, can help to reduce elevated rates of cannabis use disorder affecting this population.”

Dyar explained that cannabis use disorder “refers to continued use of cannabis despite experiencing substantial consequences as a result of one’s use, as well as difficulty quitting or cutting down on cannabis use.” Among other things, Dyar and her team will study risk processes that may contribute to progression from recreational use to cannabis use disorder, including microaggressions targeting LGBTQ+ individuals. Participants in the study (both LGBTQ+ and heterosexual) will complete semi-annual bursts of daily surveys to share their experiences and use of cannabis and other substances.

“The results of this study will inform the development of interventions to help LGBTQ+ individuals who want to reduce or stop using cannabis,” Dyar said.

Co-investigators joining Dyar in this work include Debra Kaysen, PhD, from Stanford University and Christine Lee, PhD, and Isaac Rhew, PhD, from the University of Washington.

April 13, 2023

College ranks #16 overall, #9 among public institutions

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State University College of Nursing continues to rank in the top 10 public colleges/schools of nursing throughout the country for research funding support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The college ranked #16 overall out of 89 institutions and #9 among public universities. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the College of Nursing earned nearly $5 million in primary NIH research funding in 2022. Overall, the college has totaled an institutional high of more than $14M in external grant funds to support research and training in FY2022.

Our College of Nursing researchers continue to tackle challenges faced by Ohioans and people across the nation, said Karen Rose, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, Vice Dean. “Finding solutions to promote optimal health and well-being and conquering health issues that face many of us is the hallmark of Ohio State College of Nursing research.”

College of Nursing research funded by the NIH in 2022:

Residential treatment for adolescents through behavioral parent training

Kayla Herbell, PhD, RN and Co-Investigators Susie Breitenstein, PhD, RN, FNAP, FAAN, Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN and Alai Tan, PhD received a three-year $708,750 R34 grant from the NIH/National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The study, “Optimizing residential treatment gains for adolescents through tailored behavioral parent training,” will use an established web-based parent training program called Parenting Wisely to help families with adolescents aged 11-17 transition from psychiatric residential treatment (RT) to the community. By providing parents with tailored education and support, parents will be equipped with the behavior management skill set to provide structure in the home and ultimately sustain RT treatment gains.

Improving sexual minority health among rural vs. urban populations

Ethan Morgan, PhD received a two-year $172,776 R03 grant funded by the NIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The study, “Improving sexual minority health: differences in substance use, substance use treatment, and associated chronic diseases among Rural vs. Urban populations,” aims to further research on differences between populations in terms of use and success of substance abuse treatment programs. Rural environments suffer from a lack of treatment options and an increased burden of substance use disorders. 

“The broad goals of this project are not only to reduce the burden of substance use on rural communities but to also identify and eliminate health disparities between urban and rural sexual minorities,” Morgan said about the project.

A promising start to NIH funding in FY2023:

Diabetes health disparities in African American populations

Jie Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN and Co-Investigators Lorraine C. Mion, PhD, RN, FAAN, Suzanne Bartle-Haring, PhD, Joshua J. Joseph, MD, MPH, FAHA and Carla K. Miller, PhD received a three-year $945,000 R01 grant funded by the NIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for the study titled, “A Family-Dyad-Focused Diabetes Self-Management Intervention for African American Adults with Type 2 Diabetes.” The study focuses on health disparities in diabetes that disproportionately affect the health of African American people by using a dyadic-centered approach that values African American culture of interdependence. It tests a diabetes self-management intervention with the goal of improving diabetes management for African American adults with type 2 diabetes.

Cognitive training for cancer-related cognitive impairment

Diane Von Ah, PhD, RN, FAAN and Co-Investigators Patricia Ganz, MD (MPI), Brenna McDonald, MBA, PsyD, ABPP-CN (MPI) and Hanna Bandos, PhD received a five-year $2,766,520 R01 grant funded by the NIH/National Cancer Institute (NCI) for the study titled, “Cognitive Training for Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI): A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.” The study is the first national-scale test. It will use a computerized cognitive training program against a computerized active attention control program to improve self-reported and objective cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors with cancer and cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment. It will be conducted in collaboration with the NCI’s National Community Oncology Research Program at their national clinical trials network sites. The results will be used to guide clinicians’ recommendations and treatment selections for managing breast cancer survivors with cancer and CRCI.

“We are so proud of the vibrant scientific community in our College of Nursing and the tremendous impact that College of Nursing researchers have on pressing problems in health promotion and disease prevention,” said Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, Senior Associate Dean for Research and Innovation. “Importantly, our researchers are working to understand and eliminate health disparities among persons in marginalized and underserved groups.”

March 30, 2023

The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) today unveiled plans for the Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Statewide Resource Program, a collaborative effort led by ODA in partnership with The Ohio State University College of Nursing, the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and several other contributing organizations.

The statewide initiative will use several approaches to build and develop a dementia-prepared caregiver workforce in Ohio. The program’s plans include providing an array of resources to paid and unpaid caregivers and industry professionals, including:

  • Training and education resources (in-person and online) 
  • Statewide screening tools and risk assessment for use in clinical/health care and community-based settings
  • Creating toolkits to link individuals with appropriate community services
  • Developing a referral process/tool for individuals experiencing cognitive decline
  • Opening the state’s first Caregiver Center for Dementia Care at The Ohio State University College of Nursing to support services, research, education and policy development

The new program will draw on the findings and recommendations of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force, established in 2019 by Amended Senate Bill 24. It will also follow recommendations included in the National Plan to Address Alzheimer’s Disease (2022) and examine national trends in dementia care.

“By partnering with such a strong collective of organizations, this innovative program will provide a new level of coordination and sophistication in how we support individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as well as their caregivers, in Ohio,” said Ursel J. McElroy, ODA Director and Chair of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Task Force. “We will provide critical resources and tools, develop a qualified and well-trained workforce, and ultimately improve the lives of older Ohioans and their families.”

The program will first focus on developing and implementing the statewide screening tool and the referral process/tool. The goal is to have these in place by summer 2023. The training curriculum for industry professionals, family caregivers, and the general public is expected to be available by October 2023. 

The plan also calls for the opening of a statewide Caregiver Center for Dementia Care in central Ohio this year. The new center will have both an in-person and virtual presence, focused on developing and strengthening the knowledge, skills and support of family and professional caregivers. The center will also emphasize outreach to underserved populations and older Ohioans with the greatest economic or social need.

“We are grateful for a strong cadre of research and clinical practice faculty – with deep experience in gerontology, dementia assessment and caregiving – who wake up every morning motivated to discover new avenues to help older adults living with dementia and to advocate for the caregivers who support them,” said Karen Rose, vice dean and director of the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care at Ohio State’s College of Nursing. “This center is a dream that is coming to fruition, and not a moment too soon. It is so easy for caregivers to feel like they’re on an island, and they need and deserve all the support we can provide.”

ODA secured over $4 million in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services funding through an interagency agreement with ODM, which helped support the Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias Statewide Resource Program.

“Ohio Department of Medicaid is excited to partner with the Ohio Department of Aging to improve both the family and professional caregiver workforce for dementia care in Ohio,” said Ohio Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran. “Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias impact so many Ohioans and their families. It is incredibly important to help support these caregivers and this project will allow us to do so much more to provide this needed support.”

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 220,000 older Ohioans live with Alzheimer’s disease, impacting one out of every nine Ohioans, and likely more due to under-detection.

Additional partner organizations in the initiative include:

  • Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
  • MemoryLane Care Services
  • Ohio-based chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association
  • Ohio Council for Cognitive Health
  • Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University
  • Summit County Combined General Health District
March 22, 2023

The National Institute of Health (NIH)/National Cancer Institute (NCI) has awarded a five-year $2,766,520 R01 grant to fund the study titled, “Cognitive Training for Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment: A Multi-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.” The grant was awarded to Diane Von Ah, PhD, RN, FAAN, Distinguished Professor of Cancer Research and Director of Cancer Research in the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care at The Ohio State College of Nursing. Co-investigators include Patricia Ganz, MD (MPI), University of California Los Angeles Fielding School of Public Health and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; Brenna McDonald, MBA, PsyD, ABPP-CN (MPI), Indiana University School of Medicine and Hanna Bandos, PhD, NRG Statistics and Data Management Center.

The study, which is the first national-scale test, focuses on a computerized cognitive training program against a computerized active attention control program. It will be conducted in collaboration with the NCI’s National Community Oncology Research Program at their national clinical trials network sites. The results will be used to improve self-reported and objective cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors with cancer and Cancer-related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI). Findings from this study will provide evidence to guide clinicians’ recommendations and survivors’ treatment selections for managing this prevalent, persistent, disruptive and often debilitating problem.

“This is such an incredibly important clinical problem that has been given relatively little attention,” said Von Ah, who also serves as co-director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center through the Wexner Medical Center’s James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute. “With this funding, we will be able to build upon my previous research to test this intervention and if found to be efficacious, it will provide hope and options to millions of breast cancer survivors suffering from cognitive concerns.”

Cognitive complaints are a common side effect linked to cancer treatment. According to Von Ah, 75% of breast cancer survivors express cognitive concerns resulting from treatment that can impair recovery, work ability and quality of life for survivors. Von Ah said interventional research for this issue is limited and there are no definitive evidence-based guidelines to address CRCI.

“It is an honor to work with other amazing expert clinicians and researchers across the United States that are dedicated to improving the lives of breast cancer survivors with CRCI,” said Von Ah.