The Indiana University School of Nursing will take center stage as faculty, students, and research partners share an impressive slate of scholarship at the 50th Annual Midwest Nursing Research Society Research Conference on March 30–April 2 in St. Louis. This milestone event offers a premier opportunity to showcase the depth, innovation, and real-world impact of IU’s nursing research community.
Across competitive poster sessions, paper presentations, and symposia, the School of Nursing will be represented by 20 faculty members and more than 30 graduate and undergraduate students and research partners, underscoring the school’s commitment to advancing nursing science and preparing future nurse leaders.
“MNRS is one of the premier venues for nursing science, bringing together hundreds of researchers each year to share innovative work and advance the field,” said Wendy Trueblood Miller, PhD, RN, executive associate dean for research. “When our faculty and students present and engage at MNRS, it highlights the school’s research strength, visibility, and leadership among peer institutions, reinforcing our reputation for scholarly excellence and our active role in shaping the future of nursing science.”
Listening, Leading, and Innovating
The conference opens March 30 with “The Pulse: MNRS Listening Series,” led by Jamie Rausch, PhD, RN, assistant professor at IU School of Nursing in Fort Wayne. This session will provide MNRS members with a confidential and supportive space to share insights, raise concerns, and celebrate successes, while helping guide the organization’s future direction.
On Tuesday, IU’s leadership in nursing informatics will be on display when Rebecca Bartlett Ellis, PhD, RN, dean of IU Graduate School Indianapolis, joins colleagues from across the Big Ten Academic Alliance for a panel on expanding informatics capacity in nursing education.
“Nursing education must prepare nurses to turn data and technology into better care,” Ellis said. “Nursing informatics provides the knowledge and skills nurses need to navigate an increasingly digital healthcare system.”
A Strong Start to IU's Research Showcase
Tuesday afternoon’s Competitive Abstract Poster Session highlights faculty- and student-led research addressing some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges. Among the featured presentations, Trueblood Miller and PhD candidate Jennifer Alwine will share findings on recruitment and retention strategies within Indiana’s National Diabetes Prevention Programs, identifying gaps that may limit participation among high-risk populations.
Also featured is a comprehensive systematic review led by Rausch and Drs. Melanie Gall, Kristin Bassett, Maria Hines, Lanae’ McAllister, and Chidiebele Obichi, which examines the impact of concept mapping on students’ critical thinking and clinical judgment.
“This poster reflects more than a year’s work for six Fort Wayne faculty and three additional collaborators,” Rausch said. “Using this data, our goal is to adjust our teaching strategies to improve students’ learning. We are proud of our work and look forward to sharing our findings.”
Undergraduate student scholarship is also strongly represented. Britney Arce, PhD, and senior Honors students will present research examining the health effects of artificially sweetened versus sugar-sweetened products and the effects of a diet high in saturated vs unsaturated fats on health outcomes in adults. A third honors poster, also mentored by Arce, explores how IU School of Nursing’s free regional health clinics address preventive care gaps while strengthening students’ clinical skills.
“Our participation in MNRS reflects the IU School of Nursing’s commitment to developing evidence-based nurse leaders,” said student researcher Colin Frank. “It teaches students that nursing research is essential to critically evaluating evidence and translating science into meaningful improvements in care.”
Additional presentations include research from Bethany Murray, PhD, RN, on teaching motivational interviewing skills in undergraduate mental health clinical settings and a team that includes Julie L. Otte, PhD, RN, evaluating an app-delivered hypnosis intervention to reduce menopausal hot flashes.
Student Scholarship in Action
During Tuesday’s Student Poster Competition, IU School of Nursing’s BSN Honors students continue to represent the school alongside faculty mentor Andrea Tanner, PhD, RN, presenting research focused on student mental health in school nursing practice.
“I hope attendees at MNRS will stop by to view our honors students’ poster and learn more about the critical role school nurses play in supporting the mental health of students in grades K–12,” Tanner said. “Visitors will gain insight into the many challenges school nurses face when addressing identified mental health needs, while also learning how nurses across specialties and settings can advocate for student mental health and support school nurses in this essential work.”
The day’s final poster session will also feature research by Greg Carter, PhD, RN, Margie Clouse (IU Health), and Trueblood Miller examining predictors and pathways associated with sexual assault evidence collection. Their findings hold important implications for forensic nursing, trauma-informed care, and advancing justice for survivors.
Transforming Symptom Science
One of Wednesday’s signature sessions features Eric Vachon, PhD, RN, who will present as part of the symposium “Transforming Symptom Science: Insights, Innovations, and Impact.” The session highlights innovative research that advances how symptoms are measured, understood, and managed across diverse populations and settings, while encouraging knowledge sharing and translating symptom science into real-world impact. Vachon will also be recognized with the Symptom Science RIIG Early Career Investigator Award during the conference.
Supporting Patients, Caregivers, and Kids
On Wednesday afternoon, IU School of Nursing research teams return to the spotlight during another competitive poster session focused on supporting patients and caregivers. The team of Victoria Champion, PhD, RN, will present a review of the mental, physical, and social challenges faced by informal caregivers of cancer patients in rural areas, including isolation and limited access to care.
Drs. Trueblood Miller, Anna McDaniel, and Rachel Wion will share research on developing an effort-based activity instrument for middle-aged and older adults, demonstrating the School of Nursing’s commitment to improving health and independence among seniors. The undergraduate research team of Bethany Murray, PhD, RN, will present findings on organizational strategies to reduce burnout and secondary trauma among trauma-adjacent caregivers.
The afternoon poster competitions will also highlight the work of two PhD students. Kaitlyn Depinet examines whole-person, regenerative approaches to chronic wound care and highlights how better coordination, nutrition, and supportive care can improve healing outcomes, quality of life, and costs. And Tanner Sergesketter explores effective communication between nurses and pediatric caregivers who use languages other than English, with implications for interpretation practices and nurse–caregiver relationships. PhD candidate and School of Nursing faculty member Erin Wyatt will also present findings from her dissertation on transgender women’s experiences seeking preventive care.
An additional poster by School of Nursing DNP student Mary Lou Palmer will examine adherence to evidence-based antibiotic prescribing guidelines for urinary tract infections in urgent care.
The conference will conclude with a final presentation from a research team mentored by Drs. Draucker and Tanner, examining the barriers and supports school nurses encounter when providing student mental healthcare, shaped by factors at the nurse, school system, community, and practice levels.