Telephone tobacco quitlines are effective at helping people to quit, but they often fail to reach a diverse population of smokers, particularly men and people of color.

Quitlines mainly use a cognitive-behavioral approach, with techniques that have been used for many years. New research, however, suggests guided imagery can be effective in helping smokers quit.

Guided imagery is a form of visualization in which a coach helps smokers harness the power of their minds in addition to changing their behaviors.  Guided imagery has been used by coaches and athletes for decades to help them succeed.

Now, powered by results from her recent See Me Smoke Free study with women smokers, University of Arizona College of Nursing Professor and Interim Associate Dean for Research Judith S. Gordon, PhD, hopes to use guided imagery to help smokers quit. This is the first study to develop and evaluate a telephone-based, guided imagery smoking-cessation program.

“The prevalence of smoking is at an all-time low,” Dr. Gordon says. “However, some groups of people still are not getting the help they need. If you look at who is smoking, it’s generally people who have lower incomes and therefore less access to care. What we’re trying to do is get our message out to those people that there is help if you want to quit smoking.”

Dr. Gordon’s Be Smoke Free program, funded by a $700,000 grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, now is open to smokers throughout Arizona. 

“We know telephone quit coaching works, and we know that guided imagery has helped athletes win. So, we’re hoping that by using this guided imagery approach, smokers will be more open to trying something new." ~ Dr. Judith Gordon

The Be Smoke Free program offers participants six weekly coaching sessions delivered over the phone, four weeks of nicotine patches or lozenges, and web-based tools at no cost. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two types of coaching: guided imagery or a standard intervention.

Both programs include individual attention and development of a personal quit plan. The standard intervention focuses on changing behaviors, while the guided imagery intervention coaches also work with participants to develop guided imagery audio files that can be reviewed on their phone, computer or MP3 player. 

Dr. Gordon’s team is reaching out to all smokers, particularly men and diverse racial/ethnic groups to offer a new opportunity to quit.

“We know telephone quit coaching works, and we know that guided imagery has helped athletes win. So, we’re hoping that by using this guided imagery approach, smokers will be more open to trying something new,” she says.

The goal for this phase of Dr. Gordon’s study is to recruit 100 active participants in the randomized trial. In the first three months of the trial, the team enrolled more than 50 participants. In addition to help with quitting, participants also receive $50 for taking part in the study. Feedback from participants has been very positive. One participant commented, “[My coach] was very knowledgeable. I have quit multiple times in the past, and have never felt so well prepared. I am proud to say that I am both smoke and nicotine free.”

The developmental Be Smoke Free study has the potential to advance the science of tobacco cessation through the addition of guided imagery, and improve public health through increased reach of telephone quitlines. Dr. Gordon hopes that results from the study will set the stage for a larger, national study designed to test the effectiveness of the guided imagery quitline program.

For more information about joining the Be Smoke Free program, please click here, call 520-626-4243 or email besmokefree@email.arizona.edu.

For more information about the study, please contact Dr. Gordon at 520-626-4970 or judithg@email.arizona.edu.

In July, the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA) announced the 2018 class of APNA Board of Directors Student Scholars. Fourth-year University of Arizona College of Nursing dual DNP (PMHNP)/PhD  student Brooke Finley was among 15 graduate students from across the country that were selected for the honor. She and her fellow scholars receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the APNA 32^nd Annual Conference in Columbus, Ohio in October, as well as a one-year complimentary membership in APNA. The intent of the scholarship is to enable the honorees to connect to psychiatric-mental health nurses at all levels and develop their professional skills.

“Brooke is one of those students that as a chair, you can guide but the most valuable thing to do is to stay out of her way and watch her bloom.” said Kimberly Shea, PhD, RN, CHPN, UA College of Nursing professor.

Take a few minutes to learn more about Brooke and her exciting honor:

What kind of skill development will this scholarship enable?

It’s a huge networking opportunity. You get to meet with all of the key players who are involved in APNA, including the board of directors and the president, and additionally you have a chance to network and do some coaching with other students.

What does this scholarship mean to you?

I’ve been on the Leadership Board of the Arizona APNA for the past year-and-a-half, and I’ve gone to many of the trainings that they’ve offered. I’m also a journal reviewer for the APNA Journal, so it’s a really great recognition of the efforts that I’ve put into the APNA, both nationally and with our local Arizona chapter. The BOD scholarship will allow me to connect on a national level to help support the local chapter. Also, as a student, this will really help me with networking and taking the board certification exam after I graduate.

“Every day is different, every day is interesting. I love what I do and wouldn't want to do anything else." ~ Brooke Finley, Fourth-Year dual DNP (PMHNP)/PhD student 

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

I volunteered in a hospital for two years during high school. I got more responsibilities as time went on and I ended up being a nurse’s assistant on a medical-surgical floor. At the time, I actually wanted to be an English teacher but I loved how in nursing you could hear about people’s lives and their stories - their progress as human beings - and I realized that in nursing you can do that but you actually get to see the rewards immediately through your actions helping someone during a difficult period of their life.

What drew you to pursue a psych-mental health specialty?

It wasn’t until I did clinicals that I realized I wanted to do psych, which was by far the most interesting rotation to me. Before that, I didn’t have a great understanding of what mental illness was, although many of the people that I loved or cared about suffered from it. I always just saw them as human beings first, so it was easy for me to connect with patients, and really want to help them, and not be judgmental. Once I had that experience and realized I had a knack for it, it was such an easy fit. When I’ve been practicing as a psychiatric nurse, there hasn’t been one day when I haven’t wanted to go into work. Every day is different, every day is interesting. I love what Ido and I wouldn't want to do anything else.

What features of your program really made you passionate about your studies?

I got into the program doing research and I had the best mentors to help me with graduate school getting started. Like Dr. Jane Carrington, Dr. Sheila Gephart, Dr. Kimberly Shea, Dr. Barbara Brewer, and Dr. Kate Sheppard were all of my mentors through the graduate journey, and I just wanted to stay because I just felt so supported and respected as a person here.

On Friday, August 15, University of Arizona College of Nursing Clinical Assistant Professor Theresa E. Allison, DNP, FNP-C, led a group of UA CON Nurse Practitioner Faculty to provide sports physicals to underserved children at the Roberts Naylor K-8 School.

A majority of Roberts Naylor students are from low-income backgrounds, which means their parents are unable to afford to pay out of pocket for a sports physical, a requirement from the State of Arizona for any middle to high school students who wish to participate in sports.  Thanks to Dr. Allison and her team, students who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in sports received the necessary screening.

“It’s a head-to-toe physical exam,” says Dr. Allison. “With a focus on heart and musculoskeletal systems, listening and looking for any abnormalities which could cause serious medical problems if not detected before they played a sport.”

The physicals are particularly beneficial, she points out, because by getting children active and interested in sports helps them both physically and mentally. “Hopefully this pattern continues into high school and potentially be an avenue to get a college scholarship and allow them get a higher education,” she says.

“The fact that amazing individuals came to our school to give free physicals to our students means so much to our students and community." ~ Principal Bernadette Rosthenhausler-Espinoza, Roberts Naylor K-8

Judith Burrola, UA College of Nursing administrative assistant and part of the team that assisted with the physicals, has a special connection to the project. “I attended Naylor Middle School in 1995 and was one of the students that could not play sports due to not being able to pay for a physical exam,” she says. “It meant a lot to be a part of this event and see students receive the physicals that they need so they can be a part of sports that they are passionate about.”   

Principal Bernadette Rosthenhausler-Espinoza also had nothing but warm words for the service the UA CON provides to her students. “The fact that amazing individuals came to our school to give free physicals to our students means so much to our students and community ,” she says. “We have many parents from other countries and parents who want their children to play in interscholastic sports but the fact is, many of our parents don't have transportation or resources to get physicals for their children. This is the first year that we are able to begin with interscholastics specifically volleyball and basketball. Because of your community service we now have a cheerleading squad as well. The physicals and participation in sports will create pride within our school, it will create a sense of team, unification of a student body and  individual student-athletes who are striving to better themselves.”

Dr. Judith Gordon, PhD, has been appointed Interim Associate Dean for Research at the UA College of Nursing, effective Aug. 31. She will replace Dr. Usha Menon, who has accepted a position of Associate Vice-Dean for Research at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

In her UA administrative leadership role, Dr. Menon has been an inspiring voice for promoting nursing and health research, engagement and productivity. A nationally -connected and highly knowledgeable researcher in health disparities and cancer screening for prevention, Dr. Menon has catalyzed an incredibly effective research environment at the college through team-building and mentoring many individual researchers. In addition, she was Co-PI and Participant Engagement Director for the All of US Research Program, bringing her community participatory expertise to this large and interprofessional national initiative.

Please join in giving a fond farewell to a passionate and intelligent nurse researcher who leaves a legacy of unparalleled success at the UA College Office of Nursing Research.

Dr.  Gordon will pick up the baton as Interim Associate Dean for Research.  She is currently the Executive Director of Research Initiatives in the Office of Nursing Research, and through this role has been integrated into the activities of the Office. She is a leading expert on tobacco cessation and prevention with more than  20 years of high-level research experience and has been the PI or Co-Investigator on more than 30 projects funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and private foundations.  She recently received a $1.5 million grant, in conjunction with colleagues in Oregon, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to enhance an evidence-based tobacco-prevention program for fifth and sixth graders.

Please join in congratulating Dr. Gordon and we look forward to the continued success that she will bring the research team at the UA College of Nursing.

Ida (Ki) Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN

Interim Dean

UA College of Nursing

On August 15, each incoming FNP DNP-2 student was given a new iPad to use for their academic and clinical learning for the entire 2019 clinical year. All told, 43 students and the 10 core faculty members who are involved received the devices to continue to enhance the College’s ability to leverage technology to better connect and engage students and connect them to faculty.

Funded by a $20,000 sub-award of the Graduate Nursing Education grant, the funding focused on supporting clinical education for Nurse Practitioner students. The project became a reality thanks to support from the College's Office of Learning & Healthcare Technology Innovations (LHTI). 

FNP Program Coordinator and Director of Practice Innovations, Allen Prettyman, PhD, notes that the online FNP program has embraced the use of technology since the program’s inception. But the goal is to take the College’s commitment to technology to the next level. “We’re innovating in the use of technology embedded in an education platform,” says Dr. Prettyman. “Other schools have been exploring how to use technology in online education, but the faculty team at the College of Nursing is striving to be leader in using technology in innovative ways to enhance the student experience.”

“Other schools have been exploring how to use technology in online education, but the faculty team at the College of Nursing is striving to be a leader in using technology in innovative ways to enhance the student experience." ~ Dr. Allen Prettyman

The integration of iPads into the clinical curriculum for Family Nurse Practitioner students will give Dr. Prettyman and his colleagues the ability to continually innovate and engage students in an immersive educational experience. “We will monitor the advantages this will have for our students in clinical environments,” he says. The iPad program fits perfectly with the College’s focus on developing telehealth strategies focusing on rural health. Students will be equipped to complete their clinical evaluation process using the new technology, a vast improvement from more cumbersome technology models that came before, such as a Chromebook and a conference tower that had to be shipped to clinical sites.

As for the future? “Once the first year is completed, we’ll be assessing whether this might work for other programs,” says Dr. Prettyman. “Down the road, we plan to develop this use of technology as an area for ongoing study.”

The College of Nursing has a robust history of enriching its programs through innovative technology. Results have included telehealth training for students, work to tailor the electronic health record to best support the needs of nurses, and faculty forays into the business world with an invention that prevents the health-related downsides of immobility and a start-up early detection alert system that will vastly improve patient outcomes.

Dear Friends, Colleagues and Alumni:

It is with very mixed emotions that I send this message to inform you that I have stepped out of my position as the Dean of the University of Arizona College of Nursing.  The joy for me is that I will continue in a faculty role to provide leadership within special and focused realms. 

“It has been my honor to serve as your Dean for the past nine years and I am very proud of what we have accomplished together." ~ Dean Joan Shaver

Senior Vice-President for the Health Sciences, Dr. Michael Dake conducted a search for the next Dean of Nursing and has selected Dr. Ida “Ki” Moore as Interim Dean.  You can be sure that this will make for a seamless transition and continue a tradition of excellence that we have all come to expect from the College.  Ki is a long-time member of the faculty, a dedicated teacher, accomplished researcher and passionate nurse. She has been a member of the administrative team all through my deanship, is very knowledgeable about all facets of the College and will be superb in leading the college mission and facilitating the working relationships with all of you.

It has been my honor to serve as your Dean for the past nine years and I am very proud of what we have accomplished together. Thanks to dedicated division and unit leaders, faculty and staff, we are focused on the student experience with attention to inclusiveness, diversity and preparing nurses for the future of healthcare. Through collaborative teamwork, faculty are breaking down conventional education models and generating new and novel modes of learning. Mentoring is extraordinary across all our programs.

We have continually evolved our efforts to serve communities that now, more than ever, need qualified healthcare professionals. We have grown our degree programs by two to three times and the faculty team has more than doubled. We derive pride from the cadre of successfully funded researchers in signature areas of nursing and health-related research.  We have established a faculty practice domain that is unique, versatile and ready for new versions.  We are expanding our community outreach to professionals in nursing and health care through innovative continual professional education, often in partnership with practice partners; and to the lay community through consultations and presentations. We are positioning to expand our global connections.  Our staff colleagues are teamed to provide essential and highly competent support for reaching our existing, emerging and ever lofty goals.  You can see that we will continue to build on a solid foundation that started with the inauguration of the College in 1957. 

It is with utmost sincerity that I thank you for unwavering support for the UA Wildcat College of Nursing during my tenure as Dean.   It is through your generous service, financial and moral support that we have prospered.   With your continued support, I know that the College will reach even greater heights!  

Warmest regards,

Joan L. Shaver, PhD, RN, FAAN

Professor and Dean

UA College of Nursing

On Tuesday, July 10, 23 campers enrolled in PharmCamp paid a special visit to the University of Arizona College of Nursing as part of an interdisciplinary activity with our Arizona Nursing Inclusive Excellence (ANIE) students. In a win-win situation, the nursing students got a chance to give back to the community, and the PharmCamp kids learned about the role nurses play in health care. After campers toured the College of Nursing and participated in simulation lab activities in the Steele Innovative Learning Center (SILC), some of them expressed interest in pursuing a future career in nursing.

“It was amazing to have the opportunity to share the knowledge I have gained during my first year of nursing school with such enthusiastic and intelligent students!” says third-semester senior in the BSN program, who interacted with the campers. “A handful of the PharmCamp students ended their day at the College of Nursing with a newfound interest in nursing and I am proud to have played a part in inspiring them.”

A successful annual community outreach program conducted by the UA College of Pharmacy, PharmCamp introduces 800 diverse middle school students from Southern Arizona to a one-week experience of supervised activities and workshops, laboratory exercises, presentations and discussions, field trips and visits.

UA College of Nursing Class of 2018: Marion Cook

MEPN student; Vice President MEPN Organization 2017-2018; from Tucson

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

I started off studying translation and interpretation at the University of Arizona, where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Interpretation. As part of those studies, medical interpretation was a subject matter that I found really interesting. It inspired me to move into a more hands-on career than translation and interpretation, where you are less involved in patient care. I began taking pre-nursing and volunteering at a free clinic on the Southside called Clinica Amistad, because it’s important for me to help people who aren’t proficient in English get better access to the health care system. I fell in love and decided I didn’t want to do anything else.

What drew you to the UA College of Nursing?

I’m from Tucson, so I was really into the idea of staying here. This is my home and I love this city. Additionally, the UA College of Nursing has an excellent reputation with very high rankings. It has a stellar NCLEX passage rate, and the employment rate six months after graduation is around 98%. I already have a job offer from St. Mary’s Hospital that I accepted in June.

What features of your program are you especially passionate about?

Nursing’s really special because there are a lot of cool things you can study. Where else can you go to school and see a baby born or view an open-heart surgery? As a nursing student at the UA, you get these wonderful once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Even as a professional nurse, you’ll have to specialize and you won’t be able to experience all these different kinds of things in your career.

What faculty particularly made an impression on you?

Patricia Wilger is my favorite faculty member. She was my instructor for med-surg and behavioral health, which is her specialty. Behavioral Health requires a lot of empathy. Not only does she have a huge capacity for love, but she’s also very knowledgeable, supportive and understanding. She really made a big difference for me. Darese Taylor, my faculty mentor, is another great instructor. She’s a NICU nurse who does a lot of the BNP lectures, which are always so much fun.

Can you share a favorite memory from your time at the College of Nursing?

There was a day when I was scheduled to go into the Operating Room at the VA when I had one of those ‘Wow, being a nursing student is so cool’ moments. Typically, it’s a boring shift because they don’t have a whole lot of traffic, so I wasn’t expecting much, but that was the day I saw an open-heart surgery. I witnessed an aortic valve replacement. The patient’s heart was beating right in front of me. They stopped his heart, put him on bypass, and started it back up again. It’s amazing what you do in health care. It’s just one of those things that not a lot of people get to see in their lives.

What are your hopes for the future?

I want to work as an RN for at least five years. Eventually, I really want to apply to the DNP program and become a Family Nurse Practitioner.   As an RN in a patient setting, where you’re mostly treating disease as it has already progressed, I think I’d eventually like to move into primary care to prevent disease from happening in the first place. That’s my ultimate goal, I think.