Ph.D. (Nursing), Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX, (1983); M.S. in Maternal-Child Health Nursing with Honors, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL.(1976); B.S.N. with Honors, University of Minnesota at Mankato (formerly Mankato State University), Mankato, MN (1972.)

Invited member, Leadership Education and Policy Group, University of Pennsylvania Health Care Policy Institute, Washington, D.C., July 7-12, 2008; Research Fellow, Summer Nursing Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Academic years 2007-2008; Chiron Research Fellow, Sigma Theta Tau International Honorary Society for Nurses, 2004-2005;Postdoctoral Fellowship: Intervention to Prevent and Manage Chronic Illness (Institutional National Service Award, NINR), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 1997-1999.

Teaching Responsibilities

Maternity Nursing Practicum
Critical inquiry into Health Care Systems
Culture and Ethics in Nursing
Research
Health care policy professional projects

Research Interests

Current research area:  Mexican American cancer caregiving experience; spirituality with cancer caregiving; influence of family on health promotion of diverse women; ethical issues and cultural issues related to client care.

Other research interests: Health promotion of ethnically diverse women; influence of work on health; qualitative and triangulation approaches to research methodology; ethical approaches to teaching and to delivery of health care.

Selected Publications

“Perceived Mood, Health, and Burden in Female Mexican American Family Caregivers” (in press).    (co-authors J.N. Wells, P. Bradley, M.L. Hollen, & D. Marshall).  Health Care for Women International.

“Voices of Mexican American Caregivers for Family Member with Cancer:  On Becoming Stronger” (2008). (co-authors J.N. Wells, P. Bradley, & D. Barnes).  Journal of Transcultural Nursing.  19(3), 223-233.

Weaving Theory and Literature for Understanding Mexican-American Cancer Caregiving (2007) (co-authors J. N.Wells, M. L. Hollen, & P. Bradley).  Hispanic Health Care International, 5(4), 149-161.

Student Understanding of Culturally and Ethically Responsive Care: Implications for Nursing Curricula (2006). Nursing Education Perspectives, 27, 308-314.

Voiced Needs of the Mexican-American Family Caregiver: Directions for Clinical Practice (2006). (co-authors J. N. Wells  & P. Bradley). Nursing 2006, 36(7), 20-21.

Using Imaginative Literature in Clinical Courses to Improve Student Outcomes (2006). (co-authors C. A. Walker and P. Newcomb). Journal of Theory Construction & Testing, 10(1), 6-10.

Using Imaginative Literature to Foster Cultural Sensitivity (January 19, 2006). (co-authors P. Newcomb & C.A. Walker).  International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship.  3(1) art 4.

Prenatal, Preschool, and School-age Child, chapters, revised, Health Promotion Throughout  the Lifespan (6th ed.) 2006 (pp. 344-375, 466-501). In C.L. Edelman and C.L. Mantle (Eds.), Mosby: St. Louis.

Age and Ageism: Inhabiting the Lives of Well Elders, (co-authors C. A. Walker & P. Newcomb). Journal of Nursing Education, 44(6), 283-285.

They Care but Don't Understand: Family Support of African American Women with Type 2 Diabetes. (2004) (co-authors L. Carter-Edwards, A. H. Skelly, & S. J. Appel), The Diabetes Educator, 30 (3) 493-501.

Commentary: 3 themes described how self-management was learned and experienced by patients with 3 chronic illnesses (2004). Evidence-based Nursing, 7 (3), 94.

Perceptions of work and the multicaregiver role: Struggle and adaptation of mid-life African American women with type 2 diabetes. (2002) (co-authors: S. Appel, A.H. Skelly, & L. Carter-Edwards). Ethnicity & Disease, 12(4), 555-566.

Commentary: Practitioners actions inhibited patient participation in self-care decision making. (2002) (B. Paterson). Evidence-based Nursing, 5, 62.

Commentary: Chronic pain affected ways individuals viewed their bodies, their relationships with others, and their sense of time ( 2001) (SP Thomas). Evidence-based Nursing, 4 (3), 94.
 
Prenatal, Preschool, and School-age Child, 3 chapters, revised, Health promotion throughout the lifespan (5th ed.) 2002 (pp. 417-458, 533-565, 567-615). In C. L. Edelman and C. L. Mandle (Eds.), Mosby: St. Louis.

Ethical Principles and Theories (2001) (chapter). Gerontological Nursing: Nursing Care of the Older Adult (pp. 525-544), (Ed. M. O. Hogstel). Albany, NY: Delmar/Thomson Learning.

Commentary: Iron Supplemented Formula Milk Prevented Iron Deficiency Anemia and Reduced Developmental Declines in Infants from Inner City Areas (2000). Evidence-based Nursing, 3 (1), 10.

Indonesia: An Assessment of the Health State, Health Care System, and Nursing Education (1999). (co-author D. E. Strength). Journal of Cultural Diversity, 6 (2), 41-46.

Tradition and Humanism in Nursing: Blending of Nursing Practice for a Nursing Elective in Indonesia (1999). (co-author D. E. Strength). Journal of Multicultural Health and Nursing, 5 (2), 13-18.

Commentary: Women experiencing communion, strength, and understanding of their partners' feelings by having their partners present at the birth of their babies (1999) (T. Bondas-Salonen). Evidence-based Nursing, an International Journal, 2 (2), 59.

Health Promotion Teaching in Preschoolers. (1996). (co-author R.K. Payne.) MCN, 21 (2), 96-99.

Synopses/Critical Commentaries: AWHONN'S Women's Health Nursing Scan (1994) (Family and Community Health), 8 (1), 3, 5; 8 (2), 15; 8 (3), 7; 8 (4), 7; 8 (5), 14, 21; 8 (6), 9, 11.
 
Structure and Function of the Male Genitourinary System (1999). (Co-author D. Mikkelsen). Pathophysiology: Biological and Behavioral Perspectives (2nd ed.). (Ed. L. E. Copstead Kirkhow and J. Banasik), Philadelphia: Saunders.

Pregnancy, preschooler, and school-age child, 3 chapters, (1998) Health Promotion throughout the Lifespan (4th Ed.). (Eds. C.L. Edelman and C.L. Mandle), Mosby: St. Louis.

Health Care as a Transaction. (1992). (Co-author K. J. Berger) In K. J. Berger & M. A. Williams (Eds.). Collaborating for Optimal Health (pp. 1744-1778). New York: Appleton-Lange Co.

Prenatal diagnosis/fetal well-being and alternative birthing methods, revised chapters. (pp. 267-302, 915-934) (1990). In M. A. Auvenshine & M. G. Enriquez (Eds.). Maternity nursing: Dimensions of change (pp. 767-302; 915-934). Boston: Jones & Bartlett.

Recent Presentations

“Health Literacy: Responding to the Needs of Mexican-American Cancer Caregivers,” (co-author J.N. Wells).  Accepted, National State of the Science Congress in Nursing Research.  Washington, D.C., October 2-4, 2008.

“Mexican-American Family Cancer Caregivers’ Self-described Struggles and Hurts,” (co-author J. N. Wells).  10th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, Madrid Spain, June 9-13, 2008.
“Identifying Cancer:  Learning Needs of Mexican American Caregivers,” Cancer, Culture and Literacy Conference, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, May 15-17, 2008.

“Mexican-American Female Family Cancer Caregivers: Self-described Strategies to Prioritize the Patient,” (co-author J. N. Wells).  M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 3rd Annual Oncology Nursing Symposium, Houston, TX, February 22, 2008.

“Collaboration to Understand Mexican American Caregiving.” (Co-authors L. Wolff, M.L. Hollen, and D. Jenkins.) 59th Biennial Convention, Sigma Theta Tau International, Baltimore, MD (November 3-7, 2007).

“Suffering Apart and the Invisibility of the Mexican American Caregiver,” (Primary author P. Bradley, co-authors J.N. Wells & D. Barnes).  135th Annual Meeting & Exposition, American Public Health Association, Washington, DC (November 3-7, 2007).

“Team-generated Grounded Theory: Mexican American Female Cancer Caregivers Becoming Stronger” (primary author, co-authors P. Bradley, J.N. Wells, & D. Barnes) 8th Advances in Qualitative Methods Conference, Banff, Alberta, Canada, (September 21-24, 2007).

“Mexican American Female Caregiver Voices: Gaining Strength through Learning More During the Cancer Experience”. (Co-authors P. Bradley & J. N. Wells). “Cultural Complexities of Qualitative Research”. Second International Qualitative Research Conference, Guanajuato, MX (May 30-June 1, 2007).

“We are Stronger than the Cancer.” The Voices of Mexican American Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients. (Co-authors J. N. Wells & P. Bradley). 9th National Conference on Cancer Nursing Research, Oncology Nursing Society, Hollywood, CA (February 8-10, 2007).

“Educational Material Availability, Preferred Learning Format and Health Literacy of Mexican American Cancer Caregivers”. (Co-authors P. Bradley, P. Malagon-Soto, M. Saldana, and J. N. Wells), American Public Health Association 134th Annual Meeting and Exposition, Boston, MA (November 4-8, 2006).

“Mexican Americans: Family Caregivers Experience.” (Co-presenter J.N. Wells). John Peter Smith Center for Cancer Care, Fort Worth, TX, September 22, 2006.

“Mexican American Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients: A Journey Toward Understanding (co-authors P. Bradley & J.N. Wells), 2nd International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois, Champaign / Urbane, IL, May 3-6, 2006.

 “Obligation to Care Supported by Faith: Mexican American Female Cancer Caregiving.”  (Co-authors J.N. Wells & P. Bradley). Poster consideration 20th Annual Conference Southern Nursing Research Society. February 1-3, 2006.

“Using Imaginative Literature to Foster Cultural Sensitivity among Nursing Students: The Struggle to Belong.”  (Primary author: P. Newcomb, co-authors C.S. Cagle, and C.A. Walker), 2005 Baccalaureate Education Conference, December 2005.

“A Journey to Integrating the Role of the Teacher-Scholar through Mentoring.” Chiron Research Fellow Presentation, 38th Biennial Convention, Sigma Theta Tau International Society of Nursing, November 12-16, 2005.

Innovations in Health Professions Education: Improving Diverse Communities Through Interdisciplinary Service-based Learning, (co-author Suzy Lockwood-Rayermann). Overcoming Health Disparities: Global Experiences from Partnerships between Communities, Health Services, and Health Professionals Schools International Conferences, Atlanta, GA. October 7-10, 2004.

Navigating the Lifespan Landscape: Narratives and Lives, Community College Humanities Association National Conference, a Sense of Place: Landscapes in the Humanities, (co-authors C. Walker & P. Newcomb). October 30-November 1, 2003.

An Educational Model for Addressing Global and Ethical Perspectives for Equitable Health Care Delivery, 14th International Nursing Research Conference: Celebrating Diversity in Research, Education, and Practice. St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, July 10-12, 2003.

Partnering with African American Working Women: Implications for Chronic Illness Management for Nurses. International Congress on Women's Health Issues. Victoria, B.C., Canada, June 15-18, 2003.

Navigating the Workplace and Surviving: Perceptions of Hispanic Working-class Women, poster presentation, Southern Nursing Research Society Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, February 13-15, 2003.

Selected Funding

Oncology Nursing Society Foundation, “Spirituality in Mexican American Cancer Caregivers,” applied for October 31, 2007. Funded 2008-2010.

Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Alpha Chapter, “Using Health Care Providers to Extend Understanding of Mexican American Caregiving – A Focus Group Approach.” (Co-investigators D. Jenkins & M.L. Hollen).  Funded 2006-2008.

TCU Instructional Development Grant, “An Examination of Mexican Health Care and Cultural Complexities to Improve Teaching Practice” (co=investigator Pat Bradley).  Funded 2007-2008.

National Institutes of Health, NINR, Mexican Americans: Family Caregiver Experience (Principal Investigator Jo Nell Wells, Co-Investigators Carolyn Spence Cagle, and Pat Bradley), Funded September 1, 2004 - September 1, 2006.

TCU Technology (Instructional and Learning Committee (TILT) (IDG).  An Exploration of Indonesian HealthCare Culture to Inform Pedagogy (invited lecture and trip with Fort Worth Sister Cities). Funded 2006-2007.

Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences VIA grant.  Determining Availability of and Need for Spanish Language Cancer Caregiver Literature for Family Caregiver (Primary author: J.N. Wells, P. Bradley other author). Funded Spring 2006.

Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Alpha Chapter, Integrating Imaginative Literature into Maternity and Pediatric Curricula to Enhance Learning Outcome: An Exploratory Study (co-investigators Charles A. Walker and Patricia Newcomb). Funded 2002-2004.
 
TCU Leadership Curriculum Development Grant (TCU Center for Teaching Excellence and TCU Leadership Center) (focus to develop interdisciplinary course on leadership to address diverse population health issue). Funded 2003-2004.

College of Health and Human Sciences Grant, Moreton Scholarship Grant, Cultural Meaning: Linking the Meaning of Work to Health of African American Mothers with Diabetes. Funded 2001-2003.

Texas Christian University Instructional Development Grant, Computer Methodology Training to Support a Curricular Foundation for Evidence-based Nursing Interventions. Funded June 1, 2001-May 31, 2002.

Texas Christian University Instructional Development Grant, Faculty Seminar Abroad Program, Mexico: From Tradition to Modernity. Funded June 11-17, 2000.

Texas Christian University Research Fund, "African American Women with Type 2 Diabetes: Qualities of the Social Context." Funded May 1999-May 2000.

NINR, Institutional National Service Award (T32 NR07091-1996-2000) Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, Career Women with Chronic Illness: Implications for Child Care and the Meaning of Illness. Funded 1997-99.

Texas Christian University Instructional Development Grant for Global Education, "Increasing International Content in Nursing Courses: Studies in China and Indonesia." Funded June 1, 1996-May 31, 1997.

Professional Affiliations

Texas Nurses' Association, District 3 (elected/appointed):
Member, 1979-present
Member, Nominating Committee, 2004-2005, 2006-2007; chair, 2008-2009.
Elected delegate to TNA House of Delegates, 2002-2003, 2005-2008.
Member, By-laws Committee, 2002-2003.
President, 1996-97.
President-elect, 1995-96.
Member Board of Directors, 1986-88, 1989-91, 1992-94, 1995-96, 1996-1998; numerous committees 1980-2006
Member, Resource Panel for Expert Nurses, 1992-present
American Nurses' Association (elected):
Chairperson, Council on Maternal-Child Health Nursing, 1985-87
Texas Nurses' Association (elected/appointed):
Member, Nurse Competency Electronic Group 2004-2005. Texas Nurses Association, 2004.
Member, TNA Finance Committee, 1999-2002.
Member, TNA Workplace Advocacy Presentation Team, 1999-2000.
Board of Directors, North Region, TNA, 1995-1999.
Elected alternative, HOD, ANA, June 1999, June 2000, June 2001, and June 2002.
Elected first alternate to HOD, ANA, June 1996.
TNA Representative to Texas State Nursing Association, 1995-96.
Resolutions Committee, TNA, 1995-96, 1996-97; Chair 1997-99.
Chair, Awards Committee, Texas Nurses Association, 1996-99.
Chairperson, Nominating Committee, Texas Nurses' Association, 1984-86; Member, 1991-1995, Chairperson, 1994-95.
Delegate (Texas) to American Nurses' Association Convention, Washington, DC, June 25-July 2, 1982; New Orleans, LA, June 23-29, 1984; Kansas City, MO, July 20-25, 1985, Las Vegas, NV, June 21-27, 1992; Washington, DC, June 17-18, 1993, elected delegate 1994 (unable to attend); elected delegate.
Southern Nursing Research Society.
Member, Community Campus Partnerships for Health
Member, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved, 2007-present
Member, Hispanic Healthcare Professionals Association, 2008-present.

Professional Service

Volunteer, Hispanic Wellness Health Fair, Fort Worth, TX, August 3, 2008.

Task Force to Address Minority Outreach Critical Success Factors in Cancer Care, John Peter Smith Health Network, 2007-2009.

Speaker, poster session, “Availability of Spanish Educational Materials for Mexican-American Caregivers,” (co-speaker P. Bradley). John Peter Smith Center for Cancer Care, June 26, 2007.

Speaker, “Qualitative Research: Opportunities and Challenges for Groups,” University of Texas PhD nursing class, March 30 2007.

Speaker, poster session, “We are Stronger than the Cancer: The Voices of Mexican-American Family Caregivers,” Harris Methodist Hospital Multicultural Research Day, April 23, 2007.

Speaker, “Qualitative Inquiry: A Route to Discovery of Knowledge Informing Practice, “ The University of Texas at Arlington, PhD nursing class, July 16 and November 2006.

Member, Allied Communities of Tarrant (ACT).  Group focused on minority health care access issues, 2005-present.

Active in planning committee for Bandung, Indonesia and Fort Worth Sister Cities Exchange, 1996 – present (various initiatives throughout years)

Volunteer, Meacham American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Shelter, September-October 2005.

Member, Ready Texas Nurses Volunteers, Texas Nurses Association / Texas Department of Health, 2004-2005.

Invited participant, research study on “Non-heartbeat organ donation,” PI: Dr. David Isch, Harris Methodist Fort Worth, Fort Worth, TX, February 19, April 24, May 20, June 17, September 13, and September 30, 2004.

Committee member, Fort Worth Chapter Sister Cities International US State Department funded grant on bioterrorism preparation, 2003-2004.

Member, TEAM (Tarrant Empowerment Association for Minority Health), 2004-2005.

Volunteer, March of Dimes and American Heart Association, 1992-present.

Speaker, Health Care Policy: Past and Future Implications for an Equitable Health Care Delivery System, University of Texas at Arlington School of Nursing (health care policy class), July 22, 2003.

Responsible for professional education and training of two Indonesian nurses, June 15-29, 2001, as part of Bandung-Fort Worth Sister Cities' exchange.

Editorial Activities

Editorial Review Board, Ethnicity & Disease, 2001-present.
Editorial Review Board, Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2007-present
Member, Advances in Nursing Science, Editorial Review Panel, 1993-present.
Expert commentator, Evidence-based Nursing: An International Journal, 1998-present.
Editorial Review Board, Dimensions, Southern Early Childhood Association, Fall 1996-present.

Honors and Awards

Nursing nominee for Chancellor’s Award for Research and Scholarship, 2007
Chiron Research Fellow, Sigma Theta Tau International, 2004.
Outstanding Alumnus, School of Nursing, University of Minnesota at Mankato, Mankato, MN, 2002-2003.
Recipient, Ruth E. Sperry Award for Teaching Excellence, October 2001.
Texas Women's University, Great 100 Nursing Alumni, Honored October 12, 2001.
Outstanding Nurse Educator Award, Beta Alpha Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, April 1997.
Elected to "Great 100 Nurses" (DFW area), May 1996.
Nominated by HCN Faculty for Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence, Spring 1996.
"Who's Who in American Nursing," Marquis Who's Who, New Providence, NJ, 1987-present.
"Who's Who of American Women," Marquis Who's Who, New Providence, NJ, Spring, 1996.
Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Alpha chapter: (numerous leadership roles)
Registered Nurse Clinician, inpatient obstetrics (AWHONN), 1995 - present