Minnesota Nursing Magazine Spring/Summer 2012 - School of ...

As an infusion nurse with a home care agency, Erica Schorr, BSBA, BSN, RN, saw a wide
range of patients, but she found the greatest satisfaction in working with older adults.
“There’s so much stigma against aging, and older people need to be heard,” she says.
Patient education is especially critical in home care, and Schorr discovered she liked
teaching patients. Soon she was designing and leading in-service trainings for other nurses
at the agency, and she found she liked that, too.
sense of community
“I realized I loved teaching and working with other nurses, and I was drawn to the School
of Nursing at the University of Minnesota because it had a strong history of leadership
in nursing education and research,” Schorr says. She considered both a Doctor of Nursing
Practice (DNP) degree and a PhD. Because she was interested in teaching, and a research
intensive university, she chose the PhD, with a focus on gerontology.
Even before she enrolled, Schorr participated in the Gerontological Nursing Journal
Club, a discussion of journal articles on cutting-edge research. Once she became a student,
she found a warm welcome. “People here support you through difficult times and praise
your successes. That sense of community is crucial for me,” she says.
1
solid research interest
Schorr is currently working with associate professor Diane Treat-Jacobson, PhD, RN, FAAN,
on Exercise Training to Reduce Claudication (EXERT) study. This study focuses on exercise
training to reduce claudication, which is pain or discomfort in the leg muscles caused by
peripheral artery disease.
“Working on the EXERT study has solidified my interest in research,” Schorr says.
“It reinforces what I’m learning in the classroom about areas like research design and
methods. It also gives me concrete examples to share in class discussion.”
an exceptional student
Treat-Jacobson, Schorr’s advisor, calls her “an all-around exceptional student.” She was
twice chosen to be a Hartford Scholar, an honor awarded to outstanding graduate
students who are focusing on nursing care of older adults and preparing to teach geriatric
nursing. She was also chosen to participate in the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program,
which supports doctoral education for future nursing faculty and prepares nurse leaders in
a variety of areas including geriatrics.
In addition, Schorr received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
for Individual Predoctoral Fellows in Nursing Research from the National Institutes of
Health/National Institute of Nursing Research. The purpose of this program is to increase
the number of outstanding nurse scientists committed to research careers. Applicants
are selected on the basis of their proposed training program and dissertation research.
Her proposal was funded on the first round, a “rare occurrence” according to
Treat-Jacobson.
seeking connections
Schorr’s dissertation focuses on the symptom experience of people with peripheral
artery disease, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research: interviewing
patients about their symptoms and testing them on a treadmill. “I’m looking for
the connection between what people say they are feeling and what’s happening
physiologically. The result will be better assessment and diagnosis,” she explains.
Schorr looks forward to a career that combines teaching and research. “I’m committed
to the advancement of nursing science,” she says.
2
3
1) Schorr and study participant, Patricia Jones,
during a treadmill exercise session. A near-infrared
spectroscopy instrument is attached to Jones’ leg to
measure changes in hemoglobin concentration. 2)
Schorr shares results with Jones after her exercise
session. 3) Using a Doppler ultrasound device, Schorr
measures the blood pressure in Jones’ legs.
Scan this QR code to learn more
about the PhD program at the
School of Nursing or go to
www.nursing.umn.edu/phd.
spring/summer 2012 15