Two scholars from the University of Rhode Island (supported by the Rhode Island Foundation) and their mentors attended the Robert Wood Johnson (RWJF) Future of Nursing Scholars Summer Institute on Science and Innovation.

Pamela McCue, MS, RN, and her mentor Dr. Mary Sullivan, and Angelita Lensman, MS, RNC-NIC, and her mentor Dr. Deb Erickson-Owens attended the institute, which was held in Colorado Springs.

Future of Nursing Scholar Pamela McCue is interested in research topics that include new nursing education models that lead to a more diverse nursing workforce and its impact on social determinants of health. Her interests stem from her public health policy background and the realization that health and health care in this country cannot improve significantly unless these challenges are overcome.

Future of Nursing Scholar Angelita Hensman is interested in patient safety in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit (NICU), with a focus on developing innovative systems to reduce preventable harm. Despite advances in health care and technology, patient safety remains an important global health goal among the neonatal population. Her interest stems from her background as a NICU nurse and researcher.

The RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars Program provides funding, mentoring, and the leadership skills needed to advance nursing science and the profession through a three-year PhD program at selected institutions.

The program’s goal is to increase the number of PhD-prepared nurses to be nurse scientists as well as to increase the number of faculty to prepare the next generation of nurses.