- Professor Emerita
- College of Nursing
- Email: ggf@uri.edu
- Office Location: White Hall Room 239, 39 Butterfield Road, Kingston, RI 02881
Biography
Dr. Ferszt’s teaching, research and service has focused on psychiatric-mental health nursing, loss, grief and bereavement and health care needs of pregnant women in prison. She has received a number of awards acknowledging her research and service contributions in women’s correctional health including the University of Pennsylvania Outstanding Alumni Award for Leadership in Nursing, American Nursing Foundation Scholar, Recognition Award from John Hazen White Center for Ethics at the University of Rhode Island (2008), and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Volunteer of the Year Award (2007). She is a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and has served as the Weyker Scholar at URI College of Nursing.
Professor Ferszt is a nationally certified Clinical Nurse Specialist in Adult Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, the American Nurses Association, Eastern Nursing Research Society, and American Psychiatric Nurses Association. Since 2009, She has been actively involved on the Editorial Review Panel for Advances in Nursing Science. Throughout her career she has been an advocate at the state, regional, and national levels for legislation to abolish the use of shackles and restraints with pregnant women in state prisons.
Research
Loss, grief and bereavement; health care of pregnant women in prison
Education
PhD, Nursing, University of Rhode Island
MSN, Nursing, University of Pennsylvania
BA, Psychology, Central Connecticut State College
Selected Publications
Refereed Journal Articles:
Yusufov, M., Grebstein, L., Rossi, J., Redding, C., Rossi, J., Ferszt, G., & Prochaska, J. (2020). Development and implementation of a psychological service for patients with cancer. Cognitive and Behavioral Science, 27, 290-305.
Baker, N., Ferszt, G., & Breines, J. (2019). A qualitative study exploring female college students’ Instagram use and body image. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 22(4). Published online 5 Apr 2019. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2018.0420
Cole, D. & Ferszt, G. (2019). Migration experiences of Sierra Leoneons. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 26, 38-46.
DiTomasso, D. & Ferszt, G. (2018). Mothers’ thoughts and feelings about use of a pediatric sale in the home to monitor weight changes in breast fed newborns. Nursing for Women’s Health, 22, 463-470.
Ferszt, G., Palmer, M., & McGrane, K., (2018). Shackling of pregnant incarcerated women. Where does your state stand? Nursing for Women’s Health, 22, 17-23.
Cotton-Parker, B. & Ferszt, G. (2018). Medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder and the advanced practice nurse: Scope, barriers, and logistics. The Nurse Practitioner, 43(5), 8.
Bernstein, M. H., Stein, L. A. R., Neighbors, C., Suffoletto, B., Carey, K. B., Ferszt, G., Caron, N., & Wood, M. D. (2018). A text message intervention to reduce 21st birthday alcohol consumption: Evaluation of a two group Randomized Controlled Trial. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32, 149-161. https://doi:10.1037/adb0000342.
Sillice, M. A., Morokoff, P. J., Ferszt, G., Bickmore, T., Bock, B. C., & Velicer, W. F. (2018). Using relational agents to promote exercise and sun protection: An assessment of participants’ experiences with two interventions. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(2), e48. https://doi.org:10.2196/jmir.7640.
Pingitore, F. & Ferszt, G. (2017). Experiences of adolescents who participated in group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 67, 360-382.
Sillice, M. A., Morokoff, P. J., Ferszt, G., Bickmore, T., Bock, B. C., & Velicer, W. F. (2017). An assessment of participants’ experiences with two e-health interventions. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 51, S2016-S2017.
Ferszt, G., Dugas, J., McGrane, C., & Carderelli, K. (2017). Creative teaching strategies to engage millennial nursing students. Nurse Educator, 42, 275-276.
Ferszt, G., Miller, R., Hickey, J., Maull, F., & Crisp, K. (2015). The impact of a mindfulness based program in perceived stress, anxiety, depression and sleep of incarcerated women. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12, 11594-11607.
Ferszt, G., Hickey, J., & Seyelman, K. (2013). Advocating for pregnant women in prison: The role of the correctional nurse. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 9, 105-110.
Ferszt, G. & Hickey, J. (2013). Nurse researchers in corrections: A qualitative study. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 9, 200-207.
Ferszt, G. & Clarke, J. (2012). Health care of pregnant women in prison: A national study. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 23, 558-570.
Ferszt, G. (2012). Negative effects of shackling pregnant incarcerated women. American Nurse Today, 7(12), 1-4.
Ferszt, G. & Chambers, A. (2011). Navigating the challenges of prison research with women. Nurse Educator, 36, 256-259.
Ferszt, G. (2011). Who will speak for me? Advocating for pregnant women in prison. Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, 20(10), 1-3.
Engqvist, I., Ahlin, A., Ferszt, G., & Nillson, K. (2011). Comprehensive treatment of women with postpartum psychosis across health care systems from Swedish psychiatrists’ perspective. The Qualitative Report, 16(1), 66-83.
Engqvist, I., Ferszt, Åhlin, A G., & Nillson, K. (2011). Women’s experience of postpartum psychotic episodes- Analyses of narratives from the Internet. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 25, 376-387.
Book Chapters:
Ferszt, G (2019). Violence. In M. Nies & M. McEwen (Eds.), Community public health Nursing (7th ed., pp. 573-588). Elsevier.
O’Brien, B. & Ferszt, G. (2010). The family as client. In J. S. Fulton, B. L. Lyon, & K. A. Goudreau (Eds.), Foundations of clinical nurse specialist practice (pp. 199-213). Springer.
Ferszt, G. & Waldman, R. (1997). Psychosocial responses to disease and treatment. In American Cancer Society Source book for nurses, (7th ed., pp. 245-253). Professional Education Publication.
Ferszt, G. & Barg, F. (1991). Psychosocial support. In American Cancer Society source book for nurses (6th ed., pp. 211-221). Professional Education Publication.
Ferszt, G. & Houck, P. (1986). The family. In M. O’Rawe Amenta & N. Bohnet (Eds.), Nursing care of the terminally ill (pp. 173-190). Little, Brown, & Co.