Researcher Dr. Cynthia Russell has led
heart-kidney transplant nursing teams
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2012
Contact: John Martellaro
(816) 235-1592, martellaroj@umkc.edu
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dr. Cynthia L. Russell, a professor in the School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, has been elected president-elect of the International Transplant Nurses Society. That post will lead to her installation as president of the society in Fall 2013.
Russell, PhD, RN, APRN-BC, FAAN, joined the UMKC faculty earlier this year. She has previously served as Research Director and Research Committee Chair for the Society. At UMKC, her NIH funded research is focused on nursing interventions that lead to improved patient adherence with post-transplant treatment regimens.
“When patients receive a heart or kidney transplant, their life changes dramatically. Their quality of life is high, but many things need to be monitored closely afterwards,” Russell said.
Because these patients feel better and visit hospitals and doctors’ offices less often than in the past, some tend to be less vigilant about keeping medical appointments and taking their anti-rejection medications on a consistent basis, she said. Those medications also often increase cancer risk, so transplant patients have to be extremely careful about other cancer risk factors such as sun exposure and smoking; and be more focused on preventative factors such as exercise and screenings.
Russell received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Rush University in Chicago, and her PhD from Saint Louis University. She recently led a task force that published the Scope and Standards for Transplant Nursing Practice and the Transplant Competencies.
Russell hopes her three years as president-elect, president and president emeritus of the society will bring additional national and international recognition to UMKC’s School of Nursing as a leading research and teaching institution, and attract more graduate students seeking advanced degrees and research opportunities.
Transplant nursing is a unique discipline, and a unique professional opportunity, she said.
“The patients and families you work with are unique in that they have received a gift – a gift of life, really – so they have a special appreciation of the donor and donor family. That’s a remarkable group of people to work with,” she said. “As a transplant nurse, you have to have a love for lifelong learning because transplant changes a lot. The field is always improving, always moving forward, often quite quickly, so the need to stay abreast of the latest developments is critical.”
About the UMKC School of Nursing
The UMKC School of Nursing offers a full range of education programs including a four-year bachelor’s degree (BSN), an RN-BSN, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) and the Ph.D. in Nursing. Research at the UMKC School of Nursing is focused on Women’s and Children’s health and the school is a center of excellence in the provision of health care and education in these areas, emphasizing urban health care and wellness. For more information about the UMKC School of Nursing, visit http://nursing.umkc.edu/. You can also find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
About the International Transplant Nurses Society:
The International Transplant Nurses Society (ITNS) was founded in 1992 as a non-profit organization, to promote the education and clinical practice excellence of nurses who are interested in and participate in the care of solid organ transplant patients. ITNS is the first professional nursing organization to focus on the professional growth and development of the transplant clinician. ITNS offers nurses a forum for learning about the latest advances in transplantation and transplant patient care. Over the years, ITNS continues to provide nurses skilled in transplantation with many opportunities to share their expertise with national and international peers, and receive recognition for their knowledge and scholarly pursuits.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City:
The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit http://www.umkc.edu/. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.
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