Research in Action

As a core component of our mission, nurses are engaged in independent and interdisciplinary research as a commitment to advancing scientific discovery and improving health and quality of care. The following include studies that involve nurses as investigators, subjects, data collectors and/or caregivers.

Stroke Hyperglycemia Insulin Network Effort (SHINE)
Principal Investigator: Sidney Starkman, MD
Purpose: To find out if treating high blood sugar in stroke patients with IV insulin shows better recoveries than the current standard care for treating high blood sugar
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Multi-Organ Dysfunction-Expression Profiling (MOD-E)
Principal Investigator: Mario Deng, MD
Purpose: To better understand, diagnose and treat patients who have been admitted to the hospital with heart disease, kidney or liver failure, pneumonia or other body system malfunction
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Prophylaxis versus Preemptive Therapy for the Prevention of CMV in High Risk R-D+ Liver Transplant Recipients
Principal Investigator: Drew J. Winston, MD
Purpose: To find out the best way to use valganciclovir to prevent CMV disease.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Individualizing Assessments of Risk to Reduce Falls in UC Hospitals
Principal Investigators: Teryl Nuckols, MD, MSHS; Catherine Walsh, RN, MSN
Purpose: To collect baseline data before the 5P Method is implemented at Santa Monica hospital.  This will enable us to compare time-and-motion data, rounding methods, and missed work on the nursing units from before and after the 5P Method is implemented.
Site: Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital

Integrating Palliative Care into the ICU across UC Health
Principal Investigators: Edith O'Neil Page, RN, MSN, AOCNS; Jeannie Meyer, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, PCCN, ACHPN; Wendy Anderson, MSN, RN; MSN, RN; MS
Purpose: To improve resource utilization by increasing the integration of palliative care into UC hospital ICUs.
Site: Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital

Peri-Procedural Handover Process
Principal Investigator: Anahat Dhillon, MD
Purpose: To develop and implement a comprehensive program of handover processes in the peri-procedural setting across all team members and clinical ranks.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Athersys: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Phase 2 Safety and Efficacy Trial of Multi-Stem in Adults With Ischemic Stroke.
Principal Investigator: David Liebeskind, MD
Purpose: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a single IV infusion of MultiStem in ischemic stroke patients
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Novel Serum Biomarkers for the Detection and Surveillance of Cardiovascular Disease
Principal Investigators: Kimberly Howard-Quijano, MD; Aman Mahajan, MD, PhD
Purpose: To improve understanding of the underlying mechanisms of post-operative AF development, which will lead to improved prevention and treatment modalities, thus vastly improving post-operative outcomes
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Neuroprotection with Statin Therapy for Acute Recovery Trial 2 (Neu START 2)
Principal Investigator: Sidney Starkman, MD
Purpose: To determine whether lovastatin at doses above those currently approved can be administered safely within 24 h after an acute ischemic stroke.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Decreasing the Incidence of Delirium after Cardiac Surgery
Principal Investigators: Jacques Neelankavil, MD; Vadim Gudzenko, MD
Purpose: To establish if decreased perioperative use of benzodiazepines will decrease the incidence of post-operative delirium in cardiac surgical patients.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Development of Leadership Practices in Frontline Nurse Leaders
Principal Investigator: Lee A. Galuska, PhD, RN
Nurse Co-Investigator: Cathy Ward, PhD, RN
Purpose: To examine the development of leadership practices in nurses in frontline leadership roles after participation in a formal leadership course with a guided experiential learning component. Focus groups with both learners and mentors will increase understanding of the contributions of this learning experience to the leadership development process.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase IIIb Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Serelaxin when Added to Standard Therapy
Principal Investigator: Arnold Baas, MD
Research Nurse: Julie Chait, RN
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of intravenous infusion of 30 μg/kg/day serelaxin administered by body weight category for 48 hours, when added to standard therapy, in approximately 6,375 acute heart failure (AHF) patients.

HALF PINT (Heart and Lung Failure-Pediatric Insulin Titration Trial)
Principal Investigator: Myke Federman, MD
Nurse Champions/Educators: Theresa Kirkpatrick, RN, MSN, CPNP, CCRN, CNS; Katya Chopivsky, RN, BSN; Kateri Tobias, RN, BSN; Amy Houchens, MBA, RN, BSN
Purpose: To determine the comparative effectiveness of tight glycemic control (TGC) to a target range of 80-110 mg/dL (TGC-1, 4.4-6.1 mmol/L) vs. a target range of 150-180 mg/dL (TGC-2, 8.3-10.0 mmol/L) on hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) in hyperglycemic critically ill children with cardiovascular and/or respiratory failure.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in Mental Health
Principal Investigator: Suzette Glasner-Edwards, PhD
Purpose: To address the gap in the evidence base for the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) health promotion approach by examinging its efficacy for patients in mental health treatment settings.
Site: Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital

Co-Advocate: A Program to Prevent Ethical Conflicts and Moral Distress in ICU
Principal Investigator: Carol Pavlish, PhD, RN, FAAN
Co-Principal Investigator(s): Katherine Brown-Saltzman, RN, MA; Patricia Jakel, RN, MN, AOCN
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Co-Advocate educational program with nurses and key physicians in MICU and Neuro ICU at RRUCLA.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Non-Invasive Vibratory Device to Treat Apnea of Prematurity
Principal Investigator: Kalpashri Kesavan, MBBS
Co-Principal Investigator: Ronald Harper, PhD
Nurse Coordinator: Rachel Geller
Purpose: To support ventilation in AOP by using a simple, non-invasive vibratory device placed over limb proprioceptor fibers, an intervention using the principle that limb movements facilitate breathing.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Innovative Nursing Team Model
Principal Investigator: Cathy Ward, DNSc, RN
Nurse Research Assistants: Deborah Rothhar, MSN, RN, CPEN; Beki Heffler, MS, RN; Fotine Mamais, MSN, RN; Anahit Sarin-Gulin, RNC-NIC, MSN
Purpose: To describe and test an innovative way to develop smaller more cohesive team assignments in larger work environments.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

An Observational Study of Routine Ambulation for Patients with Pulmonary Artery Catheters who are Awaiting Heart Transplantation
Principal Investigator: Arnold Baas, MD
Co-Investigators: Wendy Tsau, RN, MN; Juvy Vinegas, BSN, RN; Judith Spencer, RN; Anthony Chan, MSN, RN; Virginia Erickson, PhD; Norma McNair, PhD, RN
Purpose: To describe the experiences of patients participating in a routine ambulation program, with a focus on physical and psychological responses, as well as any incidence of complications.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Exploring Providers', Nurses', Patients', and Families' Understanding of Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Critical Care Units CCU/ICU
Principal Investigator: Barbara Bates-Jensen, PhD, RN, FAAN
Co-Investigator: Yalda Rahimi, MSHA, RN-BSN, PHN, BA
Purpose: To better understand the attitudes, beliefs, barriers, and knowledge about pressure ulcer prevention and skin assessment as a prelude to intervening with technology to improve skin health in critical care/ICU patients.
Sites: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Using Case Studies to Improve Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes about Pain Management
Principal Investigator: Edith Matesic, DNP, RN
Researchers: Jeannette Meyer, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, PCCN, ACHPN; Betty Lee, MN, RN, CNS, CMSRN; Cecily Byron, MSN, RN; Diana Ramirez, RN 
Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of an educational program using case studies
to improve nurses' knowledge and attitudes about pain management
Sites: Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Vascular Events in Cardiac Surgery Patients (VISION Trial)
Principal Investigator: Aman Mahajan, MD, PhD
Purpose: To determine the relationship between postoperative high-sensitivity Troponin I measurements and the 30-day risk of mortality, the proportion of perioperative myocardial injuries that may go undetected without perioperative troponin monitoring, and the incidence of major vascular complications after surgery.
Sites: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center 

Utilizing the Provider Resilience Mobile Application to Reduce Compassion Fatigue in Oncology Nurses
Principal Investigator: Norma McNair, PhD, CCRN, CNRN
Co-Principal Investigator: Edith Matesic, RN, MS, DNP, NEA BC
RN Investigators: Patricia Jakel, RN, MN, AOCN; Jillian Kenney, RN, OCN
Purpose: To raise awareness among our staff about compassion fatigue, and to provide access to the Provider Resilience Mobile Application as a means of reducing compassion fatigue and increasing professional quality of life.
Sites: Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Provider Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit: SLEEPii
Principal Investigator: Biren Kamdar, MD, MBA, MHS, MS
Purpose: To learn critical care practitioners perceptions of the importance of sleep to the recovery of critically ill patients and learn how they facilitate sleeping in their critically ill patients.
Sites: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Using e-Triggers to Assure Safe Care Transitions of Older Adults
Principal Investigator: Linda R. Phillips, PhD, RN
Co-Principal Investigators: Janet Mentes, PhD, RN;  Mary Cadogan PHd, RN; Diana Lynn Woods, PhD, RN
Purpose: To ultimately develop and test a system, linked to the electronic record that triggers clinicians to routinely institute transitional care precautions to improve the safety of transitions for all older adults.
Sites: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital 

Ancillary Effects of Dexmedetomidine Sedation after Cardiac Surgery (Decade Study)
Principal Investigator: Kimberly Howard-Quijano, MD
Purpose: To examine effects of dexmedetomidine on the following categories: atrial arrhythmias, post-operative delirium, kidney function, persistent pain, and health economics.
Site: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Participatory Messaging in the UCLA Psychiatry Partial Hospital Programs
Principal Investigator: Kandace Whiting, DNP, RN-BC
Nurse Study Coordinator: Judy Toy, BSN, RN
Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of going use of the Chorus Participatory Mobile Framework to develop SMS, IVR and mobile application content in supporting Partial Hospitalization Programs and Intensive Outpatient Programs at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital.
Sites: Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital

A Randomized Study of Oral Misoprostol versus Placebo to Promote Cervical Readiness for Delivery of Pregnant Women
Principal Investigator: Carla Janzen, MD
Purpose: To evaluate whether pre-induction cervical ripening with  dissolved misoprostol given orally for 2 weeks in women who require subsequent induction of labor will decrease rates of cesarean delivery and complications of major surgery

Coupling eLearning with Video-Based Simulation to Promote Patient Safety
Principal Investigator: Randolph Steadman, MD
Nurse Collaborator: Cathy Ward, PhD, RN
Purpose: To conduct an institutional needs assessment to identify educational opportunities in the area of high priority patient safety and quality goals, and to develop and evaluate eLearning educational modules using video simulations that will address the high priority patient safety topics identified in our needs assessment 
Sites: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital / Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital

Exploring the Process by Which  Nurses Engage in Nursing Presence with Terminally Ill Patients
Principal Investigator: Mary Hersh, PhD, RN
Purpose: To deepen understanding of the process of nursing presence by examining nurses' perceptions of meaningful interactions with terminal patients in the acute care setting.  
Sites: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center / Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital