An Examination of Nursing PRactice During COVID-19
A large-scale qualitative research study
describing the historic experiences of nurses providing patient care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US.
Study PRincipal Investigator
Shannon D. Simonovich, PhD, RN
Dr. Simonovich is a public health nursing researcher with a strong track of leading nursing and interdisciplinary public health research teams as principal investigator of descriptive and exploratory studies. She is an experienced project manager who fosters creativity and success with research team members and students alike and has a proven track record of publication.
Contact Dr. Simonovich at sdsimon@uic.edu
NurSING Co-Investigators
Cheryl Soco, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Cheryl Soco, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Cheryl Soco, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Dr. Soco is Adjunct Faculty for DePaul University School of Nursing. Her 25 years of nursing experience has focused on emergency care primarily practicing as an Advance Practice Nurse Practitioner in both major medical and community-based emergency departments. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola Uni
Dr. Soco is Adjunct Faculty for DePaul University School of Nursing. Her 25 years of nursing experience has focused on emergency care primarily practicing as an Advance Practice Nurse Practitioner in both major medical and community-based emergency departments. She earned both her Bachelor and Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University, and Doctor of Nursing Practice from DePaul University.
Dr. Soco’s interest in research and program development focus on nursing transitions into practice, professional development and interprofessional collaboration in health care to address knowledge disparities and improve patient health outcomes.
Kim Siarkowski Amer, PhD, RN
Cheryl Soco, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Cheryl Soco, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Dr. Amer is an associate professor in the School of Nursing. She has taught at DePaul for twenty nine years. She has a PhD in Maternal Child Nursing from University of Illinois at Chicago. Her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing is from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. Prior to joining the faculty at DePaul she was a Clinica
Dr. Amer is an associate professor in the School of Nursing. She has taught at DePaul for twenty nine years. She has a PhD in Maternal Child Nursing from University of Illinois at Chicago. Her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing is from St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana. Prior to joining the faculty at DePaul she was a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Pediatric Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Nutrition at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Her research is focused on children and families coping with chronic illness. She has authored many articles focused on child and family adaptation to type 1 diabetes. In addition, another research focus is on safety and quality in nursing and has a book entitled “Quality and Safety for Transformational Nursing: Core Competencies.” Dr. Amer has been a director, and the only nurse, on the board of the Genentech Foundation for Growth and Development, President of the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society.
Susan Krawczyk, DNP, APRN, CRNA
Cheryl Soco, DNP, MSN, APRN, ANP-BC
Susan Krawczyk, DNP, APRN, CRNA
Susan M. Krawczyk is the CRNA Program Director at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. She has taught student nurse anesthetists for over 15 years. She received both her MS an DNP degrees from DePaul University with specialization in nurse anesthesia. She received her BSN from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at
Susan M. Krawczyk is the CRNA Program Director at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. She has taught student nurse anesthetists for over 15 years. She received both her MS an DNP degrees from DePaul University with specialization in nurse anesthesia. She received her BSN from the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing at Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Krawczyk has 27 years of experience as nurse and over 17 years of experience as a nurse anesthetist. Dr. Krawczyk has been interested in and participated in organizational and departmental process improvement initiatives. She also focuses on second victims, peer support, and care for the caregiver programs. Professionally, she advocates for nurses and nurse anesthetists as a volunteer Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthetist (IANA) board member from 2013-2017 and serving as the IANA Public Relations Committee chair since 2018.
Young Me Lee, PhD, RN
Kashica Webber-Ritchey, PhD, MHA, RN
Roxanne Spurlark, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Dr. Young Me Lee has intensified her active engagement in community based preventive health research. With a particular focus on underserved minority and immigrant populations she has worked tirelessly to identify health disparities and create interventions to ameliorate the impact of disease in these vulnerable communities. Her research
Dr. Young Me Lee has intensified her active engagement in community based preventive health research. With a particular focus on underserved minority and immigrant populations she has worked tirelessly to identify health disparities and create interventions to ameliorate the impact of disease in these vulnerable communities. Her research is primarily focused on depression and preventive health behaviors relative to sexually transmitted disease and the human papillomavirus. As a recognized scholar nationally and internationally, she has been invited to join collaborative research projects focused on Asian populations in the USA and South Korea. As an advocate for underserved populations, she is highly cognizant of the need to promote health and reduce disparities.
Roxanne Spurlark, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Kashica Webber-Ritchey, PhD, MHA, RN
Roxanne Spurlark, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Dr. Spurlark brings over 30 years in healthcare, 25 years in leadership, and six years in academia into her role as Assistant Professor for DePaul University. She also currently serves as a doctorally prepared board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner for Emergency Services in one of the safety net hospitals in Chicagoland. Her teaching,
Dr. Spurlark brings over 30 years in healthcare, 25 years in leadership, and six years in academia into her role as Assistant Professor for DePaul University. She also currently serves as a doctorally prepared board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner for Emergency Services in one of the safety net hospitals in Chicagoland. Her teaching, service, and scholarship attributes are deeply grounded in healthcare finance, program evaluation, and resilience in underserved populations.
Kashica Webber-Ritchey, PhD, MHA, RN
Kashica Webber-Ritchey, PhD, MHA, RN
Kashica Webber-Ritchey, PhD, MHA, RN
Dr. Webber-Ritchey is a nursing researcher with experience in theory-driven research, digital survey development and administration, mixed-method data collection, and quantitative and systematic review research methodologies. She has a strong commitment to health promotion, vulnerable populations, and reducing health disparities. Current
Dr. Webber-Ritchey is a nursing researcher with experience in theory-driven research, digital survey development and administration, mixed-method data collection, and quantitative and systematic review research methodologies. She has a strong commitment to health promotion, vulnerable populations, and reducing health disparities. Currently, Dr. Webber-Ritchey is actively involved in building a program of research that seeks to develop physical activity interventions using a family-based approach for low-income African American children in Chicago.
Cambridge Health Alliance Interdisciplinary Collaborators
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School where he directs the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship and the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration Program. He is a collaborator on the Global Burden of Disease Study, Seattle, WA. He is a 2015 Fulbright Scien
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School where he directs the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship and the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration Program. He is a collaborator on the Global Burden of Disease Study, Seattle, WA. He is a 2015 Fulbright Scientific Mobility Scholar, researching Collaborative Care models in the Brazilian public health system. From 2015-2019, he served as a Master Trainer in collaborative care as part of the CMS funded Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, which has trained more than 3,500 U.S. psychiatrists in this evidence based health care delivery model. He has co-authored more than 75 peer-reviewed articles.
Kate Zona, PhD
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH
Hsiang Huang, MD, MPH
Kate Zona, PhD is a clinical psychologist in the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI) and Victims of Violence programs at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. She also serves as a Regional Clinical Manager in the PCBHI program and Director of Measurement Informed Care in the Divi
Kate Zona, PhD is a clinical psychologist in the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration (PCBHI) and Victims of Violence programs at Cambridge Health Alliance, and Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. She also serves as a Regional Clinical Manager in the PCBHI program and Director of Measurement Informed Care in the Division of Population Behavioral Health Innovation at Cambridge Health Alliance. Her research and clinical interests include understanding trauma-related risk and protective factors and increasing access to treatment and improving outcomes among individuals from typically underserved populations (e.g., racial/ethnic minority, low income, immigrant/refugee groups) who have experienced trauma. Through her roles in program development, teaching, supervision, and research, she is committed to enhancing trauma-informed mental health and medical care.
Irina Livitz, PhD
Irina Livitz, PhD
Irina Livitz, PhD
Irina Livitz, PhD is a clinical health psychologist in the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration program at the Cambridge Health Alliance and Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. Her research interests include using motivational interviewing to promote behavioral health change and women’s mental health across the lifes
Irina Livitz, PhD is a clinical health psychologist in the Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration program at the Cambridge Health Alliance and Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. Her research interests include using motivational interviewing to promote behavioral health change and women’s mental health across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on perinatal mental health. Her recent work has focused on assessing needs, creating access, and developing clinical interventions to address the mental health needs of women from underserved populations during the perinatal period.
Bjorn Payne, MD
Irina Livitz, PhD
Irina Livitz, PhD
Bjorn Payne, MD is a resident in psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance/ Harvard Medical School. He earned his medical degree from the University of Washington. His current clinical interests include general adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. His prior academic work has included studying delivery of medication-assisted treatment
Bjorn Payne, MD is a resident in psychiatry at Cambridge Health Alliance/ Harvard Medical School. He earned his medical degree from the University of Washington. His current clinical interests include general adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry. His prior academic work has included studying delivery of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder in the primary care setting and development of an addiction medicine curriculum targeted at preclinical medical students.
Doctoral Nursing Student Projects
Jennifer Sandoval, MSN, RN (2023 Graduate)
Jennifer Sandoval is a registered nurse with 5+ years of experience working with adult patients. Jennifer currently works at the Jesse Brown VA and provides care to our Veterans. Jennifer graduated from DePaul’s MENP program in November 2016 with her Master of Science. She is adjunct faculty for the MENP Program at DePaul. She is currently a Doctorate of Nursing Practice/Family Nurse Practitioner student at DePaul University. She is expected to graduate this upcoming Spring 2023. Jennifer aspires to help underserved communities and be a role model to other minority students. Her research interests include reducing health disparities among minorities, and underserved communities. For her doctoral research project, she is focusing on examining the lived experience of Latinx nurses during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nichelle M. Bush, APRN-FPA, FNP-C, ENP-C, CEN (2022 Graduate)
Nichelle Bush is a Board-Certified bilingual Family and Emergency Nurse Practitioner, licensed in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and New Mexico. Nichelle currently practices as an Emergency Nurse Practitioner in Illinois and NW Indiana healthcare organizations and has 32 years of healthcare experience. As a healthcare provider, she has been intricately involved in the entire continuum of care, treats patients of all ages, genders, and backgrounds in need of emergent and critical care. Nichelle has had a first-hand unique experience treating patients inflicted with the Novel Coronavirus and has an extraordinary perspective on what she has experienced, learned, new therapies and how our population can move forward in promoting their health. Nichelle’s research focus is on the many issues ethnic minorities and underserved communities face, impacting their health and overall development. For her DNP project, Nichelle is examining the labor and delivery care experiences of RNs and Certified Nurse Midwives providing care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Madeleine Starr, BSN, RN (2022 Graduate)
Madeleine Starr earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio in 2015. During her undergraduate career, she specialized in pediatric nursing and also earned a Global Health Certificate. In her undergraduate career, she participated as a research assistant for a study analyzing behavioral interventions within the adolescent population diagnosed with ADHD. She is currently pursuing her DNP from DePaul University with the aspiration of obtaining a Family Nurse Practitioner license. Current research interests include health disparity and inequity, pain management, and pediatric chronic disease management. Aspirations include working with underserved populations as an FNP to improve health access for all individuals. For her DNP project, she is examining nursing leaders' experiences during the initial COVID-19 response.
Sahar Vardy, BSN, RN (2022 Graduate)
Sahar Vardy is a Registered Nurse with 5+ years of experience working with the pediatric population in critical care. Sahar earned her Bachelors of Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing in August 2015. She is currently a Doctorate of Nursing Practice student at DePaul University and is expected to graduate in March 2022. Her professional interests include: pediatrics, urgent care and infectious disease. Her research interests include infectious disease responses amongst healthcare professionals. For her DNP project, she is examining APRNS COVID-19 experiences.
Sandeep Kaur, BSN, RN (2022 Graduate)
Sandeep Kaur earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, IL, in 2014. She has worked in the adult Progressive Care Unit at a suburban hospital since 2015. Her interest in preventive medicine, educating patients and desire to improve population health led her to pursue higher education. She is currently pursuing her DNP FNP degree from DePaul University. She aspires to serve the underserved community to improve health outcomes and help alleviate health disparities in the population. Her research interests include: infectious disease preparedness, health disparities and preventive healthcare. For her DNP project, she is examining APRNS COVID-19 experiences.
Study Coordinator
Tiffany Ponder (2020-2022)
Tiffany Ponder currently has a bachelor's degree in Biology and is currently attending DePaul University where she will finish with a Masters Degree in Nursing in Fall of 2020. Her current plans include starting a non-profit to teach CPR/First Aid to lay individuals in violence/disease stricken communities while working in the ED. Presently, her research interests deal with health disparities and accessibility of various minority groups. Currently, she is serving as the Study Coordinator for this research project.
Past Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Research Assistants
Lily Amer (2020-2022)
Lily Amer is obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Public Health at DePaul University. She hopes to pursue a career in Nursing. Her research interests are in maternal and child health with a focus on vulnerable populations.
Stephanie Howard (2020-2022)
Stephanie Howard earned a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing at DePaul University. Her research interests include health disparities particularly in the African American community, health promotion/disease prevention and women’s health. Plans for the future include gaining experience as a Registered Nurse and obtaining an advanced nursing degree to better serve communities and families.
Gilliane Nwafor (2020-2022)
Gilliane Nwafor graduated from UC Davis in 2018 with her Bachelor's of Science in Global Disease Biology. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree at DePaul University School of Nursing. Formal research interests include health disparities especially pertaining to the Black community, reproductive health, food insecurity and public health. In the future, she hopes to continue doing research and pursue further schooling in nursing to become an APRN.
Madeline Reid (2020-2022)
Madeline earned her Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine) from the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing from DePaul University, Chicago, alongside a Master of Women’s Health Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Formal research interests are maternal-child disease prevention, health promotion, health disparities, standards of care, maternal mortality and perinatal psychology. Her future aspirations are to work within the field of labor and delivery and pursue further education to be a WHNP/ CNM to contribute to positive women’s health outcomes. disparities especially pertaining to the Black community, reproductive health, food insecurity and public health. In the future, she hopes to continue doing research and pursue further schooling in nursing to become an APRN.
Debi Rhyner (2020-2022)
Debi Rhyner has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology with a minor in Environmental Science from Edgewood College in Madison Wisconsin. She is working towards a Master’s Degree in Nursing from DePaul University. She brings over six years of research experience from work at CDC in Atlanta as well as an analytical science company. Her research interests include public health, nutrition, and maternal health. Her future plan is to obtain a DNP.
Payal Shah (2020-2022)
Payal Shah has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Health and Well-being from the University of Virginia. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Nursing from DePaul University. Her research interests include public health, preventive medicine, nutrition, and health disparities. Her plan for the future include working as an RN, engaging in research, and obtaining an advanced nursing degree to become an FNP.
Denita Shino (2020-2022)
Denita Shino graduated with a bachelors in Biological Sciences from University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). This autumn she will start her last quarter of the MENP program at DePaul. I will be graduating in November 2020. Her research interests include the effects of stress on ICU nurses. After graduation she would like to pursue a career in ICU, and later obtain her DNP degree.
Bonnie Stevens (2020-2022)
Bonnie Stevens has a Bachelors of Science in Biology Teaching from Brigham Young University. She is currently working on her Masters of Science in Nursing at DePaul University. She is interested in studying variability in diagnosis and treatments of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Her future plan is to obtain a DNP working in women’s health and midwifery.
Rachel Waid (2020-2022)
Rachel Waid holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Florida. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Nursing from DePaul University. Her research interests include mental health and childhood trauma and its impact on health. She is passionate about empowering communities and increasing resource availability.
2020 Study Recruitment FLyer
