Researcher pursues description of the Wyoming ER nursing experience with mentally ill patients

Casper, WY -- Grand Canyon University doctoral scholar Emily Genoff is researching Wyoming hospital emergency nurses’ resilience when caring for patients presenting with symptoms of mental illness. Geoff is has chosen the topic because national statistics indicate the number of patients of all ages with mental illnesses is rising faster in rural emergency rooms than in larger communities. Mental illnesses often go untreated until crisis intervention is needed, and nurses are on the front lines in emergency rooms. Genoff said her review of past studies has shown that resilience is a protective factor for nurses working in stressful environments. She has determined that further research is needed to understand how emergency room nurses describe their competence, confidence, and optimism when caring for patients with mental illness in rural and frontier Wyoming.

Genoff’s study is intended to help inform nurse educators, policymakers, and hospital leaders who are building the pipeline of emergency room caregivers needed to keep emergency room doors open and services offered. Inquiry into rural and frontier emergency room nurses’ resilience when caring for patients with mental illness can inform hospital training and policies, and recruitment and retention efforts in communities where a nursing shortage is increasingly impactful. For the study to be completed, nurses employed in rural and frontier Wyoming emergency rooms are needed to participate in individual interviews and focus groups. Interested registered nurses can volunteer by clicking on https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QWRW977 

Genoff earned a bachelor’s degree in community journalism and a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Wyoming. The degree tracks she chose allowed her to capitalize on her skills as a writer, editor, and collaboration builder. She has demonstrated the ability to strategically leverage resources for organizational advancement in small and large non-profit and for-profit organizations. For more information about the study, email egenoff@my.gcu.edu or call or text 307-262-0362 for more information.