Joan Harvey and Mary Christensen, D.N.P., both instructors in the UNMC College of Nursing-Lincoln Division, will discuss caregiver strain at the next Lincoln Science Cafe at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 22, at VEGA, 350 Canopy St. in Lincoln.
Harvey will discuss current research looking at the effect of caring for patients suffering from dementia, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other chronic illnesses.
Dr. Christensen will describe caregiver strain, how prevalent it is, who the caregivers are and the financial impact.
A Lincoln, Neb., native, Harvey received her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Arizona State University. She has 35 years of nursing experience, primarily in critical care. She currently works as a hospitalist in a long-term acute care setting, does hospice home visits and teaches undergraduate nurses at the UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division. She is passionate about improving end-of-life care for patients and their families.
Dr. Christensen graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in psychology and obtained her doctoral degree in nursing from UNMC. She is an instructor in the UNMC College of Nursing Lincoln Division and works in private practice at Tabitha providing patient care for the post-acute care unit. She has a certification in gerontology and specializes in care of the older adult.
Science Cafes involve a face-to-face conversation with a scientist about current science topics. They are open to everyone (21 and older), and take place in casual settings like pubs and coffeehouses. Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. A scientist gives a brief presentation followed by a question and answer period.
For more information about Science Cafes, click here. Podcasts of previous Science Cafes also are available on the website or available for free download on iTunes here.