Kristin Merss, BSN, RN
, was awarded a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31) grant to support the study Perspectives of Correctional Officers about Older Adults in Prison: A Grounded Theory Study. The study is funded by the National Institute of Nursing. The primary research aim is to use Grounded Theory, a theory-generating methodology, to explore how correctional officers perceive and respond to age related changes in incarcerated older adults, including when, how and with what consequences correctional officers collaborate with correctional nurses. The mentor team includes Barbara Bowers, PhD, RN, FAAN, Dr. Ryan Westergaard (School of Medicine and Public Health), and Dr. Susan Loeb (College of Nursing & Department of Medicine, Penn State University). The total award costs are $77,177.