BSN-PhD Student

Nancy Downing, MSN, RN, SANE-A
30A NB

319/353-5765

nancy-downing@uiowa.edu


Education:
MSN, University of Iowa College of Nursing

BSN, University of Iowa College of Nursing

BA English, University of Iowa

Advisor:   

M. Kathleen Clark, PhD, RN, ARNP, FNP

                 

Cognate Area:  Forensic Nursing

Emphasis: Molecular Genetics

 

Research Focus:

I have been a sexual assault nurse examiner since 2004.  From that experience and my 10 years' experience as a nurse on a medical-psychiatry floor I developed an interest in the psychological sequela of sexual assault.  Specifically, I am looking at risk factors for PTSD in sexual assault victims.  This includes a variety of biopsychosocial factors including a possible genetic vulnerability.

 

Publications:

Ramey, S. L., Downing, N. R., & Franke, W. D. (in submission). Milwaukee Police Department Retirees: Cardiovascular Disease Risk and Morbidity

Ramey, S. L., Downing, N. R., & Knoblauch, A. A. (2007). Developing strategic interventions to reduce CVD risk in law enforcement: The art and science of data triangulation. AAOHN Journal, 56(2), 54-62.

 

Posters:

Downing, N. R. (2007, August). UIHC medical psychiatry: A multidisciplinary approach. Poster session presented at Medical-Psychiatry Conference, Sheraton Hotel, Iowa City, IA, August 24, 2007.

Downing, N. R., & Knoblauch, A. A. (2007, March). Cardiovascular disease risk and law enforcement officers. Poster session presented at the 9th Annual Occupational Health Symposium: Caring for a Divsrse Workplace, Iowa City, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Terrill, P. (2005, September). HIV prophylaxis following sexual assault: Evidence-based practice. Poster session presented at Nursing Recognition Day, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, September 13-14, 2005.

 

Presentations:

Downing, N. R. (2008, October). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Sexual Assault: Who's at Risk? 3rd Annual Sexual Assault Response Team Conference, Mercy Medical Plaza, Iowa City, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Terrill, P. (2007, October). Prevention of PTSD in sexual assault patients. Presentation at International Association of Forensic Nursing 15th Annual Scientific Assembly, Sheraton City Centre Hotel, Salt Lake City, UT.

Downing, N. R. (2006, June). Evaluating psychological trauma and suicide risk. Presentation at University of Iowa College of Nursing SANE Training, Iowa City, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Terrill, P. (2006, March). Sexual assault examination. Presentation as part of Prison Rape Elimination Act staff training, Oakdale Medical and Classification Center, Coralville, IA.

Downing, N. R. (2006, February). Understanding sexual assault exams and kits. Presentation at emergency room staff continuing education unit day, Davis County Hospital, Bloomfield, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Olshansky, D. (2005, September). SANEs and advocates helping victims of sexual assault. Presentation at advocate training, Hotel Ottumwa, Ottumwa, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Terrill, P. (2005, September). Improving SANE practice: Offering HIV prophylaxis to victims of sexual assault. Poster presentation at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Staff Nurse Recognition Day, Iowa City, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Terrill, P. (2005, June). Sexual Assault evidentiary exam. Presentation at emergency room staff continuing education day, Mercy Hospital, Clinton, IA.

Downing, N. R., & Hemingway, A. (2005, May). Helping victims of sexual violence. presentation at Kirkwood Community College Health Professionals Class, Cedar Rapids, IA.

 

Funding Sources and Collegiate Honors:

-- Myrtle Aydelotte Fellowship, spring semester, 2008; renewed fall semester, 2008

-- Graduate Student of the Month, May 2008

--"Best of Show," poster presentation, Cardiovascular disease risk and law enforcement officers. With Knoblauch, A. A. (2007, March). 9th annual Occupational Health Symposium: Caring for a Diverse Workplace, Iowa City, IA.

-- Nursing Excellence in Clinical Education Award, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care and the University of Iowa College of Nursing, and the University of Iowa Nursing Collaboratory, 2005.

-- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care Certificate of Recognition, annual recipient, 2002 to present.

-- Collegiate Scholar Award, University of Iowa College of Nursing, 1998

-- Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honors Society, 1998

-- John W. and Mabel Gottburg Shoen Scholarship, 1997

-- Eugene & Elsie Weyler Nursing Leadership Award, 1997

-- University of Iowa College of Nursing Certificate of Outstanding Scholastic Achievement, 1996

 

Faculty Affiliations/Clinical Research:

I am a research assistant on two faculty projects. I am site coordinator of the Police Heart Study being conducted by Dr. Sandra Ramey and Dr. Kathy Clark. This entails looking for novel risk factors for heart disease risk in the law enforcement population. Law enforcement officers have a higher risk of heart disease than the general population. The information from this study will help identify risk factors and lead to interventions to decrease heart disease risk in this population. It has been a pleasure to use the College of Nursing Research Suite to conduct the data collection in this study. It is a wonderful resource for CON researchers.

The other project on which I serve as a research assistant is the Huntington's Disease Work Function Project with Dr. Janet Williams. In this study we are talking to people with presymptomatic HD and their companions to identify issues related to work function that may be unique to this population. It is hoped that new interventions will help people at risk for HD to remain longer in the workplace. The information gleaned from this study will be useful in designing tools to measure these outcomes.