University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) Program student Paula Gordon, MSN, RN, has received two grant awards to support research for her dissertation, “African-American Family Caregivers’ Decision to Use Hospice Services for a Loved One.”
Paula GordonGordon wants to better understand the decision-making process and factors that influence the use of hospice services by African Americans.“I am conducting individual, in-depth interviews with family caregivers of African-American patients who have been in or are currently in hospice care about their decision to use hospice services and their experiences,” Gordon said. “This data will be used to help develop interventions that will lead to a greater understanding and use of end-of-life care services throughout the African-American community.”
Sigma Theta Tau International Epsilon Alpha Chapter at Georgia State University selected Gordon for its annual $1,500 research award for doctoral student dissertation research. STTI, the Honor Society of Nursing, advances world health and celebrates nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service with more than 135,000 active members in 90 countries.
Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. Gamma Chi Chapter-Atlanta, Georgia, selected Gordon for the Dr. Dorothy Coverson Grant, a $500 award grant given in memory of Coverson to honor her spirit of scholarly inquiry by supporting graduate students whose scholarly activities embody the advancement of nursing.
Gordon is the second PhD student from the School to receive the Coverson Grant. Kenya Kirkendoll, MSN, MPH, RN, was the inaugural recipient in 2016.
Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. is a national sorority of more than 8,000 registered nurses and nursing students with the motto “Service for Humanity,” and one of its objectives is to develop a corps of nursing leaders who promote research development.
