A Research-Driven Life: Seeking and Developing a Nurse Scientist Role in the Rural Setting

Abstract

Dr. Frank-Stromborg's involvement with the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) spans more than a quarter of a century. Her contributions to the organization have been signifi cant as evident by the following trajectory. Her work in the areas of education and research has been creative and innovative. Her leadership has had an impact on many of the organization's activities and programs. ONS is very appreciative of her long-standing involvement and congratulates her on receiving the 2005 ONS Distinguished Researcher Award.

A Systematic Review of Worldwide Cancer Nursing Research

“…There are very few senior cancer nursing researchers developing programmatic research, and this needs to be improved; from our own experience, there are only a handful of researchers who hold program grants in the United States, several in Canada with a focus however on end-of-life care, and only 2 [collaborative] program grants in the UK. However, several senior researchers have built programs of research, and Oncology Nursing Forum is publishing annually in issue 5 a distinguished nurse researchers program of research (ie, the program of research on fatigue by Mock 20 or Frank-Stromborg's work in the rural settings 21 and others). The NCRI 9 (used here as it is the only comprehensive report available to date) has also identified some key issues that need to be tackled in order for research (in palliative and supportive care) to progress, and these seem pertinent to cancer nursing research, too: (a) organizational issues (minimize fragmentation across multiple sites and increase collaborative work); (b) workforce issues (building capacity, postdoctoral training, combined academic and clinical posts); (c) infrastructure support (access to dedicated statisticians and administrative support; data management issues); (d ) increase in funding; and (e) methodologic issues (tackling problems of conducting research with seriously ill patients, outcome measures, involvement of service users).…”