UHV nursing faculty member to present at international conference
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| Vivian Nowazek |
Vivian Nowazek, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of Houston-Victoria, will be one of the presenters at the 20th Annual International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Research in Vancouver, Canada, this summer.
The event, organized by the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, brings together 500 of the top nurses from 28 countries for a week. This year, the conference will take place from July 13 to 17.
The organization accepted only a portion of the numerous proposals for presentations it received.
“This conference has a reputation for excellence in its presenters,” Nowazek said. “I’m thrilled and honored to have my work chosen.”
For her doctoral dissertation, titled “Predicting Length of Intensive Care Unit Stay in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Patients,” Nowazek studied ways to help predict how long a person will be in the intensive care unit after cardiac bypass surgery so doctors and nurses can either take steps to lessen the stay or better predict what level of post-surgical care the patient will require.
Even if the length of stay cannot be shortened, nurses can arrange staffing and the intensity of post-surgical care well in advance, Nowazek said. This increases the chances of positive outcomes for the patients.
Nowazek’s trip brought praise from the senior nursing administrator at UHV.
“We’re all very proud of Dr. Nowazek for having her work accepted for presentation at the conference,” said Kathryn Tart, founding dean of the UHV School of Nursing. “She’ll represent UHV well in front of a very distinguished audience and bring back some information that will enlighten all of us. We also hope she’ll bring back some of the cooler weather she’ll be enjoying.”
Tart noted that Sigma Theta Tau is the only nursing honor society in the world, and membership is by invitation only to nurses of proven excellence. Its mission is to support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide.
“Dr. Nowazek certainly deserves to be in that company,” she said.
The University of Houston-Victoria, located in the heart of the Coastal Bend region since 1973 in Victoria, Texas, offers courses leading to more than 80 academic programs in the schools of Arts & Sciences; Business Administration; and Education, Health Professions & Human Development. UHV provides face-to-face classes at its Victoria campus, as well as an instructional site in Katy, Texas, and online classes that students can take from anywhere. UHV supports the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Opportunities for All initiative to increase awareness about state colleges and universities and the important role they have in providing a high-quality and accessible education to an increasingly diverse student population, as well as contributing to regional and state economic development.
