Dalhousies nurse scientists connect theory and practice. By investigating issues related to the health needs of people and the factors that influence health, they produce strategies to improve patient care, the health system and nursing practice.

As we mark Nursing Week, here are more examples of exciting research from within the School of Nursing.

Jean Hughes, professor in Dalhousies School of Nursing, once studied at Dal herself as part of the first class to graduate from the four-year nursing baccalaureate program.

Nursing education initially was oriented more toward task, she says. But with the evolution of baccalaureate, masters and PhD education now focuses much more on the development of critical thinking.

Now, Dr. Hughes specializes in mental health in marginalized populations, particularly focusing on young families and youth. She is a past chair of the Dartmouth Family Centre, and currently a member of the board of directors for Laing House as well as an academic mentor for Horizon Healths Peer 126 program two community-based programs for youth with mental illness.

Dr. Hughes worked with the Dartmouth Family Centre to develop the Growing Together program that provides wrap-around health programs to families reluctant to use regular health-care service. This approach that responds to the needs of marginalized families increasingly has been adopted by health services province-wide.

Her latest study, SEAK, in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association-NS Division, is testing a proven mental health promotion program in marginalized populations and examining the long-term effects on health service use and on cost benefits. The PATHS program (Promoting Alternative THinking Strategies), designed to build social and emotional skills in elementary school students, is being tested in multiple schools in five Canadian communities, two of which are in Nova Scotia. Trained teachers offer twice-weekly classes that show young children how to communicate their emotions and problem-solve confrontations with others.

Dr. Hughes shares stories of her visits to schools using the PATHS program and describes her delight at seeing children as young as five settle disagreements without tears or tantrums: They were using the teacher as a support system, not as an answer to all their problems.

Researchers will be tracking the success of PATHS students in junior and senior high school and beyond to see whether the program improves participants post-secondary education and career prospects. The study involves students from numerous universities and science and health programs, including research assistants from Dals School of Nursing.

Communication processes are just as important as physical care, says Dr. Hughes. [It is] critical to nurse performance, patient outcomes and the cost of health care.

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Improving health care in Nova Scotia and beyond