A Nursing-Led Patient Education Program for ME/CFS
Silver Spring, Maryland— Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) are excited to announce the 2024 recipient of the Sigma/ANCC Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Implementation Grant: an interprofessional team led by Nisha Mathews, PhD, MSN, RN, from the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Their award-winning project, titled “Community Insight to Clinical Care: A Nursing-Led Evidence-Based Patient Education Program for ME/CFS,” aims to improve care for patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) through a patient-centered, evidence-based education program.
Dr. Mathews is joined by an interprofessional team, including:
- Jessica Ask, MSN, RN, Ambulatory Nurse Manager, Mayo Clinic
- Stephanie Grach, MS, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic-Rochester
- Jaime Seltzer, MS, Scientific Director, MEAction
This team brings a wealth of experience in nursing, medicine, and patient advocacy, ensuring a holistic approach to patient education.
The Sigma/ANCC grant was awarded based on the project’s strong foundation in evidence-based practice, as reviewed by an independent panel of nursing research experts. The proposal was evaluated for its significance, clarity of goals, and potential to improve patient outcomes. This nursing-led project addresses the critical need for enhanced patient education in managing ME/CFS, a condition affecting millions globally, particularly in the wake of long COVID-19. The program will leverage narrative data from patients who use pacing—an activity management strategy recommended for ME/CFS. The project aims to develop and deliver comprehensive educational materials that empower patients to better manage their symptoms.
The project will be implemented within Mayo Clinic’s Integrative Medicine & Health section, where nurses will lead interactive group sessions and one-on-one patient education. Expected outcomes include improved patient engagement and enhanced quality of life for individuals with ME/CFS. This project will serve as a model for future patient-centered, evidence-based education programs in chronic disease management.
The winning team will be honored at the 2024 ANA Enterprise Research Symposium - Elevating Nursing Through Innovation and Research on October 29, 2024, in New Orleans, LA. This event is hosted by the ANA Enterprise Research Advisory Council and the ANA Enterprise Institute for Nursing Research & Quality Management.
For more information about the Sigma/ANCC Evidence-Based Practice Implementation Grant, please visit the Sigma Research Grant Program. To learn more about the Research Symposium, visit ANA Enterprise Research Symposium.
View the press release on the ANCC website.
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About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.
About the ANA Enterprise Institute for Nursing Research & Quality Management
The ANA Enterprise Institute for Nursing Research & Quality Management is dedicated to advancing nursing research and promoting organizational excellence through quality management: Institute for Nursing Research and Quality Management (nursingworld.org)
About Sigma
The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma) is a nonprofit organization with the mission of developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere. Founded in 1922, Sigma has more than 100,000 active members and 600 chapters at institutions of higher education and healthcare partners from Armenia, Australia, and Botswana to Thailand, the United States, and Wales. Sigma members include clinical nurses and administrators, academic nurse educators and researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and others working to fulfill the organization’s vision of connected, empowered nurse leaders transforming global healthcare. Learn more at www.SigmaNursing.org.