Mary Beth Happ, PhD, RN
Associate Professor
Department of Acute/Tertiary Care
and (secondary appointment) Center for Bioethics and Health Law,
University of Pittsburgh

School of Nursing
336 Victoria Building
3500 Victoria St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15261

Email:  mhapp@pitt.edu
Phone: 412-624-2070
FAX:      412-383-7227

Research Abstracts

RESEARCH:
My program of research focuses on understanding and improving communication with nonspeaking patients in acute and critical care settings. I have participated in and conducted research with nonspeaking patients who require long-term mechanical ventilation for more than 15 years. In a recent NINR-funded study “Ventilator Weaning: Processes of Care and Communication,” we used ethnographic and event analysis techniques to describe the processes of care and communication in weaning patients from long-term mechanical ventilation ( R01-NR07973). Pilot studies exploring the feasibility of the use of electronic voice output communication aids with nonspeaking ICU and postoperative head and neck cancer patients led to the development of the SPEACS project: “Study of Patient-Nurse Effectiveness with Assisted Communication Strategies.” This is a multidisciplinary clinical intervention study, funded by the NICHD, to testthe impact of: (1) basic communication skills training for nurses and (2) augmentative and alternative communication techniques and education for nurses with individualized speech language pathologist consultation o n communications between nurses and nonspeaking ICU patients ( R01-HD043988). Digital videography of communication interactions between study nurses and nonspeaking ICU patients are coded and analyzed. My current research also includes a study of medication taking practices among community dwelling persons with Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s Association, J. Erlen, P.I.) using qualitative and mixed methods event analysis techniques.

Education:
I am primary teacher for the undergraduate course - NUR 1085, Ethics in Nursing and Health Care, and provide guest lectures on ethics and research methodology topics to nursing, medical and bioethics students at all levels of study. I also serve as research practicum faculty for masters and doctoral students.

SERVICE:
I am an active member of the American Nurses' Association, American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Oncology Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau International, Eastern Nursing Research Society, and the Gerontological Society of America. Within the University, I participate as faculty in the Institute to Enhance Palliative Care and serve on the Executive Committee, the Institute for Doctor-Patient Communication, the Center for Research in Chronic Disorders, and the Multidisciplinary Qualitative Research Work Group. I also serve as University of Pittsburgh liaison to the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence where I hold an Adjunct faculty appointment.