USF Nursing student Carly Paterson receives National Research Service Award (NRSA) from NINR

University of South Florida College of Nursing BS-PhD student, Carly Paterson, MS, received the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) from National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) to examine the impact of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction on the symptoms of sexual and body image distress in younger breast cancer survivors. Paterson was awarded $38,611 in grants for two years, and should support her through the PhD program.

Cecile A. Lengacher, RN, PhD, FAAN and Carly Paterson (L to R)

“To be the recipient of this funding is a great honor for me as well as a positive starting point in my research career,” Paterson said. “Also, this will provide the opportunity to advance the scientific knowledge and ultimately inform practice to improve the quality of life of younger breast cancer survivors.”

Paterson, who is now a Predoctoral Fellow in Nursing Research at USF Nursing, will use the funds to support her predoctoral training including tuition assistance, a monthly stipend, health insurance, and funds to attend two conferences per year.

Paterson’s project builds on and complements the National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded MBSR Symptom Cluster Trial for Breast Cancer Survivors research study led by Cecile A. Lengacher, RN, PhD, FAAN,  Professor and Program Director for BS-PhD at USF College of Nursing. Dr. Lengacher is the sponsor and mentor for Paterson’s research project.

“We are very proud that Carly Paterson was awarded the NRSA,” Dr. Lengacher said. “Her fellowship is a very high honor for not only the student, but the College of Nursing. This award is very important for the College from two perspectives; it raises the amount of national research funding attained from the National Institutes for Health, and moves the college forward in attainment of its strategic goals, by building scholarship and research in the doctoral program, and leadership among faculty.”

NRSA funding is provided by NINR, which is part of  National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NINR funding supports and trains future behavioral, biological, and bio-behavioral nurse scientists committed to research careers in scientific health-related fields. NINR gives this distinguished award to outstanding nursing doctoral students, who are committed to research careers and training for the future generation of nurse scientists. The institute also gives the award to outstanding institutions that have nurse scientists to support the student’s research.

“This funding is evidence that the USF College of Nursing is a research training environment that the NINR determined was exemplary, which is an imperative component of the NRSA application as well as an attractive aspect of the school and the PhD program for potential graduate students,” Paterson said.

Paterson’s accomplishments include being awarded a  2012-2014 Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program Scholarship.