Rebecca Wassem, DNS

Contact Information:

• Mailing Address:
• University of Utah
• College of Nursing
• 10 South 2000 East
• Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5880
• Phone: (801) 585-9179
• FAX: (801) 581-4642
• E-mail: rebecca.wassem@nurs.utah.edu/li>

Background:

I started my nursing career in the Army Nurse Corps. I served one year in Vietnam as an ER and triage nurse and served a year in the USA. I then became a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), a career that I enjoyed for eight brief years. After developing MS, I tried a brief career in marketing and public relations. While this was a very lucrative adventure I missed my patients and returned to college for my MSN and DNS degrees. I then joined the ranks of academia first at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee then the University of Utah. I enjoy both my teaching and working with my patients in my research treatment groups.

Research Program/ Scholarly Activity:

My research began with the study of adjustment to multiple sclerosis (MS). I developed an instrument for measuring self-efficacy for adjustment behaviors. Next I studied the effects of self-efficacy and outcome expectations on adjustment to chronic physical disability (MS, cardiac disease and arthritis). This study formed the basis for a nursing intervention that was then tested on MS patients. Following this success, the intervention studies have been expanded to cover fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue patients.

Funded Research:

• 1999 "Facilitating Adjustment to Fibromyalgia," Theresa LaPlante Research Award, Gamma Rho Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1999 "Promoting Adjustment to Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome CFIDS)," Private Donor, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1998-2000 "CFIDS Wellness Education and Behavioral Training Program (WEBTP)," University of Utah Funding Incentive Seed Grant
• 1996 Trainee: "Intervention to Promote Adjustment to Chronic Physical Disability," T32 Traineeship (K.T. Kirchhoff, PI), NIH, Washington, DC

Recent Publications:

• Wassem, R. A., & Dudley, W. (under review). Development and use of the Wassem Self-efficacy for Adjustment Behaviors Scale (SEABS). Measurement in Nursing.
• Wassem, R. A., Hendrix, T., & Dudley, W. (under review). The costs and impact of living with fibromyalgia. Arthritis Care and Research.
• Wassem, R. A. (accepted with revisions). Symptom management and psychosocial adjustment of patients with multiple sclerosis: A four year longitudinal study. Clinical Nursing Research.
• Wassem, R. A., & Dudley, W. (accepted with revisions). Pilot test of a holistic intervention to promote adjustment to chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome. Applied Nursing Research.
• Wassem, R. A. (in press). Adjustment to multiple sclerosis: Overcoming tragedy. In F. Selder (Ed.), Life transitions: Challenges of chronic disability.
• Wassem, R., & Dudley, W. (2003). Symptom management and adjustment of patients with multiple sclerosis: a 4-year longitudinal intervention study. Clinical Nursing Research, 12(1), 102-117.
• Wassem, R. A., & Hendrix, T. (2003). Direct and indirect costs of fibromyalgia to patients and their families. The Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing, 7, 26-332.
• Wassem, R. A., McDonald, M., & Racine, J. (2002). Fibromyalgia: Patient perspectives on symptoms, symptom management, and provider utilization. Clinical Nurse Specialist.
• Wassem, R. A., Beckham, N., & Dudley, W. (2001). Test of a nursing intervention to promoting adjustment to fibromyalgia. Orthopaedic Nursing, 20(3), 33-45.
• Sheil, E., & Wassem, R. A. (1994). Survey of second degree candidates currently enrolled in a baccalaureate program in one school of nursing. Journal of Nursing Education, 33(2), 89-90.
• Wassem, R. A., & Sheil, E. (1994). National survey of nursing program option designed for the second degree student: One answer to declining student enrollment. Journal of Nursing Education, 33(1), 29-30.
• Wassem, R. A. (1992). Self-efficacy as a predictor of adjustment to multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 24(4), 224-229.

Recent Presentations:

• 2002 Invited Presentation: "The costs and impact of living with fibromyalgia". Salt Lake County Fibromyalgia Education and Support Group April Meeting.
• 2002 Poster Presentation: "The costs and impact of living with fibromyalgia". Research Methods Conference, University of Utah, College of Nursing, Park City, UT.
• 2001 Poster Presentation: "Facilitating Adjustment to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2001 "Facilitating Adjustment to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome," Research Methods Conference, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2001 "Test of a Nursing Intervention to Promote Adjustment to Fibromyalgia," Nurse Researcher Traineeship Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2000 Invited Presentation: "Holistic Management of Fibromyalgia," Research Preconference for the National Meeting of the American Association of Rehabilitation Nursing, Reno, NV
• 2000 "20/20 Presentation to Surgery to Correct Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome: Fact or Fiction," Salt Lake City Fibromyalgia Education and Support Group, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2000 "Developing a Program of Research in Chronic Illness," Thursday Brown Bag, University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2000 "Test of a Program to Promote Adjustment to Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome: A Two-year Follow-up," Gamma Rho Chapter Spring Meeting, Sigma Theta Tau International, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2000 "Test of an Intervention to Promote Adjustment to Fibromyalgia," Seventeenth Annual Issues in Nursing Research Conference, Park City, UT
• 2000 "Application, Preparation, and Presentation of a Poster," Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Rho Chapter Spring Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2000 "Test of an Intervention to Promote Adjustment to Fibromyalgia," Seventeenth Annual Issues in Nursing Research Conference, Park City, UT
• 2000 "Application, Preparation, and Presentation of a Poster," Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Rho Chapter Spring Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
• 2/99Management of Fatigue in MS, CFIDS, and FM Patients, University of Utah Health Sciences Development Board, Salt Lake City, UT
• 12/98 Intervention to Promote Adjustment to CFIDS, LDS/Easter Seals CFIDS Conference, Salt Lake City, UT
• 11/98 Class Lecture: Development and Use of the SEAB Instrument, University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT
• 10/98 Current FM Research Findings (Q&A session included), Salt Lake City Fibromyalgia Education and Support Group, Salt Lake City, UT
• 4/98 Research and New Management Approaches for CFIDS,@ Salt Lake City CFIDS Support Group, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1998 Pharmacological Management of Fibromyalgia, Continuing Education: Medical Management, University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT
• 10/97 Factors to Consider in the use of Quaiffensin for the Treatment of FM, Salt Lake City Fibromyalgia Education and Support Group, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1997 Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Symptom Management: A Patient Survey,@ Professional Education Program: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Problems, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1997 Fibromyalgia Symptoms and Symptom Management: A Patient Survey, Patient Edcuation Program: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Problems, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT
• 1996 A Program of Research in Chronic Illness, University of Utah College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, UT

Current Professional Activities:

• President of the Gamma Rho chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International
• Active member of the American Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
• Medical advisor for the Greater Salt Lake Fibromyalgia Education and Support Group
• Member of the Medical Advisory Board for Easter Seals, Salt Lake Chapter
• Member of the Board for the Utah State Independent Living Centers.

Areas of Teaching Responsibilities:

• Nursing Mangagement of Acute and Chronic Illness (Undergraduate)
• Nursing Research (Undergraduate)
• Experimental Research Design (Doctoral)
• Research Measurement (Doctoral)

Recent Awards:

• 2001 Faculty Spirit Award: Excellence in Nurturing Faculty, Staff, and Students, University of Utah, College of Nursing, Fall Retreat
• 1991 Outstanding Graduate Award, University of Akron College of Nursing
• 1987 Faculty Recognition Award (Research and Teaching), Indiana University School of Nursing
• 1987 Faculty Recognition Award (personal, academic, and professional excellence), Indiana University School of Nursing
• 1987 Carol McMullen Marsh Award (doctoral research), Indiana University Alumni Association
• 1986 Citation of Merit for Community Service, Indiana Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society