UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing students, Jessica Wellington and Ahmed-Rufai Yahaya, won awards for their research at the 2025 Eastern Nursing Research Society’s Annual Scientific Sessions (ENRS) in Philadelphia on April 3-4th.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Freedom to Advance Health and Well-being Through Revolutionary Nursing Research Partnerships.”
Jessica Wellington earned first place for her Peer-Reviewed PhD Student Poster titled: "The Rural Divide: Gender Diverse People's Experience of Healthcare Provider Discrimination and Abuse."
Wellington’s research explored how gender diverse adults’ healthcare experiences may differ in rural verses non-rural areas of the mid-Atlantic United States. Results, according to Wellington, showed significantly more negative experiences with healthcare providers and in healthcare settings, including issues such as denial of care, physical abuse and sexual assault.
“As healthcare professionals, it is imperative that we address these structural, knowledge, and ethical practice gaps that create unsafe environments and may contribute to negative health outcomes for our patients.” said Wellington.
Ahmed-Rufai Yahaya secured second place for his doctoral poster titled: "The Quality of Relationships Between Adult Children Caregivers and Their Parents Living with Dementia: An Integrative Review."
Yahaya’s research examined the quality of relationships between adult child caregivers and their parents living with dementia. According to Yahaya, the research revealed that prior relationship quality significantly influenced current caregiving experiences, with positive relationships associated with less distress and negative relationships linked to increased burden.
“This award affirms the importance of understanding relationship dynamics in dementia care, especially when adult children assume caregiving roles for their parents with dementia.” said Yahaya.