Joint Research Chair in Pediatric Nursing

Kathleen J. Sawin, PhD, CPNP-PC, FAAN

Kathleen Sawin is the joint research chair in the nursing of children with Children's Hospital of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Sawin is a senior scientist whose main responsibility is to conduct a program of research and to engage others at Children's Hospital and UWM in these research activities. She also works with colleagues at both institutions to enhance pediatric nursing research capacity.

Study interests
Sawin's primary research focus is child and family adaptation to chronic health conditions. Her program of research has addressed health, adaptation, self-management and quality of life outcomes in individuals with chronic health conditions and their families as well as the risk and protective factors (individual, family and environmental) that are associated with these outcomes. Her current funded work focuses on adolescents with neurological conditions (specifically spina bifida, epilepsy), asthma and cancer. Previous studies have included adolescents with diabetes, cancer and epilepsy as well as young adult women with cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury.

Education
Bachelor of science, Nursing, University of North Dakota School of Nursing, Grand Forks, 1968; master of science, Sociology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1989; master of science, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, 1975; doctorate of nursing science, Indiana University, Indianapolis, 1987; postdoctoral fellowship, Behavioral Health-Child and Family Adaptation to Chronic Illness, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, 1998-2000; fellow, Training Program for Leadership in Adolescent Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, 1998-2000.

Certifications
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, National Pediatric Certification Board, Family Nurse Practitioner, American Nurses Credential Association.

Honors
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing; American Association of Spinal Cord Injury's Journal 2003 Article Of The Year Award for "Correlates of Functional Status, Self-management and Developmental Competence in Adolescents with Spina Bifida;" University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing Outstanding Research Achievement Award; Southern Nursing Research Society's 2003 Leadership in Research Award; Distinguished Practitioner, National Academies of Practice; Outstanding Faculty Award, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing;

Representative publications

  • Sawin KJ, Thompson NM. The Experience of Finding an Effective Bowel Management Program for Children with Spina Bifida: The Parent's Perspective. Journal of Pediatric Nursing. (In press.)
  • Sawin KJ, Bellin MH, Roux G, Buran CF, Brei TJ, The Experience of Self-management in Adolescent Women With Spina Bifida, Rehabilitation Nursing. (In press.)
  • Heffelfinger AK, Kop JI, Fastenau PS, Brei TJ, Conant L, Kaskastan J, Cashen SE, Sawin KJ, The Relationship of Neuropsychological Functioning to Adaptation Outcome in Adolescents With Spina Bifida. The Journal of International Neuropsychological Society. (In press.)
  • Bellin MH, Bentley KJ, Sawin KJ. Factors Associated With the Psychological and Behavioral Adjustment of Siblings of Youths With Spina Bifida. Families, Systems & Health. (In press.)
  • Bellin MH, Kovacs P, Sawin KJ, Risk and Protective Influences in the Lives of Siblings of Youth With Spina Bifida. Health and Social Work. 2008; 3(3):161-240.
  • Sherburne E, Sawin K, Investigating Time to Void After Lower Extremity Orthopedic Surgery in a Pediatric Population. Journal of Specialists in Pediatric Nursing. 2008; 13(1):36-47.
  • Bellin M, Sawin KJ, Roux G, Buran CF, Brei TJ, Kain J, The Experience of Being Adolescent Women With a Disability, Part I: Self Esteem and Family Relationships. Rehabilitation Nursing. 2007; 32(1):57-67.
  • Bellin M, Sawin KJ, Roux G, Buran CF, Brei TJ, Kain J, The Experience of Being Adolescent Women With a Disability, Part II: Peer Relationships. Rehabilitation Nursing. 2007; 32(2):112-119..
  • Sawin KJ, Buran CF, Brei TJ. Factors Related to Quality of Life (HRQOL) in Adolescents and Young Adults with Spina Bifida. SCI Nursing. 2007; 23(4). One-line Journal, retrieved March 26, 2007 from United Spinal Association.
  • Sawin KJ,. Burns C, Beauchesne M, Ryan-Krause P, Mastering the Preceptor Rose: Challenge of Clinical Teaching. Journal of Pediatric Health. 2006; 20(3):172-183
  • Buran CF, Sawin KJ, Brei TJ, Fastenau PS. Adolescents with Mylelomengiocele: Their Activities, Beliefs, Expectations and Perceptions. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology. 2004; 46:244-252.
  • Sawin KJ, Bellin M, Buran CF, Brei TJ, Fastenau PS. The Experience of Parenting an Adolescent with Spina Bifida. Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing. 2003; 27:173-185.
  • Sawin KJ, Buran CF, Brei TJ, Fastenau PS. Correlates of Functional Status, Self-management and Developmental Competence in Adolescents with Spina Bifida. Spinal Cord Injury Nursing. 2003; 20(2):72-86.
  • Sawin KJ, Buran CF, Brei TJ, Fastenau PS. Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Adolescents with Spina Bifida. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 2002; 20:279-304.
  • Sawin KJ, Buran CF, Brei TJ, Fastenau PS. Sexuality Issues in Adolescents with a Chronic Neurological Condition.The Journal of Perinatal Education. 2002; 11:22-34.
  • Sawin KJ, Lannon SL, Austin JK. Camp Experiences and Attitudes Toward Epilepsy: A Pilot Study. Journal of Neuroscience Nurses. 2001; 33(1):57-64.

Book chapters

  • Sawin KJ, Horton J. Care of Women With Disabilities. In C. I. Fogel and N. F. Woods. Women's Health Care, second edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publishers, 2006.
  • Sawin KJ, Cox A, Metzger SG. Transition to Adulthood. In J. Jackson and J. Vessey (eds.) Primary Care of Children with Chronic Conditions, fifth edition.St. Louis: Elsevier Health Sciences Company. In press.

Grants

  • Sawin K (principal investigator), Thometz J (co-investigator). The Feasibility of Implementing a National Spina Bifida Registry in Wisconsin, Funded by Centers for Disease Control.
  • The Impact of Coping Skills Training on Health Outcomes for Youth 8-12 years of age with a Variety of Chronic Health Conditions. The Coping Skills Training Interdisciplinary Research Team (Funded by Children's Research Institute to B. Roth-Wojcicki and Univeristy of Wisconsin-Milwaukee-College of Nursing to K. Sawin).
  • Secondary Conditions and Adaptation in Spina Bifida, Association of University Centers on Disability and CDC Special Collaborative Grants Project, site principal investigator and training director.
  • Urologic and Quality of Life Outcomes in Children and Adolescents with a Neurogenic Bladder: A Pilot Study, Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation, mentor and co-investigator.
  • A Longitudinal Study of Adolescents and Young Adults with Spina Bifida, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Growth Initiative.