Karen Wambach, RN, PhD

phone: 913-588-1639

Office Hours:
By appointment

Hello and welcome to the first of the theory courses in the masters program at the University of Kansas School of Nursing. I am looking forward to working with you over this next semester - it should be a busy and exciting time. The course you are about to take is unique in that it is totally web-based. Your communication with me and other students will be electronic in nature - there will be no face to face interactions. It will no doubt be a time of learning! So you won't feel too detached from the School of Nursing and the Med Center campus, I have provided a link to our School of Nursing Homepage . There you can enjoy looking at our new building and reading other information about KU SON.

Before we get started on this exciting journey into the land of theory in graduate nursing education, I want to tell you a bit about myself. I grew up in southeastern Minnesota in a small rural community. I began my nursing career as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1974, later received my BSN from the University of Minnesota, and still later, my MS and PhD in nursing from the University of Arizona in Tucson (not to be confused with Arizona State University located in Tempe!) . My practice background is primarily in maternal-newborn nursing, with staff nursing experience in labor and delivery, postpartum, and gynecology.

I have been on the faculty at the University of Kansas School of Nursing since May, 1992. My first position at KU was as a clinical instructor in the undergraduate program in maternal-newborn nursing. After receiving my PhD in August, 1993, I became an assistant professor. My dissertation research focused on the testing of a social-psychology theory (Theory of Planned Behavior by Izek Ajzen) as applied to the formation of prenatal breastfeeding intentions and postpartum breastfeeding outcomes. Currently I am revising a proposal for re-submission in November to the National Institute of Nursing Research. This intervention study is also based partially on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The purpose of the research is to test an education and counseling intervention to promote breastfeeding decision making in adolescents and support breastfeeding initiation and continuation after birth. As preliminary data for that proposal, I am currently conducting two qualitative studies: (a) infant feeding decision-making among pregnant teenagers and (b) breastfeeding experiences of teenage mothers. I am also disseminating the findings of a descriptive study of lactation mastitis conducted in 1999-2000. I look forward to sharing more about my theory and research background with you as we explore the world of theory in nursing.

Support systems are very important to people as they work and face new challenges in life, such as you now face in graduate nursing education. I encourage you to call upon your student colleagues, as well as your family, for support as you need it. I have received invaluable support from my family as I have completed my education and career goals. My husband of 28 years works as a regional manager in natural gas pipeline construction. My daughter is 28 years old and works as a medical transcriptionist in Kansas City. My 24 year old son currently is working in the telecommunications industry. I take time to share a little about my family, not only to give you a sense of who I am, but because my life experiences and my loved ones have helped shape my world view and the way I view nursing and theory in nursing. In the weeks to come I believe you will spend some time reflecting on your own life experiences and relationships and see their contribution to your world view in general and on nursing in particular. I hope you will find it a valuable experience.

Please share a little bit about yourself with me in the space provided below. You might want to mention your background, interests, goals for the master's program, or other points you feel are pertinent. Please provide alternate e-mail addresses you wish to use for course communication as well!! Thanks