Susan M. Antol, PhD, MS, RN

HomeDirectorySusan M. Antol, PhD, MS, RN
Susan M. Antol, PhD, MS, RN
  • Assistant Professor
    Family and Community Health
Location:
Room 538, School of Nursing Building
Phone:
410-706-5145
Office Hours:
Mondays 8-9 am by appointment
Email:
I am currently accepting new PhD students.

Education

  • MS, Community Health Nursing, University of Maryland Baltimore Graduate School, 1979
  • BS, Nursing, Carlow College, 1975
  • PhD, Public Health, University of Maryland College Park, 2016

Contracts, Fellowships, Grants, and Sponsored Research

  • Date:
    2021 - 2021
    Title:
    The Family COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach Project: A National Intervention to Support Special Needs Youth and Their Families
    Sponsoring Organization:
    HRSA
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
  • Date:
    2017 - 2019
    Title:
    Feasibility of Faculty and Professional Development to Prepare Nurses to Lead Primary Care Initiatives.
    Sponsoring Organization:
    NSP II Marylnd Higher Education Commission (MHEC)
    Role:
    Principal
  • Date:
    2017 - 2019
    Title:
    A Patient-Centric Innovation to Care: Meeting Patients Where They Live.
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Maryland Community Health Resource Commission
    Role:
    Other
  • Date:
    2016 - 2019
    Title:
    Bridging Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Education with Integrated Care through a Medical Neighborhood
    Sponsoring Organization:
    HRSA Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) cooperative agreement
    Role:
    Co-Principal
  • Date:
    2013 - 2016
    Title:
    Predictors of Patient Activation among Underserved Patients in a Nurse-managed Health Center- a Pilot Study
    Sponsoring Organization:
    MHEC NSP II Nurse Education Dissertation Grant (NEDG)
    Role:
    Principal
  • Title:
    Upper Eastern Shore Primary Care and Services Linkages Project
    Sponsoring Organization:
    CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
    Role:

Research Interests

  • Community & Public Health Nursing
    Immigrant and new citizen health
    Rural Health and Health Care Delivery Systems
    Nurse-managed Health Centers
    Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Team-Based care
    Electronic Health Record Implementation and system optimization
    Nursing roles in ambulatory / primary care practices
    Care Management, Care Coordination, Care Transitions
    Mobile Health Care
    Patient Activation and self-management
    Health Behavior Theories / Self-Determination Theory

Research Activity

  • Duration:
    2023 - Current
    Title:
    Perception of Work Environment by Rural In-Hospital Certified Nursing Assistants
    Description:
    Perception of Work Environment by Rural In-Hospital Certified Nursing Assistants

    Title: In-Hospital Certified Nursing Assistants’ Perception of Their Work Environment

    Study Introduction and Purpose/Objectives: Healthy work environments in healthcare promote workforce empowerment and lead to increased job satisfaction and retention while fostering buy-in to organizational goals. In a healthy work environment, the employee receives satisfaction from performing their duties competently and at the highest level allowed by policies and regulations. Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) represent one of several unlicensed assistive personnel roles. They provide valuable and extensive support to nurses in in-hospital-based emergency, medical/surgical, telemetry, critical care, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health and rehabilitation nursing care units. Worldwide CNA shortages continue to plague healthcare institutions and have worsened as a result of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    The study purpose is to assess the perceptions of currently employed CNAs relative to those qualities associated with a healthy work environment: staffing, leadership, decision-making, teamwork, recognition, physical and psychological safety, communication and collaboration. Information obtained from this investigation will clarify areas of greatest dissatisfaction and contemplate interventions that can help to decrease the discontent.

    Study Type: This will be a cross-sectional survey of University of Maryland Shore Regional Health (UM SRH) CNAs.

    Study Design: This survey research study will sample currently employed UM SRH CNAs. The eligibility criterion is current employment as an UM SRH CNA on emergency, telemetry, medical/surgical, critical care, women’s health, pediatrics, behavioral health and rehabilitation nursing care units. The 61-item survey has two parts: Part 1: Demographics (12 questions); and Part 2: the validated Healthy Work Environment Scale for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel Version 2 (49 questions; Huddleston, 2020). The survey will be emailed to approximately 190 CNAs across the health system and is expected to take approximately 30 minutes. Participants will be asked to complete this one-time survey which will remain available to them for approximately one month or until approximately 65 CNAs have completed the survey.

    Risks/Benefits: Risks to confidentiality are minimized by refraining from collecting identifiers in this study. Quantitative date will be reported in aggregate. There are no direct benefits to participants. A possible indirect benefit is that as a result of this study, future interventions devised to improve the work environment to increase satisfaction could be made available to all CNAs.

    Study Duration: This study is expected to be completed within approximately six months. Completed is defined as final report summarizing CNA responses and recommendations for interventions.

    Statistical Methodology: Descriptive statistics, including mean or median and standard deviations (s.d.), will be used for continuous variables and frequency and percentage for categorical variables. Correlations will be conducted between current turnover rate and perceptions of current work environment. Descriptive statistics for all data collected will be presented in summary tables.
    Status:
    On-Going
  • Duration:
    2020 - 2022
    Title:
    Differences in Pre-COVID-19 and Intra-COVID-19 Professional Quality of Life Nurse Perceptions by Nurse Type UMSRH Protocol # 052101.”
    Description:
    Susan Antol, PI
    UMSRH Protocol # 052101
    Title changed from Effect of COVID-19 on Nursing Moral Distress and Resilience
    to Differences in Per-COVID-19 and IntraCOVID-19 Professional Quality of Life Nurse Perceptions by Nurse Type
    1 article submitted for publication.
    Completing data analysis on 2nd article
    Status:
    Complete
  • Duration:
    2018 - 2019
    Title:
    Impact of Interprofessional Collaboration on Diabetes Care on the Governor's Wellmobile
    Description:
    Dr. Pincus is PI on this IRB (HP-00078460), which is Melanie Slaby's (SOP Pharm D candidate) Capstone. Safety net clinics provide health care and a range of other services for the underserved and underinsured, populations that experience racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in diabetes prevalence and outcomes.
    The Governor’s Wellmobile Program runs such a clinic in Maryland: a mobile, nurse-managed primary care clinic that serves a largely uninsured, non-English speaking patient population. A large proportion of the patients seen on the clinic are diagnosed with diabetes. Numerous barriers to care would suggest difficulty in meeting standards of care in diabetes management in this type of clinic. However, there is growing evidence that interdisciplinary team-based processes improve the quality of care as well as the outcomes achieved in many chronic conditions including diabetes, even in underserved populations. In 2016, the Wellmobile developed an interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) team to address the needs of complex patients. Previously, patients were managed by nurse practitioners assisted by a social worker, bilingual community health workers, and an office-based nurse care manager. The IPCP integrated a family medicine physician and clinical pharmacist in a new team-based approach to case management, realized through interprofessional team meetings and in-clinic care implementation. Patients were referred for management by the IPCP at the discretion of the nurse practitioner, and referrals were not limited by disease states or clinical parameters. The purpose of this research study is to examine the population of patients referred to the IPCP and assess the quality of care with respect to the proportion of standards of care met within the IPCP and the general patient population seen on the Wellmobile. This research would reveal the potential benefits of an interprofessional practice model in the management of diabetes in a complex, uninsured population.
    Status:
    Complete
  • Duration:
    2017 - Current
    Title:
    An Exploration of Practice Structure and Registered Nurses’ Role Within Primary Care Practices in Maryland
    Description:
    Contemporary healthcare delivery system forces highlight the significance of practice transformation to increase quality and efficiency in primary care. Registered nurses (RNs) have been identified as important members of primary care teams. Moreover, the extent to which primary care incorporates RNs as care team members is not yet known nor fully understood. Evidence supports that practices with RNs working at the"top of their license" have demonstrated enhanced patient experience of care, improved population health, cost reduction, and care team well-being (Quadruple Aim; Bodenheimer & Sinsky, 2014). Furthermore, information is lacking regarding the critical nature of actual and potential roles for RNs in primary care and associated skills to enable RNs to practice at the top of their license in Maryland. The purpose of this project is to understand Maryland’s primary care practice environment and how RNs currently or potentially may function within primary care. In addition, information generated will inform curriculum changes across multiple levels of nursing education and professional development. Findings may be applied to better prepare primary care teams to meet the challenges of practice transformation. IRB HP 00079515
    Status:
    On-Going
  • Duration:
    2015 - 2016
    Title:
    Predictors of Patient Activation Among Underserved Patients in a Nurse-managed Health Center: A Pilot Study
    Description:
    The study examined the relationship between Self-determination Theory constructs (autonomy support, autonomous motivation) and patient activation in an underserved nurse-managed primary care clinic (NMHC) population. Patient activation is a self-reported measure of self-management positively related to engaging in healthy behaviors and improved health outcomes. Autonomy support and autonomous motivation are posited to activate patients for self-management. Study findings will guide nurse practitioner (NP) interventions and staff education to improve patient activation. Patients (N=127) will complete an on-line (Qualtrics®) 38-item survey using a computer in a clinic exam room. Questions address perceptions of self-management and NP support and motivation for health behaviors and demographics. Participation is voluntary; refusal will not affect care received. A flier posted in the clinics describing the study and nurse care manager (CM) script describing the study and asking for their participation will be used to recruit eligible English speaking patients 18 years and older. Signed paper consent will be obtained prior to accessing the on-line survey using randomly generated “survey user IDs”. Privacy will be protected through on-line survey self-administration or assisted on-line administration with on-site data entry in Qualtrics®. Data are encrypted in transit and storage and are stored in a password protected computer servers under the protections of the University of Maryland Schools of Public Health and Nursing will protect confidentiality. HP-00061645
    Dissertation defense completed May 25, 2016.
    Writing Journal article
    Status:
    Complete

Publications

  • Differences by Nurse Type in Professional Quality of Life Perceptions from Pre-COVID-19 to Intra-COVID-19. NO, OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 28 (3). Silver Spring, MD, USA: American Nurses Association. doi:DOI: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol28No03PPT75
  • Academic and Practice Setting Preparation . Best Practice Guidelines for Academic and Practice Partnerships in Ambulatory and Community Settings. Pittman, N.J., United States: Anthony J. Jannetti. https://www.aaacn.org/
  • In Search of the Evidence: Informing Academic-practice Partnerships in Ambulatory Care. Nursing Economic$, 40 (3), 146-155, 138. East Holly, NJ, USA: Anthony J Jannetti. http://www.nursingeconomics.net/cgi-bin/WebObjects/NECJournal.woa
  • Antol, S. M. (2016, July (3rd Quarter/Summer)). Interprofessional Practice Measurement and Evaluation. Measurement in Nursing and Health Research, (5). New York, New York, United States: Springer Publishing Co.
  • Antol, S. M. (2016, September 7). Predictors of Patient Activation among Underserved Patients in a Nurse-managed Health Center: A Pilot Study . ProQuest. http://www.proquest.com/.
  • Ravella, P. (2001). Community-based nursing centers: Challenges and opportunities in implementation and sustainability . Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice, 2, 277-78. USA. doi:doi/10.1177/152715440100200405

Presentations

  • Year:
    2023
    Title:
    A Deep dive into challenges at the United States (U.S.)-Mexico border region: Experiences of the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency Border Health Program
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Stronger Together Bridging Academia and Practice
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Association of Community Health Nursing Educator and Association of Public Health Nursing Joint Conference 45th Annual Institute.
    Location:
    San Diego CA United States
  • Year:
    2023
    Title:
    Transition of a Nurse-Managed Mobile Primary Care Clinic to Telehealth during COVID-19
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    48th American Academy of Ambulatory Nursing Annual Conference
    Sponsoring Organization:
    American Academy of Ambulatory Nursing
    Location:
    Orlando FL United States
  • Year:
    2020
    Title:
    Antol, S., Emerson, C., Farra, S., Hekel, B., Keep, S., Stalter, A. (2021). What the “H” are we doing? Association of Community Health Nursing Educators. 43rd Annual Institute. Advocacy in Community/Public Health Nursing Policy, Education, and Research. Virtual Research Plenary Session. Pecha Kucha.
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Advocacy in Community/Public Health Nursing Policy, Education, and Research.
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Association of Community Health Nursing Educators 43rd Annual Institute
    Location:
    virtual
  • Year:
    2020
    Title:
    Nurse Educators Preparing Qualified Practitioners Resourcefully (NEPQR)
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Building a Vibrant Path to Population Health: Emerging Trends and Opportunities
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Association of Community Health Nurse Educators 2020 Annual institute
  • Year:
    2019
    Title:
    Fostering Interprofessional Team Member Collaboration to Improve Outcomes of Complex Nurse-managed Health Center Mobile Clinic Patients
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Maintaining Resiliency in Primary Care
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States
  • Year:
    2019
    Title:
    An Exploration of Practice Structure and Registered Nurses’ Roles and Related Skills and Expertise in Primary Care Practices in Maryland
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Culture of Health: Equity Thrives on Diversity
    Sponsoring Organization:
    ACHNE
    Location:
    Phoenix AZ United States
  • Title:
    Exploratory Analysis of Roles and Related Skills and Expertises of Registered Nurses in Maryland Primary Care Practices
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    40th Anniversary ACHNE Annual Institute: Celebrating the Past, Envisioning the Future,
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Association of Community Health Nurse Educators
    Location:
    New Orleans LA United States
  • Title:
    Preparing Future Providers for Interprofessional Care of Underserved Populations.
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    Collaborating Across Borders (CAB) VI: Exploring New Heights
    Sponsoring Organization:
    American Interprofessional Health Collaborative
    Location:
    Banff AL Canada
  • Year:
    2017
    Title:
    Engaging Interprofessional Team Member Participation to Improve Outcomes of Complex Nurse-managed Health Center Clinic Patients
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    The Nexus Summit, Learning Together at the Nexus: Provocative Ideas for Practical IPE
    Sponsoring Organization:
    The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Educationd
    Location:
    Minneapolis MN United States
  • Year:
    2017
    Title:
    Preparing a Community Public Health Nurse Workforce to Lead Primary Care Initiatives
    Conference/Meeting Name:
    2017 ACHNE Annual Institute: Developing and Supporting Leadership in Public Health Nurse Practice and Education
    Sponsoring Organization:
    Association of Community Health Nursing Educators
    Location:
    Baltimore MD United States

Areas of Specialization

  • Nurse-managed health centers and interprofessional collaborative practice

Primary Teaching Areas

  • Health Policy, Leadership and Quality Improvement; Nursing Leadership & Management; Interprofessional Education and Practice; Rural Health; Care Coordination Certificate

Honors/Awards

  • Name:
    2017 UMB Public Servant of the Year
    Sponsoring organization:
    UMB President's Office
    Date:
    October 2017
  • Name:
    Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
    Sponsoring organization:
    Phi Beta Kappa
    Date:
    May 1979

Academic and Professional Activities

University

  • Date:
    2023 - Current
    Organization:
    UMB Middle States 2025 Accreditation Steering Committee
    Role:
    Standard III Co-chair
  • Date:
    2022 - Current
    Organization:
    Masters Judicial Board
    Role:
    Committee Member
  • Date:
    2017 - 2023
    Organization:
    UMB Faculty Senate
    Role:
    UMSON Faculty Senator
  • Date:
    2021 - 2023
    Organization:
    Masters in Nursing Curriculum Committee
    Role:
    Committee Chair
  • Date:
    2019 - 2021
    Organization:
    Masters in Nursing Curriculum Committee
    Role:
    Committe Member
  • Date:
    2017 - 2023
    Organization:
    UMB Faculty Senate
    Role:
    UMSON Faculty Senator
  • Date:
    2018 - 2023
    Organization:
    Council of University System Faculty (CUSF)
    Role:
    UMB Faculty Senator
  • Date:
    2018 - 2020
    Organization:
    Governance Council
    Role:
    Council member
  • Date:
    2020 - 2020
    Organization:
    UMB Recovery Task Force - Finance
    Role:
    Covid-19 Recovery Task Force Member (Faculty Senate representative)

Professional

  • Date:
    2022 - 2023
    Organization:
    ACHNE 2023 Annual Institute
    Role:
    Workshop Organizer
  • Date:
    2021 - 2022
    Organization:
    Journal of Professional Nursing
    Role:
    Manuscript Reviewer/Referee
  • Date:
    2020 - 2021
    Organization:
    ACHNE 2021 Annual Institute Preconference
    Role:
    Session Chair
  • Date:
    2019 - 2022
    Organization:
    American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
    Role:
    Task Force Member
  • Date:
    2019 - Current
    Organization:
    UM Shore Health Regional Nursing Research Council
    Role:
    Committee Member
  • Date:
    2018 - Current
    Organization:
    National Nurse-led Care Consortium
    Role:
    Committee Member

Public

  • Date:
    2021 - 2021
    Organization:
    SMC Vaccination Clinic
    Role:
    Volunteer
  • Date:
    2012 - 2015
    Organization:
    Governor’s School-based Health Center Policy Advisory Council
    Role:
    Board Member