Directory Profile

Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. 45 years as a Registered Nurse and 18 years as faculty with WSU CON. Areas of expertise: Maternal Child Health, Lactation, Epidemiology, Military Health, and Nursing Workforce Health.

Education

• DrPH, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda CA
• MPH Health Education, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
• BSN, University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK

Funded Research

PI: Smart, DA N18-A03 10-3-17 $453,007 Completed 9/23/20
Co-I: Gail Oneal, Janessa Graves, Tamara Odom-Maryon, Stephanie Rowan
Exertional Heat Illness: Deployability, Risk Assessment and Clinical Management. TriService Nursing Research Program: This is a mixed method using a qualitative descriptive focus group design using thematic analysis to identify and prioritize factors related to EHI symptoms and Deployability risk. Focus group questions elicited participants’ knowledge and experience regarding EHI based on their use and appraisal of current SF-600 and through comparisons with military sanctioned definitions for EHI Severity and Deployability Risk. The focus group and Delphi technique are being followed by field testing the EHI screening and risk assessment tool. This pilot study will follow a prospective, observational study design. Data are being collected at two air military bases located in different geographic regions (WA and TX). Note: A follow-on two-year grant will be submitted October 2021 for an additional two years to trial the EHI Risk Assessment tool at 12 southern National Guard States/Units to develop data for efficacy for military adoption (at National Guard Bureau level) of tool and clinical management guidelines across all CERF-P/HRF NG units (n=38). Completed Sept 23, 2020.

PI: Smart, DA N15-P02 03/16 $389,280 Completed 02/15/18
Co-I: Lois James, Tamara Odom-Maryon, Stephanie Rowan
TriService Nursing Research Program: Effects of Sleep Deficiency on National Guard Personnel Responding to Disasters. This study will examine the consequences of sleep deprivation and fatigue for National Guardsmen who are part of the EMEDS Consequence Management (CM) medical response team. The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence and impact of sleep deprivation on National Guard medical personnel responding to a major disaster. Recruitment, data collection and preliminary data analysis phase completed July 2017. Data analysis completed Feb 2018. Research completed. Four manuscripts, 1 abstract and three national and international conference presentations completed. Completed.

PI: Denise Smart 06/13-09/14 $138,225
Co-I: Melody Rasmor
WA Labor & Industries Safety and Health Investment Project: Innovative training strategies for employers’ and employee compliance for early return to work programs. Conduct surveys of key stakeholders to develop materials for employers and employees. Pilot test products and revise based on stakeholder input. The goal of this project is to motivate and assist health care facility employers in establishing an early return to work program and train employees to participate in ERTW after a work-related injury or illness. Completed.

Armitage (PI) 08/12-05/13 $13,400
Co-I: Denise Smart
Experience of Postpartum Active Duty Women in Training for the Fitness Assessment. TriService Nursing Research Program. The goal of this project was to compare USAF fitness assessment component measurements and overall pass rates at 6 months postpartum to pre-pregnancy measurements. Associate Investigator/Preceptor: Denise Smart. Completed

PI: Denise Smart 05/10-09/11 $73,431
WA Labor & Industries Safety and Health Investment Project Protecting Nurses as a Valuable Resource. Co-applicant: Sally Watkins, Washington State Nurses Association. Development of an ergonomic and environmental assessment tool, video and continuing education offering nurses targeting safe job performance and patient handling. Completed.

Areas of Expertise

ANCC Board certification: National Healthcare Disaster Professional (NHDP-BC)

Research Strengths

Workforce health & safety: military, nurses

Methodological Strengths

Mixed methods

Memberships

• Sigma Theta Tau International
• Western Institute of Nursing

HONORS AND AWARDS

• WSU Nursing Faculty Fellowship in Research
• Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Chi Chapter : Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award
• College of Nursing Research Excellence Award
• Washington State University College of Nursing Undergraduate Faculty Award
• David Grant USF Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA Research Excellence Award
• Washington State University College of Nursing Excellence in Teaching Award
• Delta Chi Chapter-at-Large Excellence in Nursing Education Award
• Hilda Crooks Scholarship Award (Loma Linda University) for excellence of scholarship and demonstration of healthful lifestyle, spiritual commitment and contribution to community.
• Lutheran Health Services President’s Grant Award. Developing Principles & Best Practices for Healthier Cesarean Section Rate Reduction. Fairbanks, AK

Publications

Oneal, G., Smart, D., Roberts, M., Graves, J., Eberman, L., Odom-Maryon, T., Rowan, D., DePriest, D., & Edwards, C. (April 2022). Application of Haddon’s Matrix in the Exploration of Factors Related to Exertional Heat Illness in Disaster Responders in the U.S. National Guard. Journal of Environmental Health, 84(8). https://www.neha.org/publications/journal-environmental-health/april-2022-jeh

Smart, D., Odom-Maryon, T., James, L., & Rowan, S. (2020). Impact of subjective sleepiness on critical skills performance in National Guard medical personnel during extensive disaster training. Health Emergency & Disaster Nursing,7,17-26. doi:https://doi.org/10.24298/hedn.2019-0007

Armitage, N., Severtsen, B., Vandermause, R., & Smart, D. (2014). Training for the Air Force fitness assessment: The experience of postpartum women. Military Medicine, 179(7): 766-772. doi:10.7205/MILMED-D-13-00437

Smart, D., English, A., James, J., Wilson, M., Daratha, K., Childers, B., & Magera, C. (2014). Compassion fatigue and satisfaction: A cross-sectional survey among U.S. healthcare workers. Nursing & Health Sciences. 16, 3-10. doi:10.1111/nhs.12068

Petit, M., Smart, D. Sattler, V., & Wood, N.K. (November 8, 2021). Examination of factors that contribute to breastfeeding disparities & inequities for Black women in the United States. Journal of Nutrition Education & Behavior, 53(11), 977-986. Press release and podcast available. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2021.08.013

Merritt, E., Burduli, E., Purath, J., & Smart, D.A. (Sept/Oct 2022). Pregnancy with substance use disorders-Exploring Perceptions. The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing: MCN, 47(5): 288-293

Smart, D., Welty, S. & Oneal, G. (Feb 2022). COVID-19 Impact on RN nursing students’ personal & professional lives: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Creative Education, 13, 422-436. ISSN online: 2151-4771. https://doi: 10.4236//ce.2022.132024

updated 10/24/2022