College
of Nursing and Health Professions
Educating health professionals for the 21st century.
MARTHA B. SPARKS, PhD, RN, GCNS, FNGNA
Professor in Nursing
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812-461-5216 Cell Phone 812-345-0591 |
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eMail:
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msparks@usi.edu |
What You'll Find On This Page . . .
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Personal Bits | |
Research Presentations/Activities | |
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Publications and Presentations | |
Professional Activities | |
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Teaching Interests | |
Community Service Activities |
Personal
Bits 
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Widowed
with 3 sons (Rusty, Randy, Rob) and 3 granddaughters (Kyla, |
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Hobbies include hiking, gardening, reading | |||
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Desired settings – flowing streams, quiet lakes, wooded hills, meadows, falling snow | |||
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Education: | BSN | ||
| MEd | ||||
| PhD | ||||
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Certifications (ANCC): | Clinical Specialist in Gerontological Nursing | ||
| ELNEC Trainer | ||||
Research
Presentations
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Theory of Retrogenesis: Perceptions of Caregivers of Persons
with Alzheimer’s
Disease, Ninth Annual Research and Health Care Issues Conference, USI,
2005; Oxford Round Table on Successful
Aging,
St. Anne’s College in the University of Oxford, Oxford, England, 2005;
Midwest Nursing Research Society, 2006 |
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Elder’s Access/Barriers to Annual Mammography Screening, Kentucky Nurse Practitioner Conference, 2004. Graduate Research Students presented. (L. Elder, D. Harris, B. Jones) | |
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Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults
Living in the
Community Setting, University of Southern Indiana, 2001; Sigma
Theta Tau
International Conference, 2001. Graduate Research Students presented.
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Using Descriptive Statistics for Planning Home Health Care, Sigma Theta Tau, Lambda Sigma Chapter, Terre Haute, 1996; accepted for Nurse Practitioner Symposium, University of Colorado, Keystone, 1997 | |
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Husbands, Wives, and Daughters as Caregivers of Dementia Patients: Predictors of Physical and Mental Health, Sigma Theta Tau International Biennial Convention, Indianapolis, 1993; Ball State University, 1994; Louisville Area Sigma Theta Tau Chapters, 1995 | |
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The Dementia Behavior Scale, MNRS Conference, Cleveland, 1993 | |
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Predictors of Physical Health of Dementia Caregivers: A Longitudinal Study, MNRS Conference, Cleveland, 1993 | |
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Critique of the Algase Theory of Wandering, MNRS Conference, Cleveland, 1993 |
Grants:
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Sparks, M. (2004)
Alzheimer’s
Disease: Assessment and Management ndiana, Partnership for
Statewide
Education
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Sparks, M. (2003)
End-of-Life
Nursing Education Consortium Graduate Training, American Association of
Colleges of Nursing
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Dugger, R. &
Sparks, M.
(2003) Geriatric Nursing Initiative, Hartford Foundation
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Sparks, M. (2002) Caregiver’s Perception of Retrogenesis during Alzheimer’s Progression, Sigma Theta Tau Omicron Psi Chapter |
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Sparks, M. (2002) Institute for Healthy Aging, Legislative Initiative |
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Sparks, M. (2002) Geriatric Enrichment Program in Social Work (Participant), Hartford Foundation |
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Sparks, M. (2001) Enhancing Gerontology/Geriatric Nursing Education for Undergraduate Baccalaureate Program, The John A. Hartford Foundation American Association of Colleges of Nursing. |
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DHHS, Geriatric Nursing Knowledge and Experience in Long-term Care, 2001 |
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Sigma Theta Tau Omicron Psi Chapter, Life Satisfaction Among Older AdultsLiving in the Community Setting, 2000 |
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Bronstein Trust, Planning Grant for Gerontology Program, 2000 |
Other Research and Grant Activities
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Member, HRSA, Comprehensive Geriatrics
Education
Program Independent Review Committee, 2003, 2006
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Peer Reviewer, Applied Nursing Research
Journal,
2003-2005
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Publications
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Douglas,
A., Miner, S., Asya,
M., Tramill, L., & |
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Shemansky,
C., Cotton, A., |
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Shemansky, C., Cotton, A., |
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Dankof, L., Lillegraven, C., & Sparks, M. (2005) Comparison of quality of life among women on bio-identical hormones, synthetic hormones, and no hormone therapy. Advances for Nurse Practitioners, . | |
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McCutcheon, T., Knepp, T., Richards, N., & Sparks, M. (2005). Comparison of quality of life of persons who have experienced amputations and persons who have had bowel resections. Gastroenterology Nursing. | |
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Zehr, D., Painter, B., & |
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Sparks, M. (2002). Pain Management for Elderly Persons. Pain Management Certificate Program. USI. |
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Sparks, M. (2001). Preparing for a successful JCAHO visit. Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing. Medscape Nursing, 1(3). Available www.Medscape.com |
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Sparks, M. (2001). Assessment and management of Alzheimer's disease. Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing. Medscape Nursing, 1(2), 1-14. Available www.Medscape.com |
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Sparks, M. (2001). Assessment and management of Alzheimer's disease. Topics in Advanced Practice Nursing. |
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Sparks, M. (2000). Research process applied to quality management. New Horizons, 7 (4), 3. |
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Sparks, M., Farran, C. J., Donner, D, & Keane-Hagerty, E. (1998). Wives, husbands, and daughters of dementia patients: Predictors of caregivers’ mental and physical health. Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice, 12, 221-234. |
Professional
Activities:
Presentations
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Caring for Patients with Alzheimer’s
Disease in
the Inpatient and Community Settings, Third Annual Neuroscience
Conference,
sponsored by American Heart Association, Deaconess Hospital,
HealthSouth
Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, Indiana Organ Procurement
Organization,
The Greater Evansville Chapter of the AACN, 2005
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Shemansky, C., Cotton, A., Sparks, M., & McGabe, S. Changes in Cognition and Function: Implications for Caregivers of Older Adults. National teleconference, with published manuscript, produced by Delaware Media Group, funded by Janssen Pharmaceutica, LLC unrestricted educational grant, 2005 | |
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Alzheimer’s Disease and Radiological Procedures, Indiana Society of Radiologic Technologist District VIII, Evansville, IN, 2005 | |
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Assessing and Managing Alzheimer’s Disease Using Retrogenesis Theory: Enjoying the Journey. 7.2 CEUs, University of Southern Indiana, 2005 | |
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Shemansky, C., Cotton, A., Sparks, M., & Larrimore, K. Psychosis in Alzheimer’s Disease. National teleconference, with published manuscript, produced by Delaware Media Group, funded by Janssen Pharmaceutica, LLC unrestricted educational grant, 2005 | |
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Living with Alzheimer’s Disease: Necessary Community Resources, 15th Annual Professional Ethics Seminar, sponsored by Deaconess Health System, St. Mary’s Health System, HealthSouth Tri-State Rehabilitation Hospital, 2004 | |
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Integrating Arts into an Undergraduate Gerontology course, Educator Conference, USI, 2004 | |
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Teaching Graduate Research Online: What Works, Educator Conference, USI, 2004 | |
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Alzheimer’s Disease: Community Resources, Annual Ethics Seminar, Evansville Consortium, 2004 | |
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Living Enjoyably with Alzheimer’s Disease, Deaconess Hospital, Evansville, IN, 2004 | |
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Mystery of Memory: Myths and Facts, Seton Residence, Evansville, IN, 2004 | |
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Day-to-day Assessment and Management of
Persons
with Alzheimer’s Disease, Evansville State Hospital, Evansville, IN,
2004;
Seton Residence, Evansville, IN, 2004
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Communicating with Persons with Late Stage
Alzheimer’s
Disease, Alzheimer’s Association,
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When Winter Comes to Soon: Living with
Alzheimer’s,
3 CEUs,
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Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment, 6 CEUs,
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End of Life: Philosophy and Care, 6 CEUs,
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Care of Persons with Alzheimer's Disease,
Indiana
State University, Terre Haute, IN, 2003
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Maintaining Dignity through Personal Care,
Alzheimer's
Association, Evansville, IN, 2003
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Successful Approaches and Techniques for
Responding
to Challenging Behaviors, Alzheimer's Association, Evansville, IN, 2003
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Geriatric Nursing Knowledge and Experience
in Long-Term
Care for Baccalaureate Nursing Students: A HRSA BrPH
Project - Using the MDS, Gerontological
Society of America, 55th Annual Scientific Meeting Boston, MA, 2002
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Geriatric Nursing Knowledge and Experience
in Long-Term
Care for Baccalaureate Nursing Students, DHHS, Division of Nursing,
Rockville,
MD, 2002
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Rethinking Alzheimer's: Assessing and
Managing Alzheimer's
Disease by Stage, University of Southern Indiana, 2002
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Maximizing Independence for Frail and Disabled, Summit on Aging, Safe and Civil City Program, Bloomington, IN, 2002 |
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Ethical Issues Related to Treating the Geriatric Patient with Multi-System Failure, Case Management Conference 2002, USI, 2002 |
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Care of Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease, 7.8 hr CEU, USI, 2000 |
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JCAHO Accreditation Standards for Home Health: Patient Focused Functions and Organization-Focused Functions, 13 hr. CEU, ISU, 1998 |
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Using the Minimum Data Set Instrument, 6 hr. CEU, Professional Development Programs, Springfield/Chicago, 1997 |
Organizations
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Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Chapter, 1961- |
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National Gerontological Nursing Association, 1992- |
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Research Committee, 1996- 2000 |
| Fellowship Status, 2004 | |
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Director-at-Large, 2004 - present |
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Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses of Indiana, Charter Member, 1999-2005 |
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Phi Kappa Phi, 1989- |
Teaching
Interests
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Adult Health Nursing: Specialty – Gerontology/geriatrics, Sub-specialty – Alzheimer’s and related diseases; Clinical settings – home health, community, long-term care, hospice |
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Education - Curriculum Development, Educational Practices, Measurement and Evaluation |
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Research - Confusion in Elders |
Community Service:
Boards and Consultation
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Komen Foundation, Grants Committee,
Evansville,
IN, 2004-2006
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Planning Committee, The Tri-State
Forgetting Grant,
WNIN, Evansville, IN, 2003-4
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Advisory Council, Hoosier Hills Vocational School, Health Professions Courses, 1995-96 | |
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Area 10 Agency on Aging Advisory Board, December, 1992-2004, Chair 1994-96 |
Presentations
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The Tri-State Forgetting, TV question and
answer
program, WNIN, Evansville, IN 2004
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Alzheimer’s Disease: Workshop for church
leaders,
WNIN,
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Alzheimer's Disease: Caregiver's
Perspective,
Deaconess Hospital, Evansville, IN 2002
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Maximizing Independence for Frail and
Disabled,
Summit on Aging, 2002
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Understanding Alzheimer's Disease, Solarbron
Pointe, Solarbron Terrace, 2001
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Successful Caregiving, Community Health Fair, 1999 | |
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Alzheimer’s Caregiver Needs and Options, Community Health and Wellness Committee, 1999 |
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Elder Issues Workshop, Indiana Family and Consumer Science, 1999 |
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Age-related Changes/Non-changes, Solarbron Terrace and Pointe, 1999 |
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