JOANNE RADER, R.N., M.N. ‘79, F.A.A.N.
2004 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI OF THE YEAR

Joanne Rader graduated from the University of Maryland in 1968 with a bachelor of science in nursing and from the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing in 1979 with a master’s in psychiatric mental health nursing. She is currently an independent consultant and associate professor at OHSU School of Nursing.

She worked as a clinical specialist in mental health nursing at the Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel, Oregon, for many years, also supervising OHSU nursing students in their mental health rotation in that setting. With ongoing support from OHSU faculty and the Benedictine Nursing Center staff, residents and families, she was able to, for the last 25 years, challenge the status quo for care of persons with dementia and create innovative, person-centered care approaches.

Rader has published numerous articles and books addressing the emotional needs and behavior symptoms of persons with dementia, including, Individualized Dementia Care: Creative, Compassionate Approaches, and Bathing Without a Battle, which received American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year awards in 1996 and 2002.

Rader was project director on a three-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (1991-1994) to develop strategies to assist Oregon nursing homes in reducing the use of physical restraints and inappropriate psychoactive medications. She was a co-investigator for a research study designed to reduce the aggressive behaviors during bathing of persons with dementia. The clinical insights and findings from that study were made into a video that was sent to all the federally funded nursing homes in the U.S. Rader is currently co-investigator and interventionist for another National Institute of Nursing Research funded study looking at pain and its relationship to behavior symptoms during morning care.

Rader is a founding member and board member of the Pioneer Network, an organization working to change the culture of aging in America. Rader’s contributions and accomplishments in this specialized area of nursing are phenomenal and are the reason she was nominated and chosen to receive this most prestigious award. Rader is a credit to OHSU School of Nursing and to the nursing profession.

Last updated June 7, 2006 by OHSU School of Nursing Web Managers.
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