Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong, Ph.D. R.N., P.C.C.N.

 

 

PhD Graduate, Class of 2011
OHSU School of Nursing


Location: Portland, OR

 

 

Dissertation Title

Pap Testing Practices Among Vietnamese Immigrant Women Living in the United States: An Ecological Collaborative Approach
 

Current Employment

Post-Doctoral Fellow in Research in Individual and Family Symptom Management, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing

How did the program help shape your current position?

I greatly appreciate the rigorous coursework and benchmarks of the PhD in Nursing program.  The high standards/expectations prepared me to be a Nurse Scientist who can independently and/or collaboratively conduct research.  I was one of the 'pioneers'  to have pursued the Dissertation Manuscript Option Format.  I pursued this option knowing that it would require much more writing and a different style of writing and organization than the traditional Dissertation format.  I am very appreciative of my Dissertation committee's time and effort in being a pioneer as well.  I obtained a valuable skill set and feel much better positioned to prepare manuscripts for submission for publication in professional journals.  Community members that were involved in the collaborative Dissertation research felt that they had ownership in this project and was happy to be a part of disseminating scholarly work. 

Advice to future doctoral students.

The following advice are things to think about for 'what is to come'.  I strongly recommend taking time to really think about who would be a good match with you as a Dissertation Research Chair.  To think about his/her research area of expertise and experience with working with PhD students and/or Post-Doctoral fellows.  To think about who would be a good fit in your Dissertation committee and whether they 'get along' with each other.  I also strongly recommend networking with other scholars (e.g., attending conferences related to your research area of interest) and networking with community members (e.g., community, hospital setting).  To think of how you can contribute scholarly while in your Doctoral program (e.g. submitting abstracts to conferences for podium and/or poster presentations).

Next steps.

I will be working on a study proposal that will focus on understanding how Vietnamese United States women interpret the extent of symptoms and its affect on care-seeking behaviors for cervical cancer.I am currently preparing manuscripts for submission to peer reviewed journals for publication.I am also actively engaging with the community and in particular the uninsured and under-insured communities and the Vietnamese community through volunteer outreach activities and events.

Final words.

Pursuing a Post-Doc was one of the best decisions that I have made.This is protected time to launch your independent and/or collaborative funded program of research.My Post-Doctoral fellowship will support my extending knowledge and research skills developed during my collaborative Dissertation research.  

Selected Publications

Gregg J, Nguyen-Truong CKY, Wang P, Kobus A. Beliefs about disease prevention and the Pap smear among Vietnamese American women. Journal of Immigrant & Health.  (2011, in print).
 
Nguyen-Truong, C. K. Y.  (2011).  "Translation team approach: Psychometrics of a Vietnamese Pap testing survey."  The Carol A. Lindeman Award for a New Researcher Paper, Proceedings of the 44th Annual Communicating Nursing Research Conference of the Western Institute of Nursing, 44, 71-78. 

Nguyen-Truong, C. K. Y. (2009, Spring).  Legacy nurse partners with Vietnamese women's health project. Nursing Matters, 3. (Peer reviewed)

Nguyen-Truong, C., & Le, T. V. (2008, Winter).  Cervical cancer and the Vietnamese women's health project. Asian Pacific Islander Health Network Newsletter, 4(18), 3. (Editor reviewed)