Donna Fick
PhD, GCNS-BC, FGSA

Associate Professor of Nursing, College of Health and Human Development

Associate Professor of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

Contact Information

307C Health & Human Development East
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802-6509

Phone: 814.865.9325

Fax: 814.865.6625

E-mail: dmf21@psu.edu

Education

PhD, University of California at San Francisco, 1997
San Francisco, CA
MS, Nursing Science, 1990
Major in Gerontological Nursing
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH
BSN, Nursing Science, 1986
Berea College
Berea, KY

Honors

2009
John A. Hartford Geriatric Nursing Research Award, Eastern Nursing Research Society

Fellow American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) Acceptance into American Academy of Nursing--to be inducted as a Fellow during the Academy's 36th Annual Meeting on November 7, 2009 in Atlanta, GA
2007
Fran and Holly Soistman Faculty Development Award for Innovative Research in Healthcare, Penn State, College of Health and Human Development
2005
Fellow, Gerontological Society of America
2005
Springer Award in Geriatric Nursing for Publication in Applied Nursing Research, Springer Publishing Company
2000
Eli Lily Healthcare Improvement Award, Co-recipient with BCBS of Georgia
1994
Elizabeth L. Kemble Excellence in Research and Practice University of Cincinnati Alumni Award
1993-1995
UCSF Regents Academic Fellowship Award
1989-1990
Professional Nurse Traineeship

Publications

Campbell, N., Boustani, M., Limbil, T., Ott, C., Fox, C., Maidment, I., Schubert, C. C., Munger, S., Fick, D., et al. (2009). The cognitive impact of anticholinergics: A clinical review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 4(1), 225-233.

Crumbock, S. C., Loeb, S. J., & Fick, D. M. (2009). Physical activity, stress, disease activity, and quality of life in adults with Crohn disease. Gastroenterology Nursing, 32(3), 188-195.

Fick, D. M., & Kolanowski, A. (2009). Preventing delirium among older adults with dementia. Geriatrics and Aging, 12(2), 98-102.

Fick, D. M., Kolanowski, A., Beattie, E., & McCrow, J. (2009). Delirium in early-stage alzheimer's disease: Enhancing cognitive reserve as a possible preventive measure. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 35(3), 30-38.

Hopkins, J., Loeb, S. J., & M., Fick D. (In Press). Beyond satisfaction, what service users expect of inpatient mental health care: a literature review.

Kolanowski, A., Fick, D. M., Campbell, J., Litaker, M., & Boustani, M. (2009). A preliminary study of anticholinergic burden and relationship to a quality of life indicator, engagement in activities, in nursing home residents with dementia. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 10(4), 252-257.

Stefanacci, R. G., Cavallaro, E., Beers, M. H., & Fick, D. M. (2009). Developing explicit positive beers criteria for preferred central nervous system medications in older adults. The Consultant Pharmacist: The Journal of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, 24(8), 601-610.

Yu, F., Rose, K. M., Burgener, S. C., Cunningham, C., Buettner, L. L., Beattie, E., et al. (2009). Cognitive training for early-stage Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 35(3), 23-29.

Fick, D. M., Kolanowski, A., Beattie, E., & McCrow, J. (2009). Delirium in early-stage alzheimer's disease: Enhancing cognitive reserve as a possible preventive measure. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 35(3), 30-38.

Loeb, S. J., Penrod, J., Kolanowski, A., Hupcey, J. E., Haidet, K. K., Fick, D. M., et al. (2008). Creating cross-disciplinary research alliances to advance nursing science. J Nurs Scholarsh, 40(2), 195-201.

Golden, A., Beers, M. H., & Fick, D. M. (2008). Is it safe to conclude that Beers criteria medications led to few adverse events? Ann Intern Med, 148(8), 628-629; author reply 629.

Fick, D. M., Mion, L. C., Beers, M. H., & J, L. W. (2008). Health outcomes associated with potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. Res Nurs Health, 31(1), 42-51.

Burgener, S. C., Buettner, L., Coen Buckwalter, K., Beattie, E., Bossen, A. L., Fick, D. M., et al. (2008). Evidence supporting nutritional interventions for persons in early stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). J Nutr Health Aging, 12(1), 18-21.

Fick, D. M., & Mion, L. C. (2008). How to try this: Delirium superimposed on dementia. Am J Nurs, 108(1), 52-60; quiz 61.

Fick, D. M., Kolanowski, A. M., Waller, J. L. (2007). High prevalence of inappropriate central nervous system medications in community-dwelling older adults with dementia over a three-year period. Aging & Mental Health, 11(5), 588-595.

Fick, D., Mion, L. (2007). Assessing and managing delirium in older adults with dementia. Accessed on-line July 17, 2007, from John A. Hartford Foundation for Geriatric Nursing and the Alzheimer's Association. Try This: Best Practices in Nursing Care for Hospitalized Older Adults with Dementia Web site: http://www.hartfordign.org/publications/trythis/AssesMangeDeleriumWDementia.pdf

Fick, D. M. (2007). Commentary: Pain in older adults with dementia, Western Journal of Nursing Research, first published on June 4, 2007 as doi:10.1177/0193945906295522.

Fick, D (2007). Commentary on the Laroche et al. study. The Brown University Geriatric Psychopharmacology Update, 11(2), 5-6.

Fick, D. M., Hodo, D. H., Lawrence, F., Inouye, S. K. (2007). Recognizing delirium superimposed on dementia: assessing nurses' knowledge using case vignettes. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 33(2), 40-47.

Penrod, J., Yu, F., Kolanowski, A. M., Fick, D. M., Loeb, S. J., Hupcey, J. (2007). Reframing person-centered nursing care for persons with dementia. Research and Theory in Nursing Practice, 21(1), 61-76.

Kolanowski, A., Fick, D., Waller, J., & Ahern, F. (2006). Outcomes of anti-psychotic drug use in community-dwelling elders with dementia. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 20(5), 217-225.

Irving, K., Fick, D., & Foreman, M. (2006). Delirium: A new appraisal of an old problem. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 1, 106-112.

Milisen, K., Braes, T., Fick, D. M., & Foreman, M. D. (2006). Cognitive assessment and differentiating the 3 Ds (dementia, depression, delirium). Nursing Clinics of North America, 41(1), 1-22.

Fick, D., & Mion, L. (2005). Assessing delirium in persons with dementia. Geriatric Nursing Hartford Foundation Try This Dementia Series. Available at: http://www.hartfordign.org/resources/education/tryThis.html

Fick, D., Kolanowski, A., Waller, J., Inouye, S. K. (2005). Delirium superimposed on dementia in a community-living managed care population: A three year retrospective study of prevalence, costs, and utilization. Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, 60A(6), 748-753.

Stallworth, L. E., Fick, D. M., Ownby, D. R., & Waller, J. L. (2005). Antibiotic use in children who have asthma: Results of retrospective database analysis. Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy, 11, 657-662.

Fick, D. M., Maclean, J. R., Rodriguez, N. A., Short, L., Heuvel, R. V., Waller, J. L., et al. (2004). A randomized study to decrease the use of potentially inappropriate medications among community-dwelling older adults in a southeastern managed care organization. American Journal of Managed Care, 10(11 Pt 1), 761-768

Kolanowski, A. M., Fick, D., Waller, J. L., & Shea, D. (2004). Spouses of persons with dementia: their healthcare problems, utilization, and costs. Research in Nursing & Health, 27(5), 296-306.

Maclean, J. R., Johnson, M., Rogers, R. Waller, J., & Fick, D. (2003). Residents' attitudes towards, knowledge of, and use of clinical guidelines: A survey. Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management, 10(10), 531-534.

Fick, D. M. Cooper, J., Wade, W., Waller, J.L., Maclean, J.R., Beers, M.D. (2003). Updating the Beers' Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults: Results of a U.S. consensus panel of experts. Archives of Internal Medicine, 163, 2716-2724.

Fick, D.M., Agostino, J.V., Inouye, S.K. (2002).Delirium superimposed on dementia: A systematic review. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2002, 50(10), 1723-1732.

Maclean, J. R., Fick, D., Hoffman, W., King, C., Lough, E., & Waller, J. L., (2002). Comparison of two information systems for clinical practice profiling in diabetic care: The medical records at an academic medical center and the claims and administrative data at a health maintenance organization. The American Journal of Managed Care, 8(2), 175-179.

Fick, D., Waller, J.L., Maclean, J.R., Vanden Heuvel, R., Tadlock, J.G., Gottlieb, M., & Cangialose, C. (2001). Potentially inappropriate medication use: Prevalence and association with resource utilization in an elderly managed care population. Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy, 7(5), 407-413.

Fick, D., Foreman, M. (2000). Consequences of not recognizing delirium super-imposed on dementia in hospitalized elderly individuals. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 26(1), 30-40.

Fick, D., Clark, W., Riley, P., Cunningham, B., & Malakoff, F. (2000). Advanced practice nursing care management model for elders in a managed care environment. Journal of Care Management, 6(1), 28-37

Castle, R. P., Cunningham, B. A., & Fick, D. (1994). Hospital-based chronic care management: Geriatric clinical nurse specialists as case managers. Geriatric Care Management Journal, 4(4), 2-6.

Fulmer, T., Birkenhauer (Fick), D. (1992). Assessment of elder abuse in everyday practice. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 18(1), 42-46.

Beyersdorfer, P., Birkenhauer (Fick), D. (1990). The therapeutic use of pets on a Alzheimer's unit. American Journal of Alzheimer's Care and Related Disorders and Research, 5(1), 13-17.

Book Chapters

Fick, D. (2005). Ageism. In J. J. Fitzpatrick & T. Fulmer (Eds.), Geriatric Nursing Research Digest (pp. 115-118). New York: Springer Publishing, pp. 456.

Fick, D., & Schumacher, L. (2001). Eating problems and nutritional needs of the critically ill older adult. In M. Walker & T. Fulmer (Eds.), Critical Care Nursing of the Elderly (2nd ed.) (pp. 80-106). New York: Springer.

Fick, D. (2000). Ageism. In J. J. Fitzpatrick & T. Fulmer (Eds.), Geriatric Nursing Research Digest (pp. 115-118). New York: Springer. (2001 AJN Book of the Year Award).

Research

Foci

Pending Research Support

Principle Investigator. Early Nurse Detection of Delirium Superimposed on Dementia (END-DSD). 1 R01. National Institute of Nursing Research. Submitted November 5, 2009.

Co-Investigator. Recreational Stimulation for Elders as a Vehicle to resolve DSD (RESERVE-DSD). 1 R01. National Institute on Nursing Research. Submitted October 1, 2009. Co-PI: A. Kolanowski.

Funded Projects

Co-Investigator: Innovation for Delirium Superimposed on Dementia: The IMPACT-DSD Pilot Project. Funded by Social Science Reseearch Institute Penn State and Smart Spaces Initiative. 2008-2009. PI: A. Kolanowski.

Principal Investigator: Delirium in persons with dementia. Project funded by NIH/NIA, 2006-2008.

Principal Investigator: Central nervous system-active drug use and delirium in community-dwelling persons with dementia: Retrospective study utilizing administrative data to describe the pattern and health outcomes of CNS-active drug use in persons with dementia. Project funded by Penn State College of Health and Human Development Seed Grant, 2004-2006.

Principal Investigator: Japanese Version of the Beers Criteria. Subcontract through Asahikawa Medical College: Pfizer Health Research Foundation, 2004-2006.

Co-Investigator: Utilization and outcomes in bariatric surgery in a managed care organization. Center for Healthcare Improvement/Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2004-2006

Principal Investigator: Center for Healthcare Improvement. Project funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia, 2004.

Co-investigator: Accountability and health safety: A statewide approach. AHRQ Federal Grant, 2002-2005.

Co-investigator/Evaluator: Rural Health Telemedicine Grant Program (MCG subcontract). Project funded by HRSA Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, 2002-2006

Co-Principal Investigator: Pharmaceutical outcomes research program. CIGP UGA-MCG Inter-institutional grant, 2001-2003.

Principal Investigator: Delirium superimposed on dementia in hospitalized older adults. Project funded by Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta-Alabama VISN-7 GEC grant, 2002-2003

Principal Investigator:Potentially inappropriate medication use in the elderly: Updating and validation of the Beers criteria. MCG/UGA Combined Intramural Grants Program Award, 2001-2002.

Principal Investigator: A randomized trial to decrease the use of high risk, potentially inappropriate medications in older adults in a managed care setting. Funded by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia, 2000-2001.

Principal Investigator: Delirium superimposed on dementia in hospitalized older adults. Research Career Development VISN-7 Award, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 1998-2002.

Principal Investigator: Impact of outpatient polypharmacy in the elderly on process and resource utilization. Funded by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Georgia and Medical College of Georgia Center for Health Care Improvement, 1998-2000.

Links:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-12/mcog-bcf120803.php

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/163/22/2716