Faculty at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee (UWM) School of Nursing have played a key role in advancing pediatric nursing research across the region through their involvement in the Pediatric Nursing Research Consortium of Milwaukee (PNRC).
Established in 2007, the consortium brings together nurse scientists from UWM, Marquette University and Children’s Wisconsin to collaborate on research that improves outcomes for children and families. For UWM faculty, the partnership has created meaningful opportunities to combine academic expertise with real-world clinical practice.
Dr. Michele Polfuss, professor at the UWM School of Nursing, has seen firsthand how collaboration across institutions strengthens pediatric research efforts.
“The consortium offers a unique opportunity for pediatric nurse scientists from each of the partnering organizations to collaborate on studies that can improve children’s overall health and outcomes,” Polfuss says. “Working together on this discharge project facilitated the successful completion of the study and the translation of the results from the initial study into the E-Ped app.”
The E-Ped app, short for Engaging Parents in Education for Discharge, was designed to support conversations between nurses and families about safe care after a child leaves the hospital. The tool prompts discussion about medication administration, follow-up care and what to do if challenges arise once families return home.
UWM faculty contributed their research expertise to the development and implementation of the project, helping ensure that the findings could be translated into practical tools for clinicians and families. The collaboration reflects the consortium’s broader mission to strengthen nurse scientist–led clinical research and improve pediatric care across the Milwaukee community.
The intervention that led to the development of the ePed app was grounded in the Family Self-Management Discharge Preparation Intervention (FSM-DPI), based on the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory (IFSMT), a foundational component of the NIH-funded Self-Management Science Center at UWM.
UWM faculty, PhD students and clinical partners collaborated to design and test the intervention, with bedside nurses serving as key partners in refining the process and ensuring it could be integrated into daily clinical workflows. Their work ultimately supported the translation of the intervention into the ePed app used to guide discharge preparation for families.
Dr. Kathleen Sawin, Professor Emeritus at UWM, nurse scientist and one of the inaugural faculty on the project, emphasized the impact of the collaboration.
“The initiation of the consortium and this project brought each organization’s strength to the effort and melded them in a way that advanced the care of children and their families,” Sawin says. “It was especially exciting to see the enthusiasm, engagement and growth of our students and clinical partners in presenting our results and participating in publications.”
Dr. Carol Klingbeil, clinical professor at the UWM School of Nursing, emphasizes that the consortium’s structure makes sustained collaboration possible.
“The consortium facilitates cross-institutional collaboration by leveraging both research expertise as well as clinical practice realities to create studies and products that allow for the best approaches and interventions to be studied over time with patients and families,” Klingbeil says. “Leadership support, which is so important to the success of these types of collaborations, is built into the consortium from the start.”
Klingbeil’s background in health literacy has been especially valuable in ensuring that educational tools developed through consortium projects are accessible and meaningful for families.
“I was pleased to be leveraged for my expertise in health literacy that evolved over many years at Children’s as a nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist,” she says. “The consortium facilitates accessing and leveraging expertise from many different people from the different organizations who are invested in the success of the project and excellence in clinical care.”
Together, UWM faculty contribute to building a strong pipeline of nurse scientists and advancing evidence-based care for children. Participation in the consortium also supports UWM’s commitment to translating research into practice. By collaborating with clinical partners, faculty can test new interventions in real-world settings and quickly apply findings to improve patient care.
For UWM’s School of Nursing, the consortium represents more than a research partnership; it is a shared investment in the health and well-being of children and families.
Through continued collaboration, mentorship and innovation, UWM nurse scientists remain at the forefront of pediatric research, helping develop solutions that improve care today while shaping the future of pediatric nursing practice.