Undergraduate Nursing Student Showcases Research to Kentucky State Legislature at Posters-at-the-Capitol
Undergraduate nursing research intern Whitney Hiner was one of 16 students from the University of Kentucky to showcase her research to the state legislature in Frankfort, Ky. on March 2.
“This is a competitive and wonderful opportunity for students to present to and inform our officials,” says Janie Heath, PhD, APRN-BC, FAAN, dean and Warwick Professor of Nursing. “We are so proud of Whitney for representing the College and the nursing profession, advocating for a healthier and safer Kentucky for all.”
Posters-at-the-Capitol is a one-day annual event held to educate the Kentucky State Legislators of the importance of undergraduate research and scholarly work. The Governor, members of the General Assembly and representatives from students' hometowns are able to engage directly with some of the state’s best scholars.
The event is a collaborative program where students from each of Kentucky's eight public universities and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System present the results of research they have conducted as part of their college experience.
Hiner’s research, “Lung Cancer Prevention: A Review of the Literature,” examined existing evidence in literature about preventing lung cancer. Her conclusion states that lung cancer is almost totally preventable through the elimination of exposure to tobacco smoke and radon.
“Whitney is an outstanding research intern who came to us with an interest in lung cancer,” says Karen Butler, DNP, RN, associate professor, assistant dean for academic operations and mentor to Whitney. “She is a member of the BREATHE team and actively participates in our research projects. Having her first scholarly product accepted for Posters-at-the-Capitol was quite an honor for her and for us, as well as a testament to her hard work.”
