Brief Bio

Dr. Melissa Aselage, who joined the DUSON faculty in July, 2011 earned a BSN (1996) and then an MSN in the Family Nurse Practitioner specialty (2000) at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington (UNCW) School of Nursing. From 2005 to 2011, she served as a full-time lecturer at the UNCW School of Nursing while maintaining a clinical practice as an FNP in geriatric primary care and nursing home settings. In 2011, she received the UNCW SON Faculty of the Year Award. She is board certified as both a Family Nurse Practitioner and a Gerontological Registered Nurse.

In collaboration with UNCW-SON, the American the Association of Colleges of Nursing, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, and New York University College of Nursing, Dr. Aselage developed a series of nine modules in podcast format to deliver education in geriatric health care to baccalaureate nursing students. These GNEC Gerontological Nursing Education podcasts, which are based on AACN’s Older Adults: Recommended Baccalaureate Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for Geriatric Nursing Care, are available on the Internet and have been accessed more than 2,700 times by users in 16 countries. Dr. Aselage is now serving as Curriculum Consultant for the John A. Hartford Foundation’s Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative, and will work with the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing to develop and enhance geropsychiatric nursing content across programs.

Dr. Aselage is a 2009-2011 John A. Hartford Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Scholar. She completed her PhD in nursing and a Post-Master’s Certificate in nurse education at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing in August 2011. Her dissertation, which focused on alleviating mealtime difficulties in older adults with dementia, received Distinguished Dissertation Award from the 2011 Southern Research Nursing Society/Aging Research Interest Group.

Academic Program Affiliations

Education

Professional Certifications

Research Interests

Awards and Honors

• 2011 Distinguished Dissertation Award, Southern Nursing Research Society Aging Research Interest Group

• 2011 Faculty of the Year Award, University of North Carolina Wilmington, School of Nursing

• 2011 Featured in “A Day in the Life of an Academic Geriatric Nurse", John A. Hartford Foundation 2010 Annual Report: "BAGNC: A Decade of Achievement"

• 2011 Video created of her professional story for recruiting others into geriatric nursing, John A. Hartford Foundation website

• 2010 Recognition by graduating seniors, UNC-Wilmington Division of Student Affairs

• 2010 Convocation Leader, (nominated by UNC-Wilmington graduate seniors)

• 2009 Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) Scholar, John A. Hartford Foundation

• 2009 Featured in "State of Aging at MUSC: Center on Aging Annual Report", Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Center on Aging

• 2009 Recognition by graduating seniors (Spring & Fall graduations), UNC-Wilmington Division of Student Affairs

• 2009 Soaring Seahawk Award, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

• 2008 Center for Teaching Excellence, Summer Pedagogical Award, University of North Carolina at Wilmington

• 2008 Gerontological nursing website development, AACN / John A. Hartford Foundation

• 2007 Elizabeth Scott Carrington Scholarship, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing

• 2007 North Carolina Nurse Educator of Tomorrow

• 2005 Outstanding UNCW Alumni, UNC Wilmington UNCW Magazine

• 2001 Outstanding UNCW School of Nursing Alumnii–FNP, UNC Wilmington School of Nursing Newsletter

Areas of Expertise

• Gerontology
• Nursing Education

Areas of Interest

• curriculum development in gerontological and geropsychiatric nursing

Representative Publications

• 2012 -- Pubmed # 22494425 Aselage, M., Amella, E. Response to Watson R (2011) Commentary on Aselage MB (2010) Measuring mealtime difficulties: eating, feeding, and meal behaviours in older adults with dementia. Journal of Clinical Nursing19, 621-631. Journal of Clinical Nursing 20, 297-298. J Clin Nurs. May, 2012; 21(9-10); 1494-5

• 2012 -- Amella, E.J., Aselage, M. B. Mealtime difficulties (Chapter 23) In Evidence-Based Geriatric Nursing Protocols for Best Practice (4th ed.), edited by Boltz, M., Capezuti, E., Fulmer, T.T., Zwicker, D., & O'Meara, A. January, 2012; New York: Springer Publishing Co..

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21757077 Aselage, M. B., Amella, E. J., Watson, R. State of the science: Alleviating mealtime difficulties in nursing home residents with dementia. Nurs Outlook. Jul-Aug, 2011; 59(4); 210-4

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21320213 Aselage, M. Commentary on Lopez R, Amella E, Mitchell S & Strumpf N (2010), Nurses' perspectives on feeding decisions for nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Journal of Clinical Nursing 19, 632-638. J Clin Nurs. March, 2011; 20(5-6); 911-2

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20608595 Aselage, M. Mobilizing gerontological nursing education: The GNEC Podcast Project. J Gerontol Nurs. July, 2010; 36(7); 63-4

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20608592 Puentes, W. J., Bradway, C. K., Aselage, M. Older adult mental health: Teaching senior-level baccalaureate nursing students what they need to know. J Gerontol Nurs. July 1, 2010; 36(7); 44-53

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20608591 Gray-Miceli, D., Aselage, M., Mezey, M. Teaching strategies for atypical presentation of illness in older adults. J Gerontol Nurs. July 1, 2010; 36(7); 38-43

• 2010 -- Leak, A., Aselage, M., Park, J., Toles, M. North Carolina is building geriatric nursing capacity. The Tarheel Nurse. April-June, 2010; 11-12

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20500303 Aselage, M. B. Measuring mealtime difficulties: eating, feeding and meal behaviours in older adults with dementia. J Clin Nurs. March 1, 2010; 19(5-6); 621-31

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20500242 Aselage, M. B., Amella, E. J. An evolutionary analysis of mealtime difficulties in older adults with dementia. J Clin Nurs. January 1, 2010; 19(1-2); 33-41

• 2009 -- Aselage, M., Conner, B., Carnevale, T. Ethical considerations in conducting research with persons with dementia. Southern Online Journal of Nursing Research. November, 2009; 9(4);

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Brock, L., Buchanan, C., Cray, D., Edwards, L., Gaines, S., et al. (Producer). Atypical presentation in the care of the older adult. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. 2010;

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Beckie, T. (Producer). Assessment and management of heart disease related to complex care of older adults. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. 2010;

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Happ, M. B. (Producer). Assessment and management of older adults with complex illness in the critical care unit. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. 2010;

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Jefferson, V. (Producer). Assessment and management of type 2 diabetes in older adults with complex care needs. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. 2010;

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Overcash, J. (Producer). Assessment and management of cancer related to older adults with complex care needs. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. 2010;

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Puentes, W. (Producer) Complex care needs in older adults with dementia: Background and general interventions. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. April 5, 2010;

• 2010 -- Aselage, M. B., Wexler, S., D'Amico, C. (Producer). Interdisciplinary teams for older adults with complex care needs. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. April 5, 2010;

• 2009 -- Aselage, M. B., Cox, A.., Cox, R., Bodnar, A., Grimsley, K., Hardin, M., et al. (Producer). Critical thinking related to complex care of older adults. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. April 5, 2010;

• 2009 -- Aselage, M. B., Gray-Miceli, D., Mezey, M. (Producer). Geriatric Resources. Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts. April 1, 2009;

Grant Funding (selected)

• Comparison of hand feeding techniques for persons with dementia living in the nursing home.  
  Duke University School of Nursing Office of Research Affairs
  10/2011-09/2012
  Role: PI
  Project Goals: Experimental repeated-measures within-subjects pilot study to compare three hand feeding techniques for assisting persons with dementia in the nursing home setting.

• A web-based dementia feeding skills training program for nursing home staff  
  J. Richard Corbett Charitable Trust
  Grant # 62110
  07/2010-06/2011
  Role: Principal investigator
  Project Goals: This dissertation project is a two-month cluster-randomized feasibility study. The aims of this are: Aim 1: To determine feasibility the web-based module/ coaching model for skilled NH staff for feeding PWD; and to obtain estimates of variability for the relevant outcome measures for staff and PWD health outcomes; Aim 2: Staff outcomes are to improve knowledge of feeding persons with dementia, self-efficacy, feeding skills, and behaviors; Aim 3: Resident outcomes are to decrease disruptive resident mealtime behavior, maintain or increase resident food intake and weight, increase time for feeding, and improve quality of life for NH residents with dementia.

• Alleviating mealtime difficulties in older adults with dementia  
  John A. Hartford Foundation/ American Academy of Nursing
  09-151
  07/2009-06/2011
  Project Goals: Pre-doctoral support awarded specifically to build skills in research, teaching, and leadership in geriatric nursing. Long-term career goals include being a national and international leader in improving the quality of care and quality of life for older adults.

• Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) Podcasts  
  AACN / Hartford GNEC Faculty Development Institute
  06/2009-08/2009
  Role: Principal investigator and series editor
  Goal: Develop a series of podcasts to prepare baccalaureate nursing students to meet the care needs of the older adult population. Podcast content based on modules from "Older Adults: Recommended Baccalaureate Competencies and Curricular Guidelines for Geriatric Nursing Care" developed by the AACN Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) and the Hartford Institute. Podcasts are available online at http://consultgerirn.org/resources/gnec_podcasts, or from the iTunes store.

• Pilot: Podcasting GNEC curriculum for implementation in baccalaureate nursing education programs  
  AACN/ Hartford GNEC Faculty Development Institute
  12/2008-04/2009
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Purpose: To develop of pilot podcast for delivering Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC) content to baccalaureate nursing students

• Congressionally-Directed Funds for Nursing Programs Including Military Veterans, Clinical Research, and Distance Learning  
  U.S. Department of Education
  07/2008-06/2009
  Role: Nursing faculty and online course designer for NSG 334 Gerontology/End-of-Life Care; Award amount: $3000
  Project Goal: To plan for an accelerated Bachelor of Science program in nursing and a Master of Science program in clinical research targeted to military personnel, veterans, and their spouses.

• Congressionally-Directed Funds for Nursing Programs Including Military Veterans, Clinical Research, and Distance Learning  
  U.S. Department of Education, Congressionally-directed grant
  07/2008-06/2009
  Role: Nursing faculty and online course designer for NSG 404 Health Policy. Award amount: $1500
  Project Goal: To plan for an accelerated Bachelor of Science program in nursing and a Master of Science program in clinical research targeted to military personnel, veterans, and their spouses.

• Use of the Comprehensive Geriatric Nursing Assessment (CGA) in Baccalaureate Nursing Education  
  UNCW Summer Pedagogy Development Award Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE)
  06/2008-08/2008
  Role: Principal Investigator