Brief Bio

Dr. Docherty is an associate professor in the Duke University School of Nursing and has practices as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Children’s Health Center of Duke University Medical Center. She has extensive clinical experience in acute care pediatrics and child development. She received her BScN at the University of Windsor, her MScN at the University of Western Ontario, and her PhD at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC-CH, she is adjunct faculty in School of Nursing and mentor faculty for the Center for Developmental Science. She is a member of NAPNAP (National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners), Society for Research in Child Development, Southern Nursing Research Society, and Sigma Theta Tau.

Academic Program Affiliations

PhD in Nursing Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice Program
Master of Science in Nursing Program

Education

PhD	University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Nursing
MScN	University of Western Ontario
BScN	University of Windsor

Professional Certifications

PNP-AC	Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Acute Care
PNP-PC	Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Primary Care
PALS	Pediatric Advanced Life Support
BLS	Basic Life Support

Research Interests

Dr. Docherty's research is focused on improving the quality of life and long-term outcomes of infants, children, and adolescents, who are undergoing treatment for life-threatening and chronic illnesses. Her studies of how life-sustaining treatment impacts the short- and long-term functioning of acute and chronically ill children and their families, is based on a developmental systems approach and thus she utilizes longitudinal and mixed method research methodologies. Dr. Docherty has conducted two longitudinal studies of parental care giving of children post stem cell transplantation (R15 NR009041-01) and parent and health care provider decision-making for infants with complex life-threatening conditions (R01 1R01NR010548-01A1). She was a site PI on a multi-site randomized study to test the efficacy of a therapeutic music video intervention aimed at increasing resilience and quality of life of adolescents and young adults undergoing bone marrow transplant (1R01 NR008583-01A2/ COG ANUR0631).

Clinical Interests

Dr. Docherty is a pediatric nurse practitioner certified (PNCB) in both acute and primary care and has experience working with children with hematologic/oncologic disorders and those undergoing stem cell transplantation.

Awards and Honors

• 2008 Donna Wong Pediatric Nursing Writers Award, Pediatric Nursing Journal

• 2000 Participant, Serrambi, Brazil Summer School, Center for Developmental Science

• 1997 Elizabeth Scott Carrington Scholarship, School of Nursing ($2500), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• 1997 Predoctoral Training Fellowship, Carolina Consortium on Human Development ($8000), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ($8000)

• 1996 Linda Waring Matthews Oncology Nursing Scholarship, UNC School of Nursing

• 1995 Cancer Education Program Assistantship, UNC-CH, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

• 1994 Dr. Alfreda Simons Kartha Excellence in Nursing Education Award, Sigma Theta Tau International Honour Society of Nursing - Iota Omicron Chapter

• 1994 Faculty of Nursing Doctoral Study Award ($1000), University of Western Ontario

• 1994 Hospital for Sick Children Foundation Fellowship, Canadian Nurses Foundation

• 1989 Inducted, Sigma Theta Tau, Iota Omicron Chapter

• 1985 Undergraduate Class Valedictorian, University of Windsor, University of Windsor

Areas of Expertise

• Pediatric Nursing
• Research Methods

Areas of Interest

• Quality of Life of Children and Families with Life-Threatening Illness
• a. Substantive:
• • Parental Caregivers of Children Post Stem Cell Transplant
• • Symptom Distress in Children with Cancer
• • Symptom Distress in Chronically Ill Children
• • Pediatric Palliative Care in the Acute Care Setting
• b. Methodological
• • Longitudinal Designs and Analysis
• • Case Study Design and Analysis
• • Qualitative Design and Analysis
• • Biological Markers of Stress in Ill Children
• • Interviewing Children

Representative Publications

• 2012 -- Pubmed # 22512806 Tan, J. S., Docherty, S. L., Barfield, R., Brandon, D. H. Addressing parental bereavement support needs at the end of life for infants with complex chronic conditions. J Palliat Med. May, 2012; 15(5); 579-84

• 2012 -- Pubmed # 22414540 Kassmann, B. P., Docherty, S. L., Rice, H. E., Bailey Jr, D. E., Schweitzer, M. Telephone Follow-up for Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery: Parent and Provider Satisfaction. J Pediatr Nurs. March, 2012;

• 2012 -- Shepperd, J., Lipkus, I.M., Sanderson, S., McBride, C., O”Neill, S. & Docherty, S. Testing different communication formats on responses to imagined risk of having vs. missing the GSTM1 gene. Journal of Health Communication. 2012. in press;

• 2012 -- Docherty, S. L., Barfield, R., Thaxton, C., Brandon, D. Quality of life for children living with chronic or complex diseases (Chapter 18). In Wong’s Essentials of Pediatric Nursing, edited by Hockenberry, M. 2012, in press; St. Louis: Mosby.

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 22012943 Robb, S. L., Burns, D. S., Docherty, S. L., Haase, J. E. Ensuring treatment fidelity in a multi-site behavioral intervention study: implementing NIH Behavior Change Consortium recommendations in the SMART trial. Psychooncology. November, 2011; 20(11); 1193-201

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21860660 Docherty, S. L., McBride, C. M., Sanderson, S. C., O'Neill, S. C., Shepperd, J. A., Lipkus, I. M. Young smokers' views of genetic susceptibility testing for lung cancer risk: minding unintended consequences. J Community Genet. September 1, 2011; 2(3); 165-172

• 2011 -- Docherty, S. L. Care of the medically fragile child. (Chapter 11). In Pediatric Acute Care: A Guide to Interprofessional Practice, edited by Reuter-Rice, K. & Bolick, B. July 25, 2011; Boston, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21605319 Kelley, T. F., Brandon, D. H., Docherty, S. L. Electronic nursing documentation as a strategy to improve quality of patient care. J Nurs Scholarsh. June, 2011; 43(2); 154-62

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21147402 Hawkins-Walsh, E., Berg, M., Docherty, S., Lindeke, L., Gaylord, N., Osborn, K. A national survey of the primary and acute care pediatric nurse practitioner educational preparation. J Pediatr Health Care. Jan-Feb, 2011; 25(1); 5-15

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21147410 Berg, M., Hawkins-Walsh, E., Gaylord, N., Lindeke, L., Docherty, S. L. Emerging issues regarding pediatric nurse practitioner education in acute and primary care. J Pediatr Health Care. Jan-Feb, 2011; 25(1); 62-6

• 2011 -- Pubmed # 21994831 Adams, J. A., Bailey Jr, D. E., Anderson, R. A., Docherty, S. L. Nursing Roles and Strategies in End-of-Life Decision Making in Acute Care: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Nurs Res Pract. 2011; 2011 527834 PMCID: PMC3184494

• 2010 -- Robb, S. L., Burns, D. S., Docherty, S. L., Haase, J. E. Ensuring treatment fidelity in a multi-site behavioral intervention study: implementing NIH behavior change consortium recommendations in the SMART trial. Psycho-Oncology. September, 2010 online;

• 2010 -- Pubmed # 20379916 Barfield, R. C., Brandon, D., Thompson, J., Harris, N., Schmidt, M., Docherty, S. Mind the child: using interactive technology to improve child involvement in decision making about life-limiting illness. Am J Bioeth. April, 2010; 10(4); 28-30

• 2009 -- Pubmed # 19865004 Cox, C. E., Docherty, S. L., Brandon, D. H., Whaley, C., Attix, D. K., Clay, A. S., Dore, D. V., Hough, C. L., White, D. B., Tulsky, J. A. Surviving critical illness: acute respiratory distress syndrome as experienced by patients and their caregivers. Crit Care Med. October, 2009; 37(10); 2702-8 PMCID: PMC2771584

• 2008 -- Brooks, J. L., Docherty, S. L. SMA notes from the field: Lumbee mothers and infant care. Anthropology News. November, 2008;

• 2008 -- Docherty, S. L. Advanced practice nurses in pediatric hospital care. In Pediatric hospital medicine. Textbook of inpatient management (2nd), edited by Perkin, R. M., Swift, J .D., Newton, D. A., & Anas, N. 2008; pp. 14-18. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

• 2007 -- Pubmed # 17907734 Docherty, S. L., Miles, M. S., Brandon, D. Searching for "the dying point:" providers' experiences with palliative care in pediatric acute care. Pediatr Nurs. November, 2007; 33(4); 335-41

• 2007 -- Pubmed # 17803413 Brandon, D., Docherty, S. L., Thorpe, J. Infant and child deaths in acute care settings: implications for palliative care. J Palliat Med. August, 2007; 10(4); 910-8

• 2008 -- Pubmed # 18069427 Docherty, S. L., Lowry, C., Miles, M. S. Poverty as context for the parenting experience of low-income Lumbee Indian mothers with a medically fragile infant. Neonatal Netw. February, 2007; 26(6); 361-9

• 2007 -- Docherty, S. L. Childhood cancer (Ch. 38) In Core Review for Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, edited by Niederhauser, V. P. February, 2007; St. Louis: Elsevier Health Sciences.

• 2006 -- Docherty, S. L. Childhood cancer (Chapter 38) In Core Curriculum for Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, edited by Ryan-Wenger, N. A. October, 2006; St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.

• 2006 -- Pubmed # 16847909 Docherty, S. L., Sandelowski, M., Preisser, J. S. Three months in the symptom life of a teenage girl undergoing treatment for cancer. Res Nurs Health. August, 2006; 29(4); 294-310

• 2003 -- Pubmed # 12889547 Labyak, S. E., Bourguignon, C., Docherty, S. Sleep quality in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Holist Nurs Pract. August, 2003; 17(4); 193-200

• 2003 -- Pubmed # 12858695 Docherty, S. L. Symptom experiences of children and adolescents with cancer. Annu Rev Nurs Res. 2003; 21(2); 123-49

• 2002 -- Pubmed # 12881928 Docherty, S. L., Miles, M. S., Holditch-Davis, D. Worry about child health in mothers of hospitalized medically fragile infants. Adv Neonatal Care. April, 2002; 2(2); 84-92

• 2001 -- Pubmed # 11526617 Holditch-Davis, D., Docherty, S., Miles, M. S., Burchinal, M. Developmental outcomes of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: comparison with other medically fragile infants. Res Nurs Health. June, 2001; 24(3); 181-93

• 2001 -- Docherty, S. L. Physical assessment of the preschool-aged child (instructional video package). 2001;

• 1999 -- Pubmed # 11885066 Miles, M. S., Wilson, S. M., Docherty, S. L. African American mothers' responses to hospitalization of an infant with serious health problems. Neonatal Netw. December, 1999; 18(8); 17-25

• 1999 -- Pubmed # 10094302 Docherty, S., Sandelowski, M. Interviewing children. Res Nurs Health. April, 1999; 22(2); 177-85

• 1997 -- Pubmed # 9256882 Sandelowski, M., Docherty, S., Emden, C. Focus on qualitative methods. Qualitative metasynthesis: issues and techniques. Res Nurs Health. August, 1997; 20(4); 365-71

• 1992 -- Pubmed # 1574213 Laschinger, H. K., Docherty, S., Dennis, C. Helping students use nursing models to guide research. Nurse Educ. June, 1992; 17(2); 36-8

Grant Funding (selected)

• Decision-Making for Infants with Complex Life-Threatening Conditions  
  National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research
  1R01-NR010548-01A1
  09/2008-07/2013
  Role: PI
  Project Goals: This longitudinal multiple case study will examine the trajectory of decision-making for infants undergoing life-sustaining treatment for a complex life-threatening conditions and factors influencing parent’s decision-making.

• Decision-making for Infants with Complex Life-Threatening Conditions  
  National Institutes of Health
  3R01-NR010548-02S1
  02/2010-07/2011
  

• Decision tree modeling of return of whole genome sequencing results  
  Duke Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy (Collaborative & Interdisciplinary Grant )
  04/2012-03/2013
  Role: Co-Investigator
  Decisions regarding whether, when, how, and what kinds of results from whole genome sequencing (WGS) should be disclosed to patients and families are fraught, involving a range of technical, clinical, ethical, and regulatory considerations. In particular, performing WGS under a research protocol but for a clinical purpose (e.g., to assist in the diagnosis or management of a serious health condition for which traditional approaches have been exhausted), places the interpretation of results and the decision about their return at the interface between research and clinical care. This case study will explore the decision making trajectory for the disclosure of whole genome sequencing (WGS) results to families of pediatric patients.

• Administrative Supplement to Decision Making for Infants with Complex Life Threatening Conditions  
  National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research
  3R01-NR010548-02S1
  09/2009-01/2011
  Role: PI
  This administrative supplement is to develop a flexible data exploratory visualization software program that will allow for the graphic display of multiple layers and varying configurations of different levels of data from a currently funded R01 study.

• Mother Sibling Interactions  
  National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research
  1R03NR011196-01A1
  09/2009-07/2011
  Role: Co-Investigator
  Project Goals: This longitudinal study explores the impact of a VLBW infant on mother-sibling interactions and sibling adjustment. A comparison group of fullterm infants will be used to determine which sibling adjustment problems are typical of having a new baby in the home and which are associated with the unique stress of having a VLBW infant.

• The Compass Project: Bridging Medicine, Design, & Ethics to Enable Advance Care Planning & Meaningful Assent in Pediatric Phase I Trials  
  Duke Univ. School of Nursing Office of Research Affairs Small Grant Program
  01/2006-05/2011
  Role: PI
  Project Goals: This study will design and pilot test an instrument that can be used by children with life-threatening illnesses to express their ideas, goals, priorities, and desires, related to quality of life planning, in the context of Phase I trials.

• Young Smokers’ Reactions to Genetic Risk for Lung Cancer  
  National Institutes of Health - National Cancer Institute
  1R01-CA121922-01A2
  08/2007-06/2011
  Role: Co-Investigator
  Project Goals: This study examines whether providing genetic lung cancer susceptibility feedback to college smokers affect their perceptions of risk and worries and motivations to quit.

• Stories and Music for Adolescent/Young Adult Resilience During Transplant: The SMART Study  
  National Institute of Nursing Research Children’s Oncology Group
  1R01 NR008583-01A2: COG ANUR0631
  11/2007-04/2010
  Role: Site PI
  Project Goals: This study will test the efficacy of a therapeutic music video (TMV) intervention aimed at increasing resilience and quality of life of adolescents and young adults (AYA) undergoing bone marrow transplant.

• SMART - Theraputic Music Video  
  Indiana University
  10988
  11/2007-04/2008
  

• Maternal Caregiving of Children Post Stem Cell Transplant  
  National Institutes of Health
  1R15-NR009041-01
  08/2004-07/2008
  Role: PI
  Project Goals: A pilot study that will inform the design of a larger study addressing parental responses and adjustment patterns during a child’s HSCT and their relationship to the child’s symptom distress as well as health and development outcomes.

• Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care Nurse Practitioner Program  
  HRSA
  1D09-HP14984-01-00
  07/2009-06/2012
  Role: Faculty
  Project Goals: To expand enrollment and to further develop serious gaming as a QI, critical thinking enhancement skill.

• Mental Health Assessment for Pediatric Nurse Practitioners  
  Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA)
  DO9-HP07988-01
  01/2007-12/2010
  Role: Faculty
  Project Goals: Three-year grant to educate nurses through innovative and strengthened curriculum at the Master’s level.

• Maternal Adjustment to Caregiving for Premature Infants  
  National Institute of Nursing Research
  5R01NR008044-02 (Supplement)
  07/2007-06/2009
  Role: Co-Investigator
  Project Goals: The overall purpose of this study is to explore the effects of a preterm infant intervention currently under study (“Preterm Infants: Light Effects on Health and Development” (5R01NR008044-02) IRB # 4211-03-11R1) on maternal adjustment to the hospitalization and post discharge caregiving of a preterm infant.

• Experiences, Functioning, and Well Being of Fathers of Children Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant  
  NINR P20 - TRAC Pilot
  1P20NR07795-02
  01/2006-12/2008
  Role: PI
  Project Goals: This pilot study that will inform the design of a larger study addressing parental responses and adjustment patterns during a child’s HSCT and their relationship to the child’s symptom distress as well as health and development outcomes.

• Characteristics of Infants and Children Who Die in the Inpatient Settings  
  Departmental
  01/2004-12/2005
  Role: Co-Investigator
  Project goals: The purpose of this pilot study is to define the population of infants and children who die in acute care hospitals

• Pediatric Health Care Provider Attitudes Regarding Palliative Care in the Acute Care Setting  
  Departmental
  01/2004-12/2005
  Role: PI
  Project goals: The purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of physicians, nurses, and social workers in providing palliative care to infants, children, and adolescents who have undergone intensive therapies for life threatening illnesses. The study will identify aids and barriers to the provision of palliative care in the pediatric acute care setting.

• Sleep and Symptom Distress in Children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis  
  NIH Center for Research on Chronic Illness, UNC-Chapel Hill
  P30 NR03962
  01/2000-12/2002
  Role: Co-Investigator
  Project goals: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe and compare sleep behavior, sleep quality and symptom experiences for one week in children with JRA and age and sex-matched healthy controls using self report and wrist actigraphy. At the conclusion, overnight sleep studies (polysomnography) were conducted to evaluate the depth and continuity of sleep in four children. These studies were conducted at the General Clinical Research Center at the University of North Carolina.

• Patterns of Symptom Distress During the Initial Treatment Period in Three Children with Cancer  
  University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
  01/1997-12/1999
  Role: PI
  Predoctoral Training Fellowship, Carolina Consortium on Human Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Small Grants Program Project goals: The purpose of this longitudinal multiple case study design was to explore patterns of symptom distress over the initial treatment period in children with cancer.

• Parental Role Attainment with Medically Fragile Infants  
  NIH/NINR
  R01 NR02868
  01/1994-12/1999
  Role: Research Assistant
  Project goals: The purpose of this longitudinal exploratory study was to explore the process of and factors associated with parental role attainment in parents of medically fragile infants.

• Decision-Making for Infants with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy  
  National Institutes of Health/ NINR
  1F31-NR012083-01
  06/2010-05/2013
  Role: PI
  Fellowship supporting research of Dr. Docherty's PhD student Kimberly A. Allen

• Parent and Provider Decision-making for Infants with Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy  
  American Nurses Foundation, Inc.
  09/2011-08/2012