Rebecca J. Graves, Ph.D., NP-C, FAANP

Rebecca J. Graves, Ph.D., NP-C, FAANP

Director of Special Projects and Evaluation, Associate Professor
Office of Research, Development, and Evaluation

Education

  • PhD in Nursing Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 2014
  • Post-MSN Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, University of South Alabama, 2009
  • MSN Family Nurse Practitioner, University of South Alabama, 2006
  • BSN, University of South Alabama, 2001
  • BS Journalism, emphasis Public Relations, University of Southern Mississippi, 1996

Specialized Training

  • Gulf States Community Research Fellow, Gulf States Health Policy Center, 2018

Research Interests

  • Nursing college student wellness and obesity prevention
  • Social determinants of health for low-income individuals and families
  • Healthy nutrition, meal planning, and meal preparation interventions for families
  • Prevention of obesity and related chronic disease
  • Health and wellness of vulnerable populations including low-income individuals and families, adults with Down syndrome, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Health-related quality of life of adults with Down syndrome

Ongoing Research Support

  • 1UL1 TR001417 (2019-2022). National Center for Advancing Translational Research, UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science (Principal Investigator: Robert Kimberly). USA Translational Research Service Center Sub-award. Role: Co-Investigator, USA Consortium, Co-Lead
  • Research and Scholarship Development Grant Internal Grant (2019-2022). University of South Alabama. Healthy student, happy nurse: A longitudinal investigation of nursing students' health-related behaviors to promote professional well-being. Role: Co-Investigator
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Selected Publications

  • Graves, R. J., Harrell, M., Barinas, J. L., Taylor, S. E., Fruh, S. M., Williams, S. G., McDermott, R., Hall, H. R., Hauff, C., Sittig, S., Campbell, M., Hudson, G., & Melnyk, B. M. (in press). The impact of perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 on nursing student well-being. Journal of Nursing Education https://www.healio.com/nursing/journals/jne
  • Graves, R. J., Williams, S. G., Hauff, C., Fruh, S. M., Sims, B., Hudson, G. M., McDermott, R. C., Sittig, S., Shaw, T., Campbell, M., Barinas, J. L., & Hall, H. R. (2020). Undergraduate versus graduate nursing students: Differences in nutrition, physical activity, and self-reported body mass index. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1842421. PubMed PMID: 33151837 PMCID: PMC8096854
  • Graves, R. J., Zlomke, K., Hall, H. R., & Graff, J. C. (2020). Adaptive behavior of adults with Down syndrome and their health-related quality of life. Advances in Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 4, 27-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-019-00133-x
  • Graves, R. J., Minchew, L. A., Smith, S., Zlomke, K., Caffey, K., Owens, B., Thies, A., Gibert, M., & Fruh, S. (2018). Breaking the cycle: Changing sleep habits to decrease obesity. International Public Health Journal, 10(4), 469-479.
  • Graves, R. J., Graff, J. C., Esbensen, A. J., Hathaway, D. K., Wicks, M. N., & Wan, J. Y. (2016). Measuring health-related quality of life of adults with Down syndrome. American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 121(4), 312-326. https://doi.org/10.1352/1944-7558-121.4.312 PMID: 27351699.
  • Barinas, J. L., McDermott, R. C., Williams, S. G., Fruh, S. M., Hauff, C., Hudson, G. M., Graves, R. J., & Melnyk, B. M. (in press). Positive and negative psychosocial factors related to healthy and unhealthy weight control behaviors among nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 42, 290-300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2022.07.017
  • Sittig, S., Hauff, C., Williams, S. G., Graves, R. J., & Fruh, S. (2022). A qualitative exploration of desired mHealth app mechanisms related to daily life influences for college nursing students. Research Directs in Health Sciences, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.53520/rdhs2022.10441
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Teaching

Doctoral Courses

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Planning
  • Evidence-Based Practice and Quality Improvement in Health Care Systems
  • Organizational Systems Analysis, Leadership and Change
  • Program Evaluation and Improvement of Clinical Outcomes Data Management and Decision Making in Complex Health Care Systems
  • Dr. Graves has also worked with students on their Doctor of Nursing Practice Project manuscripts for publication.

Graduate Courses

  • Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Dual Role Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Family Primary Care Nursing I for the Dual Role Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Family Primary Care Nursing I Practicum for the Dual Role Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Family Primary Care Nursing II for the Dual Role Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Family Primary Care Nursing II Practicum for the Dual Role Nurse Practitioner
  • Advanced Nursing Assessment
  • Physio-Pathological Bases of Advanced Nursing
  • Pharmacology for Advanced Practice Nurses

Undergraduate Courses

  • Foundations of Professional Nursing
  • Foundations of Professional Nursing Clinical
  • Health Assessment
  • Adult Health Nursing Clinical II

Honors and Awards

  • 2022-2023 Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing Fellowship
    American Association of Colleges of Nursing
    Washington D.C.
    April 2022 to May 2023
  • Gulf States Community Research Fellow
    Gulf States Health Policy Center
    Bayou La Batre, Alabama
    January 2018 to May 2018
  • Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities Traineeship
    Boling Center for Developmental Disabilities
    University of Tennessee Health Science Center
    Memphis, Tennessee
    July 2010 to June 2012