Professor Cynthia Barrere

Cindy Barrere, professor of nursing and director of faculty development, is passionate about affecting positive change in nursing and patient care.

Barrere's research examines ways to blend traditional nursing interventions for stroke and heart failure patients with holistic nursing techniques, such as listening to patients' stories and enhancing spirituality/quality of life.

"My research provides nurses with creative yet practical care interventions that improve patient outcomes," says Barrere.

Her work has been recognized both within the Quinnipiac community and on the national level.

Barrere was recently presented with the Quinnipiac University Faculty Scholar Award. The award stands as "testimony to the importance of faculty scholarship endeavors here at Quinnipiac as well as in the School of Nursing," says Barrere. "It has encouraged me to continue pursuing my research agenda."

In addition, she was recently elected to the board of directors of the national Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses. The position enables her to further promote excellence in medical-surgical nursing and assist with national efforts to improve patient care.

While research is a major part of Barrere's professional life, teaching the next generation of nurses is her first priority. Barrere says mentoring Quinnipiac nursing students about their career plans and aspirations is hugely rewarding for her.

"My teaching style focuses on ways to engage students and facilitate learning to enhance their clinical reasoning," says Barrere. "I use humor to remind students about the value of self-care. I emphasize the importance of employing scientific rigor when selecting appropriate, safe interventions and demonstrating genuine, holistic compassion during nurse-patient interactions."

She is enthusiastic about encouraging students to become nurses, to love the profession and to realize the amazing impact nurses have on patient healing. She encourages students to have fun while learning and to see learning as a life-long process. Barrere strives to elicit enthusiasm from her undergraduate and graduate students as they become engaged in the learning process and excited about concepts they have worked on diligently to comprehend.

 "Nursing is a wonderful profession in which students can positively influence the lives of individuals in body, mind, and spirit."