Cynthia Diefenbeck Assistant Professor School of Nursing 369 McDowell Hall 302-831-3086 cynthia@udel.edu Education PsyD, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clinical Psychology MSN, University of Pennsylvania, CNS in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing BSN, University of Delaware Licensure and Certification Licensed Clinical Psychologist Delaware Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Delaware Prescriptive authority (APRN) Delaware Certified Specialist in Adult Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing- ANCC Research Interests Factors influencing underrepresented minority applicant s acceptance of admission offers to BSN programs; understanding the lived experiences of AA and Latino students in predominantly white BSN programs; innovative recruitment and retention programs for underrepresented minority nursing students; study of burnout in nurses and nursing students. Other areas of interest include nursing curriculum innovation and online support groups for caregivers. Selected Publications 1. Diefenbeck, C., Phillips, K., & Paulanka, B. (2012). Interpersonal skills for healthcare providers: Instructor version. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.
2. Diefenbeck, C., Phillips, K., & Paulanka, B. (2012). Interpersonal skills for healthcare providers: Student version. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. 3. Michalec, B., Diefenbeck, C., & Mahoney, M. (2012). The Calm before the Storm? Burnout and Compassion Fatigue among Undergraduate Nursing Students. Nurse Education Today, accepted for publication. 4. Selekman, J., Diefenbeck, C., & Guthrie, S. (2012). Mental health concerns. In J. Selekman (Ed.), School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis. 5. Diefenbeck, C., Hayes, E., Wade, G., & Herrman, J. (2011). Student-Centered Outcomes Evaluation of the Clinical Immersion Program: Five Years Later. Journal of Nursing Education, 50 (11), 628-635. 6. Herrman, J., & Diefenbeck, C. (2009). The nurse residency model: A clinical immersion model for curricular change. Dean s Notes, 30 (4), 1-2. 7. Diefenbeck, C., Plowfield, L., & Herrman, J. (2006). Clinical immersion: A residency model for nursing education. Nursing Education Perspectives, 27 (2), 71-79. 8. Freeman, A., & Diefenbeck, C. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy of depression. In S. M. Freeman and A. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral approaches in nursing practice. New York: Springer. 9. Freeman, A., & Diefenbeck, C. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy of personality disorders. In S. M. Freeman and A. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral approaches in nursing practice. New York: Springer. 10. Zahn, B.S., & Diefenbeck, C. (2005). Mature adults: Working with the aging patient. In S. M. Freeman and A. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral approaches in nursing practice. New York: Springer. Selected Refereed Presentations and Posters 1. Alexander, R., Brown, C., & Diefenbeck, C. (2012, March). Someone saw something in me: Committed to a career in mental health nursing. Refereed poster presentation at Eastern Nursing Research Society, New Haven, CT. 2. Michalec, B., Diefenbeck, C., & Mahoney, M. (Feb., 2012). Exploring potential changes in attributes and attitudes among undergraduate nursing students. Refereed presentation at Eastern Sociological Society, 82nd Annual Meeting, New York City. 3. Diefenbeck, C., Herrman, J., Hayes, E., & Wade, G. (October, 2011). Program evaluation of a novel BSN curriculum: Clinical immersion. Refereed oral presentation at Biennial convention, Sigma Theta Tau International. 4. Klemm, P., Hayes, E., & Diefenbeck, C. (October, 2011). Online support for informal caregivers: Psychosocial outcomes. Refereed oral presentation at Biennial convention, Sigma Theta Tau International. 5. Diefenbeck, C., Gross,A., Feldmann, S., Gouveia, A., Gustilo, R., & Fega, A. (Oct., 2009). Animal Assisted Therapy in Heart Failure Patients. Referred poster presentation at Crozer-
Keystone Health System Annual Nursing Research Symposium. 6. Diefenbeck, C. (July, 2009). Effects of animal-assisted therapy in hospitalized heart failure patients. Oral presentation at the 20th International Nursing Research Congress, Sigma Theta Tau International, Vancouver. 7. Diefenbeck, C. (Nov., 2008). The effects of animal assisted therapy on mood, anxiety, loneliness, and physical indices in hospitalized heart failure patients. Referred poster presentation at Christiana Care Health System/Delaware Nurses Association Annual Research Day, Newark, DE. 8. Diefenbeck, C. (2008, May). Bridging Research and Practice: An Innovative Approach to Providing Comprehensive Psychosocial Services to Patients with Cardiovascular Disease. Poster presentation at the American Heart Association s 9th Scientific Forum on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke, Baltimore, Maryland. 9. Diefenbeck, C. (2006, November). Could Cognitive-Behavioral Clinical Supervision Prevent or Mitigate Burnout in Nurses? Recent Research Findings and Lessons from other Helping Professions. Poster session presented at RNAO 6th Annual Healthy Workplaces Conference, Ontario. 10. Diefenbeck, C. (2006, May). The Relationship between Burnout and Perceived Occupational Support in Hospital-based Critical Care Nurses. Poster session presented at Southeastern Pennsylvania (SePA) Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Annual Research Dinner Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. 11. Diefenbeck, C. (2006, May). Burnout and Job Satisfaction among a Nationwide Random Sample of Critical Care Nurses Working in Hospital Settings. Southeastern Pennsylvania (SePA) Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Annual Research Dinner Meeting, Philadelphia, PA. Selected Invited Presentations 1. Diefenbeck, C., Klemm, P., & Hayes, E. (2012, Nov.) Analysis of online support for caregivers of people with chronic disease. Invited presenter at the PhD Student-Faculty Research Forum, University of Delaware, School of Nursing, Newark, DE. 2. Diefenbeck, C. (2012, Sept.). Beta Xi Chapter annual member appreciation night. Invited panel presenter at the Sigma Theta Tau International Leadership Forum. 3. Diefenbeck, C., & Phillips, K. (2012, Sept.). Effective communication in difficult situations. Invited podium presentation at the 21st Century Visions of Nursing Conference, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE. 4. Diefenbeck, C. (2012, July). Psychopharmacology update 2012. Invited podium presentation at the Advances in School Nursing Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 5. Hayes, E., & Diefenbeck, C. (2012, March). Caring for the caregiver. Invited podium presentation at the Delaware Nurses Association Spring Conference, New Castle, DE. 6. Diefenbeck, C. (2010, Oct.). Brief counseling skills for primary care advanced practice nurses. Invited podium presentation for the Delaware Nurses Association s Fall 2010
Conference. 7. Diefenbeck, C. (2010, Sept.) Understanding challenging behaviors in patients with dementia.invited podium presentation for the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter Hospice/Palliative Care Nurses Association, Newark, DE 8. Diefenbeck, C. (2010, July). ADHD Update 2010. Invited podium presentation at the Advances in School Nursing Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 9. Diefenbeck, C. (2009, Sept.). Understanding challenging behaviors in the geriatric population. Invited presentation at the 21st Century Visions of Nursing Conference, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE. 10. Diefenbeck, C. (Oct., 2008). The effects of animal assisted therapy on mood, anxiety, loneliness, and physical indices in hospitalized heart failure patients. Invited presentation at Trends in Critical Care Nursing, King of Prussia, PA. 11. Diefenbeck, C. & Bradley, E. (2008, Sept.). Caring for the caregiver: A hospice/palliative care nurse survival guide. Invited presentation for the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter Hospice/Palliative Care Nurses Association, Newark, DE. 12. Diefenbeck, C. (2008, Sept.). Dealing with grief. Invited presentation at the 21st Century Visions of Nursing Conference, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE. 13. Diefenbeck, C. (2008, June). Mental well-being and your heart. Invited panel presenter for the Coping with chronic illness forum sponsored by the Delaware Mental Health Association, Newark, DE. 14. Diefenbeck, C. (2008, April). Understanding challenging behaviors in the geriatric population. Invited session presented at Christiana Care Health System s WISH program, Newark, DE. 15. Diefenbeck, C. (2008, February). Healing hearts: Depression and heart failure. Invited session presented at Christiana Care Health System s Annual Heart Failure Summit, Newark, DE. 16. Diefenbeck, C. (2007, August). Psychiatric disorder update. Session presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Nurses, Atlantic City, NJ. 17. Diefenbeck, C. (2007, July). Psychiatric disorder update. Session presented at the annual meeting of the National Association of School Nurses, Boston, MA. Selected Professional Affiliations and Service 1. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, International Governance Committee, elected member and appointed chair (2011-2013) 2. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, International Governance Committee, elected member and appointed chair (2009-2011) 3. Review panel, Issues in Mental Health Nursing (2011-present)
4. Delaware Psychological Association, Psychologically Healthy Workplaces chair (2009 present) 5. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, International Leadership Succession Committee, elected member (2005-2007) 6. Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Beta Xi Chapter, University of Delaware, President (2005-2007) Awards Finalist, Academic Nurse Educator of the Year, 2012 Delaware Excellence in Nursing Practice Awards Nominee, College Excellence in Teaching Award (2012) Nominee, University Excellence in Teaching Award (2011, 2009, 2005) Nominee, University Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising Award (2004)