- Phone: (585) 275-8891
- Email: Bethel Powers
Bethel Powers, PhD, RN, FSAA, FGSA
- Professor Emerita
Education
- PhD in Anthropology, 1980. University of Rochester. Rochester, NY
- MA in Anthropology, 1974. University of Rochester. Rochester, NY
- Masters in Nursing, 1971. University of Rochester. Rochester, NY
- BS in Nursing, 1965. Alderson-Broaddus College. Philippi, WV
Bio
Bethel Powers is a master's-prepared nurse with master's and PhD degrees in social anthropology. The overall theme of her program of research is improving older adults' health and quality of life. Her earliest investigations have included multiple studies of nursing home culture and issues involving care of nursing home residents with dementia. Her research-based book, entitled Nursing Home Ethics, reviews the conditions for which nursing home care becomes a necessity and discusses practical approaches to the many everyday ethical issues that arise in long-term care. Studies involving older institutionalized persons and their families have focused on social networks and social support, delivery of palliative care, and spiritual nurturance.
Dr. Powers also served as a co-investigator on two NIH-funded interdisciplinary team-based studies: a randomized controlled clinical trial of an intervention for improving outcomes of hospitalized older adults and their family caregivers, and an ethnographic study of acute care hospital-based palliative care consultation services. Her current co-investigator role is focused on the study of nurse in-home visiting interventions for community-dwelling older persons with existing disability and depression.
As director of the school's PhD programs, Dr. Powers is committed to mentoring graduate students and working with faculty colleagues to prepare scientists and produce leaders who contribute to the dissemination, teaching, and advancement of research in academic and clinical settings and in national and international arenas.
Professional Experience
- Director PhD Programs,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 8/2011 - Current
- Professor,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 2005 - Current
- Director, Evaluation Office,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 2004 - Current
- Associate Director, Center for Nursing Research on Aging,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1999 - 2010
- Associate Professor,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1987 - 2005
- Interim Chair, Division of Health Restoration,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 7/1993 - 1995
- Chair, Division of Health Promotion and Maintenance,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 7/1990 - 1995
- Associate Professor (Secondary Joint Appointment),
- Graduate School of Education and Human Development, Rochester, NY, US. 1987 - 1995
- Interim Chair, Division of Health Promotion and Maintenance,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1989 - 1990
- Assistant Professor,
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, Rochester, NY, US. 1980 - 1987
- Doctoral Student/Candidate,
- University of Rochester (Department of Anthropology), Rochester, NY, US. 1972 - 1980
- Nursing Supervisor,
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Strong Memorial Hospital (Medicine & Rehabilitation), Rochester, NY, US. 1967 - 1974
- Head Nurse/Staff Nurse,
- Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center (Medical Oncology/Neurology), Bronx, NY, US. 1965 - 1967
Awards
- Received $600,000 will provide scholarship and stipend support for 4 students each year for the next 3 years entering our MS/PhD or PhD programs
- Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN Program), 2015
- American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award
- American Nurses Association, 2005
- Journal of Gerontological Nursing Edna Stilwell Writing Award
- SLACK Publishing, 2004
- Fellow
- Gerontological Society of America, 2001
- Excellence in Nursing Research Award
- Epsilon Xi Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau, 1997
- Fellow
- Society for Applied Anthropology, 1995
- Distinguished Nurse Researcher Award
- Foundation of New York State Nurses, 1991
- Outstanding Faculty Colleague Award
- University of Rochester School of Nursing, 1990
- Faculty Bridging Fellowship Award
- University of Rochester, 1985
- National Nursing Honor Society
- Sigma Theta Tau International, 1982
Presentations
- Opioid use for the palliation of terminal dyspnea in older adults with heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Annual Scientific Sessions, Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2012
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Structure and process components associated with disability maintenance/improvement of a primary care affiliated home visiting nurse intervention
- 66th Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, 2011
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Nursing home residents with dementia and the palliative care umbrella
- The First National Palliative Care Summit, 2011
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Improving outcomes of family caregivers caring for hospitalized elders: The CARE Program
- 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, The Gerontological Society of America, 2010
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Rules at the border: Passport to institutionalizing palliative care
- Annual Assembly, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, 2009
- Austin, Texas
- Nurse home visiting to older adults with disability: A qualitative study of program implementation
- Annual Scientific Meeting, American Geriatrics Society, 2009
- Chicago, Illinois
- Weathering the storm: Nurse home visiting to prevent disability worsening
- Annual Conference, State Society on Aging of New York, 2009
- Rochester, New York
- Nurse home visiting to older adults with disability: A qualitative study of program implementation
- Annual Scientific Meeting, Gerontological Society of America, 2008
- National Harbor, Maryland
- A bioethical construct for issues of spirituality and religion
- Spiritual Care Rounds, University of Rochester Medical Center, 2007
- Rochester, New York
- Nursing Home Ethics
- Ethics Committee Luncheon, St. John's Home, 2004
- Rochester, New York
- Qualitative Methods
- 5th Annual Evidence-Based Practice Conference, Qualitative Methods Workshop, University of Rochester School of Nursing, 2004
- Rochester, New York
- Nursing Home Ethics
- Annual Family and Ethics Committee Dinner Meeting, The Friendly Home, 2004
- Rochester, New York
- Nursing Home Ethics
- Alzheimer's Association Professional Network Series, Monroe Community Hospital, 2004
- Rochester, New York
- Gauging Decline: End of Life Care of Residents with Dementia in Three Nursing Home Settings
- Gerontological Society of America, 2003
- San Diego, California
- Everyday Decision Making by Residents in Assisted Living
- Gerontological Society of America, 2003
- San Diego, California
- Spiritual Nurturance and Support for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
- Gerontological Society of America, 2001
- Chicago, Illinois
- At the Crossroads of Nursing Home Reform: Linkages Between Interpersonal and Organizational Ethics
- Gerontological Society of America, 2000
- Washington, District Of Columbia
- Resolving Ethical Issues of Daily Living Affecting Nursing Home Residents with Dementia
- Eastern Nursing Research Society, 2000
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Ethics in Action: An Appreciation for the Ordinary in Dementia Care
- Society for Applied Anthropology, 2000
- San Francisco, California
- Naturally Occurring Humor of Nursing Home Staff and Residents with Dementia
- Gerontological Society of America, 1997
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Relationships Among Older Women Living in a Nursing Home
- Society for Applied Anthropology, 1996
- Baltimore, Maryland
- New Theory From the Multicultural Study of Aging and Well-Being
- Society for Applied Anthropology, 1993
- San Antonio, Texas
- Researching Dilemmas in Long-Term Care
- Induction Ceremony, Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Xi Chapter, 1993
- Rochester, New York
- Everyday Ethics in Health Care
- American Anthropological Association, 1992
- San Francisco, California
- Researching Dilemmas in Long-Term Care
- Distinguished Nurse Researcher Presentation, Foundation of New York State Nurses, 1992
- Rochester, New York
- In the Hands of These Care People: New Grounds for Kinship Allegiances
- American Anthropological Association, 1991
- Chicago, Illinois
- Beyond These Walls: Bridging to the Community
- American Anthropological Association, 1990
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Friendships Among Nursing Home Residents
- Eastern Nursing Research Society, 1990
- New York, New York
- The Meaning of Nursing Home Friendships
- American Anthropological Association, 1989
- Washington, District Of Columbia
- Roles Staff Play in the Social Networks of Elderly Institutionalized People
- Co-Sponsored Session: Aging & Health in Cultural Context, American Anthropological Association, 1988
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Self Perceived Health of Elderly Institutionalized People
- Co-Sponsored Session: Aging, Culture, and Health, American Anthropological Association, 1987
- Chicago, Illinois
- How Has it Been For You Here?...Social Networks of Elderly Institutionalized People
- The Genesee Conference of Senior Citizen Directors, 6th Annual Aging Awareness Day Conference, Roberts Wesleyan College, 1987
- Rochester, New York
- The World of Elderly Institutionalized People: Making the Connection Between Interactional Patterns and Social Context
- Annual Research Symposium, Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Xi Chapter, 1987
- Rochester, New York
- What Does it Mean to Grow Old?
- Issues 31, Host: Tom Ryan, WUHF-TV, 1987
- Rochester, New York
- The Social Networks of Elderly Institutionalized People
- Invited Session: Implications of Anthropological Research for Practice, Planning and Policy Making in Gerontology, New York State Association of Gerontological Educators, 1986
- Ellenville, New York
Publications
- Smith, Joyce A.; Fuino, Robert L.; Pesis-Katz, Irena; Cai, Xueya; Powers, Bethel; Frazer, Maria; Markman, John D (2017). Differences in opioid prescribing in low back pain patients with and without depression: a cross-sectional study of a national sample from the United States. PAIN Reports. PMID: 29392221 PMCID: PMC5741361 DOI: 10.1097/PR9.0000000000000606
- Liebel DV, Powers BA. (2015). Home health care nurse perceptions of geriatric depression and disability care management. Gerontologist, 55 (3), 448-61. PMID: 24158784 DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnt125
- Lowey, S.E., Smith, J.A., Xue, Y., Powers, B.A. (2015). Opioid Use in the Last Year of Life Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Advanced Illnesses A Retrospective Cohort Study. Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing, 17 (3), 242-248. DOI: 10.1097/NJH.0000000000000155
- Liebel DV, Powers BA, Hauenstein EJ. (2015). Home health care nurse interactions with homebound geriatric patients with depression and disability. Res Gerontol Nurs., 8 (3), 130-9.
- Liebel, DV; Friedman, B; Conwell, Y; Powers, BA (2015). Evaluation of Geriatric Home Healthcare Depression Assessment and Care Management: Are OASIS-C Depression Requirements Enough?. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, 23 (8), 794-806.
- Friedman, B., Yanen, L., Liebel, D., & Powers, B. (2014). Effects of a home visiting nurse intervention versus care as usual on individual activities of daily living: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trail. BMC Geriatrics http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2318/14/24, 14 (24).
- Friedman, B., Li, Y., Liebel D.V., Powers, B.A. (2014). Effects of a home visiting nurse intervention versus care as usual on individual activities of daily living: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trail. BMC Geriatrics, 14 (24).
- Lowey, DV, Powers, BA, Xue, Y (2013). Short of breath and dying: State of the science on opioids for the palliation of refractory dyspnea in older adults.. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 39, 43-52.
- Liebel, D.V., Powers, B.A., Friedman, B., & Watson, N.M. (2012). Barriers and facilitators to optimize function and prevent disability worsening: a content analysis of a nurse home visit intervention.. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68 (1), 80-93.. PMID: 21645046 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05717.x
- Li, H., Powers, B., Melnyk, B.M., McCann, R., Koulouglioti, C., Anson, E., Smith, J.A., Xia, Y., Glose, S., & Tu, X. (2012). Randomized Controlled trial of CARE: An intervention to improve outcomes of hospitalized elders and family caregivers.. Research in Nursing and Health, 35, 533-549.. PMID: 22736271 PMCID: PMC3442140 DOI: 10.1002/nur.21491
- Liebel, D. V., Friedman, B., Watson, N. M. & Powers, B. A. (2012). Which components of a primary care affiliated home visiting nurse program are associated with disability maintenance/improvement?. Home Health Care Services Quarterly DOI: 10. 1080/01621424.2012.681550, 31, 155-180.
- Powers, B.A., Norton, S.A., Schmitt, M.H., Quill, T.E. & Metzger, M. (2011). Meaning and practice of palliative care for hospitalized older adults with life limiting illnesses.. Journal of Aging Research. PMID: 21584232 PMCID: PMC3092544 DOI: 10.4061/2011/406164
- Powers, B.A. & Knapp, T.R. (2011). Dictionary of Nursing Theory and Research (Fourth Edition). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
- Powers, B.A. & Watson, N.M. (2011). Spiritual nurturance and support for nursing home residents with dementia. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 10 (1), 59-80.
- Powers, B.A. (2011). Critically appraising qualitative evidence for clinical decision (Chapter 6); Generating evidence through qualitative research (Chapter 18); Walking the walk and talking the talk: An appraisal guide for qualitative evidence (Appendix C). In B.M. Melnyk, E. Fineout-Overholt(Eds.) Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare (2nd ed.). Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
- Norton, S., Powers, B.A., Schmitt, M.H., Metzger, M., Fairbanks, E., Deluca, J. and Quill, T. E. (2011). Navigating Tensions: Integrating Palliative Care Consultation Services into an Academic Medical Cneter Setting.. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.
- Powers, B.A. (2010). Comfort feeding for persons with advanced dementia.. New York Nurse, 41 (8), 14.
- Powers, B. (2010). Avoiding Polypharmacy in Older Adults.. New York Nurse.
- Grace, JT & Powers, BA (2009). Claiming our core: Appraising qualitative evidence for nursing questions about human response and meaning. Nursing Outlook, 57, 27-34. PMID: 19150264 DOI: 10.1016/j.outlook.2008.05.009
- Liebel, DV, Friedman, B, Watson, NM, & Powers, BA (2009). Review of nurse home visiting interventions for community-dwelling older persons with existing disability. Medical Care Research and Review, 66, 119-146.
- Messecar, D, Powers, BA, & Nagel, CL (2008). How to Try This: The Family Preferences Index. American Journal of Nursing, 108 (9), 52-60.
- Powers, BA & Watson, NM (2008). The meaning and practice of palliative care in nursing homes for residents with dementia at end of life. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, 23, 319-325.
- Powers, BA (2008). Better palliative care for persons with dementia. New York Nurse, 39 (1), 14.
- Powers, BA & Knapp TR (2006). Dictionary of nursing theory and research. (Third Edition). .
- Powers, BA (2005). Critically appraising qualitative evidence (Chapter 6); Generating evidence through qualitative research (Chapter 11); Critically appraising qualitative research (Appendix B); & Looking for best evidence: 'A rose by any other name...' (Appendix F).. In B. M. Melnyk & E. Fineout-Overholt (Eds.), Evidence-based practice in nursing and health: A guide to best practice., 127-162; 283-298; 491-527; 547-555.
- Powers, B.A. (2005). Everyday Ethics in Assisted Living Facilities: A Framework for Assessing Resident-Focused Issues. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 31, 31-37. PMID: 15675782 DOI: 10.3928/0098-9134-20050101-10
- Powers, BA (2005). Nursing home ethics inside out.. Reflections on Nursing Leadership, 31 (3), 23-25.
- Powers, BA (Book Review) (2004). Ethical patient care: A casebook for geriatric health teams by Mezey, Casse, Bottrell, Hyer, Howe, & Fulmer.. For Journal of Interprofessional Care, 18, 92-94.
- Powers, B.A. (2003). The Significance of Losing Things for Nursing Home Residents with Dementia and Their Families (2004 Edna Stilwell Writing Award). Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 29, 43-52.
- Powers, BA (2003). Nursing home ethics: Everyday issues affecting residents with dementia. (2004 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award). .
- Powers, B.A. (2001). Ethnographic Analysis of Everyday Ethics in the Care of Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Taxonomy. Nursing Research, 50, 332-339. PMID: 11725934 DOI: 10.1097/00006199-200111000-00002
- Kitzman, H.J., Powers, B.A., Schmitt, M.H. (2000). The School of Nursing: Integrating Practice, Research, and Education. J. Cohen (Ed.), Teaching, Discovering, Caring: University of Rochester Medical Center 1925-2000.
- Powers, B.A. (2000). Everyday Ethics of Dementia Care in Nursing Home: A Definition and Taxonomy. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 15, 143-151.
- Powers, B.A. (1997). Social Support, Social Networks, and the Problem of Loneliness in Elder Care. E.A. Swanson & T. Tripp-Reimer (Eds.) Advances in Gerontological Nursing: Chronic Illness and the Older Adult, 136-158.
- Powers, B.A. (1996). Relationships Among Older Women Living in a Nursing Home. Journal of Women & Aging, 8 (4), 179-198.
- Powers, BA & Knapp, TR (1995). A dictionary of nursing theory and research. (Revised and Expanded Second Edition). .
- Powers, B.A. (1995). From the Inside Out: The World of the Institutionalized Elderly. J.N. Henderson & M. Vesperi (Eds.), The Culture of Long Term Care: Nursing Home Ethnography, 179-196.
- Powers, BA (Book Review) (1993). Handbook of humanities and aging by Cole, Van Tassel, and Kastenbaum (Eds.). For Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 41, 1378-1379.
- Powers, BA (Book Review) (1993). The ends of time: Life and work in nursing home by Savishinsky.. For Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 7 (1), 112-113.
- Powers, B.A. (1992). The Roles Staff Play in the Social Networks of Elderly Institutionalized People. Social Science & Medicine, 34, 1335-1343.
- Powers, B.A. (1991). The Meaning of Nursing Home Friendships. Advances in Nursing Science, 14 (2), 42-58.
- Jurgens, J., Powers, B.A. (1991). An Exploratory Study of Menstrual Euphemisms, Beliefs, and Taboos of Head Start Mothers. D.Taylor & N. Woods (Eds.), Menstruation, Health, Illness, 35-40.
- Powers, BA (Book Review) (1991). Aging in a technological society by Lesnoff-Caravaglia (Ed.). For The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 179 (4), 237-238.
- Powers, BA (Book Review) (1991). Cross-cultural nursing: Anthropological approaches to nursing research by Morse (Ed.). For Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 5 (4), 412-413.
- Powers, BA (Book Review) (1990). Nursing research: A quantitative and qualitative approach by Roberts & Burke. For Research in Nursing & Health, 13, 351-352.
- Powers, B.A. (1990). Nursing and Aging. R. Rubenstein (Ed.) Anthropology and Aging, 69-105.
- Powers, BA & Knapp, TR (1990). A dictionary of nursing theory and research. First Edition (Japanese Language Edition 1994 by Igaku-Shoin, Ltd, Tokyo).
- Smith, T., Powers, B.A. (1990). An Integrative Approach to Quality Assurance. Nursing Management, 21 (6), 28-30.
- Powers, BA (1988). Social support for elderly people.. Nursing Times, 84, 54-55.
- Powers, B.A. (1988). Social Networks, Social Support, and Elderly Institutionalized People. Advances in Nursing Science, 10 (2), 40-58.
- Powers, B.A. (1988). Self-Perceived Health of Elderly Institutionalized People. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 3, 299-321.
- Powers, BA (1987). Special Features Editorial Commentary: Gerontological nursing research and anthropology of aging. Participants: Molly Dougherty (Florida) and Toni Tripp-Reimer (Iowa).. Association for Anthropology and Gerontology Newsletter, 8 (3), 3-5.
- Powers, B.A. (1987). Taking Sides: A Response to Goodwin and Goodwin. Nursing Research, 36, 122-126.
- Powers, B.A., Smith, T. (1986). An Approach to Undergraduate Student Investigations in Clinical Settings. Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 18, 15-17.
- Powers, BA (1985). The social networks of elderly institutionalized people.. Proceedings, Sigma Theta Tau National Conference on Social Support and Health. University of Rochester, School of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau, Epsilon Xi Chapter..
- Powers, B.A. (1982). The Use of Orthodox and Black American Folk Medicine. Advances in Nursing Science, 4 (3), 35-47.