URI_Research_Magazine_2012-2013_Melissa-McCarthy

Nurse Practitioner Program, since only a handful of master’s degree nursing programs in New England offer a gerontological specialty. In October, 2012, the federal government again recognized the excellence of URI’s College of Nursing by awarding its faculty $3.8 million in grants. The grants will bolster URI’s nurse practitioner programs, which were hailed by U.S. Senator Jack Reed when he announced the funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “URI does an outstanding job preparing the next generation of nurses...” - U.S. Senator Jack Reed

“URI does an outstanding job preparing the next generation of nurses and the scholarships and grant funding for new advanced education programs will help ensure we have a highly trained and diverse health care work force.” Reed said. It’s this highly trained workforce that is vital to Rhode Island’s economic development. Coppa earned her B.S. in nursing from URI in 1972, a master’s degree in nursing with a nurse practitioner specialization from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. from URI. She has taught in URI’s nursing program for 20 years. In addition to her clinical and teaching responsibilities, she is an avid researcher and practitioner in the field of therapeutic touch, an alternative health modality that uses energy channels to ease pain and suffering. In addition, Coppa serves as the legislative liaison for the Rhode Island Nurse Practitioner Council, which lobbies for the advancement of nurse practitioners in the state. She often testifies at the State House on behalf of legislation that would make it easier for nurse practitioners to work in Rhode Island. According to Coppa, one of the biggest obstacles to this goal are health insurance companies, which typically require nurse practitioners to be supervised by a physician. Coppa said this is an unnecessary requirement, not only because nurse practitioners are highly trained, but also because they believe in a team approach to providing care, which includes consulting doctors. Said Coppa, “We’re definitely collaborators.”

URI Research: Impacting Rhode Island Economic Development 19