Verna Hendricks-Ferguson, Ph.D., RN, FPCN, FAAN
Irene Riddle Endowed Chair
Courses Taught
Undergraduate and Graduate Nursing
Education
- B.S.N., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- M.S.N., Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
- Ph.D., Rush University
- NIH-NINR T32 Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship, Indiana University
Research Interests
Dr. Hendricks-Ferguson's program of research has focused on making significant contributions to
the pioneering study of palliative and end-of-life (PC/EOL) communication practices
by pediatric oncology providers with parents of children with poor prognosis cancer. She
has published research articles focused on PC/EOL pediatric provider communication
practices and parental preferences to receive PC/EOL support during the care of children
with cancer. Additionally, she has been honored with receiving several PC/EOL designated awards,
including: (a) the first issued 'Distinguished Nurse Scientist Award' in 2018 by the
Midwest Nursing Research Society's PC/EOL Research Interest Group; (b) two research
writing awards by the Journal of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nurses; and (c) inducted
as a Fellow of Palliative Care Nursing and the American Academy of Nursing.
Her research has been funded by foundations (i.e., Oncology Nursing Society Foundation;
Alex Lemonade Children's Cancer Research Foundation). Her research has also been funded
by the: (a) National Institute Health (NIH) & National Institute of Nursing Research
(NINR) (i.e., 3-year NIH-NINR T32 post-doc fellowship from 2005-2009); (b) by the
NIH-NINR (i.e., PI for an R21 grant (R21NR011071) titled: Timely End-of-Life Communication
to Parents of Children with Brain Tumors for 3 years from 2009-2012); and the (c)
NIH and National Cancer Institute (i.e., MPI for an R01 grant (RO1CA235632) titled:
Evaluation of the Communication Plan Early through End-of-Life (COMPLETE) Intervention for
5 years from 2019-2024.
Publications and Media Placements
Please follow this link to view select publications from Dr. Hendricks-Ferguson.
Honors and Awards
- Distinguished Researcher Award (2022) - Association of Pediatric Oncology Nursing
- Research Institute Fellow (2022) - Saint Louis University
- Nurse Research Award (2022) - St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing
- March of Dimes Nurse Legend Award (2019)
- Distinguished Scientist Award (2018) - by the Midwest Nursing Research Society's Palliative
and End-of-Life Research Interest Group
- Certified Hospice and Palliative Pediatric Nurse (CHPPN) of the Year (2017) - by the Hospice and Palliative Nurse Credentialing Center
- Research Writing Award (2016) - Association of Hematology/Oncology Pediatric Nurses
- Fellow in Palliative Care Nursing (2015) - Hospice Palliative Nursing Foundation
- Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (2015) - American Academy of Nursing
- Leadership in Palliative Care (2015) - Hospice Palliative Nursing Foundation
- Best Research Manuscript Award (2014) - Midwest Nursing Research: Palliative and End of Life Care Research Interest Group
- St. Louis Nurse Educator of the Year (2013) - St. Louis Magazine Excellence in Nursing
- Home and Palliative Nurse of the Year Award (2013) - Missouri March of Dimes
- Pearl Moore Making a Difference Emerging Leadership Award (2013) - Oncology Nursing
Society
Professional Organizations and Associations
- American Nurses Association
- Oncology Nursing Society
- Association of Pediatric-Hematology Oncology Nurses
- Hospice/Palliative Care Nursing Association
- Sigma Theta Tau International
- Midwest Nursing Research Society