Catherine Wilson Cox, RN, PhD, CCRN, CEN, CCNS
Assistant Professor
Education
PhD George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 2002
MSN Marymount University, Arlington, VA 1988
BSN Radford University, Radford, VA 1981
Teaching Expertise
Dr. Cox has taught both undergraduate and graduate nursing courses at
Marymount University in Arlington, VA, Georgetown University in Washington, DC
and Walden University in Minneapolis, MN (on-line). Professionally, Dr. Cox has
built a solid career in critical care and emergency nursing practice in both the
US Navy and the civilian community over the past 28 years. Her research expertise
lies in qualitative research methodology. Dr. Cox has a number of publications and
presentations regarding Navy nursing and critical care nursing topics.
Publications
Cox, C.W., Relf, M.V., Chen, R., & Zangaro, G. A. (2009). The Retention of recalled
United States Navy nurse reservists: a questionnaire survey. Manuscript under
review for publication.
Cox, C.W. (2009). The Heart and Peripheral Vasculature. In M.E.Z. Estes (Ed.), Health Assessment and Physical Examination, 4th ed. New York: Delmar Publishers.
Cox, C.W. (2008). Research considerations when studying disasters. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America 20(1), 111-119.
Cox, C.W., & Hale, J.F. (Eds.). (2008). Preface: Nurses’ experiences in war and
disaster: lessons learned and needs identified. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of
North America 20(1), xi-xii.
Cox, C.W. (2008). Manmade disasters: a historical review of terrorism and implications for the future. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 13(1). Available: www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/
TableofContents/Volume112006/Number3/ManmadeDisasters.aspx
Amar, A.F., & Cox, C.W. (2006). Intimate partner violence: implications for critical care nursing. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 18(3), 287-296.
Castillo, H., & Cox, C.W. (2006). I will never forget the day Max died: a reflection by a future nurse. Journal of Christian Nursing, 23(4), 45-46.
Norton, C.K., Relf, M.V., Cox, C.W., Farley, J., Lachat, M., Tucker M., & Murray, J.P. (2006). Ensuring NCLEX-RN success for first time test-takers: one baccalaureate nursing program’s triumphant account. Journal of Professional Nursing, 22(5), 322-326.
Cox, C.W. (2005). The Heart and Peripheral Vasculature. In M.E.Z. Estes (Ed.), Health Assessment and Physical Examination, 3rd ed. (pp. 483-535). New York: Delmar Publishers.
Cox, C.W. (2005). Shipboard nursing on aircraft carriers: the perceptions of twelve Navy nurses. Nursing Outlook, 53(5), 247-252.
Cox, C.W. (2003). Funded grant proposal: the lived experience of nurses stationed aboard aircraft carriers. In H.J. Streubert Speziale & D.R. Carpenter (Eds.), Qualitative Research in Nursing: Advancing the Humanistic Imperative, 3rd ed., (pp. 337-359). Philadelphia: Lippincott.
Cox, C.W., & Galante, C. (2003). An MSN curriculum in preparation of CCNSs: a model for consideration. Critical Care Nurse, 23(6), 74-80.
Completed Research Support
HU0001-04-1-TS09 June 04 to 31 May 08
TriService Nursing Research Program (TSNRP)
Total Award Requested (Indirect and Direct Costs): $170,032
“The Retention of Recalled Navy Nurse Reservists Following Operation Iraqi
Freedom”
The purpose of this research study was to identify factors that contribute to the retention of mobilized Navy Nurse Corps reservists. The specific aims of this study were to determine the scope of the problem of Navy Reserve nurses’ intent to stay in the Reserves after return from deployment; determine the turnover rate of Navy Reserve nurses after return from deployment; test a causal model of voluntary turnover with a sample of Navy Reserve nurses who have returned from deployment; and offer an opportunity for mobilized reservists to describe any
additional factors influencing one’s intent to stay or leave the Navy Reserves. Data analysis included methods of logistic regression, factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and content analysis via SPSS, AMOS, and Nvivo software. The findings from this study had implications for Navy Nurse Corps leaders and offered insight into what attracts – and detracts – from nursing job satisfaction for mobilized nurse reservists.
Role: PI
MDA905-00-1-000501 June 00 to 31 Dec 01
TriService Nursing Research Program (TSNRP)
Total Award Amount (Indirect and Direct Costs): $21,341.00
“Shipboard Nursing on Aircraft Carriers: The Lived Experience of Twelve Navy Nurses”
The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of shipboard nursing on aircraft carriers. Using the principles of phenomenology, 12 Navy nurses (six men, six women) previously stationed aboard aircraft carriers were interviewed to explore their experiences as ships’ nurses. The participants were asked: “What
was your experience as a nurse on an aircraft carrier?” Husserlian phenomenology provided the theoretical framework for this study and Streubert’s methodologic approach was chosen to analyze the phenomena. Shipboard nursing was best described by the following essences: experiencing the best but toughest job the
Navy has to offer its nurses; ensuring operational readiness; being one-of-one; operating constantly in an environment of uncertainty; having two families; and making the job better for the next generation. The findings of this study had implications for operational readiness and gave a public voice to this extraordinary experience of military nursing.
Role: PI
Service Activities
Member, Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), US Navy Nurse Corps. Present rank is CAPT (O-6).
Reserve Navy Representative to the Advisory Council of the TriService Nursing Research Program (TSNRP), Bethesda, MD. Per TSNRP: “The Advisory Council for Nursing Research consists of six members: one Active duty member each from the Army, Navy and Air Force and one Reserve Member from each of the three services.
The Council provides the second level of review of grant applications, and recommends to the Executive Board of Directors via the Director of TSNRP, which applications should be approved and considered for funding. These recommendations are based not only on considerations of scientific merit, but also on the relevance of the proposed project to TSNRP programs and priorities.” (May 2008 to Present).
Professional Memberships
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Association of Military Surgeons (AMSUS) – the Society of the Federal Health Agencies
Emergency Nurses Association (ENA)
Navy Nurse Corps Association
Naval Reserve Association
Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) – Nursing Honor Society
Contact Information
UNCW School of Nursing
601 South College RD
Wilmington, NC 28403
Office: Friday Annex
Email: coxc@uncw.edu
