Caroline G Dorsen
FAAN FNP-BC PhD
Associate Dean, Clinical Faculty Affairs
Clinical Professor
caroline.dorsen@nyu.edu
1 212 992 7340
Associate Dean, Clinical Faculty Affairs
Clinical Professor
433 FIRST AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10010
United States
Accepting PhD students
Caroline G Dorsen's additional information
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Caroline Dorsen, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN (she/her) is Associate Dean for Clinical Faculty Affairs and Clinical Professor at New York University Meyers College of Nursing. She is a scholar, educator, and family nurse practitioner whose career-long passion has been the intersection of health and social justice. For over 15 years, she has focused on the role of nursing in perpetuating and lessening health disparities and has worked to develop innovative teaching, practice, and research interventions to improve student, patient, and community outcomes. Caroline has been a member of numerous diversity, equity, and inclusion taskforces, including for the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, and has twice been an invited speaker at the National Academy of Medicine on the role of nurses in interprofessional healthcare teams. She is a member of the Board of Directors for Community Health Network (CHN) in NYC and the Program Director for the National University Psychedelic Education Program (U-PEP).
Prior to joining NYU Meyers, Dorsen was Associate Dean for Clinical Partnerships at Rutgers University, where she was a professor in both the Schools of Nursing and Public Health. From 2005-2020, she was on the faculty at NYU Meyers, first as the director of the adult and family NP programs and subsequently on the tenure track, examining the role of provider attitudes on mental and physical healthcare access and utilization among LGBTQIA+ persons and people who use drugs.
In recognition of her expertise as an educator, Caroline was the 2020 recipient of the Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award at NYU Meyers College of Nursing. In 2020, she was also the recipient of NYU’s MLK, Jr Faculty Award, sponsored by the President and Provost for “exemplifying the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through teaching excellence, leadership, social justice activism, and community building.” In 2021, she received the Rutgers University Beloved Community Award with colleagues from around the university for their work related to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing in 2021 and is currently a member of their LGBTQ+ and Psychiatric Mental Health & Substance Use Expert Panels. Caroline is an affiliate member of the Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research at Columbia University and the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR) at NYU.
Caroline holds a BA in Anthropology from UC Berkeley, a BS in Nursing from NYU, an MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Yale University School of Nursing, and a Ph.D. in Nursing Research and Theory from NYU. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at NYU Langone Health.
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Post-Doctoral Fellow - Center for Translational and Clinical Science Institute, NYU School of Medicine (2017)PhD, Nursing Research and Theory Development - NYU College of Nursing (2014)MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner - Yale University (Magna Cum Laude, 2001)BS, Professional Nursing - NYU (Magna Cum Laude, 1997)BA, Anthropology - University of California, Berkeley (Magna Cum Laude, 1991)
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Underserved populationsVulnerable & marginalized populationsSubstance useLGBTQPrimary careCommunity/population health
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American Academy of Nurse PractitionersEastern Nursing Research SocietyGLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ + EqualityNational League of NursingNational Organization of Nurse Practitioner FacultySigma Theta Tau InternationalWorld Professionals Advancing Transgender Health
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Faculty Honors Awards
Paulette Goddard Award, New York University (2018)Outstanding Dissertation Award, NYU College of Nursing (2014)Agnes and Rosemary Ludden Award for Innovative Nursing Practice, NYU College of Nursing (2010)Book of the Year (Gerontological category), American Journal of Nursing (2010)Vernice Fergueson Faculty Scholar Award, NYU College of Nursing (2007)Milton and Anne Sidney Prize, Yale University School of Nursing (2001)Helene Fuld Distinguished Scholar, Helene Fuld Trust (1997)Baccalaureate Student Achievement Award, NYU Division of Nursing (1997)Founder’s Day Award, New York University (1997)Ursula Springer Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Writing, Ursula Springer, Inc (1997)Spirit of Nursing Award, National Student Nurse Association (1997)Helene Fuld Nursing Fellow, Helene Fuld Trust (1996) -
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Publications
Motivation for Physical Activity in Low-Income Adults: An Integrative Literature Review
AbstractTurner, A., Coats, H., Cook, P., Dorsen, C., & Jankowski, C. (2024). Journal of Advanced Nursing. 10.1111/jan.16583AbstractAim: To explore, review and assess the literature on motivation for physical activity in low-income adults to inform future research and clinical interventions. Design: An integrative review of the literature on motivation for physical activity in low-income adults. Methods: Whittemore and Knaul's five-stage methodological approach for integrative reviews was utilised. Studies written in English that focused primarily on low-income adults discussed physical activity and included a component of motivation or drive were included. The Johns Hopkins Evidence Level and Quality Guide was used to assess the quality of the studies. Data Sources: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscuss and Google Scholar from 1 January 2018 – 23 August 2024. Results: A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Three main categories of factors impacting physical activity in low-income adults were identified: (1) motivators for physical activity, (2) barriers for physical activity (3) and items that were both a motivator and a barrier. Despite the key role nurses play in promoting health and wellness, studies conducted by nurses or employing nursing interventions were notably absent. Conclusion: This integrative literature review highlights the need for more information about what motivates low-income adults to be more physically active. Implications for the Profession: Understanding the experience of low-income adults with physical activity is integral to meeting their needs and facilitating increased physical activity. Future research should utilise nursing theories and interventions to improve physical activity levels among low-income adults. Impact: This study addressed physical inactivity in low-income adults. More information is needed about motivation for physical activity. This information will impact researchers and clinicians. Reporting Method: The search strategy and reporting method were consistent with PRISMA guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: No Patient or Public Contribution.Preparedness of Practicing Nurses in the Care of Sexual and Gender Diverse People in the United States: A Scoping Review
AbstractBower, K., Dorsen, C., Hughes, T., Moore, S., Coleman, C., Smith, S., Zerwic, J., Newman, L., Brown, C., & Sherman,A. F. (2024). Journal of Advanced Nursing. 10.1111/jan.16491AbstractBackground: Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) people in the United States (US) experience health inequities due to societal stigma and marginalisation. The nursing workforce must provide evidence-based affirming, inclusive and culturally responsive care for SGD people to meet individual and community health needs and eliminate disparities. Aims: The purpose of this scoping review was to synthesise what is known about (1) nurses' knowledge, skills and attitudes related to caring for SGD people in the US and (2) the existence, development and evaluation of SGD-related educational offerings available to practicing nurses in the US to develop the knowledge and skills needed to promote the health and wellbeing of SGD individuals, families and communities. Methods: This review followed the scoping review methodology and PRISMA for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Data Sources: In conjunction with a health librarian, an electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed, LGBT Health, CINAHL, ERIC and Health Source-Nursing. Results: Thirty-two studies were included in this review, including quantitative and qualitative studies that sought to understand the knowledge, attitudes and clinical experiences of nurses related to the care of SGD people; studies that tested educational interventions and studies that identified educational barriers and facilitators. Major gaps in education, practice and research, as well as methodological limitations of existing studies, were noted. Conclusion: Nurses would benefit from expanded access to effective standardised foundational SGD-related health continuing education to help prepare them to care for diverse patient populations. Equity, inclusivity and dignity are key values of the nursing profession. It is imperative that nurses have the knowledge and skills to apply these values consistently in day-to-day professional practice across populations and settings. Impact: There is an urgent need to develop standardised, easily accessible evidence-based educational content to address nurses' knowledge of and attitudes towards caring for SGD people. Reporting Method: This study adhered to the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Patient or Public Contribution: There was no patient or public contribution to this study.A Rapid Review of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Palliative Care
AbstractMiller, M., Meyers, M., Martin, A., Napolitano, S., Dorsen, C., Penn, A., & Rosa, W. E. (2024). Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing. 10.1097/NJH.0000000000001096AbstractPsychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) involves supported experiences with psychedelic medicines in carefully curated environments. Early evidence suggests possible utility of PAT for addressing psychosocial-spiritual-existential concerns, yet gaps remain in understanding findings related to PAT's role in palliative care. This rapid review aims to synthesize current literature on applications of PAT in the context of palliative care. Through a systematic process, we identified 34 articles published between January 2021 and July 2024. Protocols varied yet included common components of participant screening, preparation, dosing, and integration. Psilocybin was the most commonly studied compound. Results support safety and initial efficacy of PAT for psycho-spiritual-existential outcomes among carefully screened and highly homogonous samples of patients with serious illness (predominantly cancer). Current efforts and challenges around integrating PAT into systems of palliative care were highlighted. Additional work is needed to (1) explore PAT's safety and efficacy within more diverse samples and contexts, (2) train palliative care providers on PAT, (3) determine systems of care delivery best suited for translation of PAT into practice, and (4) begin developing policy solutions to support safe and equitable access to PAT. Because many patients lack access to basic psychosocial-spiritual-existential care, careful consideration is needed around integration of PAT.Registered Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Psychedelics in Healthcare: Statewide Survey Results
AbstractGraefe, A. C., Weirick, M. E., Harpin, S. B., Dorsen, C., & Porta, C. M. (2024). Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 10.1111/jpm.13141AbstractIntroduction: Psychedelic science is re-emerging to address mental health conditions, of which certain populations in the United States experience disparities. However, the perspectives of registered nurses (RNs), who have important roles within mental health care, towards psychedelics are largely unknown. Aim/Question: To assess attitudes, knowledge, and beliefs of a large, state-wide sample of RNs towards psychedelics in healthcare settings. Method: RNs were randomly selected from a statewide directory to participate in a cross-sectional, multi-method online survey. Results: 793 RNs completed all items, with generally positive attitudes towards psychedelics but mixed opinions regarding the legal landscape, including decriminalisation. Few (12.7%) reported psychedelic content in their training, and most expressed low confidence in their knowledge. Discussion: Findings generally align with previous research regarding provider attitudes towards psychedelics. Participants in this study had slightly more favourable attitudes and higher knowledge scores. Limitations: The study has potential selection bias, lacks a priori power analysis, and is limited to one state. Implications: As psychedelic science emerges as a potential treatment option for several mental health conditions, RNs must be prepared to support individuals and communities. Recommendations: Additional education in this emerging area of mental health nursing is warranted to ensure RN competence and confidence.Urban Green Space and Perinatal Health Inequities in the United States: A Literature Review
AbstractAktan, N., Blumenfeld, J., Schafer, R., Dorsen, C., & Nocella, J. (2024). Journal of Perinatal Education, 33(2), 88-99. 10.1891/JPE-2023-0008AbstractAccess to urban green space has been linked to positive health outcomes including enhanced perinatal health. The purpose of this article was to review, summarize, and synthesize what is known about the relationship between urban green space and perinatal health and outline implications for practice, policy, education, and research. Nineteen articles were included in this state-of-the-science review. Overall, it was found that limited access to green space is significantly related to adverse birth outcomes. These findings present an important opportunity for childbirth educators and other clinicians involved in the provision of prenatal and reproductive health care. Through education and intervention, poor perinatal outcomes may be mitigated. Clinical screening and education about the importance of access to and use of urban green space during pregnancy should be an essential component of preconception counseling and antenatal screening for at-risk populations. Policy makers should be made aware of these findings so that impactful change can be made in order to reduce disparities and promote health equity.Effects of Behavioral Intervention Components for African American/Black and Latino Persons Living with HIV with Non-suppressed Viral Load Levels: Results of an Optimization Trial
AbstractCleland, C. M., Gwadz, M., Collins, L. M., Wilton, L., Leonard, N. R., Ritchie, A. S., Martinez, B. Y., Silverman, E., Sherpa, D., & Dorsen, C. (2023). AIDS and Behavior, 27(11), 3695-3712. 10.1007/s10461-023-04086-0AbstractThere is an urgent need for efficient behavioral interventions to increase rates of HIV viral suppression for populations with serious barriers to engagement along the HIV care continuum. We carried out an optimization trial to test the effects of five behavioral intervention components designed to address barriers to HIV care continuum engagement for African American/Black and Latino persons living with HIV (PLWH) with non-suppressed HIV viral load levels: motivational interviewing sessions (MI), focused support groups (SG), peer mentorship (PM), pre-adherence skill building (SB), and navigation with two levels, short (NS) and long (NL). The primary outcome was HIV viral suppression (VS) and absolute viral load (VL) and health-related quality of life were secondary outcomes. Participants were 512 African American/Black and Latino PLWH poorly engaged in HIV care and with detectable HIV viral load levels in New York City, recruited mainly through peer referral. Overall, VS increased to 37%, or 45% in a sensitivity analysis. MI and SG seemed to have antagonistic effects on VS (z = − 1.90; p = 0.057); the probability of VS was highest when either MI or SG was assigned, but not both. MI (Mean Difference = 0.030; 95% CI 0.007–0.053; t(440) = 2.60; p = 0.010) and SB (Mean Difference = 0.030; 95% CI 0.007–0.053; t(439) = 2.54; p = 0.012) improved health-related quality of life. This is the first optimization trial in the field of HIV treatment. The study yields a number of insights into approaches to improve HIV viral suppression in PLWH with serious barriers to engagement along the HIV care continuum, including chronic poverty, and underscores challenges inherent in doing so.Nursing pre-licensure and graduate education for LGBTQ health: A systematic review
AbstractSherman, A. D., Smith, S. K., Moore, S. E., Coleman, C. L., Hughes, T. L., Dorsen, C., Balthazar, M. S., Klepper, M., Mukerjee, R., & Bower, K. M. (2023). Nursing Outlook, 71(2). 10.1016/j.outlook.2022.12.003AbstractBackground: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus (LGBTQ) people experience discrimination and health disparities compared to heterosexual cisgender people. Clinicians report discomfort and insufficient preparation for providing care to LGBTQ people and nursing has been slow to integrate LGBTQ health into curricula. Purpose: Conduct a systematic review to examine and critically appraise peer-reviewed literature on nursing student knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) regarding LGBTQ health and the development/evaluation of LGBTQ health content in nursing curricula. Methods: A systematic review was conducted (N = 1275 articles from PubMed, LGBT Health, CINAHL, ERIC, and Health Source-Nursing/Academic Edition). Findings: Twenty articles met inclusion criteria. Twelve studies described curricular interventions; however, there were few validated tools to evaluate content coverage or KSAs. Four themes emerged specific to LGBTQ health content inclusion. Discussion: While an emerging science of LGBTQ nursing education has been identified, more work is needed to build and evaluate a comprehensive curricular approach for full programmatic integration of LGBTQ health. Conclusion: As nursing programs build LGBTQ content into nursing curricula, care must be taken to integrate this content fully with the depth of curricular content in population health, social determinants of health, social justice, intersectionality, cultural competence, and political advocacy. Tweetable abstract: Greater integration of LGBTQ health content into nursing education should be a priority for nursing education.A Rare Case of MDMA-Induced Hyponatremia
AbstractDorsen, C., Penn, A., Carew, N., & Lloyd, M. (2023). Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 19(2). 10.1016/j.nurpra.2022.10.013AbstractHyponatremia is a common, potentially serious problem encountered in primary, acute, and critical care settings. Proper treatment requires an understanding of the multiple possible causes of hyponatremia. This case report presents an unusual cause of hyponatremia—3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; “Ecstasy” or “Molly”) use. With encouraging research emerging on the use of psychedelic drugs to treat depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and addiction, nurse practitioners should increase their knowledge about the evolution of MDMA from a recreational drug to a potential medicine for the care of people with serious and persistent mental health concerns.A Scoping Review of Nursing and Midwifery Activism in the United States
AbstractOjemeni, M. T., Jun, J., Dorsen, C., Gerchow, L., Arneson, G., Orofo, C., Nava, A., & Squires, A. P. (2023). Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 28(2). 10.3912/OJIN.Vol28No02ST03AbstractIt is often said that modern-day nursing and midwifery was founded on the spirit of activism. Yet, historically, the link between nursing and activism has been inconsistent. Nursing Now USA was created in response to a global campaign launched in 2020 by the World Health Organization to mark the Year of the Nurse and Midwife. A goal of this initiative is education about how contemporary nurses serve as leaders in healthcare in the United States. This article describes the methods and results of a scoping review that sought to explore the current state of the science, key concepts, and operationalization of activism in nursing. The general consensus in the literature is that the profession of nursing has deep roots in activism, but a lack of a clear definition of activism and operationalization in policy, practice, research, and academic settings likely limits active engagement by many nurses. The current state of nurse activism is more subtle, often unseen, and non-confrontational compared to the participation and contribution of nurses from the 1900s to the 1980s. We identified barriers and facilitators to activism in nursing and our discussion includes implications for nursing practice, education, and leadership.A systematic review of US nursing faculty's knowledge, awareness, inclusion, and perceived importance of sexual and gender minority-related content in nursing curricula
AbstractMoore, S. E., Coleman, C. L., Hughes, T. L., Dorsen, C., Smith, S. K., Bower, K. M., Clochesy, J. M., Clark, K., & Sherman, A. D. (2023). Nursing Outlook, 71(3). 10.1016/j.outlook.2023.101950AbstractBackground: In the US, sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals continue to experience health inequities, and nursing curricula content and nursing faculty with SGM health expertise in the US remain limited. Addressing health disparities begins with the preparation of future nurses—US nursing faculty must be supported to meet these growing needs. Purpose: To describe, appraise, and synthesize research from 2000-2020 on US nursing faculty knowledge, awareness, inclusion, and perceived importance of SGM health content. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we registered a systematic review and appraisal protocol in PROSPERO, and then executed the protocol and synthesized the literature. Discussion: We found an empirical evidence base surrounding US nursing faculty and SGM health much more limited than expected. Only four cross-sectional, descriptive empirical articles fit the a priori inclusion criteria. The studies were of moderate quality at best and often relied on unvalidated or older measures. In general, the studies focused on examining characteristics of nursing programs, faculty comfort with content, faculty perceptions of content importance, and hours dedicated to content. Conclusion: Since the close of the review, new commentaries and editorials expanding the call for change in the US were published—the time for commentary has passed. It remains unclear whether US nursing faculty are adequately prepared to educate future nurses about SGM health issues—and an unprepared healthcare workforce is yet another barrier to SGM health equity. The evidence base supporting US nursing faculty development desperately needs more studies using rigorous methodologies.