Dr. Vallerand is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at Wayne State University. She received her Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, her Master of Science in Nursing from California State University, Los Angeles, her PhD in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed a three year postdoctoral fellowship in Psychosocial Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

The New Jersey Nursing Convention would like to invite you to attend their Keynote session on April 3, 2003, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to hear Dr. April Vallerand present her latest research. Her research involves the improvement and maintenance of functional status in patients with chronic pain. Dr. Vallerand feels that in the current environment of evidence-based practice, research is a significant part of nursing. Whether conducting research or utilizing research in clinical practice, all nurses should be involved in research. Changing clinical practice can only be done through the use of research. Dr. Vallerand will describe her current "Power Over Pain" study as an example of research used to change the practice in pain management

Dr. Vallerand lectures nationally on the management of pain and has published numerous articles on pain and pain control. She has also authored five books on pharmacology for nurses and other health care professionals, including Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, which is in its 8th edition.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2003 New Jersey Nursing Convention.