901 12th Avenue, P.O. Box 222000, Seattle, WA 98122-1090
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Danuta M. Wojnar, PhD, RN, MEd, IBCLC
Assistant Professor

areas of interest

Research
Dr. Wojnar’s program of research focuses on increasing knowledge about non-traditional families’ transition to parenthood, their responses to miscarriage, and interventions to promote health care without stigmatization. Her recent research projects focused on exploring lesbian couples’ experiences of childbirth and lesbian couples’ responses to miscarriage. Currently she is examining relationship between new fathers’ and lesbian non-biological mothers’ support during the transition to parenthood and depressive symptoms at the end of postpartum period.

Teaching
Dr Wojnar teaches in undergraduate and graduate programs at Seattle University CON. In the Graduate Programs she predominantly teaches Concepts and Theories and Research Methodologies. In the Concepts and Theories course students and faculty explore the epistemological assumptions underlying the variety of approaches used in Nursing science and usefulness of theories to nursing research and practice. In the research course Dr. Wojnar overviews the development of students’ research or scholarly project proposals. Proposals are examined for congruence in purpose, methodology, and methods prior to submission to the institutional IRB and scholarly project proposals are evaluated for the clarity of purpose and methods. Dr. Wojnar also teaches and coordinates Promoting Wellness in Families course in the undergraduate and graduate curriculi. This course focuses on the care of childbearing families and health promotion priorities across lifespan.

Service/Practice
Dr. Wojnar serves on the executive board of SU CON Alpha Sigma STTI Chapter, and she is an active member of Western Society for Research in Nursing and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants. She is a reviewer in Journal of Nursing Scholarship and Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health. She also works with community based and health care organizations to incorporate her research findings conducted with non-traditional families into practice and education.

Principal Investigator: Care and Support Received by New Fathers and Lesbian Non-biological Mothers during the Transition to Parenthood and Depressive Symptoms among at 6 Weeks Postpartum (2007-present)

Funded: $1,000 CON and 2008 SU Summer Faculty Fellowship

Principal Investigator: Pregnancy Experiences of Lesbian Couples: Grounded Theory Investigation.

Funded: $1,000 Dibble-De Joseph UCSF Research Grant in Women’s Health (2004-2006).

Data Analysis Team Member: Couples Miscarriage Healing Project.

Funded: $ 1,466,888.00 1 Ro1 NR 05343-01A1 Principal Investigator Dr. K. M. Swanson, UW SON (2005-present).

Principal Investigator: Miscarriage after Infertility. In revision for NIH, NINR (R-15 June 08 deadline). Proposal funded $1,500 from Sponsored Research Office, SU.

Research Associate: Couples’ Miscarriage Healing Project (NIH funded $ 1,466,888.00 (1 Ro1 NR 05343-01A1 Principal Investigator Dr. K. M. Swanson) (2002-2005).

Dissertation Research: Miscarriage Experiences of Lesbian Mothers: Couples Perspective.

Funded: $10,000 IWK Health Center Ruby Blois Nursing Research Award, $9,000 Dalhousie University Alumni Research Award, $5,000 University of Washington School of Nursing Hester Mac Laws’ Research Award (2003-2005).

Principal Investigator: A pilot study: Group versus Individual Teaching during Postpartum Hospitalization.

Funded: $7,500 IWK Health Center Health Research Foundation, Halifax, NS (2000-2002).

Master in Nursing Thesis: Women’s Perceptions of Early Mothering Experiences and Breastfeeding Outcomes at Six Weeks.

Funded $7,500 by IWK Health Center Health Research Foundation (1999-2002).

recent publications

Wojnar, D. (2007). Miscarriage experiences of lesbian birth and social mothers: Couples’ perspective: Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 52(5), 479-85.

Wojnar, D. (2007). Development and implementation of Breastfeeding Policy: Bringing the ideal to reality, Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing Journal, 8(3), 52-56.

Wojnar, D. & Swanson, K. (2007). Phenomenology: An exploration. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 25(3),172-80; discussion 181-2; quiz 183-5.

Wojnar, D. (2007). Nurturing touch in the NICU: The Outcomes to preterm infants and their Parents. Neurotransmitter. 3(4), 2-10.

Wojnar, D. & Swanson, K.M. (2006) Why shouldn’t lesbian miscarriage receive special consideration? A viewpoint. Journal of GLTB Family Studies, 2(1), 1-12.

Wojnar, D. (2004) Maternal perceptions of early breastfeeding experiences and breastfeeding outcomes at 6 weeks. Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing Journal, 8(3), 93-100.

Swanson, K. M. & Wojnar, D. Optimal healing environments in Nursing. (2004). Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine 10(1), 43-51.

Wojnar, D. (2003). Developing nursing perspective on spirituality and healing: Questions and answers following a letter to the Editor. Nursing Science Quarterly, 16(3), 297-300.

Wojnar, D. (2003). Learning to live with another sad fact of life: Miscarriage. University of Washington Health Beat. (March, 2003).

McCallum, M., Curran-Smith, J., Wojnar, D., & Williamson, S. (2002). Evaluating the impact of organizational learning initiatives. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 18 (4), 177-183.

Enang, J., Wojnar, D., & Harper, F. (2002). Childbearing among diverse populations: How one hospital is providing multicultural care. Lifelines, 6(2), 153-160.

Wojnar, D. & McMichael, J. (2000). Using ‘Keys to Caregiving’ in an infant massage program with Teen Mothers. NCAST News, 16(4) 1-4.

Manuscripts in Revision

Wojnar, D. (2007) Maternally Administered Infant Massage in NICU: The State of the Science. In revision for International Journal of Nursing Studies.

Refereed Book Chapters

Wojnar, D. (2007) Application of K.E. Barnard Caregiver Child Interaction Framework in Caring for Premature Infants. In: M. deChesnay and B. Anderson (Eds.). Caring for Vulnerable Populations 2nd Edition.

Wojnar, D. (2008). Caring theory: Application in Nursing Research (in print). In: S. Peterson (Ed.), Middle Range theories: Application to Nursing Research. St Louis: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Wojnar, D. (2005). K. M. Swanson Middle Range Theory of Caring: theory analysis and evaluation. In: A. Marriner Tomey & M. R. Alligood (Eds.), Nursing Theorists and Their Work, 6th ed., (pp.762-773) St Louis: Mosby.

Published Abstracts

Wojnar, D. (July, 2007). Caring for Lesbian Couples who Miscarried. STTI International Congress, Vienna, Austria.

Wojnar, D. (Apr. 2007). Becoming Lesbian Non-biological Mother. Communicating Nursing Research, 39(12), (164).

Wojnar, D. (March 2007). Caring for Lesbian Couples during the Transition to Parenthood Conference Proceedings, 20th Pacific Nursing Research Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii.

Wojnar, D. (Oct. 2006). Lesbian Miscarriage: Couples’ Perspectives. American Academy for Nursing State of the Science: Author. Washington, DC). (CD).

Wojnar, D. (Apr. 2006). Miscarriage experiences of lesbian birth and social mothers. Communicating Nursing Research, 38 (14), 124.

Wojnar, D. (Apr. 2005). Maternal perceptions of early breastfeeding experiences and breastfeeding outcomes at 6 weeks. Communicating Nursing Research, 38(13), (261).

Swanson, K.M., Wojnar, D.M., Petras, A. (2004). Predicting gender-based depression and grief post miscarriage: Path analysis. American Academy for Nursing State of the Science: Author. Washington D.C. (173).

Wojnar, D., Swanson, K. (2004). A. Gender differences in perceptions of caring and support after miscarriage. Communicating Nursing Research, 38(12), (162).

Wojnar, D. (2000). Community-based Infant Massage Program for Teen Mothers. The 5th NCAST Institute, NCAST Publications, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

scholarly activities

Conference Presentations

Peer Reviewed 2004 - Present

Wojnar, D. July 2007: Caring for Lesbian Couples who Miscarried. International Nursing Research Congress. Austria, Vienna. (Paper)

Wojnar, D. Apr. 2007: Becoming Lesbian Non-biological Mother. WIN, Portland, OR (Paper).

Swanson, K.M. & Wojnar, D. April 2007. Fidelity to Theory in a caring based intervention. WIN, Portland, OR (poster).

Wojnar, D. March 2007. Caring for Lesbian Couples during the Transition to Parenthood 20th Pacific Nursing Research Conference. Honolulu, Hawaii. (Paper).

Wojnar, D. April 2006: Miscarriage Experiences of Lesbian Birth and Social Mothers. Western Institute of Nursing Research, Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Paper)

Wojnar, D. Nov 2005: Miscarriage experiences of lesbian birth and social mothers.: 2-Hour Symposium. Second National Rainbow Health Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia. (Paper)

Wojnar, D. April 2005. Maternal perceptions of early breastfeeding experiences of breastfeeding outcomes at 6 weeks. WIN Nursing Research Conference. St. Francisco, CA. (Paper).

Swanson, K., Wojnar D. October 2004. Predicting gender based depression and grief post miscarriage. The National State of the Science Congress. Washington, DC. (Paper).

Wojnar, D. April 2004. Gender Differences in Perception of Caring and support after Miscarriage. WIN Nursing Research Conference. Portland, Oregon. (Symposium).

Accepted Presentations

Caring needs of Lesbian Couples during the Transition to Parenthood: International Conference of Human Caring, Charlotte, NC, (April 2008). (paper)

Support of Lesbian Non-biological Mothers and New Fathers during the Transition to Parenthood and Depressive Symptoms at 6 Weeks. 21st WIN Conference (San Diego, CA, (April 2008) (poster).

Swanson, K.M., Wojnar, D., A. Petras, H. Chen, & JC. Graham. Effects of caring on couples’ grief resolution after miscarriage. 21st WIN Conference (San Diego, CA, (April 2008) (paper).

Invited Presentations

03/2007 Qualitative Research Methods: overview and applications. Invited Guest speaker NMETH 580, University of Washington SON, 4hr lecture, 14 participants.

07/2006 Young Child Development: Preschooler. Invited Guest speaker N201, University of Washington SON, 2 hr lecture, 38 participants.

05/2006 Infant Massage: theory of touch and application. Invited guest speaker, Ballard Community Center, Seattle, WA, 3 hour workshop, 20 participants.

04/2006 Phenomenology, an exploration. Invited guest speaker NMETH 580, University of Washington SON, 2hr lecture, 18 participants.

04/2006 Philosophies, methodologies, and methods. Invited guest speaker NMETH 580 University of Washington SON, 2 hr lecture, 18 participants

01/2006 Application of caring theories in Nursing. Invited guest speaker, N306, Seattle University College of Nursing, 2hour lecture, 62 participants

11/2005 Caring needs of lesbian couples who miscarried: 2nd National Canadian Rainbow Health Conference, Invited Guest Speaker, 2-hr presentation, Halifax, Nova Scotia, 120 participants

11/2005 Promoting maternal and infant mental health in pregnancy and postpartum. IWK-N.S. Department of Health, One-day symposium, Halifax, NS, 86 participants

10/2005 Miscarriage experiences of lesbian birth and social mothers. IWK Health Centre Interdisciplinary Research – Dalhousie University Health Sciences, 2h symposium.

09/2005 When and why might an investigator want to choose an interpretive methodology. IWK Health Centre Interdisciplinary Research – Dalhousie University Health Sciences, 2h symposium on research methods.

06/2004 Death and Dying. TA Guest lecturer –NURS 201 Human Development, UW SON.

01/2004 Creating Healing Environments in Health Care. Invited Panelist by Dr. K.M. Swanson - Second Samueli Institute, Santa Monica, California.