MHammer
Faculty Bio
After majoring in English and teaching in one of the first two Women's Studies programs in the U.S., I began to explore another major interest, health, by obtaining a degree as an RN. I was employed at Children's Hospital Oakland as an RN and FNP for 20 years, primarily in Hematology and Oncology. Beginning in the early years of the AIDS epidemic, I assisted in the direction of a novel co-facilitated clinic with Children's and Highland hospitals for HIV+ mothers and their babies. Searching for increased autonomy and education in diagnosis and treatment, I obtained by MSN and national certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Sonoma State University. Witnessing the overwhelming impact of the psyche and self on coping with living with chronic and life-threatening illness, and seeking advanced knowledge of psychotherapeutic technique and psychoneuroendocrinology, I became licensed as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and Clinical Nurse Specialist in Mental Health through the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF). In 2006, I became faculty at Samuel Merritt University, teaching Pediatric and Mental Health Nursing, and founded a private psychotherapy practice with a focus on children and families, particularly those affected by chronic and/or life threatening illness.
Program
Entry-level Master of Science in Nursing (ELMSN)
Courses Taught at Samuel Merritt University
Mental Health lecture: N534 ELMS Mental Health clinical: N129L ABSN, N534L ELMS Pediatric lecture: N556 ELMS Pediatric clinical: N158L ABSN, N556L ELMS, N154L BSN ("community pediatrics")
Research Interests
The effects on infants, children, adolescents & families of chronic and life threatening illness and trauma. The role of the nurse in primary care as consultant, clinician, researcher and expert in the provision of mental health services, including counseling and psychopharmacology. The integration of evidence-based cultural responsiveness education in university training programs for health care providers. The use of simulation to enhance nursing education in therapeutic communication. The history of nurses as leaders in health care innovation.
Publications and Presentations
Educator/published in transforming nursing education, nursing history, care giver grief, AIDS, hematology, chronic illness, pain, transition pediatric to adult care. PRESENTER/EDUCATORHammer & Fox (2011). Transforming psychiatric mental health nursing education through the integration of simulation. Poster Presentation. Emerging Technologies in Nursing Education, San Francisco CA. Hammer, Eisenhardt, & Amidi-Nouri (2011). Addressing unequal treatment: Leading change through groundbreaking programs. Presenter. 24th Annual National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE), San Francisco CA.Hammer, Eisenhardt, & Amidi-Nouri (2010). The Spirit Seminars: An innovative program for teaching cultural competence. Presenter. 23rd Annual National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE), Washington DC.Hammer (1999-2002). Chronic illness: Transition pediatric to adult care. Presenter. Children's Hospital Oakland; UCSF School of Nursing. Hammer (2000-2003). Sickle cell anemia and pain. Presenter. Laney College; West Oakland Mental Health; Summit Medical Center; Alta Bates Hospital; UCSF School of Nursing FNP students. Hammer & Nichols (1996-99). Finding they're there: The history of the women who created The Baby Hospital. Presenter. Children's Hospital Oakland; UCSF History of Medicine Department; UC-Berkeley MSW Department; American Association for the History of Nursing National Conference Boston (1999); Western Association of Women Historians Annual Conference Pasadena (1999); Sigma Theta Tau International Research Conference (1996). Hammer (1992). History of AIDS in women and children. Presenter. Pediatric AIDS Conference, San Francisco CA. Hammer. Adjunct Lecturer, Women's Studies Department, State University of New York at Buffalo. PUBLICATIONSWhite paper: Educational preparation of advanced practice nurses to address mental health needs of clinicians and adolescents. International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses (ISPN, 2010). www.ispn-psych.org. Hammer & Geier (2003). Perioperative care for sickle cell patients undergoing total hip replacement for osteonecrosis. Journal of Orthopaedic Nursing 22 (6), 384-97. Hammer & Nichols (1998). Bertha Wright. In V. Bullough (Ed.), Biographies of American Nurses: Volume 3. Hammer & Nichols (1998). Nurse Bertha Wright and the Baby Hospital: A case study of Progressive Era women's institution building. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship 30 (2). Hammer & Nichols (1992). A ritual of remembrance. Journal of Maternal-Child Nursing 17 (6). ABSTRACTS related to researchHammer & Vichinsky. Renal disease prevelance in adult sickle cell patients.Claster, Hamrick, Hammer, & Vichinsky. Clinical characteristics of sickle cell patients with pulmonary hypertension. Vichinsky, Hammer, Fung, & Pakbaz. Osteopenia and osteoporosis in patients with sickle cell disease. Vichinsky, Hammer, Krupitsky & Gold. Ischemic brain injury in neurologically normal adults with sickle cell disease.
Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
Recipient (2010). DAISY American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty at Samuel Merritt University.Board Certification Family Nurse Practitioner, American Nurses Credentialing Committee (ANCC).Family Therapy Certification, Post-Masters Training, Association of Family Therapists of Northern California (AFTNC). Scholarship Recipient (2001 & 2002). Ava Elliot Nursing Excellence. Student Research Grant Recipient (1996). Sigma Theta Tau, Lambda Gamma Chapter.Scholarship Recipient (1995 & 1996). Shirley C. Titus Scholarship, California Nurses Association. Phi Beta Kappa, member of Deans List all semesters college.
Professional and Community Service and Professional Memberships
Co-Founder & Seminar Leader: The Spirit Seminars (2006-present). Evidence-based cultural responsiveness education seminar series for nursing students at Samuel Merritt University. Coordinator & Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (2010-present). Psychopharmacology, counseling, referral & consultation. Davis Street Clinic, San Leandro CA. Counselor (2008-2010). Provision of counseling for adolescent and young adult mothers transitioning out of foster care and their babies. A Home Within's Transition & Attachments Program at First Place for Youth, Oakland CA. Member. Assocation of Family Therapists of Northern California. Member. California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. Preceptor (2001-02). Family Nurse Practitioner students, Samuel Merritt University.Preceptor (1988-98). Nursing students at Children's Hospital Oakland. HIV/Healthy Life Styles Educator (1992-2000). Berkeley Public Schools. Member. American Nurses Association. Member. California Coalition of Nurse Practitioners. Ancillary Medical Staff (1998-2003). Summit Medical Center. Member (1997-2001). Community Advisory Board. Berkeley High School Student Health Clinic. Member. Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Founder & Co-leader. Bereavement Group for Nurses, Children's Hospital Oakland. Founder. Educational Camp for Chronically Transfused Children. Certified Sickle Cell Educator, State of California. Certified AIDS Train the Trainer. State of California.
