Sonja Meiers, Ph.D., AGCNS-BC, FAAN

Sonja Meiers
  • Jane W. and James E. Moore Nursing Research Professor
  • College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Teaching Interests
  • Family Theory and Research
  • Research Methods
  • Nursing Theory Development
  • Evidence-Based Practice Methods
Research and Creative Activities
  • Family Nursing
  • Family Health
  • Caregivers, Children, and Families in the Context of Substance Use Disorder
  • Nurse-Family Interaction
  • Caring in the Family Health Experience
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Measure Development
  • International Collaboration
Education
  • Diploma: Lutheran Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • BS: College of St. Teresa, Winona, MN, USA
  • MS: Winona State University, Winona, MN, USA
  • PhD: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
  • Graduate Certificate: Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
Certification
  • Minnesota Board of Nursing
  • Wisconsin Board of Nursing
  • American Nurses Credentialing Center
Published Research

 Abbott-Anderson, K., Rodrigues dos Santos, M., Schweiss, C., Meiers, S., Eggenberger, S., Ponto, J., & Szylit, R. (2022). Living in COVID’s disbeliefs, media, and fear: Nurses in Brazil and the United States share their experiences. Creative Nursing, 28(4), 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1891/CN-2022-0037 [data-based]

Tye, J. E.,  Meiers, S. J., Olsen, G., Moore, M. J., Aleman, M. J., & Chawla, V. (2021). Supporting children and kinship caregivers in the context of substance use disorder: Perspectives of key professionals. Journal of Family Issues. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X211038067

Hanza, M. M., Reese, A. L., Abbenyi, A., Formea, C., Njeru, J. W., Nigon, J. A., Meiers, S. J., Weis, J. A., Sussman, A. L., Boursaw, B., Wallerstein, N. B., Wieland, M. L., & Sia, I. G. (2021). Outcomes of a community-based participatory research partnership self-evaluation: The Rochester Healthy Community Partnership Experience. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 15(2), 161–175. https://doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2021.0019

Chapman, L. B., Kopp, K. E., Petty, M. G., Hartwig, J., Pendleton, K. M., Langer, K., & Meiers, S. (2021). Benefits of collaborative patient care rounds in the intensive care unit. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 63, 102974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2020.102974

Meiers, S. J., Dyce, E., Wieland, M. L., Patten, C., Clark, M. M., Hanza, M., Bronars, C., Nigon, A., & Sia, I. G. (2021). Lay health worker as interventionist training: Reflective writing in US family health promotion practice. Health Promotion International, 36(6), 1739-1752. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaa143

Meiers, S., Eggenberger, S., Krumwiede, N., & Deppa, B. (2020). Measuring family members’ experiences of integrating chronic illness into family life: Preliminary validity and reliability of the Family Integration Experience Scale: Chronic Illness (FIES:CI). Journal of Family Nursing, 26(2), 111-125. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840720902129

Brockman, T. A., Sim, L. A., Biggs, B. K., Bronars, C. A., Meiers, S. J., Tolleson, E., Ridgeway, J. L., Asiedu, G. B., Hanza, M. M., Olson, M. A., Slowiak, K. A., Weis, J. A., Patten, C. A., Clark, M. M., Millerbernd, J., Sia, I. G., & Wieland, M. L. (2020). Healthy eating in a Boys & Girls Club afterschool program: Barriers, facilitators and opportunities. Health Education Journal, 79(8), 914-931. https://doi.org/10.1177/0017896920936722

Frie, K. J., Prochnow, J., Meiers, S., Fiedler, T., Jones, C., & Bergen, S. (2020). The implementation of a dedicated education unit in a public health setting. Public Health Nursing. 37(5), 789–796. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12786

Wieland, M.L., Biggs, B.K., & Brockman, T.A., Johnson,A., Meiers, S. M.,  Sim, L. A., Tolleson, E., Hanza, M. M., Weis, J. A., Rosenman, J. R., Novotny, P. J., Patten, C. S., Millerbernd, J., & Sia, I. G.  (2020). Club Fit: Development of a Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Intervention at a Boys & Girls Club After School Program. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 41, 153–170. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-020-00582-4

Biggs, B. K., Tolleson, E., Millerbernd, J. Bronars, C., Meiers, S. J., Slowiak, K., Olson, M., Lebow, J., Ridgeway, J.L., Patten, C.A., Clark, M. M., Sia, I. G., & Wieland, M. L. (2020). Identifying Opportunities to Promote Physical Activity in a Diverse Low-Income Population: A Mixed-Method Study at a Boys & Girls Club Site. Child Youth Care Forum 49, 171–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-019-09521-9 

Reese A. L., Hanza M. M., Abbenyi A., Formea, C., Meiers S. J., Nigon J. A., Osman, A., Goodson, M., Njeru, J. W, Boursaw, B., Dickson, E., Wieland, M. L., Sia, I. G., & Wallerstein, N. (2019). The development of a collaborative self-evaluation process for community-based participatory research partnerships using the Community-Based Participatory Research Conceptual Model and Other Adaptable Tools. Progress in Community Health Partnership, 13(3), 225–235. https://doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2019.0050

Jones, C., Chesak, S., Forsyth, D., & Meiers, S.J. (2019). Missed nursing care as a quality indicator during transition to a Dedicated Education Unit model. Nursing Education Perspectives, 40(2), 105-106. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nep.0000000000000364.

Meiers, S. J., Eggenberger, S., & Krumwiede, N. (2018). Development and implementation of a family-focused undergraduate nursing curriculum: Minnesota State University, Mankato. Journal of Family Nursing, 24(3), 307-344. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840718787274

Prochnow, J. A., Meiers, S. J., & Scheckel, M.M. (2019). Improving patient and caregiver new medication education using an innovative Teach-back Toolkit. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 34(2):101-106. https://doi.org/10.1097/ncq.0000000000000342

Niesen, C. R., Kraft, S.J., & Meiers, S. J. (2018). Use of motivational interviewing by nurse leaders: Coaching for performance, professional development, and career goal setting. Health Care Manager, 37(2), 183-192. https://doi.org/10.1097/hcm.0000000000000209

Niesen, C. R., Olson, D. M., Nowdesha, K. D., Tynsky, D. A., Loftus, C. G., & Meiers, S. J. (2018). Enhancing self-management for adults with functional abdominal pain: A registered nurse-led cognitive-behavioral therapy approach. Gastroenterology Nursing, 41(4), 321–332. https://doi.org/10.1097/SGA.0000000000000322

Wieland, M. L., Hanza, M., Weis, J. A., Meiers, S. J., Patten, C. A., Clark, M. M., Sloan, J. A., Novotny, P. J., Njeru, J. W., Abbenyi, A., Levine, J. A., Goodson, M., Capetillo, G., Osman, A., Hared, A., Nigon, J. A., & Sia, I. G. (2018). Healthy immigrant families: Randomized controlled trial of a family-based nutrition and physical activity intervention. American Journal of Health Promotion, 32(2), 473–484. https://doi.org/10.1177/0890117117733342

Cook, C., Dahms, S., & Meiers, S.J. (2017). Enhancing care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome: An evidence-based practice approach in a rural midwestern region. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 14(5), 422-423. doi:10.1111/wvn.12217 

Morrison, E. J., Clark, M. M., Wieland, M. L., Weis, J. A., Hanza, M., Meiers, S. J., Patten, C. A., Sloan, J. A., Novotny, P. J., Sim, L. A., Nigon, J. A., & Sia, I. G. (2017). Relationship between negative mood and health behaviors in an immigrant and refugee population. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 19(3), 655–664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0506-z 

Archer, S. J., Barna, A. E., Holper, R. M., Forsyth, D. M., Ellenbecker, S. M., Smith, L. K., Clobes, J. E., Meiers, S. J., Malone, C. & Lapid, M.I. (2015), Associations among fluid intake, cognitive function, and length of stay in psychogeriatric inpatients. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 51, 52-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12065

Bronars, C. A., Hanza, M. M., Meiers, S. J., Patten, C. A., Clark, M. M., Nigon, J. A., Weis, J. A., Wieland, M. L., Sia, I. G. (2016). Treatment fidelity among family health promoters delivering a physical activity and nutrition intervention to immigrant and refugee families. Health Education and Behavior, 44(2), 262-270. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198116650668 

Hanza, M.M., Wieland, M. L., Sia, I. G., Weis, J. A., Goodson, M., Porraz Capetillo, M. D., Osman, A., Hared, A., Nigon, J. A., & Meiers, S. J. (2016). Lessons learned from community-led recruitment of immigrants and refugee participants for a randomized, community-based participatory research study. Journal of Immigrant Minority Health 18, 1241–1245. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-016-0394-2

Wieland, M.L., Weis, J.A., Hanza, M.M., Meiers, S.J., Patten, C.A., Clark, M.M., Sloan, J.A., Novotny, P.J., Njeru, J.W., Abbenyi, A., Levine, J.A., Goodson, M., Porraz Capetillo, M.G., Osman, A., Hared, A., Nigon, J.A., & Sia, I.G. (2015). Healthy immigrant families: Participatory development and baseline characteristics of a community-based physical activity and nutrition intervention. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 4(47), 22-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2015.12.004

Wieland, M. L., Tiedje, K., Meiers, S. J., Mohamed, A. A., Formea, C. M., Ridgeway, J. L., Asiedu, G. B., Weis, J. A., Nigon, J. A., Patten, C. A., & Sia, I. G. (2015). Perspectives on physical activity among immigrants and refugees to a small urban community in Minnesota. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health. 17(1):263-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-013-9917-2

Tiedje, K., Wieland, M. L, Meiers, S. J., Mohamed, A. A., Formea, C. M., Ridgeway J. L., Asiedu, G. B., Boyum, G., Weis, J.A., Nigon, J. A., Patten, C. A., & Sia, I. G. (2014). A focus group study of healthy eating knowledge, practices, and barriers among adult and adolescent immigrants and refugees in the United States. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 11,63. https://doi.org/10.1186%2F1479-5868-11-63

Archer, S. J., Barna, A. E. Holper, R. M., Forsyth, D. M., Ellenbecker, S. M., Smith, L. K., Clobes, J. E., Meiers, S. J., Malone, C. &, Lapid, M.I. (2014). Associations among fluid intake, cognitive function. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 51:52-56. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12065

Pestka, E., Meiers, S., Shah, L., Junglen, L., & Delgado, A. (2013). Nurses' attitudes, abilities and educational preference related to using family pedigrees in clinical practice. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 19(5), 498-506. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijn.12091

Pestka, E. L., Meiers, S. J., Shah, L. L., Junglen, L. M., & Delgado, A. (2012). Nurses' perceived benefits, barriers, and educational recommendations for using family pedigrees in clinical practice. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 43(11), 509-517. https://doi.org/10.3928/00220124-20120904-36 

Revier, S., Meiers, S.J., & Herth, K. (2012). The lived experience of hope for family caregivers caring for a terminally ill loved one. Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 14(6), 438-446. 

Eggenberger, S.K., Meiers, S.J., Krumwiede, N., Bliesmer, M. &  Earle, P. (2011), Reintegration within families in the context of chronic illness: a family health promoting process. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 3, 283-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-9824.2011.01101.x

Vorbeck, E., Willette-Murphy, K., Meiers, S., Rudel, R., & Alakhras, M. (2010). A descriptive study to assess the impact of surgical stomas on individuals' sleep perceptions & response to sleep hygiene. Ostomy/wound management, 56(1), 36–44. 

Eggenberger, S.K., Meiers, S.J., Krumwiede, N., Bliesmer, M., & Earle, P. (2011). Reintegration in families in the context of chronic illness: A family health promotion model. Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness, 3(3), 283-292. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-9824.2011.01101.x 

Krumwiede, N. K., Bliesmer, M., Earle, P., Eggenberger, S. K., & Meiers, S. J. (2010). Speak: An aesthetic interpretation of family caring throughout the experience of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. International Journal for Human Caring, 14(3), 71.

Meiers, S. J., Eggenberger, S. K., Bliesmer, M. M., Krumwiede, N. K. & Earle, P. (2010). An emerging model for family caring: testing of the family re-integration in chronic illness (FRCI) model. International Journal for Human Caring, 14(3), 82.

Meiers, S. J., & Brauer, D. J. (2008). Existential caring in the family health experience: a proposed conceptualization. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 22(1), 110–117. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6712.2007.00586.x

Meiers, S. J., Tomlinson, P., & Peden-McAlpine, C. (2007). Development of the Family Nurse Caring Belief Scale (FNCBS). Journal of Family Nursing, 13(4), 484–502. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840707310734 

Peden-McAlpine, C., Tomlinson, P. S., Forneris, S. G., Genck, G., & Meiers, S. J. (2005). Evaluation of a reflective practice intervention to enhance family care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49(5), 494–501. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03322.x 

Eggenberger, S. K., Krumwiede, N.K., Meiers, S. J., Bliesmer, M., Earle, P., & Murray, S. (2004). Giving voice to family caring in cancer: Integrating visual art and research findings. International Journal for Human Caring, 8(3), 59-65. DOI: 10.20467/1091-5710.8.3.60 

Eggenberger, S. K., Krumwiede, N., Meiers, S. J., Bliesmer, M., & Earle, P. (2004). Family caring strategies in neutropenia. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 8(6), 617–621. https://doi.org/10.1188/04.CJON.617-621 

Krumwiede, N. K., Meiers, S. J., Eggenberger, S., Murray, S., Bliesmer, M., Earle, P., Andros, D., Harman, G., & Rydholm, K. (2004). Turbulent waiting: rural families experiencing chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(6), 1145-1152. https://doi.org/10.1188/04.ONF.1145-1152 

Krumwiede, N., Meiers, S., Bliesmer, M., Eggenberger, S., & Murray, S. (2004). Turbulent waiting with intensified connections: The family experience of neutropenia. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(2), 455.

Earle, P., Krumwiede, N., Meiers, S., Bliesmer, M., Eggenberger, S., & Murray, S. (2004). Understanding the family experience of neutropenia: Artistic expression of research findings. Oncology Nursing Forum. 31(2), 426-427.

Meiers, S. J. & Tomlinson, P. S. (2003). Family-nurse co-construction of meaning: A central phenomenon of family caring. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 17(2), 193–201. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1471-6712.2003.00221.x 

Krumwiede N. & Meiers S. J. (2004). Worth a thousand words. Reflections of Nursing Leadership. 30(2):30-1, 38.

Fitzgerald, M., Milberger, P., Tomlinson, P. S., Peden-McAlpine, C., Meiers, S. J., & Sherman, S. (2003). Clinical nurse specialist participation on a collaborative research project. Barriers and benefits. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 17(1), 44–49. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002800-200301000-00020

Meiers, S. J. (2002). Family-nurse co-construction of meaning: Caring in the family health experience. (Publication No. 3041946) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.

Meiers, S. J. (1995). The relationship between parental locus of control and nurturance. (Publication No. wsunurmas00000133) [Masters thesis, Winona State University]. Open River: A Digital Repository of Southeast Minnesota. https://openriver.winona.edu/nursingmasters/133

Conference Papers, Posters and Presentations

Naef, R., Brysiewicz, P., Eggenberger, S., Beierwaites, P., Chiang, V., Clisbee, D., Honda, J.,  McAndrew, N., Meiers, S., Nagl-Cupal, M., Ricardson, A., Richardson, S., Tehan, T., de Beer, J., Towell-Barnard, A., Ewens, B., & Price, A. M. (2019, August 13). Engaging with families during critical illness: an international study of nurses’ descriptions and practices of family engagement in intensive care units [Paper presentation]. 14th International Family Nursing Association: Social Determinants of Family Health: Expanding Family Nursing Capacity, Washington, DC, United States. 

Brysiewicz, P., Naef, R., Eggenberger, S., Beierwaites, P., Chiang, V., Clisbee, D., DeBeer, J., Ewens, B., Honda, J., McAndrew, N., Meiers, S., Nagl-Cupal, M., Richardson, A., Richardson, S., Tehan, T., Towell-Barnard, A., & Price, A. M. (2019, August 13-16). Innovative global family research: lessons learnt from the IFNA Acute Care Research Cluster [Paper presentation]. 14th International Family Nursing Association: Social Determinants of Family Health: Expanding Family Nursing Capacity, Washington, DC, United States.

Bostyan, A., Gander, K., Mansfield, B., Meiers, S., Paddock, S., & Hooks, T. (2019, April 11-14). Creativity, optimism, planning, and expert information: A bone marrow transplant caregiving skills study [Paper presentation]. Oncology Nursing Society 44th Annual Congress, Anaheim, CA, United States. https://ons.confex.com/ons/2019/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/4863

Ostergaard, B., Anderson, K. H., Danford, C. A., Moriarty, H., Honda, J., Smith, L., Feetham, S., Swallow, V., & Meiers, S. (2019, August 13-16). The process of collaboration among members of the International Family Nursing Association Research Collaboration Subcommittee [Conference session]. 14th International Family Nursing Conference, Washington D.C, United States. http://ecite.utas.edu.au/135880/

Meiers, S. J. Dandford, C. A. & Smith, L. (2019, March 27-30). Defining family nursing to determine global family nursing research priorities [Conference presentation]. Midwest Nursing Research Society 43rd Annual Research Conference, Kansas City, MO, United States. http://ecite.utas.edu.au/131944/

Scales, K., Bain, S., Khan, S., & Sonja Meiers, S. (2018, May 17-20). A preparatory letter and caregiver conversation to decrease distress and support family engagement when children are initiating proton beam therapy [Poster presentation]. Oncology Nursing Society 43rd Annual Congress, Washington, DC, United States. https://ons.confex.com/ons/2018/meetingapp.cgi/Paper/2698

Meiers, S., Smith, L., Østergaard , B., Brødsgaard, A., Danford, C., Hoehn Anderson, K., Edds-McAfee, C., Moriarty, H., Swallow, V., Honda, J., & Feetham, S. (2017, June 14-16). Defining family nursing: An international perspective [Conference session].13th International Family Nursing Conference, Pamplona, Spain.

Jones, C. L., Scheckel, M. M., Forsyth, D., Johnson, L. M., McGuire, J. M., Chesak, S.S., & Meiers, S. J. (2017, March 18) Dedicated education unit: An academia and clinical practice partnership aimed at improving outcomes [Poster presentation]. Creating Healthy Work Environments 2017: Best Practices in Clinical and Academic Settings, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. http://hdl.handle.net/10755/621293

Hanza, M., Wieland, M., Weis, J., Meiers, S. Patten, C., Clark, M., Sloan, J., Novotny, P., Njeru, J. (2015, December 14-15). Healthy immigrant families: Utilizing a CBPR approach to develop, implement and evaluate a community-based physical activity and nutrition intervention for immigrants and refugees. [Poster presentation]. 8th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation, Washington, DC, United States.

Meiers, S., Honda, J., Østergaard, B., & Danford, C. A. (2015, August 18-21). Strengthening support for families worldwide: Potential directions for an international collaboration in family nursing research [Paper presentation].12th International Family Nursing Conference: Improving Family Health Globally through Research, Education and Practice, Odense, Denmark.

Earle, P., Bliesmer, M., Eggenberger, S., Krumwiede, N. & Meiers, S. (2004, July 22-24). Families managing chronic illness [Paper presentation]. Sigma Theta Tau International, 5th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland.

Select Chapters in Books

Meiers, S.J., Krumwiede, N.K., Denham, S., & Bell, S. (2016). Family assessment. In S. Denham, S.K. Eggenberger, N.K. Krumwiede, & Young, P. (Ed.), Family-focused nursing care. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

Meiers, S.J. (2016). Using family theory to guide nursing practice. In S. Denham, S.K. Eggenberger, N.K. Krumwiede, & Young, P. (Ed.), Family-focused nursing care. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

Meiers, S., Eggenberger, S., Krumwiede, N., Bliesmer, M., & Earle, P. (2009). Enduring acts of balance: Rural families creating health In H. Lee (Ed.), Conceptual Basis for Rural Nursing (3rd ed). New York, NY: Springer Publications.

Meiers, S., Eggenberger, S., Krumwiede, N., Bliesmer, M., & Earle, P. (2005). Enduring acts of balance: Rural families creating health. In H. Lee (Ed.), Conceptual Basis for Rural Nursing (2nd ed). New York, NY: Springer Publications.

Meiers, S. J. Dandford, C. A. & Smith, L. (2019, March 27-30). Defining Family Nursing to Determine Global Family Nursing Research Priorities. Midwest Nursing Research Society 43rd Annual Research Conference, Kansas City, MO, United States. http://ecite.utas.edu.au/131944/

 

Honors and Recognitions
  • Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
  • Fellow, Elevating Leaders in Nursing , American Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • Honor a Family Nurse, International Family Nursing Association
  • Teaching Scholar Fellowship Award, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Academic Affairs, Mankato, MN
  • Research Incentive Award, Minnesota State University, Mankato
  • Douglas R. Moore Research Lectureship, Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN