image of Yuan Zhang

Yuan Zhang

Associate Professor

College
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences
Department
Susan and Alan Solomont School of Nursing
Phone
(978) 934-4421
Fax
(978) 934-2015
Office
Health and Social Sciences Building - 285
Links

Expertise

Occupational Health, Shift Work and Sleep Health, Health-care Workforce

Research Interests

Occupational health and health promotion

Shift work sleep disorders; sleep quality and workplace safety and health; sleep promotion and health promotion; work organization and health outcomes; intention to turnover and turnover in healthcare; workplace participatory interventions.

Education

  • Ph D: Occupational Health and Health Promotion, (2013), University of Massachusetts Lowell - Lowell, MA
    Dissertation/Thesis Title: Sleep duration and health outcomes of formal caregivers in skilled nursing facilities: The contribution of the work environment
  • Other: Nursing Education and Environmental Risk Assessment Post-Master Certificate, (2011), University of Massachusetts Lowell - Lowell, MA
  • MS: Clinical Nursing and Nursing Education, (2007), Shandong University - Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China
  • BS, (2004), Shandong University - Jinan, Shandong, P. R. China

Biosketch

Dr. Yuan Zhang is an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Major research focuses on promoting sleep, musculoskeletal and mental health in health care workers. Her other research interests include work stress and health behaviors and outcomes, workplace participatory intervention linking occupational health and health promotion, and turnover in the healthcare workforce.

Selected Awards and Honors

  • Faculty Teaching Award (2017), Teaching - Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing
  • Teaching Excellent Award (2016), Teaching - University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Research Travel Award (2015), Service, Professional - Sigma Theta Tau International Eta Omega Chapter
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award (2010) - University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • May Futrell Scholarship (2009), Scholarship/Research - University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • May Futrell Scholarship (2008), Scholarship/Research - University of Massachusetts Lowell

Selected Publications

  • Punnett, L., Nobrega, S., Zhang, Y., Rice, S., Gore, R., Kurowski, A. (2020). Safety and Health through Integrated, Facilitated Teams (SHIFT): stepped-wedge protocol for prospective, mixed-methods evaluation of the Healthy Workplace Participatory Program. BMC public health,20(1) 1463.
  • ElGhaziri, M., Dugan, A.G., Zhang, Y., Gore, R., Castro, M.E. (2019). Sex and Gender Role Differences in Occupational Exposures and Work Outcomes Among Registered Nurses in Correctional Settings. Annals of work exposures and health,63(5) 568-582.
  • Kotejoshyer, R. (UConn), Zhang, Y., Flum, M., Fleishman, J., Punnett, L. (2019). Prospective evaluation of fidelity, impact and sustainability of participatory workplace health (16:9 pp. E1494). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
  • ElGhaziri, M., Dugan, A., Zhang, Y., Castro, M. (2019). Sex and gender role differences in occupational exposures and work outcomes among registered nurses in correctional settings. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, (wxz018).
  • Zhang, Y., ElGhaziri, M., Dugan, A.G., Castro, M.E. (2019). Work and Health Correlates of Sleep Quantity and Quality Among Correctional Nurses. Journal of forensic nursing,15(1) 42-51.
  • Peters, A.B., Kellogg, M., Zhang, Y., (2018). Implementation of a Smartphone App to Measure and Manage Anxiety in Undergraduate Clinical Nursing Students. Nursing Education Perspectives.
  • Powell-Cope, G. (VA Research Center), Rugs, D. (VA Research Center), Zhang, Y., (2018). Patient handling and mobility course content: A national survey of nursing programs. . The American Journal of Nursing.
  • Zhang, Y., Punnett, L., Gore, R. (2018). Predictors of Nursing Staff Voluntary Termination in Nursing Homes: A Case-control Study. Journal of Applied Gerontology.
  • Zhang, Y. (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Tickner, J. (2018). Reinvigorating engagement and collaboration through interprofessional education (RECIPE) in nursing and public health students. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice.
  • Zhang, Y., Peters, A.B., Bradstreet, J., (2018). Relationships among Sleep Quality, Coping Styles, and Depressive Symptoms among College Nursing Students: A Multiple Mediator Model. . Journal of Professional Nursing.
  • Powell-Cope, G. (VA HSR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research ), Rugs, D. (VA HSR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research ), Ialynytchev, A. (VA HSR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research ), Devine, D. (James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital), McCoskey, K. (U.S. Army Public Health Center), Zhang, Y., Deter, L. (DELHEC) Journal of American Nursing
  • Zhang, Y., Peters, A.B., Chen, G. (2018). Perceived Stress Mediates the Association Between Sleep Quality and Mental Disorders among College Nursing Students. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship.
  • Zhang, Y., Duffy, J., de Castillero, E., Wang, K. (2018). Chronotype, Sleep Characteristics, and Musculoskeletal Disorders among Hospital Nurses. Workplace Health and Safety.
  • Zhang, Y., Duffy, J., de Castillero, E. (2017). Do Sleep Disturbances Mediate the Association between Work-family Conflict and Depression among Nurses? A Cross-sectional Study. . Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing,24(8) 620-628. doi:10.1111/jpm.12409 .
  • Zhang, Y., Chernaik, M., Hallet, K. (2017). Relationship Issues among College Nursing Students: Associations with Stress, Coping, Sleep and Mental Disorders. Teaching and Learning in Nursing,12(4) 246-252. doi:10.1016/j.teln.2017.06.005 .
  • Zhang, Y., Punnett, L., Nannini, A.M. (2017). Work-Family Conflict, Sleep, and Mental Health of Nursing Assistants Working in Nursing Homes. Workplace Health & Safety,65(7) 295-303.
  • Zhang, Y., Cifuentes, M., Gao, X., Amaral, G., Tucker, K.L. (2017). Age and Gender-specific Associations between Insomnia and Falls in Boston Puerto Rican Adults. Quality of Life Research,26(1) 25 - 34 doi:10.1007/s11136-016-1374-7.
  • Zhang, Y., Ding, X., Xu, J., Wang, H., Chen, G., Thind, H. (2016). WalkMore: Promoting Walking with Just-in-time Context-aware Prompts . National Institute of Health
  • Zhang, Y., Flum, M., Kotejoshyer, R., Fleishman, J.M., Henning, R., Punnett, L. (2016). Workplace Participatory Occupational Health/Health Promotion Program: Facilitators and Barriers Observed in Three Nursing Homes. Journal of Gerontological Nursing,42(6) 34-42.
  • Zhang, Y., Xu, D., Chen, L., Wan, X., Liu, N., Wang, K. (2016). Toileting Behavior and Related Health Beliefs among Chinese Female Nurses. International Journal of Clinical Practice,70(5) 416-423. doi:10.1111/ijcp.12798 .
  • Zhang, Y., Punnett, L., McEnany, G.P., Gore, R. (2016). Contributing Influences of Work Environment on Sleep Quantity and Quality of Nursing Assistants in Long-term Care Facilities: A Cross-sectional Study. Geriatric Nursing (New York, N.Y.),37(1) 13-18.
  • Zhang, Y., Soroken, L., Laccetti, M., Ronan De Castillero, E., Konadu, A. (2015). Centralized to Hybrid Nurse Station: Communication and Teamwork among Nursing Staff. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice,5(12) p34.
  • Zhang, Y., Flum, M., West, C., Punnett, L. (2015). Assessing Organizational Readiness for a Participatory Occupational Health/Health Promotion Intervention in Skilled Nursing Facilities. Health Promotion Practice,16(5) 724-732.
  • Zhang, Y., Flum, M., West, C., Punnett, L. (2015). Assessing Organizational Readiness for a Participatory Occupational Health/Health Promotion Intervention in Skilled Nursing Facilities. Health promotion practice,16(5) 724-32.
  • Zhang, Y., Punnett, L., Gore, R. (2014). Relationships Among Employees’ Working Conditions, Mental Health, and Intention to Leave in Nursing Homes. Journal of Applied Gerontology,33(1) 6-23.
  • Zhang, Y., Raman, G., Minichiello, V.J., D'Ambrosio, C., Wang, C. (2013). Tai Chi Improves Sleep Quality in Healthy Adults and Patients with Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Sleep Disorders & Therapy,2(141).
  • Holmberg, M.D., Flum, M., West, C., Zhang, Y., Qamili, S., Punnett, L. (2013). Nursing Assistants' Dilemma: Caregiver Versus Caretaker. Hospital Topics,91(1) 1-8.
  • Zhang, Y., Flum, M., Nobrega, S., Blais, L., Qamili, S., Punnett, L. (2011). Work Organization and Health Issues in Long-term Care Centers. Journal of gerontological nursing,37(5) 32-40.

Selected Presentations

  • Evaluation of an online nurse continuing education program to prevent patient handling injuries - the 2019 APHA Conference, November 2019
  • Factors associated with regular participation in leisure-time physical activity among nursing staff - the 2019 APHA Conference, November 2019
  • Development, implementation and evaluation of global health experience with nursing students - the 2019 Nurse Educator Conference, May 2019
  • Racial and ethnic disparities in musculoskeletal disorders and functional disabilities of nursing assistants in long-term care facilities - the 2018 NHCGNE Leadership Conference, November 2018 - Boston, MA
  • Work and health correlates of sleep quantity and quality among correctional nurses - 2018 American Public Health Association Conference, November 2018 - San Diego
  • Facilitators and barriers to improve the utilization of EMPOWER as a peer mediation program for T3WV (co-worker conflict/workplace bullying) among correctional registered nurses - the Sixth International Conference for Violence in the Healthcare Sector, October 2018 - Toronto
  • Mindfulness is associated with sleep quality among patients with fibromyalgia - the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, October 2018 - Chicago, IL
  • Workplace Bullying Exposure and Prevention in Correctional Nursing - the 11th International Conference on Workplace Bullying and Harassment, June 2018 - Bordeaux, France
  • Physical workload, leisure-time physical activity, musculoskeletal disorders, and sleep quality among rehabilitation employees - SLEEP 2018, June 2018 - Baltimore, MD
  • Development and Implementation of Smartphone App to Measure and Manage Undergraduate Clinical Student Anxiety - the 26th Annual Conference for Nurse Educators, May 2018 - North Falmouth, MA,
  • Reinvigorating engagement and collaboration through interprofessional education (RECIPE) in nursing and public health students - the 26th Annual Conference for Nurse Educators, May 2018 - North Falmouth, MA,
  • Workplace violence exposure among correctional registered nurses - 2017 American Public Health Association Conference, November 2017 - Atlanta, GA,
  • Correctional nurse’s occupational exposures and attitudes related to health, safety and wellness in the workplace: A mixed method approach - 2017 American Assembly for Men in Nursing Annual Conference, September 2017 - Las Vegas, NV
  • Relationships of musculoskeletal disorders, sleep disturbances, and depression among hospital nurses - SLEEP 2017, June 2017 - Boston, MA
  • STOP-Bang Questionnaire Screening for Sleep Apnea Treatment - the 24th Annual Northeast Regional Nurse Practitioner Conference, May 2017 - Boston, MA
  • Musculoskeletal disorders and comorbid depression: Associations with working conditions among aging nurses, October 2016 - Denver, CO
  • Sleep disturbances mediate the association between work-family conflict and depression among hospital nurses - the 2016 American Public Health Association Conference, October 2016 - Denver, CO
  • Sleep quality and mental disorders among college nursing students: The mediating role of perceived stress and coping styles - the 2016 American Public Health Association Conference, October 2016 - Denver, CO
  • Perceptions of role and occupational risk of correctional nurses - the Fifth International Conference for Violence in the Healthcare Sector, October 2016 - Dublin, Ireland
  • Age- and gender-specific associations between insomnia and falls in older Puerto Ricans - SLEEP 2016, June 2016 - Denver, CO
  • Chronotype, sleep characteristics, and musculoskeletal disorders among hospital nurses - SLEEP 2016, June 2016 - Denver, CO
  • Assessing the occupational health risks and health behaviors for men in correctional nursing - 2015 American Public Health Association Conference, October 2015 - Chicago, IL
  • Individual differences in sleep-wake habits and sleep quality among nursing home employees - 2015 American Public Health Association Conference, October 2015 - Chicago, IL
  • Relationships among work schedules, sleep quality, and functional disability of nursing home employees - 2015 American Public Health Association Conference, October 2015 - Chicago, IL
  • A noval idea to attract community hospital nurses to participate in nursing research - Organization of Nurse Leaders, Massachusetts, Rhode Island & New Hampshire, September 2015 - Norwood, MA
  • Impact of staff education and electronic medical record alerts on reducing hospital-wide sepsis mortality - Organization of Nurse Leaders, Massachusetts, Rhode Island & New Hampshire, September 2015 - Norwood, MA
  • Investigation of physical workload of therapy work in nursing homes - 2015 Safe Patient Handling and Mobility Conference, April 2015 - Glendale, AZ
  • Communication and teamwork among nursing staff after work station transition - Lowell General Hospital Research Symposium, 2014 - Lowell, MA
  • Predictors of nursing staff voluntary termination in long-term care facilities - 2014 American Public Health Association Conference, November 2014 - New Orlands, LA
  • Mindfulness is associated with sleep quality among patients with fibromyalgia - American College of Rheumatology, November 2014 - Boston, MA
  • The States of Southeast Asian Communities in New England. - The 2014 States of Southeast Asian American Studies, October 2014 - Minneapolis, MN
  • Work-family conflict and health among caregivers in skilled nursing facilities: The role of sleep. - 2013 American Public Health Association Conference, November 2013 - Boston, MA
  • Facilitators and barriers for workplace participatory interventions: Perspectives from employees and management in three nursing homes. - Work, Stress, and Health Conference, May 2013 - Los Angeles, CA
  • Relationships between working conditions and sleep quality among employees in long-term care centers. - 2012 Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care: Bridging the Gap, March 2012 - Baltimore, MD
  • Relationships among working conditions, mental health and caregivers' intention to leave in long-term care centers. - Work, Stress, and Health Conference, May 2011 - Orlando, FL

Selected Contracts, Fellowships, Grants and Sponsored Research

  • Treatment of circadian disruption from shiftwork in older adults (2019), Grant - National Institute of Aging
    Zhang, Y. (Co-Investigator), Duffy, J. (Principal), Barger, L. (Co-Investigator)
  • CPHNEW Research Center Renewal (2016), Grant - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
    Zhang, Y. (Co-Investigator), Punnett, L. (Principal), ElGhaziri, M. (Co-Investigator), Nobrega, S. (Co-Principal)
  • Using smartwatch to investigate health behaviors of night shift nurses (2016), Grant - University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Zhang, Y. (Principal), Chen, G. (Co-Investigator), Duffy, J. (Co-Investigator), Peters, A.B. (Co-Investigator)
  • Development and implementation of a healthy sleep intervention for correctional supervisors using participatory action research (2016), Grant - Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace
    Zhang, Y. (Supporting), Dugan, A. (Principal)
  • Coping with stress and sleep quality among college nursing students (2015), Grant - Sigma Theta Tau International, Eta Omega Chapter
    Zhang, Y. (Principal)
  • Reinvigorating engagement and collaboration through interprofessional education (2015), Grant - University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Zhang, Y. (Principal), Tickner, J. (Principal)
  • Investigation of physical workload and sleep quality with objective field measures among rehabilitation professionals (2014), Grant - University of Massachusetts Lowell
    Zhang, Y. (Principal), Punnett, L. (Co-Investigator), Buchholz, B. (Co-Investigator)
  • Assessing the occupational health risks and health behaviors for men in correctional nursing and evaluating the barriers and facilitators for a peer mediation program (2015), Grant - Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace
    Zhang, Y. (Co-Investigator), ElGhaziri, M. (Principal), Dugan, A. (Co-Investigator), Castro, M. (Co-Investigator)