Cynthia Diefenbeck

Assistant Professor
School of Nursing
380 McDowell Hall
302-831-3086
cynthia@udel.edu

Education

• PsyD, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clinical Psychology
• MSN, University of Pennsylvania, CNS in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
• BSN, University of Delaware

Licensure and Certification

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist – Delaware
• Licensed Advanced Practice Registered Nurse – Maryland and Delaware
• Prescriptive authority (APRN) – Delaware
• Certified Specialist in Adult Mental Health - ANCC
• End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) – Train-the-trainer certification

Research Intrests

• Psychosocial risk and protective factors influencing cardiovascular disease onset and outcomes
• Burnout in professional caregivers
• Smoking policies and cessation efforts in inpatient psychiatric facilities
• Curricular innovation in nursing

Research Activities

• Co-Principal Investigator, The Effect of Animal Assisted Therapy on Mood, Anxiety, Loneliness and Physiological Indices in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients, Christiana Care Health System, 2008.

Grants

• 2008 Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Xi Chapter Grant. “The utility of mandatory depression
  screening in hospitalized heart failure patients.” $1,000 awarded.
• 2005 Sigma Theta Tau, Beta Xi Chapter Grant. “The role of distorted cognitions and
  dysfunctional attitudes in nurses experiencing burnout.” $750 awarded.

Publications

• Diefenbeck, C., Bouffard, L., Matukaitis, J., Hastings, H., & Coble, S. Animal-assisted therapy
  in acute care. Nursing2009 Critical Care, In press.
• Herrman, J., & Diefenbeck, C. (2009). The nurse residency model: A clinical immersion
  model for curricular change. Dean’s Notes, 30 (4), 1-2.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2009). Psychosocial risk and protective factors for cardiovascular health and
  illness. DNA Reporter, 34 (1), 11-13.
• Diefenbeck, C., Plowfield, L., & Herrman, J. (2006). Clinical immersion: A residency model
  for nursing education. Nursing Education Perspectives, 27 (2), 71-79.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2003). Group therapy for male batterers: A comparison of cognitive
  behavioral and object relations approaches. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 41 (10),
  18-25.

Book Chapters

• Freeman, A., & Diefenbeck, C. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy of depression. In S. M.
  Freeman and A. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral approaches in nursing practice. New York: Springer.
• Freeman, A., & Diefenbeck, C. (2005). Cognitive-behavioral therapy of personality disorders.
  In S. M. Freeman and A. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral approaches in nursing
  practice. New York: Springer.
• Zahn, B.S., & Diefenbeck, C. (2005). Mature adults: Working with the aging patient. In S.
  M. Freeman and A. Freeman (Eds.). Cognitive behavioral approaches in nursing practice.
  New York: Springer.

Selected Reference Presentations and Posters

• Diefenbeck, C., Gross,A., Feldmann, S., Gouveia, A., Gustilo, R., & Fega, A. (Oct., 2009).
  Animal Assisted Therapy in Heart Failure Patients. Referred poster presentation at
  Crozer-Keystone Health System Annual Nursing Research Symposium.
• Diefenbeck, C. (July, 2009). Effects of animal-assisted therapy in hospitalized heart failure
  patients. Oral presentation at the 20th International Nursing Research Congress, Sigma
  Theta Tau International, Vancouver.
• Diefenbeck, C. (Nov., 2008). The effects of animal assisted therapy on mood, anxiety,
  loneliness, and physical indices in hospitalized heart failure patients. Referred poster
  presentation at Christiana Care Health System/Delaware Nurses Association Annual
  Research Day, Newark, DE.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2008, May). Bridging Research and Practice: An Innovative Approach to
  Providing Comprehensive Psychosocial Services to Patients with Cardiovascular
  Disease. Poster presenation at the American Heart Association’s 9th Scientific Forum on
  Quality of Care and Outcomes Research in Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke,
  Baltimore, Maryland.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2006, November). Could Cognitive-Behavioral Clinical Supervision Prevent
  or Mitigate Burnout in Nurses? Recent Research Findings and Lessons from other
  Helping Professions. Poster session presented at RNAO 6th Annual Healthy Workplaces
  Conference, Ontario.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2006, May). The Relationship between Burnout and Perceived Occupational
  Support in Hospital-based Critical Care Nurses. Poster session presented at
  Southeastern Pennsylvania (SePA) Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care
  Nurses Annual Research Dinner Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2006, May). Burnout and Job Satisfaction among a Nationwide Random
  Sample of Critical Care Nurses Working in Hospital Settings. Southeastern Pennsylvania
  (SePA) Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Annual Research
  Dinner Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Selected Invited Presentations

• Diefenbeck, C. (2009, Sept.). Understanding challenging behaviors in the geriatric population.
  Invited presentation at the 21st Century Visions of Nursing Conference, Christiana Care
  Health System, Newark, DE.
• Diefenbeck, C. (Oct., 2008). The effects of animal assisted therapy on mood, anxiety,
  loneliness, and physical indices in hospitalized heart failure patients. Invited
  presentation at Trends in Critical Care Nursing, King of Prussia, PA.
• Diefenbeck, C. & Bradley, E. (2008, Sept.). Caring for the caregiver: A hospice/palliative care
  nurse survival guide. Invited presentation for the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter
  Hospice/Palliative Care Nurses Association, Newark, DE.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2008, Sept.). Dealing with grief. Invited presentation at the 21st Century
  Visions of Nursing Conference, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2008, June). Mental well-being and your heart. Invited panel presenter for the
  Coping with chronic illness forum sponsored by the Delaware Mental Health Association,
  Newark, DE.Diefenbeck, C. (2008, April). Understanding challenging behaviors in the geriatric
  population. Invited session presented at Christiana Care Health System’s “WISH” program, Newark, DE.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2008, February). Healing hearts: Depression and heart failure. Invited
  session presented at Christiana Care Health System’s Annual Heart Failure Summit,
  Newark, DE.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2007, August). Psychiatric disorder update. Session presented at the annual
  meeting of the National Association of School Nurses, Atlantic City, NJ.
• Diefenbeck, C. (2007, July). Psychiatric disorder update. Session presented at the annual
  meeting of the National Association of School Nurses, Boston, MA.

Selected Professional Affiliations and Service

• Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, International Governance Committee, elected member and appointed chair (2009-2011)
• Review board, Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 2006 – present
• Delaware Psychological Association, Psychologically Healthy Workplaces chair, 2009 - present
• Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, International Leadership Succession Committee, elected member (2005-2007)
• Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society, Beta Xi Chapter, University of Delaware, President (2005-2007)

Awards

• Nominee, Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2009, 2005)
• Nominee, Excellence in Undergraduate Academic Advising Award (2004)