Carol Kostovich, PhD, RN
Dr. Kostovich is a research health scientist for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Dr. Kostovich’s research focuses on the phenomenon of nursing presence and its related outcomes, patient-centered care and instrument development. Her dissertation work involved the development and psychometric assessment of the Presence of Nursing Scale (PONS), an instrument used to measure acutely ill hospitalized patients’ perceptions of nursing presence. Dr. Kostovich completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital. During her fellowship, she developed the Presence of Nursing Scale- Registered Nurse Version (PONS-RN) to measure registered nurses’ perceptions of being present to their patients. Dr. Kostovich was the principal investigator of a study funded through the Department of Veterans Affairs to explore the efficacy of an internet mantram program on RN-delivered patient centered care (NRI 13-353). This study investigated the effects of the mantram program on the nurses’ ability to be present to their patients and facilitate patient-centered care. Both nurse and patient outcomes were explored. In addition to the phenomenon of nursing presence, Dr. Kostovich’s research interests also include simulation and teaching/learning strategies.
Dr. Kostovich is an associate professor and Associate Dean for Simulation-Based Teaching and Learning in the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago. She teaches courses in both the undergraduate and graduate programs, specializing in medical-surgical nursing and nursing research. She has practiced as a registered nurse for over 25 years. Dr. Kostovich has held positions as staff nurse and preceptor on a medical oncology unit, supervisor of a gastrointestinal medical-surgical unit and nurse educator for medical-surgical services.
Dr. Kostovich earned her bachelor of science in nursing degree from Saint Xavier College, Chicago; her master of science in nursing degree from Governors State University, University Park, IL; and her doctor of philosophy degree from Loyola University Chicago. She holds a post-graduate certificate in Educational Research Methodology from the University of Illinois at Chicago focusing on classical and modern test theory.
updated 2-13-20
