Connell School of Nursing

Rosanna DeMarco, PhD, PHCNS-BC, ACRN, FAAN

associate professor - community health

rosanna demarco

Office

Cushing Hall 334 H
617-552-8718
rosanna.demarco.1@bc.edu



educational history

  • PhD Wayne State University
  • MS Boston College
  • BS Northeastern University


recent publications

Articles
  • Roberts, S., DeMarco, R., & Griffin, M. (in press, 2009). The effect of oppressed group behavior on the  culture of the nursing workplace: A review of evidence and interventions for change. Journal of Nursing Management, 17(3).
  • DeMarco, R.F., Pulcini, J., & Haggerty, L. (in press, 2009). The Doctorate in Nursing Practice: A Survey of Massachusetts Nurses, Journal of Professional Nursing.
  • Vessey, J., DeMarco, R.F., Gaffney, D., & Budin, W. (in press, 2009). Bullying of nurses in the workplace: A preliminary study for developing personal and organizational strategies for the transformation of hostile to healthy workplace environments. Journal of Professional Nursing.
  • Vessey, J.A., & DeMarco, R.F. (2008). The undergraduate research fellows program: A unique model to promote engagement in research. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24(6), 358-363.
  • Hart, K.A. & DeMarco, R.F. (2008). Primary prevention of skin cancer in children and adolescents: A review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 25(2), 67-78.
  • DeMarco, R., Roberts, S.J., Norris, A.E., & McCurry, M. (2008). The development of the nurse workplace Scale (NWS): Self-advocating behaviors and beliefs in the professional workplace. Journal of Professional Nursing, 24(5), 296-301.
  • DeMarco, R., Roberts, S.J., Norris, A.E., & McCurry, M. (2007). Refinement of the Silencing the Self Scale –Work for Registered Nurses, Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 39(4), 375-378.
  • Vessey, J. & DeMarco, R. (2007). Bullying scenarios and solutions. Nursing Spectrum, June, 10.
  • DeMarco, R. & Minnich, C.A. (2007). Men's experiences viewing an HIV/AIDS prevention education   film by and for women. American Journal of Men's Health, 1 (3), 183-189.
  • DeMarco, R., Horowitz, J.A. & McCurry, M. (2005). Effective use of critique and dialogue at scholarly conferences. Nursing Outlook, 53 (5), 232-238.
  • Roberts, S.J., Patsdaughter, C.A., Grindel, C.C., DeMarco, R., & Tarmina, S. (2005). Alcohol use and abuse: Results of the Boston Lesbian Health Project II. Substance Abuse, 25(4), 1-9.
  • DeMarco, R., Roberts, S.J., & Chandler, G. (2005) The Use of a Writing Group to Enhance Voice and Connection among Staff Nurses. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 21(3), 85-90.
  • Norris, A.E. & DeMarco, R. (2005). The experience of African American women living with HIV creating a prevention film for teens. Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 16(2), 32-39.
  • Norris, A.E. & DeMarco, R. (2004). The mechanics of conducting culturally relevant HIV prevention research with Haitian American adolescents: Lessons learned. Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health, 11(1), 69-76 .
  • Reid Ponte, P., Connor, M., DeMarco, R., & Price, J. (2004). Linking patient and family-centered care and patient safety: The next leap. Nursing Economic$, 22(4), 211-213, 215.
  • DeMarco, R. & Norris, A. (2004). Culturally Relevant HIV Interventions: Transcending Ethnicity. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 11(2), 65-68.
  • DeMarco, R., Flaherty, L., Glod, C., Merrill, N., Terk, K., & Plasse, M. (2004). Staff and client perceptions of unit quality: A pilot study. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing,42(5), 36-43.
  • Kruger, N., Reid Ponte, P., DeMarco, R., Hanley, D., & Conlin, G., (2004). Reshaping the practice environment: The importance of coherence. Journal of Nursing Administration, 34(4), 173-179.
  • DeMarco, R., Brush, B.L., Dylis, A.M. (2004). Nursing and academic merit: Is there a fit? Journal of Nursing Education, 43, (12), 533-538.
  • DeMarco, R., Picard, C., & Agretelis, J. (2004). Nurse experiences as cancer survivors, Part I. Personal. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(3), 523-530.
  • Picard, C., Agretelis, J., & DeMarco, R. (2004). Nurse experiences as cancer survivors, Part II. Professional. Oncology Nursing Forum, 31(3), 537-542.
  • DeMarco, R. & Aroian, J. (2003). Perceptions of Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students and Nurse Leaders: A Look at Elements of Success in the Workplace. Nursing Leadership Forum, 8(2), 53-57 (Reprinted from H. Feldman (Ed.), (pp. 94-104) The Nursing Shortage: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention in Clinical Practice and Education. New York: Springer).
  • DeMarco, R., & Johnsen, C. (2003). Taking action in communities: Women living with HIV lead the way. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 20 (1), 51-62.
  • DeMarco, R. & Roberts, S. (2003). Negative behaviors in nursing: Looking in the mirror and beyond. American Journal of Nursing, (103)3, 113-116.
  • DeMarco, R. & Judy, J. (2002). Virginia Cleland: An oral history by her colleagues and mentorees. Nursing Outlook, 50(6), 253-260.
  • DeMarco R. (2002). Two theories/a sharper lens: The staff nurse voice in the workplace. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38 (6), 1-8.
  • DeMarco, R., Lynch, M.M., & Board, R. (2002). Mothers who silence themselves: Clinical implications for women living with HIV/AIDS and their children. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 17 (2), 89-95.
  • DeMarco, R., Hayward, L., & Lynch, M.M., (2002). Nursing students' experiences with and strategic approaches to case-based instruction: A replication and comparison study between two disciplines. Journal of Nursing Education, 41 (4), 165-173.

Books / Book Chapters / Video
  • DeMarco, R. Supporting Voice in Women Living with HIV/AIDS (In press, 2009). In D. Jack & A. Ali (Eds.), Cultural Perspectives on Women's Depression: Self-Silencing, Psychological Distress and Recovery.
  • Harkness, G. & DeMarco, R. (In progress). Community and public health nursing: Evidence for practice. Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins. Under Contract.
  • DeMarco, R., Vessey, J., Gaffney, D., & Budin, W. (2008-present) “Bullying and Nurses in the Workplace”, video co-Production with Dr. John Michalczyk, Boston College
  • DeMarco, R., Norris, A., & Minnich, C. (Co- Producers). (2004). “Women's voices women's lives.” Digitized Film (Teen, Women and Provider Versions with curricula and outcome measures).
  • DeMarco, R., & Norris, A.E. (2004). Women's voices women's lives: A Web-Based HIV prevention film project. J. V.M. Welie & J. Lee (Eds.). Jesuit health sciences and the promotion of justice: An invitation to a discussion. Milwaukee, WI: Marquette University Press.
  • Chandler, G., Roberts, S.J., & DeMarco, R. (2004). Developing nursing voice through writing in a group. In M.H. Oermann & K.T. Heinrich (Eds.), Annual Review of Nursing Education, Volume 2, New York, Springer.
  • DeMarco, R., & Aroian, J. (2003). Perceptions of Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students and Nurse Leaders: A Look at Elements of Success in the Workplace. In H. Feldman (Ed.), (pp. 94-104) The Nursing Shortage: Strategies for Recruitment and Retention in Clinical Practice and Education. New York: Springer.
  • Friedemann, M.L., Kohlen,C., Ricka, R., Schreirer, E., Schori, E., & DeMarco, R. (2003). Familien-und umweltbezogene Pflege. Bern: Hans Huber.
  • Hayward, L., DeMarco, R., and Lynch, M.M. (2003). Interprofessional collaborative alliances. In P.J. Lecca, P.A. Valentine, & K..J. Lyons (Eds.) (pp 249-270) Allied Health: Practice Issues and Trends in the New Millennium. New York: Haworth.
  • DeMarco, R. & Johnsen, C. (2002). Vulnerable populations: Women living with HIV/AIDS. In E.A. Mahoney & J.K. Shaw (Eds.) HIV/AIDS Nursing Secrets. Philadelphia, PA: Hanely & Belfus, Inc.

international presentations


  • DeMarco, R., Eaker, E., Eli, A., & Ussher, J., The health effects of self- silencing: Women's psychological distress and mortality (Symposium), 2009 American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Toronto, Canada; August, 2009.
  • DeMarco, R. & Women of Color AIDS Council (WCAC). African American Women Living with HIV on Film and HIV Prevention Efficacy, XVI International AIDS Conference, Toronto, Canada; August, 2006.
  • Picard, C., Agretelis, J., & DeMarco, R., The professional experiences of nurse cancer survivors. Sigma Theta Tau 15th International Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland; July, 2004.
  • DeMarco, R., & Reid-Ponte, P. Critical Characteristics of Practicing Nurses: Understanding the Components of a Coherent Work Environment. Sigma Theta Tau 15th International Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland; July, 2004.
  • DeMarco, R., Norris, A., Roberts, S., & McCurry, M. The Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Oppressed Group Behaviors Scale. Sigma Theta Tau International Research Conference, Dublin, Ireland [poster]; July, 2004.
  • DeMarco, R. & Norris, A., African American Intergenerational HIV Prevention. Sigma Theta Tau 14th International Research Congress, Virgin Islands; August, 2003.
  • Agretelis, J., Picard, C., & DeMarco, R. Clinical insights shared by nurse cancer survivors. Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO), Banff, Alberta, Canada. [Poster]; April, 2003.
  • DeMarco, R. & Aroian, J. Practice-Oriented Education: A Comparison of Student Nurse and Nurse Leaders Workplace Needs and Suggested Strategies to Meet Them. 13th Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Research Congress, Brisbane, Australia; July, 2002.

Dr. DeMarco is a board certified public/community health clinical nurse specialist with additional certification as an AIDS care registered nurse from the national Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC). She received her BS degree from Northeastern University (summa cum laude), MS in Community Health with added specialization in curriculum development in higher education from Boston College, and a PhD from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Her program of research addresses women, marginalization, and health behaviors. She has described, explained, and tested for over a decade a gender-sensitive theoretical framework called the Silencing the Self Theory (Jack, 1991, 1992, 1999) as it relates to nurses in the workplace, nursing students, and women living with chronic conditions (specifically HIV/AIDS). She also specializes in developing clinical interventions that address symptom management and increased quality of life for women of color living with HIV/AIDS from a palliative care perspective.She has a history of funded research identifying the effects of silencing the self behaviors and beliefs on affectivity, stigma, adherence, self-advocacy, addiction recovery, and secondary prevention in underserved populations of women and is involved in intervention research related to these outcome measures.

In 2008 Dr. DeMarco was inducted to the American Academy of Nursing as a fellow. In 2007 she received the Alumni Award of Excellence in Health from Boston College. She was recognized in 2004 by the MA Association of Registered Nurses (the American Nurses Association affiliate) by receiving its inaugural Nursing Research Award. She is co-producer of the prevention education film Women's Voices Women's Lives© which she uses in her intervention research. It has been translated in Vietnamese and Spanish language and is used across the US in AIDS services agencies (ASOs), schools of nursing and public health and internationally. Dr. DeMarco is on the editorial board of (JNE) the Journal of Nursing Education and is a reviewer for ANS (Advances in Nursing Science), RINAH (Research in Nursing and Health) and JNS (Journal of Nursing Scholarship). She is a member of the ANA, MARN, Sigma Theta Tau International, ENRS, APHA (American Public Health Association), NACNS (National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists), ANAC (Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, and ACHNE (Association of Community Health Educators).


research interests

Women, marginalization, and health behaviors including women living with HIV/AIDS and nurses in the workplace. She has explicated and tested a gender-sensitive theoretical framework called the Silencing the Self Theory (Jack, 1991) in these groups.

Primary focus: community-based intervention mixed methods research with vulnerable populations; conceptualizing family and community as client; research design methodologies and knowledge development that is gender sensitive and culturally relevant to women.

Minor focus: Reiki for women living with HIV/AIDS


appointments & awards

  • 2009 ENRS Suzanne Feetham Research Scientist Award in Family Research
  • 2008 Inducted a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
  • 2007 Boston College Alumni Award of Excellence in Health
  • 2006 Courtesy Appointment, Associate Professor, African and African Diaspora Studies, Boston College
  • 2005 American Academy of Nursing Media Award (Honorable Mention) for film Women’s Voices Women’s Lives (© 2004 DeMarco, Norris, & Minnich)
  • 2005 Recipient of $5000 community service award from the winner of the Coca Cola Community All-American Award for Division 1 Athletics (Sarah Joy Carlson); Donation given to Women of Color AIDS Council (WCAC) in honor of the prevention work accomplished by Dr. DeMarco with women and teens at risk or living with HIV
  • 2005 Schwartz Center Annual Dinner, Recognition of Outstanding Research Study (Video Presentation), A Foot In Two Worlds: Nurses’ Experiences with Cancer  Survivorship.
  • 2004 Appreciation Award, Women of Color AIDS Council, Youth Center
  • 2004 Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses (Massachusetts Affiliate of American Nurses Association), Inaugural Research Excellence Award
  • 2004 Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Adult Patient and Family Advisory Council, Dedication and Service Award