Sinclair School of Nursing

Rebecca Johnson, PhD, RN, FAAN

Associate Professor (Nursing) and Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing and Public Health
Adjunct Associate Professor (Vet Med) and Director, Research Center on Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) MU College of Veterinary Medicine

E-mail: rajohnson@missouri.edu
Phone: 573-884-4686
Fax: 573-884-4544

S413 Sinclair School of Nursing
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211

Research Center on Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI)
MU College of Veterinary Medicine
Clydesdale Hall Annex #2

Pet-A-Pet Project Office
Rm 49 Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
Columbia, MO 65203

Nursing specialty

Adult nursing, Gerontological nursing

Interest area(s)

Relocation of older adults; nursing home placement decision-making process; sense of coherence in older adults life transitions; human-companion animal bond and wellness

Education

• BSN, University of Dubuque, Iowa
• MPhil, University of Edinburgh, Scotland
• MS(N), University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
• PhD, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

Program of Research

Human-animal bond; Relocation of ethnic elders; Adult nursing; Gerontological nursing; Relocation of older adults; nursing home placement decision making process; sense of coherence in older adults’ life transitions; human-companion animal interaction and wellness.

Selected Grants and Awards

• Ask the Community: Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity and Exercise - Missouri Foundation for Health, $36,400, 2007-2008

Selected Publications

• Baun, M.M., Johnson, R.A. and McCabe, B.W. (2006). Human animal interaction and successful aging. In A. Fine (Ed.), Handbook of Animal Assisted Therapy. The Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice (pp. 285-300). New York : Academic Press.
• Harnirattisai, T., Johnson, R.A. and Kawinwonggowit, V. (2006). Evaluating functional activity in older Thai adults. Rehabilitation Nursing, 32 (3), 126-130.
• Johnson, R.A. (2006). Relocation stress. In Mezey Mathy D., Bottrell Melissa M., Berkman Barbara J., Callahan, Christopher M., Fulmer Terry T., Mitty Ethel L., Paveza Gregory J., Siegler Eugenia L., Strumpf Neville E. (Eds.), The Encyclopedia of Elder Care: The Comprehensive Resource on Geriatric and Social Care. New York: Springer Publishing Company. Chapter revision for new edition.
• Rantz, M.J., Marek, K.D., Aud, M.A., Johnson, R., Otto, D. and Porter, R. (2005). TigerPlace: A newfuture for older adults. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 20(1), 1-4.
• Harnirattisai, T. and Johnson, R.A. (2005). Effectiveness of a behavioral change intervention in Thai elders after knee replacement. Nursing Research, 54 (2), 2-12.
• Johnson, R.A. (Guest Ed.). (2003). The human-animal bond. American Behavioral Scientist 4, (1), 5-102.
• Johnson, R.A., Meadows, R. L., Haubner, J.S. and Sevedge, K. (2003). Human-animal interaction: A complementary/alternative medical intervention ( CAM ) for cancer patients. American Behavioral Scientist, 47 (1), 55-69.
• Johnson, R.A. (Guest Ed.). (2003). Human-animal interaction, illness prevention, & wellness promotion. American Behavioral Scientist 4, (1), 5-6.
• Johnson, R.A. (2002). Commentary: Human-animal interaction research as an area of inquiry in nursing. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 24(6), 713-715.
• Johnson, R.A. (Special Issue Guest Ed.) (2002). Human-Animal Interaction Research. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 24(6).

More Publications

Bio/professional experience

Dr. Rebecca Johnson, PhD, RN, is a Millsap Professor of Gerontological Nursing and Public Policy at the MU Sinclair School of Nursing. Johnson is deeply committed to interdisciplinary gerontological research that promotes quality of life for our growing older adult population, which reflects the School’s commitment to addressing complex problems facing older adults. Johnson, an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, in the College of Veterinary Medicine, is the Director of their Research Center on Human Animal Interaction (ReCHAI). She is widely known for her research on relocation of older adults and is also working in the area of the human/animal bond conducting studies pertaining to animals and older adults. In 2000, in conjunction with VET ONE, an organization dedicated to promoting the human/animal bond, she was invited to meet with the U.S. Surgeon General to acquaint him with research on the role of animals in promoting human health and well being. Johnson joined the University of Missouri faculty in August 1999.

Honors and Awards

• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN) (2007)
• University of Missouri-Columbia, William H. Byler Distinguished Professor award for outstanding abilities, performance and character (2005)
• University of Iowa College of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award (June 2003)
• MU School of Nursing Excellence in Research Award (May 2002)
• Inducted into Alumni Hall of Fame, Rock Valley College, Rockford, Ill. (February 2001)