Directory

Anju Paudel
PhD, MGS, RN

Assistant Professor

University Park

Phone: 814-863-2205

Email: aqp6003@psu.edu

Paudel is a full time faculty with a background in Nursing and Gerontology. She completed Master’s in Gerontological Studies (MGS) from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and PhD in Nursing from University of Maryland School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. Her research interests include— Enhancing caregiver efficacy in dementia care, Behavioral and educational interventions, Dyadic Communication/interaction, Nonpharmacological Interventions to optimize communication and interaction in dementia care, and Tool development and testing.

Paudel is passionate about caregiver and resident outcomes in dementia care, specifically optimizing wellbeing and quality of life in both residents and caregivers. She has a strong experience in long-term care research and intervention research focused on well-being of persons with dementia. Her current research is focused on understanding the staff-resident interactions in dementia care, the factors influencing these interactions, and supporting staff in having a positive meaningful interaction with residents with dementia through educational interventions and organizational engagement.

Education

• PhD, Nursing, University of Maryland School of Nursing Baltimore, Maryland
• MGS, (Masters in Gerontological Studies), Miami University Oxford, Ohio
• BSN, Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences Kathmandu, Nepal

Awards and Honors

• Outstanding Doctor of Philosophy Graduate, University of Maryland School of Nursing- 2021
• Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research (GGEAR) Award, University of Maryland School of Nursing- 2021

Teaching

Courses Taught

• NURS830: Evidence Based Practice I (DNP and MSN level)
  Primary Instructor. 2023 Fall.
• NURS501: Issues in Nursing and Healthcare (MSN and DNP level)
  Primary Instructor. 2022 Spring-present.

Guest Lectures

• NURS578: Mixed Methods in Health Research (PhD level)
  Convergent parallel mixed-method design used in the Promoting Positive Care Interactions Study. (Fall 2025).
• NURS200W: Principles of Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice. (BSN level).
• Overview of ‘Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI)’ intervention, the evidence base of PPCI in research, and its implementation in long-term care settings. (Spring 2022).
• NURS580: Theoretical and Philosophical Basis of Nursing.  (PhD level)
  Conceptual overview of the social-ecological framework, its historical use, and its application in exploring factors associated with staff-resident interactions in assisted living. (Fall 2021).

Clinical Expertise and Areas of Specialization

• RN

Mentorship

• Number of Master’s Advisees: 4
• Number of Doctoral Advisees: I
• Number of Doctoral committees: 2

Research

Research & Publications

Research Interests and Areas of Expertise

• Research Interests
• Enhancing caregiver efficacy in dementia care
• Behavioral and educational interventions, Dyadic Communication/interaction
• Nonpharmacological Interventions to optimize communication and interaction in dementia care
• Tool development and testing

Presentations and Conference Involvement

PANELIST

• Career Conversations, The Gerontological Society of America (GSA). (2023).

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS:

• Paudel, A., Boltz, M., Kuzmik, A., Resnick B., BeLue R. (2023). Clinical Factors Associated with the Quality of Interactions Between Staff and Hospitalized Older Patients with Dementia. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Paudel, A., Liu, W., Jao, Y.L., Dasanayake, T., Liao, Y.J., & Akter, N. (2023). Caregiving Interactions of Formal Caregivers and Persons With Dementia: A Systematic Review of Measures. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Paudel, A., Boltz, M., Kuzmik, A., Resnick, B., Liu, W., & Holmes, S. (2023). The Association of Cognitive Impairment with Depressive Symptoms, Function, and Pain in Hospitalized Older Patients with Dementia. Poster presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine 2023 Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Paudel, A., Mogle, J. A., Kuzmik, A., Resnick, B., BeLue, R., Galik, E., Liu, W., Behrens, L., Jao, Y.L., & Boltz, M. (2022). Gender Differences in Interactions and Depressive Symptoms Among Hospitalized Patients Living with Dementia. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America 2022 Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Paudel A., Resnick B., & Galik E. (2021). Pilot Testing of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) Intervention in Assisted Living. Poster presented at the Southern Nursing Research Society 2022 Annual Conference.
• Paudel A., Resnick B., & Galik E. (2021). Factors Associated With the Quality of Staff-resident Interactions in Assisted Living. Paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Paudel A., Resnick B., & Galik E. (2021). Pilot Testing of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) Intervention in Assisted Living During a Pandemic. Symposium paper presented at the Gerontological Society of America 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting.
• Paudel A., Galik E., Resnick B., Doran K., Boltz M., & Zhu S. (2021). A Description of Staff-resident Interactions in Assisted Living. Poster presented at the Southern Nursing Research Society 2021 Annual Conference.
• Paudel A., Galik E., Resnick B., Doran K., Boltz M., & Zhu S. (2021). A Description of Staff-resident Interactions in Assisted Living. Poster presented at the University of Maryland Baltimore Graduate Research Conference 2021.
• Paudel A., Resnick B., & Galik E. (2021). Factor Analysis of the Short-Form Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and the Measurement Invariance by Gender. Poster presented at the Gerontological Society of America 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting.

Research Funding and Grants

AWARDED PROJECT/S:

• (2024-2026). Alzheimer’s Association Advancing Research on Care and Outcome Measurement (ARCOM) Grant (ARCOM-24-1250069)
  Development and testing of the QUALity of Interactions Inventory (QUALII)
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Total direct/indirect cost: $250,000
• (2024-2026). National Institute on Aging (1R21AG080238-01A1)
  Optimizing the Daily Care Interactions Between Direct Care Staff and Assisted Living Residents with Dementia
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Total direct/indirect cost: $420,292

COMPLETED PROJECT/S:

• (2020-2021). Council for Advancement of Nursing Science/Southern Nursing Research Society Dissertation Grant Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) Between Staff and Assisted Living Residents with Dementia.
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Total direct/indirect cost: $5000

• (2020-2021). University of Maryland School of Nursing Biology and Behavior Across the Lifespan (BBAL) Organized Research Center Research Facilitation Award Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) Between Staff and Assisted Living Residents with Dementia.
  Role: Principal Investigator
  Total direct/indirect cost: $1000

Publications and Scholarly Work

• Paudel, A., AL-Harrasi, A., Kuzmik, A. K., Berish, D. E., Yahaya, A.R. & Boltz, M. (2024). Family Care Partners’ Preparedness in Caring for Hospitalized Persons With Dementia. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 39(11), e70013. Doi: 10.1002/gps.70013
• McPherson, R., Resnick, B., Galik, E., Holmes, S., Paudel, A. & Levy, S. (2025). Reliability and Validity Testing of the Modified Quality of Interactions Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement. Doi: 10.1891/JNM-2024-0058
• BeLue, R., Kuzmik, A., Dix, M., Luckett, C., Paudel, A., Resnick, B., & Boltz, M. (2024). An Exploration of the Cultural Appropriateness of the Family-centered Function-focused Care Intervention. Dementia, 23(1), 7-22. Doi:  10.1177/14713012231206288.
• Paudel, A., Boltz, M., Kuzmik, A., Resnick B., BeLue R. (2023). Clinical Factors Associated With the Quality of Interactions Between Staff and Hospitalized Older Patients With Dementia. Geriatric Nursing, 54, 54-59. Doi:  10.1016/j.gerinurse.2023.08.025
• Paudel, A., Liu, W., Jao, Y.L., Dasanayake, T., Liao, Y.J., & Akter, N. (2023). Caregiving Interactions of Formal Caregivers and Persons With Dementia: A Systematic Review of Measures. Innovation in Aging, 7(S1), 247. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad104.0814
• Paudel, A., Boltz, M., Kuzmik, A., Resnick, B., Liu, W., & Holmes, S. (2023). The Association of Cognitive Impairment With Depressive Symptoms, Function, and Pain In Hospitalized Older Patients With Dementia. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42 (9), 1974-1981. Doi:  10.1177/07334648231168446
• Liu, W., Jao, Y.L., Paudel, A., & Yoon, S. O. (2023). Mealtime interactions between nursing home staff and residents with dementia: a behavioral analysis of Language characteristics. BMC Geriatrics, 23, 588 (2023). Doi: 10.1186/s12877-023-04320-3
• Paudel, A., Naugle, A. & Kugler, X. (2023). Caregiving Today and Every Day. Journal of gerontological nursing, 49(3), 3-5. Doi: 10.3928/00989134-20230209-01
• Boltz, M., Kuzmik, A., Resnick, B., BeLue, R., Jao, Y.L., Paudel, A., Behrens, L., & Galvin, J. (2023). Delirium and Behavioral Symptoms in Persons with Dementia at Hospital Admission: Mediating Factors. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders, 37(2), 120-127. Doi:  10.1097/WAD.0000000000000552
• Paudel, A., Mogle, J. A., Kuzmik, A., Resnick, B., BeLue, R., Galik, E., Liu, W., Behrens, L., Jao, Y.L., & Boltz, M. (2022). Gender Differences in Interactions and Depressive Symptoms Among Hospitalized Older Patients Living With Dementia. Journal of Women and Aging, 35(5), 476-486. Doi: 10.1080/08952841.2022.2146972
• Paudel A., Galik E., Resnick B., Doran K., Boltz M., & Zhu S. (2022). Pilot Testing of the Promoting Positive Care Interactions (PPCI) Intervention in Assisted Living. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(8), 17-25. Doi:  10.3928/00989134-20220629-04
• Behrens, L., Boltz, M., Sciegaj, M., Kolanowski, A., Jones, J. R., Paudel, A., & Van Haitsma, K. (2022). Nursing Staff Perceptions of Outcomes Related to Honoring Residents’ “Risky” Preferences. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 15(6), 271-281. Doi: 10.3928/19404921-20220930-01.
• Paudel A., Resnick B., & Galik E. (2021). Factor Analysis of the Short-Form Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) and the Measurement Invariance by Gender. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 29(3): 523-540. Doi:10.1891/JNM-D-20-00031.
• Paudel A., Galik E., Resnick B., Doran K., Boltz M., & Zhu S. (2021). Factors Associated With the Quality of Staff-resident Interactions in Assisted Living. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 37(2):168-175. Doi:  10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000593.
• Paudel A., Galik E., Resnick B., Doran K., Boltz M., & Zhu S. (2021). A Description of Staff-resident Interaction in Assisted Living. Clinical Nursing Research, 30(5), 690-698. Doi: 10.1177/1054773820974146.

Editorial and Peer Review Roles

EDITORIAL BOARD

• Geriatric Nursing. Member. (2024-present)

JOURNAL REVIEWER

• Geriatric Nursing. (2022-present)
• (International Journal of Older People Nursing. 2018-present)
• Gerontology and Geriatrics Education. (2024)
• BMC Geriatrics. (2024)
• BMC Nursing. (2024)
• Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. (2021-2023)
• Alzheimer’s Disease and Associated Disorders. (2023)
• Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. (2023)
• Clinical Nursing Research. (2022)
• Journal of Nursing Measurement. (2020)

Service

Professional Organization Involvement and Fellowships

MEMBERSHIPS

• Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM). (2022-Present)
• American Geriatrics Society (AGS). (2021-2023)
• Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS). (2021-Present).
• The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. (2020-2022).
• Gerontological Society of America (GSA (2020-Present).
• Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS). (2018-2021).
• Sigma Theta Tau International – Pi Chapter. (2018-Present).
• Nursing Association of Nepal. (2013-Present).

Interprofessional Collaboration, Community Engagement, and Global Health

• In the co-authored manuscripts, I have worked with colleagues both within and outside Penn State and as such, established interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues from nursing, public health, social work, and gerontology background while also engaging in team science as a content expert.

Languages Spoken

• Hindi
• Nepali

Learn more about Interprofessional Education »

Download Paudel’s Curriculum Vitae »
Last updated 8/5/2025