Although it is not uncommon for nurses who receive advanced degrees in non-nursing fields to have an interdisciplinary focus, it is not common for them to be true multi-disciplinarians in their scholarship. To fully integrate the working paradigms of more than one field is a major undertaking. It involves being able to see the world, (and analyze phenomenon), through the lens of more that one discipline, and to understand the social and cultural construction of knowledge from multiple points of view. As a scholar, this is one of my strengths.
My scholarship is characterized by research on a variety of topics woven together by an overarching theoretical perspective. Conceptually, my use of critical theory or the structural analysis of power and social class unites the projects I do, despite the diversity of topics. Trained as an anthropologist in the use of ethnographic field methods, I usually begin projects with community-based ethnography and then substantiate the link of the data to the broader historical and political economic context.
Breda , K.L. and Brennan, S.J. (2003) “Communities Working together for Collective
Transformation in Project Horizon” (p.133) in American Anthropological
Association Abstracts Peace: Affinities, Divisions and Transformations. Arlington ,
VA : American Anthropological Association, ISBN 1-931303-15-0.
Breda , K.L. and Anderson, N.R. (2003) Communities Working Together: Diminishing
Inequality and Promoting Health Through Collective Transformations” (p. 26) in
American Anthropological Association Abstracts Peace: Affinities, Divisions and
Transformations. Arlington , VA : American Anthropological Association, ISBN
1-931303-15-0.
Breda , KL. Deconstructing Myths About Homelessness: Registered Nurses in Urban
Homeless Shelters 10th Annual International Critical & Feminist Perspectives in
Nursing Conference Proceedings , Williamsburg Virginia , October, 1999
Breda , KL. “A Unique Perspective” Nursing Spectrum 3(25) December 13, 1999, 7.
Breda , KL & Chester E . “Wooed by the Charm of Portland , Maine : Region 5 Conference
A Real Hit” Sigma Theta Tau International Iota Upsilon Chapter-At-Large
Newsletter (editorial) 5(11), 10-11, 1999.
Breda , KL & Schulze, M. Teaching Complementary Healing Therapies to Nurses Journal
of Nursing Education 37 (9):394-397, 1998.
Breda , KL. (Book Review for Humanity and Society 22( 4):429-431), 1998 of Hans A.
Baer, Merrill Singer, & Ida Susser 1997 Medical Anthropology & the World
System: A Critical Perspective. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey.
Breda , KL. (Book Review for The Newsletter of the Conference Group on Italian
Politics & Society (Congrips ) No. 47, Spring 1997, pp. 68-72.) Carl Levy (ed.)
1996 Italian Regionalism: History, Identity & Politics. Oxford & Washington DC :
Berg.
Breda , KL. Anderson MA , Hansen L, Hayes D, Pillion C, Lyon P. Enhanced Nursing
Autonomy Through Participatory Action Research Nursing Outlook 45(2):76-81,
1997.
Breda , K.L. Professional Nurses in Unions: Working Together Pays Off Journal of
Professional Nursing 13(2):99-109, 1997.
Anderson , M, Breda , KL, Hansen, L, Hayes, D, & Pillion, C. Emancipatory Nursing
Inquiry with the Therapeutically Underserved 7th Annual International
Critical and Feminist Perspectives in Nursing Conference Proceedings Pittsburgh ,
PA , Oct. 1996.
Breda, K.L., Anderson, M., Hansen, L., Hayes, D., Lyon, P. & Pillion, C. Participatory
Action Research by Nurses: Enhanced Professional Autonomy & Workplace
Democracy 6th Annual International Critical Theory & Feminist Perspectives in
Nursing Conference Proceedings Prout's Neck, Maine, Oct. 1995.
Breda , KL. Politics, Culture & Gramscian Hegemony in the Italian Health Service: A
Comparison of USL's, Doctoral Dissertation, The University of Connecticut ,
Storrs , CT , August, 1992.
Breda , K. Ritual in South Italy : Ideology & the Social System in: Atti: primo convegno
nazionale di antropologia culturale delle societa' complesse, Palazzo Braschi,
Rome , ITALY , May 27-30, 1987.
Breda , K. Patterns & Themes in the Pediatric Nurse Clinician's Sense of Intimacy in
Family & in the Nurse's Interactions with Families in the Emergency Department
Setting, Clinical Investigative Study, Boston University School of Nursing,
Boston , MA , 1997.
SCHOLARLY PAPERS AND POSTER SESSIONS (peer reviewed)
Brennan, S. & Breda, K. Poster Presented at the Association of Community Health
Nursing Educators: Project Horizon: A Community Outreach, Service Learning
Model, June 5, 2004.
Griswold, R, Breda , K.L., Brennan, S.J. and Nordyke, J. “Seeking Social Justice: Toward
a Model of Community Service Learning” Paper presented at the 2003 Annual
Meeting of the Association For Humanist Sociology, Radisson Hotel, Burlington,
Vermont, October 30 –November 2, 2003, Conference Theme: Celebrating
Humanist Sociology.
Breda , K.L. and Brennan, S. J. Communities Working together for Collective
Transformation in Project Horizon. Poster presented at the 102 nd Annual Meeting
of the American Anthropological Association, Chicago , IL , Chicago Hilton and
Towers. November 19-23, 2003. Conference Theme “Peace: Affinities, Divisions
and Transformations”.
Breda , K.L. and Anderson , N.R. Communities Working Together: Diminishing
Inequality and Promoting Health Through Collective Transformations” Session
organized at the 102 nd Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological
Association, Chicago , IL . Hilton and Towers. November 19-23, 2003. Conference
Theme “Peace: Affinities, Divisions and Transformations”
Breda , K.L . The Birth of Project Horizon through Participatory Action Research. Paper
presented at the Annual meeting of the Society for Applied Anthropology
Conference theme “Building Bridges: Collaborating Beyond Boundaries” Portland , Oregon , Marriott
Portland Downtown on the Waterfront, March 19-23,
2003.
Breda , K.L. Who's to Blame for Medical Errors by Nurses? How Critical medical
Anthropology Can Inform This Ethical issue. Paper presented at the 101 st Annual
Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, New Orleans , LA , Hyatt
Regency. Conference theme “(un)maginable Futures: Anthropology Faces the
Next 100 Years.” November 20-24, 2002.
Breda, KL “Considering Class: A Critical Analysis of Social Class Issues in Nursing”
Paper presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology 2000 Annual Meetings
in the session Class, Ethnicity, Gender in Biomedical Socialization , March 21-26,
2000 Cathedral Hill Hotel, San Francisco, CA.
Breda, KL “ Deconstructing Myths About Homelessness: Registered Nurses in Urban
Homeless Shelters ” Paper presented at the 10th Annual International Critical &
Feminist Perspectives in Nursing Conference, October 15-17, 1999, Williamsburg
Hospitality House, Williamsburg Virginia.
Breda , KL "The University of Hartford Healthcare for the Homeless Project" Poster
presented at the Connecticut League of Nursing Annual Convention, April 30,
1999.
Breda , KL. "Constructing Common Ground: Consciousness Raising with Registered
Nurses in Urban Homeless Shelters." Paper presented at the Society for Applied
Anthropology 1999 Annual Meeting in the session Nursing & Applied Medical
Anthropology , April 21-25, 1999, Inn Suites Hotel, Tucson , Arizona .
Breda , KL. "Health Promotion for the Homeless in Hartford , Connecticut ." Poster
presented at the 1st Annual Center for Health Promotion Research Conference,
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey College of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha
Tau Chapter & The Center for Health Promotion Research, October
1998, Newark , New Jersey .
Breda (Member) Women's Health Service Research Utilization Group "The Value of
Routine Urine Dipstick Screening In the Prenatal Period" Awarded First Prize -
Poster Presentation (peer-reviewed). Poster presented at Supporting Evidence-
Based Nursing Practice Conference, October 8, 1998, Hartford Hospital , Hartford ,
Connecticut .
Breda , K.L. "Behind the Scenes & From the Margins: An Alternative View of
Nursing As a Caring Professions" A Paper Presented at the 1998 Annual
Meetings of the Society For Applied Anthropology in the session Marginalization
in Nursing, Part II ., April 21-26, 1998, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Organized &
Chaired session with Evelyn Barbee)
Breda K.L. "Power & Change Among Poor Women in Urban Homeless Shelters." A
Paper presented at the Society for Applied Anthropology 1997 Annual Meetings
in the Session Research in Nursing & Anthropology: Bridging into the 21st
Century March 4-9, 1997, Seattle Washington . (Organized & Chaired session
with Nancy Anderson).
Breda , K.L. "The Marginalization of Nursing in the Literature of Medical Anthropology
& the Political Economy of Health." Paper presented at the 95th Annual Meeting
of the American Anthropological Association in the invited session Perspectives
on the Marginalization of Nursing November 20-24, 1996 San Francisco Hilton &
Towers, San Francisco, CA. (Organized & Chaired session with Evelyn Barbee).
Anderson , M, Breda , K.L., Hansen, L, Hayes, D. & Pillion, C. "Emancipatory Nursing
Inquiry with the Therapeutically Underserved." Paper presented at the 7th Annual
International Critical & Feminist Perspectives in Nursing Conference: Politics,
Policy, & Nursing: Issues in the Health Care of Women, Children & the
Medically Underserved. October 11-13, 1996, Pittsburgh , PA
Breda , K.L & Witt, B. "Health Care for Homeless Women By RN to BSN Nurses." A
poster accepted for the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing's
Eighth International Nursing Research Conference, May 30-June 3, 1996, Ocho
Rios , JAMAICA.
Breda , K.L. "Homeless Shelters as Social Policy For Poor Women & Families in the
Urban Community."Paper presented at the 94th Annual Meeting of the American
Anthropological Association in the session Social Policy & Urban Women:
Dialogue & Critique in a Period of Reform November 15-19, 1995 Washington
Hilton & Towers, Washington D.C.
Breda , K.L, Anderson , M, Hansen, L, Hayes, D, Lyon , P, Pillion, C. "Participatory
Action Research by Nurses: Enhanced Professional Autonomy & Workplace
Democracy." Paper presented at the 6th Annual International Critical & Feminist
Perspectives in Nursing Conference: Personal Journeys & the Politics of Difference
in the session Participatory Action Research October 12-15, 1995, Prout's Neck, ME.
Breda, K.L. "Homeless Shelters, Workers & Health: Underdevelopment & the Urban
Environment” Paper presented at the 1995 Annual Meetings of the Society for
Applied Anthropology in the session The Construction of Meaning & the
Destruction of Health in Diverse North American Communities March 29-April 2,
1995 Albuquerque Hilton, Albuquerque, NM.
Breda , K.L. "Action Research with Union Nurses: The Social Scientist As Advocate."
Paper presented at the 93rd Annual Meetings of the American Anthropological
Association in the session Advocacy Research in the Anthropology of Health
November 30 - December 4, 1994 Atlanta Hilton & Towers, Atlanta, GA.
(Organized & Chaired session with Eileen Jackson).
Breda , K.L. "Hegemony, Class and Gender among Union Nurses: An Ethnographic
Study." Paper presented at the 2nd Annual Interdisciplinary Qualitative Health
Research Conference in the session Methodological Applications June 10-13, 1994
Hershey Park Convention Center , Hershey , PA. (Chaired Session).
Breda , K.L. "Nurses in Unions: Hegemony, Class and Gender in a Rural Hospital." Paper
presented in the session The Responses of Workers to Work Life at the 92nd
Annual Meeting of the American Anthropological Association, November 17-21,
1993 Washington Hilton & Towers, Washington D.C.
Breda , K.L. "Gramscian Hegemony & Political Culture in the Italian Health Service: A
Comparison of Four USL'S." Paper presented at the VII International Conference
of the International Association of Health Policy, October 6-10, 1992, Bologna ,
ITALY.
Breda , K.L. "il servizio sanitario nazionale in Italia: un confronto delle U.S.L." Paper
presented to the Fondazione Giovanni Agnelli, November 13, 1991, Turin ,
ITALY.
Breda , K. "Political Economy of Health in Italy ." Paper presented at the 89th Annual
Meetings of the American Anthropological Association, November 28-December
2, 1990, The New Orleans Hilton, New Orleans , LA.
Breda , K. "Italian Health Service: Culture, Power & Politics" (rev). Paper presented at the
symposium Medical Anthropology at the Annual Meetings of the Northeast
Anthropological Association, March 29-April 1, 1990, Sheraton Hotel and
Conference Center , South, Burlington , VT.
Breda , K. "Italian Health Service: Culture, Power & Politics." Paper presented at the
session Health, Power, Economics and Change at the Annual Meetings of the
American Anthropological Association, November 15-19, 1989, Hilton Hotel,
Washington D.C.
Breda , K. "Ritual in South Italy - Ideology & the Social System." Paper presented at e
primo convegno nazionale di antropologia culturale della societa' complessa,
sponsored by the Universita' di Roma " La Sapienza ," Facolta di Magistero, May
27-30, 1987, Palazzo Braschi, Rome , ITALY.
Breda , K. "Tarantismo: An Ecstatic Ritual in South Italy ." Paper presented at the
symposium Symbolism II: Myth, Ritual & Religion at the 26th Annual Meeting
at the Northeast Anthropological Association, March 20-23, 1986, Buffalo
Museum of Science and Hilton Hotel, Buffalo, NY.
Breda , K. "The New Italian Immigrant in America ." Paper presented at the symposium
Ethnicity at the 24th Annual Conference of the Northeast Anthropological
Association, March 22-25, 1984, Trinity College , Hartford , CT.
Breda , K. "Patterns & Themes in the Pediatric Nurse Clinician's Sense of Intimacy in the
Family & in the Nurse's Interactions with Families in the in the Emergency
Department Setting." Paper presented at the symposium Needs, Assessments,
Intervention Strategies 41st Annual Meeting of the Society for Applied
Anthropology, April 12-17, 1981 University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh, SCOTLAND.
Breda , K.L. and Griswold, R., (October 16, 2003) Action Week and Project Horizon
WWUH 91.3 FM Radio interview on “Soapbox.” Interviewed by Robert Tyrka.