Skip to main content

Part of UT Health San Antonio

Profiles - UT Health San AntonioProfiles - UT Health Science Center San Antonio

Part of UT Health San Antonio

Menu
  • Home

You are here

  • Profiles Home
  • Faculty Directory
  • Lark Ford, PhD, MA, MSN, RN
Lark Ford, PhD, MA, MSN, RN

Contact

210-567-0838

fordl2@uthscsa.edu

Programs

  • Ph.D. in Nursing Science

Lark Ford, PhD, MA, MSN, RN

Associate Faculty/Clinical, School of Nursing

Currently seeking M.S. & Ph.D. students

The purpose of my descriptive study was to examine the perception of readiness for discharge from a transitional living center of six homeless adult family members with cardiac conditions. Three constructs formed the framework for this study: (a) being homeless, (b) undergoing severe stress, and (c) being ready for discharge. Four data collection instruments used for this study included (a) a 10-item, Self-Perceived Stress Scale to assess perception of stress over a one-month time period; (b) a pencil-and-paper, self-description of respondents’ cardiac health condition over time; (c) a retrospective, medical chart review on each respondent; and (d) a one-hour, face-to-face interview with each study volunteer. Findings showed that all of the homeless participants experienced high levels of stress, yet those participants who resided in the transitional living center in their early and later months experienced higher levels of stress than those participants who resided in the transitional living center between 12 to 18 months. One key theme emerged regarding their perception toward readiness for discharge: being safe and securing housing. The adult members’ overall perception regarding their health contributed very little to their self-perceptions of being ready for discharge. 

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2015 - PhD - School of Human and Organizational Development - Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CA
    • 2014 - MA - School of Human and Organization Development - Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CA
    • 1989 - MSN - (Nursing) - Nursing Administration - Marymount University Arlington, VA
    • 1976 - BSN - Nursing - University of Maryland at Baltimore Baltimore, MA
  • Publications

      Abstract

      Pickering, C. E., Overbaugh, K., Piernick-Yoder, B., Puga, F., James, D., Patel, D., Ford, L., & White, C. Developing the Caring for the Caregiver Program for the San Antonio Dementia Community; 2017 Jan. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society).

      Book Chapter

      Ford LA. Hypertension (Chapter 38). In: Linton, AD. Introduction to Medical-Surgical Nursing, 6th edition. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2015. p. 769-784.

      Dissertation/Thesis

      Ford, PhD, MA, MSN, RN LA. Homeless Families Return To Mainstream Society 2016.

map image

UT Health San Antonio

7703 Floyd Curl Drive
San Antonio, TX 78229

210-567-7000

We make lives better ©

We're a part of UT Health San Antonio, provider of comprehensive health,  dental, &  cancer care,  advanced academics,  and  life-saving research.

Web Privacy | Links from websites affiliated with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's website (uthscsa.edu) to other websites do not constitute or imply university endorsement of those sites, their content, or products and services associated with those sites. The content on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Health information on this site is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat conditions. Consult a health care provider if you are in need of treatment.