Assoc. Prof. Dr. Angeles Merino | Publichealth | Best Researcher Award

Nursing Department , University of Huelva , Spain

La Doctora Mª de los Ángeles Merino Godoy es una destacada investigadora y profesora en el Departamento de Enfermería de la Universidad de Huelva, España. Con una sólida trayectoria académica, se ha especializado en la educación en enfermería, particularmente en el contexto de crisis globales como la pandemia de COVID-19. Su trabajo ha sido clave para abordar los retos que la enseñanza universitaria enfrentó durante la transición abrupta a la modalidad virtual. Además de su labor docente, ha sido autora de diversos estudios sobre el impacto del estrés, el agotamiento emocional y la salud mental en los estudiantes de enfermería. Su enfoque interdisciplinario y su compromiso con la innovación educativa la han establecido como una líder en el campo de la educación en salud.

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Strengths for the Award

Dr. Mª de los Ángeles Merino Godoy is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award based on several notable strengths:

1. Pioneering Research Focus: Dr. Merino’s work addresses a critical and contemporary issue in healthcare education, particularly during the global health crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research on the transition from in-person to virtual education in nursing not only reflects her timely response to a global crisis but also establishes a significant body of knowledge that will shape future educational practices in healthcare disciplines.
2. Innovative Approach: Dr. Merino has demonstrated exceptional leadership in innovating nursing education in the face of unprecedented challenges. Her research explores the effects of virtual learning on nursing students, identifying critical gaps in curriculum delivery, practical training, and student satisfaction. This innovation is particularly relevant for the ongoing development of e-learning models in health education and will undoubtedly have long-term impacts on how nursing is taught.
3. Rigorous Methodology: The methodologies employed in Dr. Merino’s studies are robust and scientifically rigorous. Her large-scale quantitative studies (involving over 400 nursing students) are backed by comprehensive data analysis and carefully designed surveys, ensuring the reliability and validity of her findings. Her research not only presents clear insights into students’ satisfaction and challenges but also offers concrete recommendations for educational improvement.
4. Impact on Educational Policy: Dr. Merino’s work has had a tangible impact on educational policy. By revealing the critical shortcomings of virtual learning environments, her findings have spurred discussions about integrating more effective online tools and hybrid learning models into nursing curricula. Her research also highlights the need for more personalized and technologically supported education during crises, which is of vital importance for adapting to future global challenges.
5. Global Relevance and Recognition: The publications she has contributed to, such as in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and Journal of Clinical Medicine, showcase the international recognition of her work. Dr. Merino’s research has been widely cited, indicating that her findings resonate within the academic community and beyond.
6. Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Dr. Merino’s research is highly collaborative, reflecting her ability to work with diverse teams of experts from various disciplines such as mental health, healthcare, and technology. This multidisciplinary approach enhances the quality and scope of her studies, providing holistic insights into the challenges of nursing education during the pandemic.

Areas for Improvement

While Dr. Merino’s contributions are exemplary, there are always opportunities for growth in academic research:

1. Expanding Qualitative Insights: Most of Dr. Merino’s research to date has relied on quantitative methods. A deeper exploration of qualitative data could complement her findings by capturing the nuanced personal experiences and emotional aspects of nursing students’ transition to online learning. Qualitative research could provide a richer understanding of how students feel about the changes in their education and how these experiences might affect their professional development.
2. Long-Term Follow-Up: While her studies have provided valuable insights during the initial phases of the pandemic, long-term studies to track the ongoing effects of the shift to virtual learning could yield important data. This would help understand whether the issues raised, such as the lack of practical training, persist beyond the immediate pandemic period and how they evolve over time.
3. Broader Comparative Studies: Expanding the geographical scope of her studies to include non-Spanish universities and nursing programs from a variety of socio-economic contexts would offer a broader perspective on how different educational systems adapted to the challenges posed by the pandemic. A comparative study between regions or countries with varying technological access and educational infrastructures would strengthen the generalizability of her findings.
4. Focus on Teaching Methodologies: While her research emphasizes the technological and structural challenges faced by nursing students, a deeper exploration of how teaching methodologies themselves can be innovated for online and hybrid learning could be beneficial. Dr. Merino could focus more on pedagogical models that might specifically help bridge the gap between theoretical learning and practical application in nursing.

Education 

La Doctora Mª de los Ángeles Merino Godoy completó su Licenciatura en Enfermería en la Universidad de Huelva, donde también obtuvo su Máster en Educación en Ciencias de la Salud. Posteriormente, realizó su Doctorado en Ciencias de la Salud, con una investigación enfocada en la educación en enfermería y su adaptación a los desafíos contemporáneos. Su formación académica se complementa con múltiples cursos de gestión educativa y tecnologías aplicadas a la enseñanza. Además, ha sido parte de programas internacionales de investigación en colaboración con universidades y centros de salud de Europa, lo que le ha permitido aportar una visión global sobre la enseñanza en enfermería y su evolución frente a emergencias sanitarias. Su carrera académica y de investigación le ha permitido consolidarse como una experta en el desarrollo de nuevas metodologías pedagógicas en la enfermería.

Research Focus

La investigación de la Doctora Mª de los Ángeles Merino Godoy se centra principalmente en la educación en enfermería, con un enfoque particular en la adaptación de la enseñanza a los entornos virtuales y remotos durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Su trabajo ha abordado cuestiones clave como el estrés percibido, la salud mental de los estudiantes y la calidad educativa en situaciones de crisis. Además, ha explorado cómo la falta de interacción práctica afecta la preparación laboral de los estudiantes de enfermería, buscando soluciones innovadoras para integrar metodologías híbridas y simulaciones virtuales en el currículo académico. La resiliencia educativa y la adaptabilidad de los programas formativos frente a desafíos globales son también áreas clave de su investigación. A través de sus publicaciones, la doctora ha promovido una educación inclusiva y de calidad para las futuras generaciones de profesionales de la salud.

Publications

1. “Nursing Education during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Assessment of Students’ Satisfaction with e-Learning Environment” 📚💻
2. “Navigating Perceived Stress: Experiences of Nursing Students Completing Internships during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Spain” 😰💉
3. “The Upshot of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Nursing Assistants: Evaluating Mental Health Indicators in Huelva” 🏥🧠
4. “The influence of emotional burnout and resilience on the psychological distress of nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic” 😔💪
5. “Work–Family Interaction, Self-Perceived Mental Health and Burnout in Specialized Physicians of Huelva (Spain): A Study Conducted during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic” ⚖️🩺
6. “Psychological discomfort in nursing degree students as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic” 😟📖
7. “Gender and Tobacco Consumption among University Students” 🚭👩‍🎓
8. “Mobile Applications and Healthy Habits of Adolescents, a Strange Couple: Pilot Study of the Efficacy of the Healthy Jeart App” 📱🍎
9. “Confirmatory Validation of an Evaluation Instrument for Interventions Based on the Healthy Habits App Healthy Jeart with Adolescents” ✅👦👧

Conclusion

Dr. Mª de los Ángeles Merino Godoy’s contributions to the field of nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic are nothing short of outstanding. Her innovative research, rigorous methodology, and commitment to improving nursing education place her in the top tier of researchers in this domain. She has effectively bridged the gap between education theory and practice by identifying both the challenges and potential solutions for virtual learning environments, especially for practical disciplines like nursing.Her work not only addresses an immediate need during a global health crisis but also lays the groundwork for the future of education in healthcare professions. By advocating for more robust virtual learning tools, hybrid teaching methods, and a deeper understanding of student experiences, Dr. Merino is making a profound impact on how nursing education evolves in the digital age. She is an ideal candidate for the Best Researcher Award, and her research will continue to inspire positive change within academic, healthcare, and policy-making communities for years to come.