Transforming patient care through trauma-informed research

As she prepares to cross the stage at Commencement this May, Jayme Aguero is leaving a meaningful mark on Marquette University's College of Nursing, one shaped by compassion, research, and a commitment to elevating patient care.

Aguero, who will earn her doctoral degree in Nursing with a specialization in nurse education, has spent the past three and a half years examining an often-overlooked dimension of healthcare: how patients experience trauma-informed care. Her work centers on understanding how healthcare providers can better recognize the widespread impact of trauma and create environments where patients feel safe, respected, and heard. "Trauma-informed care is about more than addressing past experiences," Aguero explains. "It's about approaching every patient interaction with awareness, empathy, and a commitment to building trust."

Her interest in this field began early in her nursing career. After working as a registered nurse in a Colorado academic medical center, Aguero pursued training as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), where she was first introduced to trauma-informed care principles. What started as a specialized skill quickly became foundational to how she approached all patient interactions. "I realized that even when patients don't share their trauma histories, those experiences can still shape how they engage with healthcare," says Aguero. "Trauma-informed care gave me a framework to ensure every patient felt safe and supported."

This insight ultimately inspired her dissertation, which explores adult patients' perspectives on receiving trauma-informed care in outpatient settings. While much of the existing research focuses on healthcare providers' knowledge and practices, Aguero's work shifts the lens to patients themselves, asking how they perceive, interpret, and benefit from this approach.

Her findings highlight a clear message: patients notice when trauma-informed principles are present, and they value them. Participants in her study described stronger trust in providers, improved communication, and a deeper sense of partnership in their care. Many also expressed that trauma awareness led to more thoughtful and informed clinical decisions. "Research is a powerful tool for advocacy," Aguero says. "By amplifying patient voices, we can improve how care is delivered and ensure it truly meets people's needs."

Beyond her research, Aguero has played an active role in shaping future nurses at Marquette. Since 2023, she has served as a clinical instructor, and in 2024 she expanded her role as a nursing academic coach and program support specialist. In these positions, she mentors both undergraduate and graduate students, helping them build clinical skills while also encouraging a more compassionate, patient-centered approach to care.

Her commitment to trauma-informed principles extends into the classroom, where she is exploring ways to integrate these concepts into nursing education. By doing so, she hopes to equip the next generation of nurses with tools to better support patients from all backgrounds.

Aguero credits much of her growth to the mentorship she received throughout her doctoral journey. She worked closely with faculty including Dr. Jessica Zemlak, whose community-engaged research focuses on supporting marginalized women, as well as her dissertation chair Dr. Kristin Haglund and committee members Dr. Amy Newman and Melinda Hughes. She also acknowledges the guidance of Dr. Jill Guttormson, Dr. Amber Young-Brice, and Dr. Jennifer Ohlendorf. "These mentors not only shaped me as a researcher and educator, but truly cared about me as a person," Aguero says.

That support became especially meaningful during a deeply personal challenge this past year, when Aguero lost her father to pancreatic cancer. With the encouragement of her mentors, she persevered, successfully defending her dissertation in March and preparing for graduation this spring. "My mentors embody cura personalis in every sense," she reflects, referencing the Jesuit value of caring for the whole person.

Outside of academia, Aguero continues to serve the Milwaukee community as a nurse practitioner at two free healthcare clinics, ensuring access to quality care for underserved populations. She has also contributed to multiple research projects and manuscript publications, including collaborating with community partners at the Sojourner Family Peace Center. Sojourner is a domestic violence prevention and intervention organization located in Milwaukee that provides comprehensive services to families affected by domestic violence. Additionally, she has presented her work at regional conferences, including the Midwest Nursing Research Society and Building Bridges.

Looking ahead, Aguero hopes to expand her research to further integrate trauma-informed care into both clinical practice and nursing education, ultimately improving patient outcomes and experiences. "Every patient deserves to feel seen, heard, and respected," she says. "If we can achieve that, we're not just improving care, we're transforming it." For Aguero, the mission is clear: combine research, education, and service to create a more compassionate healthcare system.

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