Dr.Kristen Vandenberg

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

Abstract Title:Mastering Teen/Young Adult Communication for Nurses and Educators.

Biography:

Dr. Vandenberg earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia and her Master of Science in Nursing Education from Mercer University. She furthered her education with a post-master's certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), along with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Tennessee.

Currently, Dr. Vandenberg serves as the Option Coordinator for the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. In addition, she runs her private practice, New Beginnings Mental Health, in Vail, Colorado, where she provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages.

Research Interest:

In the fast-moving world of teen/young adult talk, it is essential for professionals who work with these individuals to be up to date on modern slang – in some cases, there are new meanings every school year. The slang of today's youth is not just a quick interim from which they will grow; rather, it serves as an evolving instrument that accurately reflects their culture and interaction. Understanding this specialized linguistic space can increase communication and trust and help strengthen clinical comprehension between adolescents and nurses/educators.

The goal of this presentation is to provide tools that professionals can use immediately to decipher what teens/young adults are trying to communicate using slang. We will consider where and what meanings popular slang terms come from, how they are used in social environments, and their mental/ emotional implications.

The session will show attendees what teenage/young adult slang talks about broader social issues like identity, peer pressure, and mental health. The session will also explore the communication hurdles and opportunities that can occur when working with professionals unfamiliar with this growing terminology. When nurses and educators decode those expressions, they begin to understand the individuals better, fostering more meaningful interactions with them