Zorica Kauric-Klein, PhD, RN

Associate Professor 
2033 Human Health Building 
Phone: (519) 990-0063
[email protected]

Dr. Kauric-Klein has been a faculty member since Fall 2017.  Her program of research focuses on behavior change interventions to promote adherence to self care behaviors in chronic diseases. She has conducted studies investigating the effect of self-regulation on blood pressure control in patients on chronic hemodialysis. She has also investigated the effect of sodium knowledge on blood pressure control in the chronic kidney disease population. Her research has expanded to mind body interventions to improve physical and psychological outcomes. Most recently, she has investigated the effect of a yoga intervention on physiological and psychological outcomes in patients on chronic hemodialysis which was funded by the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association. She has published her findings in several manuscripts in peer reviewed journals and has presented at several local and national conferences. Currently, she is investigating interventions to help promote exercise in the end stage chronic kidney disease population.  

Clinical Expertise: 

Dr. Kauric-Klein has over 25 years of experience as an adult nurse practitioner in a variety of clinical settings including, internal medicine, cardiology and nephrology.  

Education:

• PhD in Nursing – Wayne State University
• MSN – Adult Primary Care– Wayne State University
• BSN – University of Windsor

Research Area Interests:

• Hypertension
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Hemodialysis
• Interventions to Promote Adherence with Self-Care Behaviors
• Health Promotion Behaviors to Decrease Cardiovascular Risk

Research/Publications:

• Publications (Journal)
• Clark, M., & Kauric-Klein, Z. (2023). The Effect of Dialysis Shift on Depression and Sleep Disturbances in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis. Nephrol Nursing Journal. 50(4):293-303. PMID: 37695515.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2023). Effect of a yoga intervention on depression, anxiety, and sleep in patients on hemodialysis-A pilot study. CANNT Journal, 33(2), 10-17.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2022). The Effect of a Yoga Intervention on Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 49(4).
•  
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2019). Sodium Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis. Blood Purification, 1-8.   https://doi.org/10.1159/000502678
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2019). Effect of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Complementary therapies in clinical practice. 34, 41-45.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.11.004
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2018). Effect of yoga on physical and psychological outcomes in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Complementary therapies in clinical practice.
• Kauric-Klein. Z. (2017). Depression and Medication Adherence in Patients on Hemodialysis. Current hypertension reviews.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2017). Renal Consult: Bariatric surgery for chronic kidney disease. Clinician Reviews, 27(7), 12.
• Kauric-Klein, Z., Peters, R. M. & Yarandi, H. N. (2016). Self-efficacy and blood pressure self-care behavior in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Western Journal of Nursing, 1-20. doi: 10.1177/019394591.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2015). Understanding Hypertension in Patients on Hemodialysis. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 42(1), 69.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2013). Predictors of nonadherence with blood pressure regimens in hemodialysis. Patient preference and adherence, 7, 973.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2013). Factors affecting blood pressure control in hemodialysis. Journal of Hypertension, 2(2), 1-4.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2012). Blood pressure knowledge in hypertensive hemodialysis patients. Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists Journal, 22(4), 18-22.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2012). Calciphylaxis: A case study. Nephrology Nursing Journal: Journal of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association, 39(5), 406-408.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2012). Improving Blood Pressure Control Through a Supportive Educative Nursing Intervention. Nephrology Nursing Journal: Journal of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association, 39(3), 217-228.
• Kauric-Klein, Z., & Artinian, N. T. (2007). Improving blood pressure control in hypertensive hemodialysis patients. Canadian Association of Nephrology Nurses and Technologists Journal, 17(4), 24-29.
• Publications (Book Chapter)
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2021). Complementary Therapy-Yoga. In S. M. Bodin (Ed.), Contemporary Nephrology Nursing. (Chapter 55). American Nephrology Nurses Association. In press.   
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2017). Pulmonary Hypertension. In S. M. Bodin (Ed.), Contemporary Nephrology Nursing (3rd ed., pp. 527-535). Pitman, NJ: American Nephrology Nurses Association.
• Presentations (Poster-Referred)
• Presentations (Oral-Referred)
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2019, May). Sodium Knowledge, Beliefs and Behaviors in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis. Poster session presented at the meeting of National Kidney Foundation (2019) Spring Clinical Meetings, Boston, MA.  
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2018, April). Depression and Medication Adherence in Patients on Hemodialysis. Poster session presented at the National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings, Austin, TX. 
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2017, May).  Self-efficacy and blood pressure self-care behaviors in patients on chronic hemodialysis. Poster presentation presented at Wayne State University Research Day, Detroit, MI. 
• Presentations (Oral-Invited)
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2023, October). Improving Physical and Psychological Outcomes in patients on Chronic Hemodialysis through a Chair Yoga Intervention. American Nephrology Nurses’ Association (ANNA) Practice, Management & Leadership Conference, Chicago, IL.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2021, May 2 - 5). Treatment and Management of Complex Hypertension. [Conference Presentation]. National Virtual Symposium.
• Kauric-Klein, Z.  (2019, May).  Rising to the Challenge of Resistant Hypertension.  National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meetings, Boston, MA.
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2014, April). Hypertension in Hemodialysis.  Symposium conducted at the  45th Annual meeting of the American Nephrology Nurses’ Association, Anaheim, CA.       
• Grants
• March 2020 – Principal Investigator – American Nephrology Nurses Association – The Effect of a Yoga Intervention on Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis. Award Amount: $ 12,293
• March 2008 - June 2010: Principal Investigator – American Nephrology Nurses Association (ANNA) Evidenced Based Practice Grant for dissertation research – Improving BP Control in End-Stage Renal Disease, Award Amount: $5000.
• September 2005 – September 2006: Principal Investigator - Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan Student Award Program Pilot Project - Improving Blood Pressure Control in End–Stage Renal Disease, Award Amount - $2500.
• Other Scholarly Work
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2019). “Acute Kidney Injury”. National Kidney Foundation Professional Education Resource Centre.  
• Kauric-Klein, Z. (2018).  “Hypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease.”  National Kidney Foundation Professional Education Resource Centre.  

Professional Affiliations:

• National Kidney Foundation of Michigan
• American Nephrology Nurses’ Association 
• National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties 
• College of Nurses of Ontario
• American Nurses Credentialing Center