• Skip to Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Search

Open Search

IU School of Nursing

Indiana UniversitySchool of Nursing

School of NursingSchool of NursingSchool of Nursing

  • About
    • History
      • Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society
      • Milestones in IU Nursing History
    • Leadership
      • Faculty Governance
      • Staff Council
      • Organizational Chart
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation, Honors & Awards
    • Employment Opportunities
      • Open Positions
      • Culture & Community
    • Visiting Scholars
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
      • Undergraduate Programs
      • Graduate Programs
    • Cost & Financial Aid
      • Scholarships & Fellowships
    • Explore Career Options
  • Academics
    • Programs & Degree Tracks
      • Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
        • Traditional Track
          • Honors Program
        • Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track
        • RN to BSN Track
      • Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
        • Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
        • Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist
        • Nursing Education
        • Nursing Leadership in Health Systems
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice
        • BSN-DNP Nurse Practitioner
          • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
          • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
          • Family Nurse Practitioner
          • Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
          • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
        • Post-MSN DNP
          • Executive Leadership Track
          • Advanced Clinical Track
        • DNP student projects
      • PhD in Nursing Science
        • PhD student projects
      • Certificates
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Training
    • Simulation & Skills Centers
    • Learning Tools & Technologies
      • Online/Distance-Accessible Learning
      • Software, Hardware & Network Requirements
    • Clinical Partnerships
    • Become a Preceptor
    • Study Abroad
    • Global Programs
    • Health Policy & Advocacy
  • Research
    • Areas of Research Excellence
      • Serious Illness Care
      • Community and Health Systems
      • Quality of Life and Chronic Condition Management
      • Prevention and Health Promotion
    • Meet the Researchers
    • Centers
      • Champion Center for Cancer Control Research
      • Center for Enhancing Quality of Life in Chronic Illness
      • Social Network Health Research Lab
      • Research in Palliative & End-of-life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Center
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships
      • Current and Past Fellows
      • Cancer Prevention and Control
  • Outreach
  • Continuing Education
    • Upcoming Programs
      • The Policy Academy
      • Using Grounded Theory in Your Research
      • CNA Program Director and Instructor Training
      • Qualified Medication Aide Program Director Training
      • Orientation to Nursing Professional Development Practice
      • Canvas Intro
    • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training
    • Simulation Excellence
    • Lectureship Series
    • Past Programs
      • Urgency of Now
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni
      • Legacy Leaders Award
      • Bicentennial Award
      • Share Your Story
    • Parents & Families
    • Ways to Give
    • Get Involved
      • Military Service Survey
  • Main
  • Bloomington
  • Fort Wayne
  • Indianapolis
  • News & Events
  • Directory
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Mission, Vision & Values
    • Strategic Plan
    • Accreditation, Honors & Awards
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Visiting Scholars
  • Admissions
    • How to Apply
    • Cost & Financial Aid
    • Explore Career Options
  • Academics
    • Programs & Degree Tracks
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Training
    • Simulation & Skills Centers
    • Learning Tools & Technologies
    • Clinical Partnerships
    • Become a Preceptor
    • Study Abroad
    • Global Programs
    • Health Policy & Advocacy
  • Research
    • Areas of Research Excellence
    • Meet the Researchers
    • Centers
    • Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships
  • Outreach
  • Continuing Education
    • Upcoming Programs
    • Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Training
    • Simulation Excellence
    • Lectureship Series
    • Past Programs
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Alumni
    • Parents & Families
    • Ways to Give
    • Get Involved
  • Search
  • Main
  • Bloomington
  • Fort Wayne
  • Indianapolis
  • News & Events
  • Directory
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • Vital Signs Newsroom

"Quick Flutter Skip"

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Graphic including photo of Dr. Janet Carpenter and study article

A new study examines menopause-related heart palpitations.

Menopause: It’s a rite of passage for every woman, with many experiencing uncomfortable symptoms that can last for seven to 10 years. Historically, many women have ignored or dismissed their own symptoms, “many of which can be treated,” says IU School of Nursing Distinguished Professor and Audrey S. Geisel Endowed Chair, Dr. Janet S. Carpenter.

In a new research report, entitled “Quick Flutter Skip”: Midlife Women's Descriptions of Palpitations, Dr. Carpenter and colleagues examine how women experience menopause-related palpitations (a heightened awareness of your own heartbeat caused by rapid, irregular, or exaggerated heartbeats) – a symptom experienced by nearly half of menopausal women.

“We chose this topic” she says, “because there haven’t been any reports of how women talk about their palpitations.”

Dr. Carpenter interviewed 14 menopausal women, asking them to describe their feelings when experiencing palpitations. “We found that women had trouble describing their own palpitations,” she says.

Most importantly, half of the women had not yet talked to their healthcare provider about their symptoms – often describing extreme scenarios in which their symptoms would have to get much worse before they would feel comfortable sharing the information with their healthcare provider.

“In other words, they were dismissing their own symptoms as not being important. There are things that we can do to help women feel better,” says Carpenter, “if we can first understand what they are feeling.”

You can read more about Dr. Carpenter’s research here in Menopause journal. Dr. Carpenter and colleagues have a companion study to “Quick Flutter Skip,” in which women are wearing a heart monitor for several days, in an effort “to learn what the heart is doing when women feel these palpitations,” she says.

  • Vital Signs Newsroom
    • Search Articles
  • The Pulse of Indiana Nursing
  • Events
  • News at IU

IU School of Nursing social media channels

  • Give Now
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn

Indiana University

Accessibility | College Scorecard | Privacy Notice | Copyright © 2025 The Trustees of Indiana University