MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

SCHOOL OF NURSING DEGREE PROGRAMS

} Nursing (BSN) } Nurse Educator (MSN) } Nurse Practitioner (BSN to DNP) } MSN to DNP } Nurse Anesthesiology (BSN to DNP) } Nurse Anesthesiology (MSN to DNP)

CERTIFICATE

} Nurse Educator

School of Nursing continues its record of excellence as leadership transitions

It was another stellar year for the dedicated faculty, staff and students in FGCU’s School of Nursing. And that was true even though COVID-19 caused disruptions in schedules and forced students and faculty to wear bulky protective gear and to expect the unexpected.

Nonetheless, classes remained live and in person, students progressed, faculty published books, one completed a doctoral degree while another became a family practitioner and advanced faculty continued to spend a day a week in the fi eld at community clinics and hospitals to keep their skills sharp.

Among the 2021-22 highlights: } Both the Master of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Nursing

Practice programs were ranked by U.S. News & World Report. } Shady Rest Foundation provided $3 million in funding for scholarships for undergraduates and graduate students who plan to work with older adults. } The school had its accreditation visit for the anesthesia program and was found compliant in all standards. Results are due in

October, but a 10-year accreditation is anticipated. } The school bid farewell to six remarkable faculty members, starting with Dr. Anne Nolan, director of the School of Nursing; as well as Dr. Rosann Spiegel, nurse anesthesiology program director; Dr. Lolita Melhado, assistant professor, DNP program;

Dr. Cheryl Swayne, assistant professor, DNP program;

Katherine Ingram, BSN instructor; and Tina Ellis, BSN instructor.

Collectively, the group had more than 200 years of nursing experience. } The Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse

Anesthesiology program held its inaugural white coat ceremony with a presentation to 24 students. The ceremony was delayed from the fall but proved even more meaningful for the students after having spent fi ve months in clinicals.

} BSN students achieved an outstanding

NCLEX-RN (national licensure exam) pass rate of 97.67% for 2021 – the highest among State University System nursing programs once again. The national average for baccalaureate programs was 86.06%.

Employment after graduation: 100%

First time certifi cation pass rate for Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner graduates: 100%

Social work department remains engaged in meeting needs of community

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK DEGREE PROGRAMS

} Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) } Master of Social Work (MSW)

CERTIFICATE

} Medical Social Work

Florida Gulf Coast University’s 120 undergraduate and 80 graduate social work students aren’t waiting to graduate to start tackling the problems of the world.

They are working with those who need them - the homeless, seniors, schoolchildren and others - as interns and volunteers. Faculty members are teaching by example as well.

Hugh Clark, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of the Department of Social Work, says faculty are currently working in three areas of interest that have been identifi ed as important to the community that is served by FGCU.

One ongoing project has been the Florida Higher Education Substance Use Disorder Consortium, a joint project with 12 social work departments across the state that have worked together to develop a curriculum on substance use disorders. Assistant Professor Leigh Taylor, Ph.D., and Clark have been active members of the consortium.

“We put together the consortium to develop a curriculum for social work programs, physician assistants, nurses, counselors,” Clark says. “It’s a 15-module curriculum on topics including policies, prevention and interventions. We see such a great need for being able to provide training in every aspect of substance abuse disorder.”

Meanwhile, Lirio Negroni, Ph.D., professor of social work, continues to work on the Immokalee Health Project, which looks at health disparities and prevention in the Collier County community. This research project will continue through the next year.

Leslie Meskin, DSW, an assistant professor of social work, has been active with the Community Autism Network on several autism-related research projects. Social work faculty have also been involved with the Immokalee Foundation’s summer camps. Clark, Negroni, Taylor and Instructor Tammy Walker all worked with the foundation to provide lessons on leadership, diversity, mindfulness and self-care.

Social work students were out in the fi eld helping with other big problems, such as the annual Lee County Point in Time Count. The student group is led by Tom Felke, Ph.D., associate professor and associate dean of Marieb College.

The students attend training then go into homeless camps and fi elds looking for those who are homeless so the county can attempt to track how many people there need housing, whether the numbers or rising or dropping and what other services are needed.

Other students continued conducting research in Immokalee on issues such as food insecurity. Still others worked with groups such as Community Cooperative and Blankets & Blessings, both of which provide services to area residents in need of basic services. Students and alumni making headlines this year included: } Alumna Evelyn

Philistin (’21, MSW), right, was named

South Zone Rookie of the Year by the Lee

County School District for her outstanding work. } Stephanie Cakov was the fi rst student to receive a fellowship to work with older residents at the Naples Senior Center.

“She has a passion for working with seniors,”

Clark says. Jackie Faffer, president and CEO of the Naples Senior Center, hopes that this will be the start of a long collaboration with the FGCU social work department. } Riley McLean was named Student of the Year for her overall excellence, which included her academic performance as well as her internship at The Dubin Center, a nonprofi t organization assisting those with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. In nominating her for the award, Felke says,

“Riley exemplifi es the ideals of servant leadership.”