Penn State Nursing — Summer 2023

Ross and Carol Nese honored as Penn State’s Philanthropists of the Year

nursing.psu.edu

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Summer 2023

NURSING

In this issue

ii

2

Infographic: The Impacts of Giving

3

Ross and Carol Nese honored as Penn State’s Philanthropists of the Year

4

Nese College of Nursing Alumni Society celebrates 2023 Alumni Award recipients

6

Multicultural Student Nursing Association advocates for nurses' rights in D.C.

7

Harrisburg veteran overcomes challenges to complete second-degree nursing program

8

$2 million grant to provide scholarships to attract and support nursing students

10

Can light ease some symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia?

12

Penn State Nursing student and leukemia survivor fulfilled her dream of dancing in THON 2023

13

Doctoral Nurse Practitioner program introduces psych-mental health option

14

Professor of Nursing Donna Fick named American Geriatrics Society president

16

Nese College of Nursing implements piloted resilience and wellness program

www.nursing.psu.edu nursing.psu.edu

Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Dean Laurie A. Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN Editors/Designers Morgann McAfee, Director of Strategic Communications and Recruitment John McShea, Assistant Director of Brand Strategy Writers Amy Caputo, CGNE Marketing and Communications Specialist Brooke Killmon, Assistant Director of News and Public Relations Stephanie Libertucci, Marketing and Communications Intern Morgann McAfee, Director of Strategic Communications and Recruitment Emma Portier, Marketing and Communications Intern Visuals Penn State, Morgann McAfee, Director of Strategic Communications and Recruitment Development and Alumni Relations Emily Griffin, Development and Alumni Relations Stewardship Coordinator Lindsey Zapletal, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Programs Cover Art

Forrest Fortier, ’86 A nursing graduate, Fortier began a series of collages, The Power of Nursing, as a therapeutic outlet and to reflect on the nursing experience during COVID-19. The cover image is part of a series commissioned by the college.

Penn State Nursing is a biannual publication. Articles may be reprinted with permission and proper credit. To make a reprint request email Morgann McAfee at mes44@psu.edu.

The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Email: aao@psu.edu, Tel (814) 8630471. This publication is available in alternative media upon request.

U.Ed. NUR 23-08.

Dear Alumni and Friends, In case you’ve not heard, I am thrilled to share Ross and Carol Nese, two remarkable individuals with a profound commitment to advancing healthcare, have been recognized as Penn State's Philanthropists of the Year. Their generous contributions and unwavering support have elevated our college to new heights, enabling us to create a lasting impact in the field of nursing education and research. You can read more about this honor on page three.

Laurie A. Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN

Additionally, it gives me great pleasure to celebrate a significant milestone — the 10th anniversary of the College of Nursing. Over the past decade, we have nurtured a community of passionate and skilled nursing professionals who are making a difference in countless lives across the commonwealth and beyond. Together, we have grown stronger, achieving milestones that seemed insurmountable a decade ago.

In our continuous pursuit of excellence, I am thrilled to announce the launch of our new Psych Mental Health option in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. With mental health being a critical aspect of overall well-being, this addition to our curriculum will empower our students to address the evolving challenges in mental healthcare with compassion and expertise.

As we celebrate these remarkable milestones and foster a spirit of togetherness, I extend a warm invitation to all faculty, staff, students, and alumni to join us at our annual tailgate on September 9. Let's come together to cherish our accomplishments and look ahead to an even brighter future. Please visit nursing.psu.edu/calendar for more details.

Thank you for being an integral part of our Nese College of Nursing family.

Together, we will continue to shape the future of nursing and healthcare for the betterment of all.

Be well, Laurie

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Infographic

By The Numbers

Penn State nursing students are more likely to come from low-income backgrounds than the average student. Through funding, we can ease the burden of the next generation's nurses.

Across all Penn State campuses, nursing students are more likely to identify as "low income" in comparison to the broader undergraduate community. Let's look at the figures:

$ In our Summer 2022 issue, we detailed how a nursing degree is one of the most expensive at Penn State.

Coupled with the fact that they are more likely to come from lower-income families, our students face atypical financial burden.

17%

of all Penn State nursing undergraduates report as low income.

14%

of all Penn State undergraduates report as low income.

$4,500/year

Nursing students are roughly 21% more likely to identify as "low income" than the average Penn State student.

tuition difference Nursing students encounter special fees for licensure, scrubs, and exam software.

Data courtesy of the Office of Student Aid.

The Impacts of Giving

150

During the past five years, the number of nursing students receiving yearly hardship funds has more than doubled (58 students to 139), thanks to increased support from gifting. Despite the increase, these funds reach only 8% of all undergraduate nursing students — or, less than half of the 17% of nursing students reported as "low income."

The graph to the right illustrates the number of students who have received hardship funds during each of the last five academic years.

120 90 60 30 18-19

19-20 20-21 21-22 22-23

nursing students pay an extra $10,000 more than the average student — at least!

Help ease the burden of tomorrow's nurses today:

2

nursing.psu.edu

nursing.psu.edu/give

Ross and Carol Nese honored as Penn State's Philanthropists of the Year

P

enn State has named Ross and Carol Nese, whose landmark commitment in 2021 named the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, as its 2023 Philanthropists of the Year. The award recognizes individuals, couples or families who have demonstrated exceptional generosity in the promotion and support of the University. The Neses’ support has an intended impact to grow the number of Penn State nursing graduates by 20% over the next decade.

“Ross and Carol Nese share the University’s belief that patients and families deserve exceptional health care at every stage of life,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “By helping Penn State to accelerate the growth of our nursing programs and provide the very best in education and training, the Neses have become our partners in preparing the nursing professionals who will deliver that care.”

Ross Nese is a founder and board member of Grane Healthcare, which manages long-term care facilities throughout Pennsylvania, and the couple’s philanthropy reflects their understanding of the commonwealth’s healthcare needs. Their naming gift of $27.125 million — the largest ever

for the College of Nursing and the second-largest single commitment to any Penn State academic unit — is spurring growth and enhancing programming across nearly every aspect of the college’s operations.

New scholarships will attract the most promising students and ensure they leave with less debt upon graduation. Expanded infrastructure will meet capacity need and the acquisition of new high-tech equipment that extends clinical learning in novel ways. Further, the Neses’ support has provided seed funding for innovation and entrepreneurial endeavors, as well as an endowed program that will support areas such as professorships and fellowships, teaching awards, recruitment, research start-up funding, conferences, study abroad, and student leadership programs.

The naming gift built upon the Neses’ past support for the college, nearing $10 million, which provided funding for scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students and endowed a professorship within the nursing faculty. In recognition of the unique health needs of the aging U.S. population, the Neses also named the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence

(CGNE). The naming is in memory of both Ross and Carol’s mothers, a commitment that aligns with CGNE's dedication not only to improve healthcare and quality of life for older adults but also to their families who support their health and well-being.

“The national shortage of nurses and other medical professionals has had a disproportionate impact on Pennsylvania and Pennsylvanians, and the Neses have positioned our college and Penn State to be in the forefront of addressing this urgent need,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “I am deeply grateful and profoundly honored by the trust that the Neses have placed in us to fulfill their vision and extend their legacy to students, patients and communities across the commonwealth.”

With the record-breaking success of “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” which raised $2.2 billion from 2016 to 2022, philanthropy is helping to sustain the University’s tradition of education, research and service to communities across the commonwealth and around the globe. To learn more about the impact of giving and the continuing need for support, please visit: raise.psu.edu. +

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Nursing Generations

Nese College of Nursing Alumni Society celebrates 2023 Alumni Award recipients T

he Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and its Alumni Society Board awarded six distinguished alumni nursing awards and six college awards to undergraduate and graduate students, engaged alumni, faculty and staff at the annual Awards Celebration reception and dinner on March 31 at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center.

Student awards recognize academic achievement; leadership skills; and contributions to the college, community and the University. Alumni awards recognize alumni who have a record of significant professional achievements in their field and acknowledge their dedication to the college and their respective communities. Similarly, college awards acknowledge faculty, staff and students for their dedication to the college and their respective communities.

Each award nominee is evaluated by the Nursing Alumni Society Awards Committee, and with consideration of many different criteria. These recipients have been formally recognized by the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing as exemplifying what it truly means to be a nurse or nurse educator. +

Photos: Award recipients and celebration attendees enjoy an evening together.

4

nursing.psu.edu

Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing Awards Staff Appreciation Award Tana McGhee-Wegner Janet A. Williamson Excellence in Teaching Award Kristal Hockenberry Beta Sigma Student Achievement Award Samantha Anderson Kim Gedney-Guzik Memorial Award Arianna Fauth Norris Himes Adult Critical Care Student Nursing Award Alaina Davis Janet A. Williamson Graduate Award in Nursing Yo-Jen Kazmer Liao

Alumni Society Board Awards The Paula Milone-Nuzzo Alumni Volunteer of the Year Award Gail Latimer, '83 The Emerging Professional Award Julia Mauro, '17; Krysta Spangler, '14 The Alumni Achievement Award Jennifer Wissemann, '00, '20g The Undergraduate Student Service Award Kyle Loose The Doctoral Nursing Student Academic Excellence Award Sherif Olanrewaju

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Representation in Nursing

Multicultural Student Nursing Association advocates for nurses' rights in D.C.

T

he Multicultural Student Nursing Association (MSNA) visited Washington, D.C. on Feb. 2 for National Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill sponsored by the National Black Nurses Association (NBNA). The event brings Black healthcare leaders together annually to advocate for health policy with congressional officials.

Founded by students in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, MSNA aims to unify those with different ethnic backgrounds and is dedicated to recruiting, networking, and creating a safe space for students of color both academically and through campus life. To help achieve the organization’s goals, MSNA partnered with the Penn State Student Engagement Network and received a $15,000 grant to fund travel costs for members along with subsidizing programming for MSNA’s Leadership Engagement and Advocacy Program (LEAP).

The initiative, led by MSNA president and second-year nursing student Alexandra Reaves, became a year-long endeavor to educate students on healthcare issues and give back to the community.

“It all started with an idea to apply for a grant to fund our community outreach efforts throughout the year, so we created the LEAP project and opened the opportunity up to all of our members,” Reaves said.

“With the money from the grant, we were able to create different fundraisers and begin advocacy and awareness efforts, especially

6

nursing.psu.edu

for issues that affect communities of color.”

During their visit to the nation’s capital, MSNA students hoped “to create health advocacy, awareness, and fundraising efforts for the communities [they] serve,” as shared in a social media post.

Their advocacy efforts followed the National Black Nurses Association’s legislative priorities including health equity, obesity, black maternal health, criminal justice reform, gun violence, mental health, and climate justice.

Students had the opportunity to speak with Pennsylvania representatives including Representative Glenn Thompson, Senator Bob Casey, and Senator John Fetterman. Throughout these conversations, students were able to network with attendees and speak on their experiences as nursing students of color.

Associate dean for equity and inclusion in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, Sheldon Fields, who is also NBNA’s fourteenth president and MSNA’s advisor, guided the students’ journey from the ideation process to the excursion to Washington D.C. for National Black Nurses Day. “As a nurse, you need to be a healthcare advocate,” Fields said.

“Being able to articulate your stance is an incredibly transferable skill, and this trip gave them the tools to do that.”

MSNA took the lessons learned in Washington D.C. back to Penn State with their Feb. 28 presentation “MSNA Goes to Capitol Hill: A Lesson

MSNA at the United States Capitol

in Black Nurse Advocacy”.

This presentation allowed the students to share more on Black nurse advocacy, extending the knowledge they received to different audiences across the commonwealth.

“Your voice matters,” Reaves said. “Going into the trip, I was nervous. I had never met with a representative and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but we really felt like we made a difference having the chance to advocate for ourselves, especially meeting with specific politicians that were making decisions on our behalf.” +

Harrisburg veteran overcomes challenges to complete second-degree nursing program

A

merican Indians experience particularly unique and inequitable difficulties, often being subjected to harmful stigmas, poverty, abuse, lack of resources, and much more. Despite the overwhelming odds, American Indians like Stacia Fredericks, current Penn State Harrisburg Second Degree Nursing student, defy the systemic oppression, paving the way for others like her through hope and perseverance.

Spending her adolescence on remote portions of the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, Fredericks was exposed to inadequate education and other deficient resources. Determined to be successful in life, she enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001, having the opportunity to build a fulfilling career and travel all over the world on deployments to Australia, Japan, Guam, Iraq, Kuwait, France, and many others.

“Growing up on the Navajo Reservation was hard due to sexual and intergenerational trauma, losing a friend to suicide, poverty, lack of knowledge, resources, and support. Despite all of this, I have my grandparents, parents, and family to thank for always encouraging me in whatever endeavors I have and continue to pursue throughout my life.”

After rising quickly through the ranks and having her colonel, Philippe Rogers, encourage her to go to school, she began her college career at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, double majoring in health, science and athletic training. After three years,

Fredericks with Brady Chubchubs

Fredericks became injured, had to stop school, and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps after 10 years of service. In spite of the deviation from her original path, her grandfather, who was an avid Penn State fan, suggested she go back and finish school there. After moving to Pennsylvania and falling in love with the area, she resumed her schooling at Penn State Harrisburg. In 2021, Fredericks finished out her bachelor's, graduating with a kinesiology degree.

However, on a medical mission trip she attended in El Salvador around that time, Fredericks saw firsthand the amazing work done by nurses, explaining “It really affected me seeing people in need and people waiting six months for medical treatment. There I met a nurse practitioner, Diane Whitcomb, and seeing her interacting with patients and sharing her experiences really touched me.

I felt like being a nurse you can make such an impact helping people, and the hard things I've gone through have given me a lot

more empathy and compassion for people who are suffering.”

After speaking with Penn State Harrisburg nursing coordinators, she applied and was accepted into the second-degree nursing program and is now on track to earn her BSN this fall. Fredericks says she recognizes God and her service dog, Brady ChubChubs, as pillars of strength and motivation during times of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder that was sustained in the military.

Fredericks has been a pioneer for American Indians in STEM. She is a 2022-23 AISES (Advancing Indigenous People in STEM) Scholar, was awarded the 202223 Cobell Scholarship, the 202223 American Indian Medical Scholarship Award Program (AIMS), and the President's Freshman Award in 2019.

“I know how it is to struggle, but I want to prove to other American Indians in the middle of nowhere battling with the stigmas, poverty and lack of education and jobs, that they can do it, just like me – it is possible,” Fredericks expressed. +

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Preparing Nurse Leaders

$2 million grant to provide scholarships to attract and support nursing students A

historic grant benefiting nursing students across five Penn State campuses is set to boost recruitment, expand mentorship and leadership opportunities, and fund a wave of new scholarships.

The Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has been awarded $2 million by the Bedford Falls Foundation, a donor-advised fund that supports a wide range of charitable and educational causes.

The grant will fund the Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship, named for the donors

8

nursing.psu.edu

who established Bedford Falls Foundation-DAF, and create a new cohort of approximately 38 undergraduates who are seeking their bachelor of science degrees in nursing. Each Conway Scholar will receive a total of $40,000 dispersed annually over four years, easing their financial burden and clearing the path for them to focus on developing skills in the field of nursing.

Eligibility for nursing students will span five Penn State campuses — Behrend, Fayette, Mont Alto, Schuylkill, and Scranton — that

have the existing infrastructure to accommodate and enroll additional students.

“At a time when the commonwealth and the nation broadly are facing a critical shortage of nurses, the Conways not only foresaw the urgency of the problem but acted with decisive leadership to boost resources for nursing students,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi. “We are deeply grateful for this leadership by the Conways and the generous support of the Bedford Falls

Foundation-DAF. “Penn State has proven WE SEEK TO ADDRESS THE LOOMING Empowering our it has the expertise graduates to serve and infrastructure NURSING SHORTAGE BY GREATLY the needs of their to educate these REDUCING THE BURDEN OF DEBT communities is at undergraduates, so our NURSING STUDENTS FACE... the heart of Penn role has been to make State’s land-grant sure these opportunities and academic are affordable and Nese College of Nursing is mission, which is why we are so accessible for students from one of the largest educators of excited about the extraordinary every background who dream of pre-licensure students in the impact this grant is poised to becoming nurses.”

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. make.”

Gifts like the Joanne and William Since its founding in 1964, Penn The Joanne and William Conway Nursing Scholarship State nursing has grown into a Conway Nursing Scholarship will advance the University’s historic nationally recognized flagship be strengthened by an additional land-grant mission to serve and program and now awards more stream of funding from the grant to lead. Through philanthropy, alumni than 500 bachelor’s degrees hire a faculty member dedicated and friends are helping students annually, as well as many other to supporting and tracking the to join the Penn State family and certificates and advanced success of Conway Scholars. The prepare for lifelong success; degrees. The college was recently position will provide academic and driving research, outreach and designated a Center of Excellence professional nursing mentorship economic development that grow by the National League for and facilitate leadership our shared strength and readiness Nursing, highlighting the college’s opportunities throughout the for the future; and increasing the investment in its nurse educators program. Most notably, in their University’s impact for families, and their professional growth. third year, Conway Scholars will patients, and communities across With the launch of new enroll in the WE LEAD program, the commonwealth and around initiatives by the provost and the which provides experiential the world. Learn more by visiting Office of the Vice President for learning for nursing students in raise.psu.edu. + Commonwealth Campuses to leadership, including matters of enhance recruitment, the Conway entrepreneurship, negotiation and Scholarships are projected to play innovation. a key role in generating interest “Given the high cost of earning from prospective students and a nursing degree, we have made it boosting enrollment across the a top priority to obtain substantial nursing program. support for nursing students,” Penn State is among a said Laurie Badzek, dean of the growing list of nursing programs Ross and Carol Nese College of throughout Maryland, Virginia, Nursing. “With rural Pennsylvania Washington, D.C., North Carolina in particular facing chronic unmet and Pennsylvania that have need in nursing staff, this grant Support the Next received substantial support from the Bedford Falls FoundationNursing Generation through the philanthropy of Bill DAF represents an enormous leap and Joanne Conway. In 1987, forward in our ability to graduate To make a gift to the Ross Bill Conway co-founded the nurses who can deliver highand Carol Nese College of Carlyle Group, a multinational quality care to every corner of the Nursing, scan the QR code private equity, alternative asset commonwealth.” with your phone’s camera, management and financial As the nursing shortage visit nursing.psu.edu/give, services corporation, and currently continues to affect areas or connect with our Office serves as co-executive chairman. across the country, Penn State of Development and Alumni “We seek to address the is positioned to be a leader in Relations by emailing looming nursing shortage by mitigating the crisis. With more conalumni@psu.edu or greatly reducing the burden of than 2,200 undergraduate calling 814-867-5534. debt nursing students face after and graduate students on 13 they graduate,” said Bill Conway. campuses, the Ross and Carol PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Nursing Research

Can light ease some symptoms in nursing home residents

WI TH DE M E N T IA? R

esearchers from Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and the College of Engineering have received a 20-month, $411,982 grant from the National Institute on Aging to study the effects of ambient lighting interventions in nursing homes. The collaborative project will focus on nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

While memory loss is typically one of the first warning signs of dementia, people with the condition also frequently experience at least one other behavioral or psychological symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, wandering, apathy or depression.

Some of these symptoms can stem from the disruption of circadian rhythm, which is a degenerative change often experienced by people with dementia, said project co-lead Ying-Ling Jao, associate professor of nursing. She noted that prior research suggests interior daylight conditions in nursing homes do not expose residents to sufficient sunlight to stimulate circadian rhythm. As such, Jao said, interventions using bright lights may offer positive effects.

“Lighting interventions provide a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and have been widely accepted and applied in nursing

10

nursing.psu.edu

homes to reduce agitation and other symptoms,” Jao said. “But traditional lighting intervention methods have fundamental gaps that must be addressed.”

Current lighting intervention methods use desktop light boxes that require the person to sit and keep their eyes oriented toward a bright light for one or two hours. According to Jao, this approach can add considerably to the workload of nursing home staff who deliver and monitor the individual light box interventions to residents.

A recent review of the available scientific literature, led by Jao, indicated that ambient lighting interventions are an efficient alternative to traditional lightbox interventions. Ambient lighting interventions, which are built into the infrastructure of the room and do not require the same burdensome delivery and monitoring, appear to offer the same positive effects on the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia as traditional approaches. Daylight also helps, according to the researchers, but previous studies have not considered natural lighting and ambient bright light together.

“Daylight intensity and spectral compositions vary at different times, seasons and weather conditions, and the variety becomes even more complicated when considering the diversity

of architectural windows,” said project co-lead Julian Wang, associate professor of architectural engineering. “Incorporating such daylight variations is one major challenge when developing ambient lighting conditions. We are interested in the potential benefits of designing or retrofitting nursing homes to seamlessly provide lighting interventions via smart ambient lighting.”

The researchers will use the grant to develop a more efficient and comprehensive lighting intervention method called smart ambient bright light (SABL).

The proposed SABL will provide auto-controlled, consistent indoor lighting that incorporates natural daylight. A pre-programmed 24hour control schedule will mimic the natural bright-dark cycle and automatically adjust lights to accommodate daylight variations and maximize the lighting intervention. The programmed controls will adjust automatically, minimizing the need for nursing home staff to maintain them.

“This SABL system will incorporate customized light sensors in the near-window zone and feed the monitored daylight information to the electrical lighting systems for intensity and spectrum tuning,” Wang said. “To develop this loop, we will also need to characterize circadian radiometric quantities — electromagnetic radiation, including visible light

Top: From left, PhD student Yo-Jen Liao, associate professors Ying Ling Jao and Julian Wang, PhD student Shevvaa Beiglary Bottom: Researchers use spectrometers and light monitors to capture ambient light conditions

— transmitted through windows under different conditions.”

The researchers will place SABL systems in the resident bedrooms and designated common areas of two Pennsylvania nursing homes to evaluate the acceptability, feasibility and appropriateness of the intervention. Each participating nursing home resident will wear a personal light monitor to measure how much light they receive from the SABL system.

In addition to calculating cost and time to install and maintain SABL, the researchers will survey and individually interview all participants, including residents and nursing home employees, to learn about their experience with the system.

“We plan to comprehensively evaluate the fidelity of SABL delivery,” Wang said. “Ultimately, we aim to establish evidencebased implementation strategies

and the best design for SABL to reduce agitation for persons with dementia living in nursing homes.”

According to Sez AtamturkturRusscher, Harry and Arlene Schell Professor and head of the Department of Architectural Engineering, the study demonstrates the power of multidisciplinary collaboration.

“Ensuring a high-quality indoor environment is critically important for the performance and wellbeing of building occupants,” Atamturktur-Russcher said. “This study on circadian rhythm, co-led

by Dr. Wang and Dr. Jao, is very timely and stands to be highly impactful for practicing engineers and those who work or live in residential care facilities.”

Other members of the research team include Marie Boltz, professor of nursing, and Diane Berish, assistant research professor of nursing, both from

Penn State, and Margaret Calkins, president of Innovative Designs in Environments for an Aging Society. +

Bolster Our Research We are developing solutions to improve human health and the quality of life.

To help us, scan the QR code with your phone’s camera, visit nursing.psu.edu/give, or connect with our Office of Development and Alumni Relations by emailing conalumni@psu.edu or calling 814-867-5534.

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Preparing Nurse Leaders

Penn State Nursing student and leukemia survivor fulfilled her dream of dancing in THON 2023

Stampien (left) with her IDC partner

G

race Stampien, a thirdyear Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing BSN student from Scranton, PA, has a unique and inspiring perspective when it comes to pediatric cancer and THON, the largest student-run childhood cancer philanthropy organization.

Growing up, Stampien was an athlete and always in the weight room but had been dealing with back pain throughout her third year of high school. She was a tough athlete and attributed the pain to basketball and lifting.

However, halfway through her basketball season, the pain became unbearable.

Time passed and she had x-rays, MRIs, been to physical therapy, and seen a chiropractor.

Nobody could identify the cause of her back pain.

On February 27, 2019, her pediatrician referred her to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and she was admitted in the ER and then transferred

12

nursing.psu.edu

to the oncology floor, where she was soon diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia B cell type.

Thankfully, after two and a half years of treatment, she took her last chemo pill on July 17, 2021.

Despite being cancer free, her journey was rife with challenges.

Throughout treatment, she experienced almost all the side effects and spent over 130 nights in the hospital dealing with treatment complications.

She also spent her first year in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing taking online classes, which was a blessing since she was still in treatment. “Trying to juggle treatment and school were enough,” she said, so it wasn't until her second year when she became involved in THON. Stampien joined THON through the Student Nurses’ Association at Penn State (SNAPS) and CHAARG, and after walking into the Bryce Jordan Center and experiencing THON firsthand, there was no doubt she had to dance. Stampien

and her friend then agreed to dance as an Independent Dancer Couple (IDC) in THON 2023.

“I wanted to dance for the people who didn't make it through treatment and the people who went through it as well," Stampien said. "It was hard enough for me at 17, so I can only imagine what it's like for these little kids who have no idea what is going on.”

Since her diagnosis in 2019 and her involvement with THON, she has met many Four Diamonds’ families and has connected with people who share similar experiences. THON has become more than just philanthropy to her, it is personal.

“I don't think students realize the extent of what they are doing.

A lot more comes with a cancer diagnosis than just a huge medical bill. It's everything like traveling back and forth to appointments, food, and Four Diamonds’ covers all of that. I don't think other people realize until you are on the other side, like wow this is so helpful to so many people.”

Stampien has been in remission for a year and a half and has routine appointments every three months to monitor her health.

Stampien feels optimistic for the future and will spend her summer externship caring for children in the pediatric oncology unit at CHOP. This full-circle moment will undoubtedly serve as a source of inspiration as she cares for our most vulnerable, mirroring the care that she received during some of her most challenging years. +

Doctoral Nurse Practitioner program introduces psych-mental health option

I

n 2021, 1 in 5 adults experienced a mental illness in the United States. Pairing this stark reality with the shortage of nurses and health care providers, the need for well-educated, highly trained mental health clinicians has never been greater. As a result, Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has launched a Psychiatric-Mental Health option as part of the doctoral nurse practitioner (DNP) program.

“Nurse practitioners are well positioned to fulfill a myriad of needs across the healthcare landscape, not least of which are mental health-oriented,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “NPs who are prepared at the doctoral level with a mental health focus can provide the necessary care to bolster patient outcomes and meet the evergrowing mental health needs in communities across the state and nation.”

The psych-mental health curriculum has been designed to teach a range of fundamentals necessary to deliver high-quality care. Students will develop skills for cognitive and behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, and an understanding of the neuroscience and psychobiology of mental health, both of which are foundational for brain health and wellness. Further, students will learn about treatment options, ranging from psychotherapy to pharmacological options.

As with all DNP programs, this option will culminate with a

project and clinical experience.

Prospective students must have a valid Pennsylvania nursing license, and their clinical experience must also be in Pennsylvania.

Developed by expert faculty within the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, this program option meets the American Academy of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) DNP Essentials guide and aligns with the official position of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

The college is fully accredited by Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education with the curriculum being approved by the State Board of Nursing for Pennsylvania.

Delivered online through Penn

State World Campus, the program enables students to take courses online in either full- or parttime status. Students can enroll with a BSN or MSN, and clinical experience is not a requirement; rather, it is incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate a seamless transition for current BSN undergraduates. With rolling admissions, students can apply anytime, but doing so early ensures priority status. + Visit the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing website to learn more about the psychmental health nurse practitioner option by visiting: nursing.psu.edu/dnp-np

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Title here Nurse Leaders

Donna M. Fick, PhD, RN, GCNS-BC, FGSA, FAAN, became the third advanced practice nurse to serve as AGS leader in its 80-year history

D

istinguished nurse clinician, educator and researcher Donna M. Fick became president of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) at its 2023 Annual Scientific meeting, which took place May 4–6.

Fick is an Elouise Ross Eberly Endowed Professor of Nursing at Penn State’s Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and director of the Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE).

She is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in geriatric care and research focused on improving connections between settings and disciplines, disseminating geriatrics models of care, and supporting frontline staff and clinicians in the

14

nursing.psu.edu

Professor of Nursing Donna Fick named A ME R ICA N GE R IAT R IC S SOC IE T Y PR E SID E N T

recognition of delirium. Fick has extensive expertise in and sustained National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in delirium superimposed on dementia (DSD) and has led the updates of criteria for inappropriate medication use in the care of older adults for over 20 years.

“We are thrilled that Donna Fick — an exemplary scholar and, of course, a compassionate and accomplished Penn State nurse leader — has become AGS’ next president,” said Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “Leading with intention and empathy will be hallmarks of Donna’s AGS tenure, I am certain. During this critical time in providing quality care, forwarding policy,

and supporting interdisciplinary teams that surround our older adult populations, AGS is in good hands.”

An AGS member since 1999 who has served on its board since 2015, Fick said she is committed to working with the society’s leaders and 6,000+ members to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of all older adults.

“I have always appreciated AGS’ focus, support and advancement of an interprofessional team approach that puts older adults and caregivers at the center, embraces the best evidence and innovation, and is dedicated to caring for our workforce,” Fick said. “I am humbled and honored to be stepping into the presidential role at an organization

About the that celebrates the American joy of caring for older I AM HUMBLED AND HONORED Geriatrics adults, supports its TO BE STEPPING INTO THE Society members to overcome PRESIDENTIAL ROLE AT AN the challenges that we ounded in 1942, face, and advocates ORGANIZATION THAT CELEBRATES the AGS is a for a future vision THE JOY OF CARING FOR OLDER nationwide, notwhere we all are ADULTS... for-profit society of supported by and geriatrics healthcare able to contribute to professionals inclusive communities dedicated to improving the health, where ageism, ableism, classism, “Dr. Fick is a passionate independence and quality of life homophobia, racism, sexism, advocate for interprofessional of older people. The 6,000+ AGS xenophobia, and other forms of team care and for centering older members include geriatricians, bias and discrimination no longer adults and their caregivers in geriatrics nurse practitioners, impact healthcare access, quality shared decision-making while social workers, family practitioners, and outcomes for older adults and ensuring that decision-making is physician assistants, pharmacists their caregivers.” informed by the best evidence and internists who are pioneers Fick also serves as an expert and innovation,” said current AGS in advanced-illness care for faculty member and coach for the President G. Michael Harper. older individuals, with a focus on Creating an Age Friendly Health “Donna is a nationally recognized championing interprofessional System Initiative funded by the leader who has advanced our teams, eliciting personal care John A. Hartford Foundation knowledge of how clinicians goals and treating older people as (JAH) and led by the Institute of approach delirium in the hospital whole persons. AGS advocates for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). She setting. She has shared her policies and programs that support served on the National Academy expertise with us across multiple the health, independence and of Medicine (NAM) Committee initiatives and the AGS is stronger quality of life of all people as they on the Public Health Dimensions because of that. She is a wonderful age. + of Cognitive Aging and has colleague and friend, and I am served on the National Academy looking forward to continuing of Sciences, Engineering, and to work with her to advance our Medicine Forum on Aging, vision in the coming year.” + Disability and Independence since 2017. In 2020, she was an invited author on the NAM Health Affairs paper, “Actualizing Better Health About the Tressa Nese and and Health Care for Older Adults.”

Helen Diskevich Center Aid Nursing Excellence At AGS, Fick has been involved of Geriatric Nursing in the updating of the AGS Our faculty and centers, Excellence Beers Criteria for Inappropriate like those mentioned in this Medication Use in Older Adults article, are recognized for enn State’s CGNE was since AGS became its steward, their contributions to nursing. established in 2007 as one serving as expert panel co-chair Their work is made possible of eight legacy centers in the U.S. for the 2012, 2015, and 2019 with your investment. originally funded by the John A. updates and as a member of Hartford Foundation and now the 2023 update panel. She To support our leading work, supported by an endowment. As is a frequent reviewer and scan the QR code with an interdisciplinary community contributor for the Journal of your phone’s camera, visit of leaders and scholars with the American Geriatrics Society nursing.psu.edu/give, or expertise in aging, geriatrics and (JAGS); the editor of the Journal of connect with our Office of gerontology, CGNE believes every Gerontological Nursing since 2011; Development and Alumni older adult deserves the highest and was an expert panel member Relations by emailing quality of evidenced-based care for the AGS Clinical Practice conalumni@psu.edu or and well-being that respects their Guideline for Delirium. calling 814-867-5534. individual goals and preferences. +

F

P

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

Nurse Education

Nese College of Nursing implements piloted resilience and wellness program R

esilience is a skill set vital to nurses as it enhances individual well-being and flexibility and helps individuals to manage change and hardship. Learning how to develop these healthy lifestyle behaviors, problemsolving, and coping skills are critically important as nurses rely on their own well-being to provide high-quality patient care and safety.

As a result, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has developed a core competency for professional nursing education with the aim of promoting diversity, retention, and self-awareness while avoiding mental exhaustion, and redirecting energy from negative perceptions to positive influence through leadership opportunities.

In accordance with the AACN, the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing has adopted the MINDSTRONG/ MINDBODYSTRONG program, a 7-week manualized, evidencebased cognitive-behavioral skillsbuilding program, developed by the Ohio State University, that aims to increase healthy lifestyle behaviors to decrease depression, anxiety, stress, and burnout. MINDSTRONG is for young adults who are not yet licensed healthcare professionals and MINDBODYSTRONG is for licensed healthcare professionals.

16

nursing.psu.edu

Leading in facilitating the programs are dean Laurie Badzek, assistant dean Kelly Wolgast, and assistant teaching professor Christina Lightner, who serve as Wellness Champion Leaders for nursing students, faculty, and staff in the college. There are an additional 47 nursing faculty and staff Wellness Leaders who represent undergraduate and graduate students from 13 campus locations, who are committed to promoting and advocating for the personal health and well-being of students, faculty, and staff and are leading the way in promoting a sustainable nursing workforce.

As a pilot, MINDBODYSTRONG was completed by 69 nursing faculty and graduate students in Spring 2021 and MINDSTRONG was completed by 22 nursing staff in Summer 2022. In Fall 2022, the MINDSTRONG program was integrated into the secondyear professional development nursing course and completed by 431 undergraduate nursing students in 9 classes across 8 campuses. Then, in Spring 2023, the MINDSTRONG/ MINDBODYSTRONG programs were completed by 19 undergraduate and 10 graduate students, three faculty, and one staff.

Students reported benefiting most from learning how to change a negative self-statement into

a positive self-statement and creating a positive thinking goal as a focal point for the week. The lessons and skills-building activities helped students to develop selfconfidence and resilience.

“I thought the content was beneficial because it allowed us to reflect on the habits we were practicing. Overall, it just made us become more aware of our thoughts and actions so that we can invoke change within ourselves.” stated one student.

Badzek, Wolgast, and Lightner presented the Fall 2022 research findings at the 6th National Biennial Building Healthy Academic Communities (BHAC) Summit on April 20, 2023, in Wilmington, North Carolina. Joined by Wendy Edgar, nursing instructor at the Fayette campus, who presented her Doctor of Nursing Practice project findings related to the Spring 2022 MINDBODYSTRONG implementation with nursing faculty and graduate students. In attendance representing Penn State included Amy Criscitello, a nursing instructor at the Altoona campus and Doctor of Nursing Practice student, and three undergraduate nursing students.

The MINDSTRONG program will continue to be integrated into the sophomore professional development nursing course in the Fall 2023 semester. +

PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SUMMER 2023

The Pennsylvania State University 201 Nursing Sciences Building University Park, PA 16802-6501 nursing.psu.edu

Please recycle!

18

www.nursing.psu.edu nursing.psu.edu