Nursing
Community Partnerships
A PUBLICATION OF THE COLLEGE OF NURSING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
CREATING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES THROUGH SERVICE-LEARNING A
t the UCF College of Nursing, nearly 500 students and faculty members provided more than 30,000 hours of service in the 2007-2008 academic year alone. In the first semester of the five-semester Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, incoming juniors are divided into groups of 12 and sent out to 16 Community Nursing Coalitions (CNCs) in Orange, Seminole, Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties two days a week. The future nurses work in public schools, community centers, Boys and Girls Clubs and senior centers, performing services like children’s height and weight measurements, vision screenings and blood pressure checks. Since there are never enough health care professionals when the need is so great, the students receive important real-world education while providing a valuable service to some of Central Florida’s most economically disadvantaged residents. On their second day, the students ride public transportation to their assigned CNCs. According to Dr. Pamela Ark, the college’s CNC coordinator, this not only helps them bond as a group, it lets them know firsthand what their clients may go through to access health care. “When a patient tells them they’re late because they had to change buses three times, our nurses can truly say they’ve been there and understand,” Ark says. One CNC activity is delivering Meals on Wheels to senior citizens, most of whom live at or below the poverty level. They bring sustenance, but they also bring smiles and friendly conversation to elders who may not see anyone else all day. While there, the nursing students answer questions about the elders’ medications and any other health-related issues they may be experiencing. Lorraine Schumaker, director of civic engagement for Seniors First, schedules those trips. “They’re such a caring group,” Schumaker explains. “They’re so interested in helping
“Working in the community has made me a better nurse because I now understand all aspects of a patient’s life, especially his or her relationship with health care.” – Senior JENNA BENYOUNES people in need, and it never comes across as something they have to do for school. I wish I could clone all of them.” Being a part of the community through CNC activities has given nursing students a true opportunity to become firsthand observers and initiators. Senior Jenna Benyounes views her experience in the Oak Ridge CNC as an eye-opener, showing her that nursing takes place in the community, not just in a traditional hospital setting. Benyounes, her classmates and their teacher held debriefing sessions every week to incorporate their hands-on experience into their lessons and learn from each other. Now approaching the end of their final semester, Benyounes and her classmates are back in the community, this time as part of a public health nursing class where they look at the bigger picture. Each student will complete an additional 43 hours of service-learning, working on more specific projects like Healthy Start, Open Airways for Schools, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs (see page 7).
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SPRING/SUMMER 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
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News
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Shaping Communities
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Profiles in Generosity
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Outstanding Alumni
news highlights ‹UCF Students Graduate with VALOR Sarah Dickerman, Ashley Ross and Zaineh Khalil recently graduated from the Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunities Residency (VALOR) program. This is the first time the nationwide VALOR program has been offered in Orlando in recent years. VALOR is an intensive, year-long nurse residency program designed for senior students enrolled in a BSN program. It focuses on developing clinical skills and knowledge required for patientfocused nursing practice. To graduate, the trio presented their special project “Universal Protocol & Provider Communication: Safety First” to the Orlando VA. Thirteen UCF students have applied for the three coveted spots for 2009-2010, which commences this summer. (L to R) Sarah Dickerman, Ashley Ross and Zaineh Khalil
‹UCF Recognized for Community and Civic Engagements The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching has classified UCF as an institution that has made substantial commitments in Curricular Engagement and Outreach & Partnership categories through its mission, culture, leadership, resources and practices. UCF has also earned the Engaged Campus Award from Florida Campus Compact, a coalition that promotes academics and civic engagement through campuscommunity partnership. At UCF College of Nursing alone, nearly 500 students and faculty members provide on average more than 30,000 hours of service in the community.
‹Ark Elected State Nursing Consultant to FNSA Assistant Professor Dr. Pamela Ark has been nominated and elected by the Florida Nursing Students Association’s Executive Board to serve as one of its state nursing consultants in 2009. As a consultant, Ark will serve as a guide, mentor and resource to SNA members at UCF College of Nursing and other Florida institutions. Pamela Ark, PhD, RN She will also collaborate with other student and executive members to help organize events such as the FNSA state convention and work to contribute ideas, strategies, and resolutions to the National Student Nurses Association. Apart from her nomination to FNSA, Ark has also been selected as one of four fellows in the UCF Academy for Teaching, Learning and Leadership for 2009 for her work in service-learning. The academy promotes collaborative intercollegiate research.
‹SCPS Honors UCF College of Nursing
Sanford CNC
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The college’s Sanford CNC received Seminole County Public Schools’ “Partners in Excellence” award for its commitment to service-learning. The Sanford CNC works with school-aged children at the Harbor Learning and Literacy Center and the Midway Safe Harbor, providing tutoring, mentoring, conflict resolution tips and interactive classes on hand washing, dental care, smoking prevention and nutrition.
‹Dean Leuner Co-Leading Florida Team Championing Nursing Shortage As the former chair of the Florida Association of Colleges of Nursing (FACN), Dean Jean Leuner is co-leading Florida’s multi-stakeholder team together with Mary Lou Brunnell from the Florida Center for Nursing. Florida is one of 18 leader teams selected by the Center to Champion Nursing in America to identify and develop innovative solutions to improving the nationwide nursing shortage.
‹Faculty & Student Honored on Founders’ Day Outstanding faculty members were honored at UCF’s annual Founders’ Day Honors Convocation. Dr. Diane Wink received the University Award for Excellence in Professional Service, Stephen Heglund received the University Award for Excellence in Faculty Advising, Dr. Mary Lou Sole received the College Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching, and Dr. Maureen Covelli and Dr. Linda Hennig were honored for their 20 years of service to the university. Additionally, Amahra Perry, an undergraduate nursing student, received a Founders’ Award for her commitment to excellence in academics, leadership and community service. Jean D’Meza Leuner, PhD, RN, CNE
DEAN’S MESSAGE
‹Happy Birthday, College of Nursing Students, faculty and staff honored the college’s birthday with an ice cream party. Thank you, Florida Hospital, for helping us celebrate this milestone!
Each issue will address an area of emphasis – or ‘Pathway to Prominence’ – as outlined in our strategic plan.
‹Blackwell Saves Restaurant Patron’s Life Assistant Professor Christopher Blackwell received Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Citizen Special Recognition Award for assisting a female experiencing a lifethreatening event. Dr. Blackwell was home visiting family when a fellow restaurant patron began to experience a serious grand mal seizure. Blackwell assisted the victim until paramedics arrived at the scene and was honored by the County’s Sheriff’s Office for his community service. Blackwell said, “Any nurse in that situation would’ve done exactly the same thing. When we go to nursing school, we pledge to help anyone in need and when I saw this woman in distress, I had no choice but to do whatever I could for her.” Thankfully, the woman was immediately transported to a nearby emergency department for the urgent care she needed and had a full recovery.
As we celebrate 30 years of nursing education and our second birthday as a College of Nursing, I would like to introduce you to our first, newly redesigned issue of UCF Nursing. The publication has been shortened to allow for more frequent communication with our alumni, friends, faculty and staff.
This issue provides an in-depth look at the college’s Community Nursing Coalitions (CNCs), their community partnerships and service-learning initiatives.
Karen Aroian, PhD, RN, FAAN
Anne Norris, PhD, RN, FAAN
‹College Grows Research Program with Two Renowned Professors
Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair Dr. Karen Aroian has been appointed director of research for the college. Aroian is an expert in immigrant and minority health issues and the lead researcher on a $2 million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Anne Norris is an expert in public health issues, particularly with respect to immigrant and minority health. Her additional areas of expertise include statistics and research methods, including measurement. Both are fellows in the American Academy of Nursing, an elite distinction held by about 1,500 nurse leaders nationwide.
The college began its communitybased, service-learning nursing curriculum in 1997 with seven CNCs in Orange County. Today, they span 16 communities and across five counties, serving 16,000+ of Central Florida’s most economically disadvantaged residents. Our baccalaureate and advanced practice nursing students and their faculty advisors continue to make a visible difference by implementing valuable health care programs and providing more than 30,000 hours of community service annually. Our next issue of UCF Nursing will address the college’s Research and Scholarship activities. UCF Nursing is… touching lives, leading by example and making a difference!
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news highlights ‹Sole Inducted as Fellow in American College of Critical Care Medicine
Professor Dr. Mary Lou Sole has been inducted as a fellow in the American College of Critical Care Medicine—this prestigious distinction honors practitioners, researchers, administrators and educators who have made outstanding contributions to the collaborative field of critical care. There are less than 60 nurse fellows in this interdisciplinary organization.
Mary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM
Lauren Yon and Jenna Benyounes (center) with their faculty mentors, Dr. Kelly Allred and Dr. Nancy Ahern
‹Two Students Place at Research Competition Lauren Yon took first place in her research category at UCF’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research in April. Her research on “Integrating Mobility into the Plan of Care in the Intensive Care Unit” won her a $600 scholarship. Competing against 21 other students in her research category, Jenna Benyounes received an honorable mention and a $150 scholarship for her presentation on “Interventions to Prevent Perineal Trauma During Childbirth.”
Nursing students at Seminole Community College can obtain their BSN degree concurrently through a unique partnership with UCF College of Nursing—allowing them to obtain their baccalaureate nursing degree faster.
‹Ladores Places Third at STT Research Day Nursing Instructor Sigrid Ladores placed third among all peer-reviewed posters at the Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society’s 17th Annual Research Day for her work on “Investigating Postpartum Depression in the Teenage Mother Using Three Different Qualitative Approaches.” Nursing HIM students (not pictured: Lauren Yon)
‹Six Honors in the Major Students Graduate Jenna Benyounes, Kathryn Matkovich, Cynthia Dey, Kristina May, Jo Anna Pompeii and Lauren Yon are graduating in May from the BSN program with Honors in the Major (HIM). Established in 1989, HIM is the oldest and most prestigious undergraduate research program at UCF. It is the only undergraduate research program on campus in which students are required to undertake original and innovative research as principal investigators. In this program, students research, write, defend and publish an original Honors thesis that serves as the capstone product of their undergraduate career.
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‹UCF Recognized as School to Watch UCF is ranked number seven in the “Schools to Watch” category in the 2009 America’s Best Colleges Rankings by U.S.News & World Report. UCF also maintains its tier three ranking.
shaping communities Graduate Projects Improving Patient Care Graduate nursing students in the college’s nurse practitioner programs also help out in the community, addressing problems at a variety of community and health care agencies. Because these organizations are often staffed by volunteers, UCF advanced practice nursing students provide additional clinical expertise through two-semester, service-learning projects. Groups of four or five students work directly with the community partner to determine the focus of each project. Currently, there are 17 projects underway across Central Florida. A few are summarized below. IN ORANGE COUNTY, graduate students are helping a grant-funded heart failure management program develop materials to care for patients who have cardiovascular problems. Another group is working to increase awareness of bone marrow donor programs among groups underrepresented in the donor banks (read full article below). IN SEMINOLE COUNTY, graduate nursing students are collaborating with engineering students to address patient flow issues for the Central Florida Family Health Center. IN BREVARD COUNTY, graduate students are working with the Brevard Health Alliance, which provides primary health care for low-income citizens, to improve drug access programs providing low-cost or free medications for their clients. In the minds of students and professors, the goal is clear: keep active in the community and keep the community out of the hospital. “These two-semester projects are helping our graduate nursing students meet their course objectives while helping our partnership agencies achieve their own goals. Our students are learning in the community, in real settings, where real people are living their real lives,” says their professor and faculty advisor, Dr. Diane Wink.
Our Students Say… “Our service-learning work is very gratifying. After I graduate, I’m definitely going to continue helping my community.”
Raising Awareness for Bone Marrow
—Sarah Dickerman, Casselberry CNC
Lashawna Hammond, Mary Phillip, Candice Ings-Jackson and Laura Yawnick of the nurse practitioner master’s program formed UCF Share Life! Bone Marrow Group to raise awareness about the need for bone marrow donations, especially among minority donors. Sponsored by Professor Dr. Diane Wink, these students are striving to reduce health disparities by being advocates of bone marrow donation. By recruiting bone marrow donors, the group hopes to increase the number of life-saving matches available through the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Registry, and thereby decrease the number of lives claimed by cancer. This semester the group held several on- and off-campus events together with Florida’s Blood Centers where FBC agreed to waive the initial $52 blood typing fee normally required from bone marrow donor candidates. For more information on how to add your name to the NMDP list, visit www.marrow.org.
“I know I have made a difference in the community. Empowering clients has been both an exhilarating and enriching experience for me.” —Caroline Muthaisu, Parramore CNC
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shaping communities region with many more events planned throughout the year. Junior Kaitlin Curlee, shown in photo, believes Project Pressure is a valuable service-learning project for nursing students. “I’m gaining handson experience and improving my communication skills while working with clients from varying age groups. Even if I help just one person through Project Pressure, I would be satisfied!”
Nursing students assigned to the college’s CNCs in Volusia and Flagler counties are actively participating in Project Pressure, an initiative of Get Healthy Florida to reduce high blood pressure throughout the Central Florida community. Since January, the students have monitored more than 1,300 blood pressures in the two-county
Statistics show that nearly 73 million Americans have high blood pressure and one-third of them don’t even know it. “We’re doing our part to help raise community awareness,” says Mary Harper, a UCF nursing instructor. “Our students have been amazed by the extent of elevated blood pressure found in the community. Teaching Project Pressure participants about their risks for hypertension and the need for routine blood pressure monitoring can truly make a difference in the community’s overall health,” she added. To locate a Project Pressure event in your community visit www.projectpressure.com.
Essential Elements of Service-Learning Reciprocity: The service and learning must be worthwhile and valuable for both the student and the community. There must be reciprocity between the server and those served. Reflection: Intentional, systematic reflection must take place in order to thoughtfully connect the service-learning experience with the assigned curriculum. Reflection is what transforms experiences into learning.
UCF is the 5th-largest university in the nation.
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Development: Service-learning occurs in different stages: servicing to enabling to empowering; observation to experience to leadership. Meaningful Service: Service tasks need to be worthwhile and challenging in order to strengthen students’ critical thinking while fostering civic responsibility. Diversity: A priority is placed on involving a broad cross-section of students working in diverse settings and with a diverse population within the community.
HEALTHY START FOR INFANTS The idea for this program began in summer 2008 when nursing students in an issues class attended a lecture about infant mortality in Kenya. After exploring the possibilities of an infant mortality mission trip outside of Florida, the students soon realized they could make a difference in their own backyard. With this in mind, 15 students from various CNCs teamed up with the Orange County Health Department’s Healthy Start Program to tackle infant mortality locally. This statewide program has been working to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications and poor birth outcomes for women, as well as reduce the risk of death or impairment in the health, intellect and functional ability of infants. Mothers-to-be may be referred to the program based on at-risk review of their medical records by pregnancy clinics. “If a pregnant woman was told early on how to properly take care of herself during her pregnancy, her chance of having a sick baby would be drastically reduced. Any textbook would tell you infant mortality rates indicate the health of the community. Simply put, Healthy Start is creating healthier communities,” notes senior Allison Hocking, who is pursuing a career in neonatal intensive care. After proper training from Healthy Start’s care coordinators and nurses, UCF nursing students are now actively visiting the homes of families to conduct parent interviews and developmental screenings of four-month-old infants. The nationally recognized “Ages and Stages Questionnaire” is used for these in-home screenings and is a basic checklist to indicate warning signs which show possible delays in an infant’s mental or physical growth. If a child’s scores are particularly low, he or she is referred for further testing and treatment in hopes this early intervention will improve the child’s developmental outcome.
OPEN AIRWAYS FOR SCHOOLS Working with children ages 8 to 11, the college’s CNCs offer asthma education in local elementary schools and other community settings through the American Lung Association’s Open Airways for Schools (OAS) program. OAS consists of six 40-minute segments which aim to teach self-management skills to children diagnosed with asthma. Certified by OAS trainers, our students teach the children to understand their disease, properly use medication, identify and avoid triggers which may cause episodes, and use simple exercises such as “belly breathing” to promote deeper, calmer breathing habits. “Recently, a grandmother of a student who participated in the Open Airways program told us her grandson was able to prevent a fullblown asthma attack because our students taught him methods to do so,” noted Dr. Ark about the program’s success. “If we hadn’t been there, it’s likely the program may not have been there either.”
This awareness outreach benefits more than just the students. It also benefits their parents, who receive takehome pamphlets and worksheets from their children, and their teachers, who become more prepared to handle asthma emergencies in the classroom.
TOBACCO PREVENTION FOR KIDS Thanks to a Central Florida Area Health Education Center (AHEC) grant, the college has been able to offer tobacco prevention training to middle-school students since January 2008. A one-hour session taught in various public schools and community centers across Central Florida, the program aims to educate preteens on tobacco, its harmful ingredients and its negative effects on the body. The program also covers the associated health risks of smoking and techniques for overcoming peer pressure. The prevention program is taught through the college’s CNCs by first- and second-semester student nurses who receive special AHEC training as part of their nursing curriculum. Endorsed by the Florida Department of Health, AHEC’s tobacco prevention program strives to enhance the primary care training of health professionals and improve access to health services by those who are medically underserved.
TOBACCO CESSATION FOR ADULTS This spring, the college began offering its first AHEC tobacco cessation courses to adults who live in underserved areas, including two residential centers for women with histories of substance abuse and the non-residential Primary Care Access Network (PCAN) Secondary Services Clinic. The program consists of six sessions which focus on exploring the psychological aspects of each client’s nicotine use and keys to quitting successfully. Nine seniors in their final semester were trained and certified in January, with two to three students from each CNC teaching at different locations throughout the semester. “Normally, these cessation classes are not free, so this is a wonderful opportunity for UCF College of Nursing to provide this service to the community while enhancing our students’ education,” says Dr. Pamela Ark, coordinator of the college’s CNC activities. AHEC’s tobacco cessation program has been endorsed by the Florida Department of Health.
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COMMUNITYIMPACT Through Service-Learning www.nursing.ucf.edu
OUR MISSION
Touching lives, leading by example and making a difference
BY THE NUMBERS*
REGIONS SERVED
30,000+ Hours of Service 16,000+ Clients Served 500 Nursing Students & Faculty 16 Community Nursing Coalitions 5 Counties 1 UCF College of Nursing
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*
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Based on 2007-2008 academic year
WHO WE HELP ‹ Infants to Seniors ‹ Diverse Ethnic Backgrounds ‹ Medically Underserved ‹ Under- or Uninsured ‹ Low to No Income
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FLAGLER COUNTY Flagler
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VOLUSIA COUNTY Daytona, DeLand SEMINOLE COUNTY Casselberry, Sanford
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ORANGE COUNTY Apopka, Bithlo, Engelwood, Little Egypt, Oak Ridge, Parramore, Pine Hills*, Winter Park BREVARD COUNTY North Brevard, Central Brevard, South Brevard * sponsored by Classic Honda through "Adopt-A-CNC" program
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
WHAT WE DO
County Public Schools Schools for At-Risk Youth Neighborhood & Community Centers Boys & Girls Clubs/YMCAs Churches/Businesses VA Medical Centers Hospitals Health Departments/Clinics Outpatient Substance Abuse Centers Senior Centers/Adult Day Care Centers Food Banks/Homeless Shelters Non-Profit Associations
‹ Open Airways for Schools (asthma management) ‹ Smoking Prevention & Cessation ‹ Health Literacy ‹ Immunization Evaluations ‹ Health Screenings (height, weight, BMI, vision, hearing) ‹ Health, Nutrition & Wellness Education ‹ Healthy Start & Head Start ‹ Meals on Wheels ‹ Adult & Senior Health Care ‹ Project Pressure (blood pressure checks)
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donor giving
Injecting Inspiration
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ndrea Long will never forget her experiences in Pine Hills. Despite the hardships she witnessed and the pain she felt seeing people whose basic health needs were not being met, Long is grateful that she and her fellow nursing students brought both health care and inspiration to those in need. “There’s nothing like having a third grader look at you wide-eyed and say, ‘when I grow up, I want to go to college and be a nurse,’” she says. “We’re instilling hope while we screen for vision and hearing problems and teach proper hand washing techniques.” It’s not always easy, however, as Long and the other students have discovered through their service-learning courses and work in the College of Nursing’s community nursing coalitions (CNCs). “I’ve realized that I will face many difficulties as a nurse,” she says. “But these experiences also have made me appreciate the opportunities I have been given.” Students in the Pine Hills CNC recently administered flu shots and blood pressure checks to area residents at a community health fair hosted by Classic Honda. The fair also included body-mass index analyses, interactive displays on fitness and disease prevention and health-risk appraisal interviews.
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Classic Honda Health Fair
Classic Honda was the first corporation to support one of UCF’s coalitions. General Manager Mark Cubarrubia was proud to help not only his customers, but also his community. The dealership provided a local site for the health fair and gave a donation that helped the college underwrite the cost of this important health initiative, as well as other vital health programs in the area such as Open Airways, an asthma management program taught at West Oaks Elementary, and a new health literacy program offered to senior citizens at the Wayne Densch YMCA. Dr. Pamela Ark, coordinator of the college’s CNC program, is encouraged by Classic Honda’s participation and is hopeful that other civic-minded companies will step forward and assist with similar endeavors in their communities. Meanwhile, participating in health fairs and other CNC activities is helping Long and other nursing students understand the challenges their patients face. “Being exposed to the problems I am going to face as a nurse through my clinical experience in Pine Hills only makes me more prepared and qualified to help my future patients,” she says.
Profiles in Generosity ‹Gould Family Graduate Nursing Endowed Scholarship In response to the growing need for more highly trained nurse educators who can teach in colleges, universities and schools of nursing, Jean and Norman Gould, founders and former owners of Gould Publications, recently endorsed the concept of providing scholarship assistance for students seeking advanced nurse educator degrees by establishing the Gould Family Graduate Nursing Endowed Scholarship in the College of Nursing. This fund will exist in perpetuity to provide scholarship support to full- or part-time students pursuing advanced degrees who, in turn, will train future nurse educators. Jean and Norman Gould
UCF NURSING is
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TOUCHING LIVES, LEADING BY EXAMPLE, MAKING A DIFFERENCE. ‹WPMH and Auxiliary Nursing Endowed Scholarship
Dean Leuner, WPMH Auxiliary President Edith London and Ken Bradley, administrator of WPMH.
Although an endowed nursing scholarship has been available at UCF since 1985 when former WPMH Administrator Willard Wisler established it, the auxiliary recently donated an additional $25,000 to the endowment, creating the Winter Park Memorial Hospital and Auxiliary Nursing Endowed Scholarship in the College of Nursing. The award is part of the auxiliary’s Light of Hope Scholarship, established by auxiliary volunteer Evelyn Mueller in 1981, and will be awarded annually to the college’s best and brightest students.
‹Rear Admiral Alene Duerk Visiting Nurse Association Endowed Nursing Scholarship
(L to R) Former and current U.S. Navy nurses Rose Marie Walsh, current Rear Adm. Christine Bruzek-Kohler, Lou Ellen Bell, Ruth Halverson, Aurelia Nugent, Katherine Howard, retired Rear Adm. Alene Duerk and Cmdr. Lisa Lewis gathered at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center to celebrate the establishment of the scholarship named after Rear Adm. Alene Duerk.
The VNA Foundation of Orlando established this fund to honor a member of its board, Rear Admiral Alene Duerk, for her personal history and significant achievements as a Navy nurse and war veteran. Duerk was named the first female admiral in the U.S. Navy and saved countless lives during World War II, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. This scholarship will be awarded annually to full-time undergraduate nursing students. www.vnafoundation.org
‹Femmes de Couer Donates $10,000 to UCF Nursing After last year’s “Let Us Entertain You” dance-themed fundraising event, the ladies of Femmes de Couer (Women of Heart) presented UCF College of Nursing with a $10,000 check to support the college’s Femmes de Couer scholarship fund. This year’s event is scheduled Sunday, May 17 from 4-8 p.m. at the Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House. Bob Holmes, Foundation CEO and V.P. of Alumni Relations & Development, is representing UCF as its “celebrity dancer.” To support the college and purchase tickets in advance, contact Kara Fleharty Schultz at 407-882-1361.
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donor giving GIVING BY THE NUMBERS: $25,000 endows a scholarship $10,000 establishes a non-endowed named scholarship $5,000 amount needed to “Adopt-a-CNC” $1,000+ contributions become members of The Knightingale Society $101 average Annual Fund contribution in 2008 by nursing alumni 30 June—the end of UCF’s fiscal year 15 CNCs needing adoption 1 UCF College of Nursing
Every patient deserves a UCF-trained nurse. Support the College of Nursing by contacting Kara Fleharty Schultz at 407-882-1361 or give online at www.foundation.ucf.edu.
As a leader in the community, we invite you to join a select group of generous supporters, known as the Knightingale Society. Founded in 2007 with the establishment of the College of Nursing, the Knightingale Society provides donors with the opportunity to invest in nursing at the University of Central Florida. With exciting future plans to build a College of Nursing at the medical city at Lake Nona, contributions of $10,000+ may qualify for a state match and will support the Nursing Building Fund. Gifts of other sizes may be directed to the Knightingale Nursing Society Annual Fund—a fund designated to support important needs such as program development, student scholarships and faculty support—or the Nursing Building Fund. Community support is vital to the success of the College of Nursing. Your contribution will not only serve as an endorsement of a UCFquality education, but most importantly, will provide for and enhance the overall education of a nursing student. For more information on how to join the college’s Knightingale Society, contact Kara Fleharty Schultz at 407-882-1361.
Breaking New Ground Worldwide, two medical cities are under construction. Orlando has one of them, and the UCF College of Medicine sits at its heart. UCF College of Nursing has plans to join them.
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‹ The college receives on average 350+ applications for scholarship aid—funds are only available for 1/3 of them. ‹ The college awarded $102,550 of scholarship aid in 2008-2009—supporting 102 nursing students. ‹ Scholarship funds for graduate nurses to teach future nurses are of great need.
nursing alumni
Nursing alumni enjoyed a day of food and fun at the annual picnic sponsored by Florida Hospital. Our next picnic will be held in the fall. Stay tuned for more information. www.ucfalumni.com/nursing
Leadership Opportunities UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter is looking for officers to help grow the chapter and plan future events. If you would like to know more about what it takes to be an officer, please contact Angie Shaw by e-mailing ashaw@mail.ucf.edu or calling (407) UCF-ALUM.
Have Some News to Share? Share your recent promotions and professional achievements in a future issue of UCF Nursing. Send us a note online at www.ucfalumni.com/nursingupdate.
UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter is now on Facebook. Show your support and become a fan!
There’s No Better Time To Be A Knight! UCF is a part of us all. We know that joining some association won’t make you a better Knight, but if you’re looking for a great way to stay in touch with your university and its community, there is no better way than with the UCF Alumni Association. Membership in the alumni association is a finishing touch on the education and experience that grows in value every day.
Membership Has Its Privileges Social events, networking opportunities, career assistance, continuing education, volunteering and overall personal enrichment are just a few benefits that make participation worth the small investment. Exclusive access to the UCF Knights Network (social networking site), Career Beam and Knight Link (virtual career centers), as well as a subscription to Pegasus magazine and affiliation with the College of Nursing Alumni Chapter are just a few perks of joining. Check out more benefits at www.ucfalumni.com/benefits.
Ready To Join? Alumni, join online at www.ucfalumni.com. Make sure to mention the “College of Nursing Alumni Chapter” in the referred by field and your chapter will receive monetary awards to help fund programs and activities.
Christopher W. Blackwell, PhD, ARNP, ANP-BC BSN ‘00, MSN ‘01, PhD ‘05
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Hello from your UCF Nursing Alumni Chapter! 2008 was a fantastic year for our chapter! We hosted many successful events including our annual picnic at Lake Claire, tailgating parties for every home UCF Knights football game, made away trips to Boston College and the University of Miami, and participated in the 2008 Homecoming KnightFest. 2009 is off to a good start with our Alumni Reception event at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center on April 21st. But it doesn’t stop there—we need your help to continue to make the UCF Nursing Alumni Chapter a thriving part of the University’s Alumni Association. We are seeking alums willing to serve the chapter as officers, grassroots organizers, and event coordinators and assistants. Being a UCF Nurse is an incredible honor that we enjoy as a reward for our hard work and dedication through undergraduate and graduate study. Your involvement with UCF didn’t end when you walked the stage at graduation…It just began! Join your fellow nursing alumni and professional colleagues and become a member of our alumni chapter. GO KNIGHTS!!!
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nursing alumni Two Nursing Alums Honored For Professional Service The College of Nursing proudly honors two former students at the UCF Alumni Association’s annual Black & Gold Gala: Sanford “Bucky” Boaz, ARNP-C and Brandie Hollinger, RN. Boaz, co-founder of The miniER Corporation, received the college’s prestigious 2008 Professional Achievement Award, while Hollinger, UCF’s first female Student Government Association president, was named the college’s 2008 Rising Star.
2008 PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT Sanford “Bucky” Boaz, ARNP-C BSN ‘94, MSN ‘98 It’s no question that Bucky Boaz deserves to be honored with the 2008 Professional Achievement award. Boaz is the co-founder of a revolutionary new urgent care center called The miniER in East Orlando. The 7,200 square-foot, one-of-a-kind facility was designed to bridge the gap between an individual’s primary physician and an emergency room. The facility offers multiple on-site treatments, ranging from preventative services like immunizations and blood pressure screening to emergency services like treatment for car accident injuries. It can even fill prescriptions, take x-rays, perform multiple lab tests and offer physical therapy. “The whole philosophy behind The miniER was to take health care to the level that we thought it should have been from the beginning,” he says. Through The miniER, Boaz and his partner, Dr. Brantley Molpus, MD, FACEP, aim to bring patients the quality of emergency care without the excessive costs and waiting associated with most traditional emergency rooms. The duo has even begun to create a foundation which will donate some of The miniER’s profits back into the community. Boaz says, “We’re working to set up a foundation to help create special vouchers for members of churches and others who can’t afford these services. We will also be partnering with area high schools to perform sports physicals for athletes, with all the proceeds going back
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into those schools.” After graduation, Boaz committed several years to emergency medicine and orthopedic trauma. He spent four years in the Orlando Regional Medical Center’s emergency room, and three managing orthopedic patients under a worldrenowned orthopedic trauma surgeon at ORMC and Florida Hospital. In addition to changing the face of urgent care in Central Florida, Boaz returned to UCF in 2000 as an adjunct instructor to teach a class in the graduate nurse practitioner program that he designed himself. “We are very fortunate to have Mr. Boaz as a teacher in the college as he brings a unique level of knowledge and expertise to the graduate program,” says Dean Jean Leuner. His class, which is based on his vast professional experience, covers clinical procedures commonly used in the emergency room, such as draining abscesses and reading chest X-rays. “We’re working to set up a foundation to help create special vouchers for members of churches and others who can’t afford these services. We will also be partnering with area high schools to perform sports physicals for athletes, with all the proceeds going back into those schools.” – Bucky Boaz, co-founder of The miniER
2008 RISING STAR AWARD RECIPIENT Brandie Hollinger, RN BSN ‘07 A true legacy, Brandie Hollinger has made history by becoming the first female president of UCF’s Student Government Association (SGA) in 2007. While president, her administration accomplished 30 of its 32 goals. The cabinet focused much of its efforts on increasing student involvement on campus, creating several committees and a program called “Major Mondays,” where leaders of the administration visited classes to inform students about SGA and ways that it could benefit them. “We just wanted the student body to know that we were there working for them and that their concerns were valid and acknowledged,” Hollinger says. During her time at UCF, Hollinger was a member of the Lead Scholars Program, the President’s Leadership Council and the Order of Pegasus 2007. She was also selected as Cabinet Member of the Year for the Bentley-Woolsey administration of 2005. As part of her
WHERE IS THE UCF NURSE?
nursing education, Hollinger was assigned to the college’s Winter Park CNC, where she performed services like children’s height and weight measurements, vision screenings and blood pressure checks. “Little did I know that I would use these skills every day on my unit as a pediatric nurse,” she says. Currently working in the special care unit at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, she plans to eventually pursue a master’s degree. She aspires to use her passion for nursing to become the CEO of a major metropolitan children’s hospital. “Ms. Hollinger is an excellent role model given her energy and dedication to caring for the patient and the patient’s family. She is a superb professional nurse who will continue to be a leader in the profession,” says Dean Jean Leuner.
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RNs: ADVANCE ? Looking to
your career
UCF offers several nursing degree options through distance learning.
Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), UCF College of Nursing offers several programs either online or on a convenient once a week or bi-weekly basis. We’ve also eliminated the GRE admission requirement for our master’s degree program to make it more accessible. ONLINE MSN PROGRAM OPTIONS FOR BACCALAUREATE-PREPARED NURSES Three MSN program tracks are offered completely online. A fourth track is offered mixed-mode*—integrating virtual and face-to-face instruction (once a week or bi-weekly basis) on the Orlando campus. Registration is still open for spring 2010—applications must be submitted online by October 1, 2009: ⋅
• MSN: Clinical Nurse Leader Track • MSN: Nurse Educator Track
• MSN: Clinical Nurse Specialist Track* • MSN: Nursing Leadership & Management Track
ONLINE RN TO BSN PROGRAM Offering Florida’s first fully online RN to BSN program in 1998, UCF has pioneered a convenient way for licensed Registered Nurses to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. On-campus introductory classes are also available for students who prefer to begin with face-to-face instruction. Registration for fall 2009 is still open—applications are due by July 1, 2009.
For more information, visit nursing.ucf.edu.
Nursing
poster inside See how UCF Nursing is impacting the health of your community!
spring/summer 2009 • published periodically • nursing.ucf.edu UCF Nursing is a newsletter published for alumni, friends, faculty and staff of the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida. Each issue provides updates on the college’s community partnerships, advanced degree programs, and faculty research and scholarship. Dean: Jean D’Meza Leuner, PhD, RN, CNE Newsletter Editor/Writer: Carolyn M. Petagno, Manager of Marketing & Communications Contributing Writers: Judy Creel, Amanda Gaid, Angie Shaw, Jessica White & UCF Marketing staff Contributing Photographers: Jeff Garner, SantiagoStudios.com, Alan Smilie, Connie Washam, Jessica White, UCF Nursing students & UCF Marketing staff Newsletter Design: Lisa Girardi-Rowell
If you are not going to keep your UCF Nursing newsletter after you read it, please pass it along or recycle it.
University of Central Florida College of Nursing P.O. Box 162210 Orlando, FL 32816-2210 407.823.2744