GAMECOCK
The CONnection News and Views from the University of South Carolina COLLEGE OF NURSING
A Check-In/Check Up on our “Hearts” February is the annual Heart Health month and the College of Nursing is gearing up to address this very important health issue. Did you know that 1 of every 4 deaths in South Carolina is caused from heart disease? 1 of 3 South Carolinians have high blood pressure, 1 of 8 have diabetes, 2 of 3 are overweight/obese, and 1 of 5 of our state’s citizens currently smoke. These are quite alarming statistics! However, it is also personal. Many of us have lost loved ones due to heart conditions and many of the risk factors are preventable. Let’s take action to remedy this.
Inside This Issue Students’ Corner.................2-3 Alumni & Development......4-5 Events...................................5 Faculty & Staff Notes.........6-7 Mary Ann Parsons...............8 NO LIMITS............................9
Send Inquiries or Newsletter items to: Jan Johnson jnjohnso@mailbox.sc.edu
Our new wellness committee in the College of Nursing, led by Professor Kathy Mercer and Dr. Sue Heiney, is challenging our faculty, students, and alumni. As part of the Heart Beat Pedometer Challenge, we are partnering in teams of two to walk a minimum of 15,000 steps per day/per team during the month of February. We are armed with our pedometers or Fitbits and ready to go. The College of Nursing is also taking leadership with the Midlands Heart Walk campaign in the community and at the university. Our nurse practitioner faculty from the Children and Family Healthcare Center will host a booth at the 2nd Annual Heart of Carolina event at the Russell House on February 20th. Other events we are participating in are “Gamecocks on the Move” and National Wear Red Day. If you are unable to join us, please plan your own “Heart Health” wellness campaign. The College of Nursing will be hosting the Mary Ann Parsons Lectureship on Friday, February 21, 2014 - an annual event close to all GAMECOCK Nurses’ hearts. Dr. Diana Mason is a distinguished national nursing leader who will challenge us to seize opportunities during this very dynamic process of healthcare reform. Nurses need to be visible leading transformative changes to health care that will benefit all individuals and families in South Carolina. We recognize the disparaging gaps in healthcare access and delivery and are mobilizing to be part of the solution for a Healthy South Carolina. Please share the flyer in the newsletter with others in your circle and plan on joining us. Gamecock Nurses are the “Heartbeat” of South Carolina. Let’s stay strong and steady to keep the beat moving! Jeannette O. Andrews PhD, RN, FNP, FAAN Dean & Professor j.andrews@sc.edu
www.sc.edu/nursing www.facebook.com/USCNursing - LIKE US!
Students’ Corner Chi Eta Phi participated in the annual MLK Day at the Dome on January 20th to commemorate the life and birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Students served as volunteers on the event staff delivering health services as needed. Pictured here are seniors, Dekeisha Foster (Secretary) and Brandi Burgess (President).
College of Nursing PhD student, Robin Estrada, has been selected as one of the 2014 Breakthrough Graduate Scholars. The fourteen awardees for 2014 include students from a wide variety of disciplines, who show phenomenal commitment to their fields through research and scholarly activity.
Chi Eta Phi will also be sponsoring a service project to collect goods for Haiti. Supplies gathered will be donated to Haitian women farmers of Robiya, Haiti. Out of 200 Haitian cocoa farmers, 80 are women and have requested various items specific to their needs.
The SC Columbia Fire Department Hazmat team held a demonstration for the Nursing 504 course: Emergency Preparedness: Implication for Healthcare Professionals.
Salkehatchie junior nursing student, Anna Carol Bell’s article “Learning Organic Chemistry Reactions as a Nursing Student” has been approved for publication in Caravel, USC’s journal of undergraduate research. She co-authored the article with Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Li Cai.
Check out the College of Nursing’s Facebook page. Be sure to “LIKE” Us!!!
Ashlyn Bassett: Shag Champion
Q&A: Ashley Sirianni, RN, BSN (‘08), DNP Student What brought you to the College of Nursing and what do you want to do with your degree? In middle school my grandmother came to live with us as her Alzheimer’s disease progressed. The opportunity to assist in the care of a family member faced with a chronic debilitating disease inspired me to become a nurse. During my undergraduate years at USC, I was continuously motivated to continue my education and become a family nurse practitioner. After completion of my Doctor of Nursing Practice program, I plan to work in a primary health care practice that is located in a geographically rural location. What did it feel like to take care of a patient for the first time? I knew I was in the right place both professionally and personally; I felt like I was taking care of a friend or a family member. What is your proudest accomplishment at USC so far? During my undergraduate convocation I was honored and surprised to receive an Academic Excellence and Leadership Award. My most recent accomplishments are finishing my 6th semester in the DNP program and the privilege of working as a Graduate Assistant with Professor De Anna Cox. Tell us about your extracurricular activities and/or hobbies. I am an active member in the following: Dean’s Student Advisory Council, the Graduate Council, Student Affairs Committee, and the Institute for Primary Care Student Advisory Group. I am an American Heart Association BLS CPR instructor and a member of Sigma Theta Tau. In my spare time I love spending time with my family, friends, reading, wakeboarding, and being outdoors.
CON junior, Ashlyn Bassett and her partner Patrick Rogers, won the National Shag Championships (Collegiate Division) in Myrtle Beach, SC. Ashlyn said, “I was really proud of representing the College of Nursing. The emcee asked my major in front of the crowd, I told him I was a Nursing major and he said ‘Aw, she’s a nurse! So sweet!’ The crowd loved it too!” Read more here in the Daily Gamecock.
Tell us about your family. I grew up in a rural area in Anderson, S.C. and moved to Columbia, S.C. in 1990. My husband Cory and I have been married for almost 7 years and he has been extremely supportive throughout my academic journey. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats; we plan on starting a family after I finish the DNP program. I am the youngest of 6 siblings and have 7 nephews and 2 nieces that I absolutely adore. There are three influential leaders in my life, my mom, my dad & my brother Richard; all whom have been the mentors that facilitate my attributions in our healthcare system and their accomplishments motivate me to provide optimal healthcare to the community. What advice would you give to future nursing students? To always stay positive, be an active listener, and look for solutions to the problems/issues at hand. Every future nurse must be dedicated to enhance process improvement within the profession. Please get involved in nursing organizations at the local, state, and national levels that focus on healthcare initiatives. Always remember smiles are contagious and showing respect to those in all environments has the potential to enhance their day with a little positive reinforcement. I believe that helping others is a calling in life that provides us with an increase in selfsatisfaction and awareness. Value the passion and determination to continuously advance our healthcare skills and knowledge base.
VITAL SIGNS....An Update from Alumni and Development Visionary Leadership is honored with a Lasting Legacy A successful major fund raising campaign for Clinical Simulation When a shortage of faculty and clinical settings seemed to converge in 2008, former Dean Peggy Hewlett, PhD, RN, FAAN, was seeking the best academic education combined with strong clinical skills for undergraduate and graduate students at the College of Nursing. Increasing the number of graduates to meet the demand for BSN and doctoral prepared Nurse Practitioners was vital. One option to address the impending crisis was to establish clinical simulation technology. She recruited a competent clinical expert on her faculty, Erin McKinney, MN, RNC, to develop and direct the program. With visionary leadership combined with an enthusiastic faculty, supportive community leaders, great donors and committed students the Clinical Simulation Laboratory (CSL) was created. About this same time, Dr. John J. Schaefer, Director, Healthcare Simulation South Carolina, established an initiative to promote the development of clinical simulation for healthcare students and practicing professionals and the USC CON was a recipient of this initial funding. The College has achieved its goals to increase student enrollment and promote excellence in clinical practice. In five years of operation, students, faculty and clinical practice settings have been impressed by the CSL’s value in strengthening clinical competency of nursing students. The College’s community Partnership Board (PB) became a strong advocate for the CSL program and the need to update the equipment and practice scenarios. To raise awareness, they hosted educational programs for the community and visited the Clinical Effectiveness and Patient Safety Center at MUSC and the USC Salkehatchie Nursing satellite program to learn of their needs for sufficient clinical simulation practice opportunities. The Partnership Board set a major funding campaign with a goal to raise up to $200,000, and to recognize Dean Hewlett who was stepping down from the Deanship in 2012. To date, the CSL campaign has raised over half of the $200,000 goal and created a Wall of Honor on the first floor of the College near the CSL in Dr. Hewlett’s name. There is a handsome gamecock surrounded by a plaque recognizing the Hearst Foundation which provided $75,000 and other generous donors and gifts which totaled an additional $31,000 for a total of $106,000. The Wall of Honor, Dean Hewlett and the current donors were recognized this fall during the Viana McCown Alumni Homecoming reunion. Donations are still being accepted for this important endeavor and efforts are underway for simulation funding for USC Lancaster and Salkehatchie nursing students. Visit the College and have your picture with the Gamecock that represents the spirit of the College of Nursing-providing the world with Nurse Advocates who are making a difference.
UPCOMING EVENTS February 7
National Wear Red Day
February 8
College of Nursing Clinical Practice Conference: Management of the Complex Patient REGISTER HERE
February 13
SNA - SC State Capital Day
February 20th
Dean Jeannette Andrews hosted a luncheon at her home on Tuesday, January 4th for the College of Nursing Faculty Emeriti. Pictured here L-R: Opal Brown, Mary Ann Parsons, Judy Alexander, Sara Fuller, Marilyn Sonnenberg, Dean Andrews, JoAnne Herman, and Marlene Mackey.
2nd Annual Heart of Carolina Event Russell House 11am – 2pm
February 21
Mary Ann Parsons Lectureship The Affordable Care Act: What Do Nurses Need to Know? REGISTER HERE
March 22
Midlands Heart Walk Contact: Cheryl Nelson at cyjackso@mailbox.sc.edu
March 27-28
Geneva N. Bowen
Former College of Nursing faculty, Dr. Geneva Brown, passed away January 7, 2014. Read her obituary here.
SC Center for Nursing Leadership Nursing Summit
March 31
Recognition Luncheon
All Gifts and Pledges to support Nursing can be sent to:
Do you know an outstanding College of Nursing Alumnus? 2014 NOMINATION FORMS can be found here. The deadline for applications is May 30, 2014.
USC College of Nursing 1600 Hampton Street, Suite 736 Columbia, SC 29208 Gift Processing Checks Made Payable to the USC Educational Foundation or at our website http://giving.sc.edu/ To learn how you can make a difference at USC College of Nursing contact the Development Office at 803-777-3468.
Faculty and Staff Notes Dr. Kathy LaSala was awarded Certified Nurse Educator by the National League of Nursing. Dr. Abbas Tavakoli was featured in the USC Times article “Twenty Five Arrive”. Read the article here.
February is Black History Month. Learn more about it’s origin and interesting facts HERE.
Dr. Ronit Elk has been selected as a featured scholar on the Office of the Vice President for Research’s website which highlights faculty excellence, innovation, and creativity. Dr. Elk’s information can be viewed here. OnlineLPNtoRN has published their 100 Inspiring Nursing Professors to Watch in 2014. Dr. Jeannette Andrews, Dr. Sue Heiney, and Professor Kate Chappell made the list of dedicated nurse educators who serve as excellent role models for nursing students. Read more here.
Gamecocks on the Move is a 5K training program that prepares individuals to participate in the Changing Carolina Peer Leaders walk/run that will take place on campus April 26. Register on the the Campus Wellness website.
Dr. Abbas Tavakoli and Sissie Probert have been nominated for the Award for Outstanding Teaching in University 101.
Faculty Publications & Presentations
Cindy McClure, USC Salkehatchie’s Nursing Coordinator, was featured on The South Carolina Business Review with Mike Switzer. The program entitled “Nurse Practitioners Vie For Recognition in SC” aired on January 31st on all eight ETV Radio stations across SC.
Salinas, J., Hilfinger Messias, D. K., Morales-Campos, D. & Parra-Medina, D. (2014). English language proficiency and physical activity in Mexican origin immigrants living in South Texas and South Carolina. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 25(1), 357-375.
U.S. News and World Report The College of Nursing is ranked 11th among public schools and 16th overall for Best Online Graduate programs. Read more here.
Dr. Deb McQuilkin presented at the Global Leadership Forum: Surviving on and off campus in America on January 22th. Dr. Sue Heiney’s abstract, Exploring Social Disconnection and Treatment Adherence in African American Women with Breast Cancer: Design and Implementation of a Qualitative Study, has been selected for a poster presentation to be held at the 39th Annual Congress in Anaheim, CA on May 1-4, 2014. Dr. DeAnne K. Hilfinger Messias was a panelist and participant for the USC Martin Luther King Jr. Diversity Dialogue on January 23rd. Dr. Ronit Elk presented the poster, A Community Generated Palliative Care Telemedicine Program for Rural African American and White Elders. Step 1: Understanding the Perspectives and Preferences towards End of Life Care of Family Caregivers Elk1, R., Emanuel, L2., Kelley3, S., Martin, A4., Ford, M5., Coburn Smith6, C., Duke7, C., Levkoff8, S., at the Aging Research Day Conference on January 24th, held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Faculty Spotlight: Joan M. Culley, Ph.D., MS, MPH, RN, CWOCN
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Celebrate National Wear Red Day on February 7, 2014 to raise awareness in the fight against heart disease in women. Read more here.
STAFF Q&A: Gene Meding, Program Coordinator for Faculty Development What exactly do you do? I handle many fiscal and operational responsibilities for the Office of Research, including travel and procurement duties. I assist faculty with web page development & maintenance, poster presentations, mock reviews, CITI training and IRB applications, & finding funding opportunities. I also contribute to the College newsletter each month & coordinate various Office of Research conferences and retreats. How long have you worked at the CON and/or USC? I’ve been at the University since 1994 and started at the College of Nursing in 1996. What do you like best about your job? I really like that my job is dynamic and evolving. I get to use lots of different skills on any given day. There’s never a dull moment and no chance to get bored! What do you do when you’re not working? My daughter, Brooke, keeps me busy carting her around town to various activities. But I’ve started teaching her to drive so it won’t be long before she has her license and then I’ll be spending my time secretly following her to make sure she’s safe! I also spend time caring for my mother. In my down time, I like to read, exercise, and hang out with family and friends. Tell us something people may not know about you. I published a novel the year my daughter was born. I haven’t had a spare minute to write ever since! Maybe once she’s grown I’ll have time to work on the sequel.
Dr. Culley is an expert in the application of informatics to emergency preparedness, mass casualty triage model validation, and medical outcome measures. Dr. Culley’s primary research focuses on the challenges of efficiently and accurately triaging patients in emergency department settings after a mass casualty incident involving toxic inhalation chemicals such as chlorine. The Graniteville, SC chlorine incident in 2005 was the impetus for this research. Her research team includes a strong and talented interdisciplinary team of co-investigators from University of South Carolina, the Medical University of South Carolina, Tulane University School of Public Health, and a diverse group of community partners. This team provides research expertise to better understand the information and processing needs of first responders during all hazards mass casualty events. Dr. Culley was the Principal Investigator on an R21 grant funded from National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine. This study was one of the first outcomes-level studies conducted following an actual mass casualty event involving a chemical incident to determine whether triage data from the four most frequently used adult triage systems correlate with patient outcomes. Currently, she is the PI for an R01 submitted to NIH/NLM that builds on the results of her first study to develop and validate a new triage algorithm for chemical incidents and a new informatics tool (ED Informatics Computational Tool [EDICT]) to quickly, efficiently and accurately process patients in emergency settings following a chemical mass casualty incident. Dr. Culley was the 2013 recipient of the College of Nursing New Investigator Award. She has worked in the field of emergency preparedness and disaster research for over fifteen years. Prior to academia, Dr. Culley was a Captain in the US Navy Nurse Corps where she worked on the development of a Risk Communication protocol for the US Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and analyzed and piloted a vulnerability analysis tool for use in determining CBRNE disaster preparedness in Medical Treatment Facilities.
The SC Center for Nursing Leadership in Partnership with Alpha Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau Presents
The Mary Ann Parsons Lectureship “The Affordable Care Act - What Do Nurses Need To Know”
Keynote Speaker: Diana J. Mason, RN, PhD, FAAN President of the American Academy of Nursing Rudin Professor of Nursing and Co-Founder/Co-Director of the Center for Health, Media, and Policy at Hunter College, City University of New York
Schedule of Events FRIDAY
February
21
st
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Seawell’s Columbia, SC
8:30 am
Registration
9:00 am
Welcome Dr. Jeannette Andrews, Dean, USC College of Nursing Eileene Leapheart, President, Alpha Xi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
9:15 am
Keynote Address Dr. Diana Mason
10:45 am Dr. Lynn Bailey Lynn Bailey Associates, Health Care Economist 12:00 pm Buffet Luncheon
Cost: $75; students $25
REGISTER HERE
1:00 pm
Panel Discussion Diana Mason, Lynn Bailey, Jeannette Andrews, Michelle Taylor Smith, Dennis Taylor and Christina Blottner
2:15 pm
Afternoon Presentation Dr. Dennis Taylor, Assistant VP, Carolinas Healthcare System Dr. Christina Blottner, Bon Secours Laburnum Medical Center, Richmond, VA
3:00 pm
Summary of Day Dr. Diana Mason
3:30 pm
Evaluations and Closing Remarks Dean Jeannette Andrews
by February 14, 2014
For more information contact The Center for Nursing Leadership at 803-777-3039 The Center for Nursing Leadership is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the South Carolina Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Successful completion of the program will award 5.5 contact hours.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE OF NURSING No Limits to our Teaching • First and largest BSN and nursing graduate programs in the state of SC • 94%-100% NCLEX and Nurse Practitioner Board Pass Rates, exceeding both state and national averages • New PhD student fellowships and stipends • National and Internationally recognized faculty • Online graduate programs ranked top in the country by US News and World Report No Limits to our Innovation • State-of-the-art Client Simulation Lab providing revolutionizing and quality education to students • Cutting edge research in health care delivery, cancer survivorship, health promotion, and vulnerable populations • 4th DNP program in the country, now provided online • Center for Nursing Leadership is leading state-wide action coalitions responsive to the national Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action No Limits to our Caring • The College of Nursing’s Children and Family Healthcare Center is the only nurse managed medical home in South Carolina • Our dedicated expert clinical faculty provide comprehensive healthcare to all ages of an underserved population • Over 90 scholarships provided each year to our students, with the generosity from our alumni and donors • Well established partnerships with health systems and stakeholders across the state No Limits to our Scholarship • National leaders in nursing research with 70% of our tenure track faculty having received NIH funding • Diverse portfolio of research funding from NCI, NINR, NHLBI, NLM, CDC, HRSA, Duke Foundation, & others • Two Research Centers: Healthcare Process and Redesign Center and Cancer Survivorship Center
CONTACT US College of Nursing University of South Carolina 1601 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 Office of the Dean: 803-777-3861 Office of Student Affairs: 803-777-7412 Information Resource Center: 803-777-1213
Office of Research: 803-777-7413 Center for Nursing Leadership 803-777-3039 Employment Opportunities www.sc.edu/nursing www.facebook.com/USCNursing