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University of Southern IndianaynapseVol. 13, No. 1Fall 2003School of Nursing and Health ProfessionsFrom words on paper to implementationA classroom assignment has cometo life for a number of students in thegraduate nursing program. And theprojects and plans that students havedeveloped are providing new orimproved services related to healthcare throughout the Tri-State andbeyond since the course is availablethrough Internet-delivered instruction.Dr. Ann White, program directorof graduate nursing, assigned studentsin a graduate course called Management of the Client in Health CareSystems to write a grant proposal ordevelop a business plan. Though students were not required to submit theproposal for funding or implement thebusiness plan, several have done sowith success.Carleen Rubel, a nurse in thehospice and home care department forDeaconess Hospital, developed a planfor a meditation garden at DeaconessHospice Care Center in Evansville.The garden will include a landscapedarea with trees, fountain, plants,benches, and possibly a gazebo.“It will be accessible to the hospicecenter’s patients and families and willbe used as an area for them to relax,meditate, pray, and enjoy the naturalsurroundings,” Rubel said.Funded by the Deaconess Foundation, the garden is in the planningphases with completion proposed forsummer.Micki Tinsley, house supervisor forWashington County Memorial Hospital in Salem, Indiana, applied formoney to purchase two pieces ofequipment for the obstetrics departSee Proposals, page 5LaVern Jones-USIMSN students see grant proposals, business plans become realityCarleen Rubel’s proposal to turn thissite at Deaconess Hospice Care Center into a meditation garden will befunded by the Deaconess Foundation.School partners with organizations to demonstrate worth of wellnessTodd Yonts, a senior in health services who is completinga minor in worksite wellness and health promotion, was afull-time employee as a student messenger at the EvansvilleVanderburgh Public Library at the same time he completeda worksite wellness practicum there during the spring andsummer. In addition to publishing newsletters on health topics identified by library employees, he organized a healthyfood day, a health fair, and a walking club. Welborn HealthPlans, the Red Cross, the YMCA, and other vendors provided screenings and services at the health fair. More than 80library staffers participated in the walking club with Yontsencouraging them to set realistic goals. More than a third ofthe participants exceeded their goals.Katie Valadares, instructor in health services,Todd Yonts walks with participants insaid the students partnered with employers thatthe walking club he organized as partwere involved in the 2002 Welborn Foundationof a practicum in worksite wellnessWorksite Wellness Grant program whichand health promotion at EvansvilleVanderburgh Public Library.See Wellness, page 2Elizabeth Courtney-USIEmployers are helping employees focus special attentionon monitoring and improving their health by partnering withthe School of Nursingand Health Professions.A number of studentsrecently completedpracticums thatincreased employeeaccess to wellnessinformation and activities.
Dean’s NotesThe year of accreditationsChina has a long history of designating its calendaryears with 12 different animals: 2003 is the yearof the goat; 2004 will be the year of the monkey.While our American calendar has no parallel symbolicdesignations, the School of Nursing and Health Professions could aptly designate the 2003-04 as the year ofaccreditations.Nursing and health professions’ accreditation is oneof the principal means by which education programspreparing health-care professionals demonstrate and gainrecognition for their educational excellence. The usualaccreditation time periods of the respective accreditingagencies vary from five years to 10 years, so it is a coincidence of timing that five of our seven clinical programsare being reviewed during the 2003-04 time period.In February 2003, the respiratory therapy programhosted a site visit. Also in February, the Indiana StateBoard of Nursing reviewed the undergraduate nursingprogram. In May, the occupational therapy assistant program was reviewed. Official notifications of the successful reviews and continuing accreditation for these threeprograms have been received and celebrated.During the past summer and this fall semester,the undergraduate nursing program, the graduate nursingprogram, the dental assisting program, and the dentalhygiene program have been writing self-studies andpreparing for February review visits. The preparation ofthe self-study and review by professional peers fromacross the country provide an effective process for pro-WellnessContinued from page 1assessed employers' needs and interests in developing worksite wellnessprograms. Whirlpool Corporation,Good Samaritan Home, and LibertyAuto Salvage were among more than20 businesses and organizations thatparticipated in focus groups for thegrant and expressed interest in partnering with USI to develop wellnessprograms.“We are thrilled to have wellnessfocused employers in the communitywho provide such valuable learningenvironments for our students,”Valadares said.2gram assessment and continuingquality improvement.Criteria for agencies that provide health professions accreditation typically include a standardDr. Nadine Coudretthat refers to the program’s community of interest or stakeholders. The importance of the community of interest to our programs has long been recognized. During this fall semester, the School of Nursingand Health Professions had three opportunities toacknowledge the contributions and interest of this important group. Nursing clinical teaching associates werehosted at a luncheon during the oncology conference inSeptember and a nursing alumni dinner on October 23provided an opportunity for networking and facultyalumni dialogue. The annual fall program advisory committee meetings enabled a school-wide opportunity forstakeholders’ input. Following dinner, a “state of theunion” report on the school was presented. Included inthat report was an expression of gratitude to the communities of interest that so ably serve and contribute to theschool’s quest for excellence.With the support of the school’s stakeholders, andthrough the efforts of University administration, faculty,staff, and students, the “2003-04 year of accreditations”will be recorded as another mark of achievement forour school.Each student tailored activitiesduring the 150-hour practicum to theneeds and interests specific to theworksite. In addition to Yonts and theEvansville Vanderburgh Public Library,the following students and organizations participated in recent practicumprograms: Jessica Turpin, MidlandMemorial Hospital Sportscare, Midland, Texas; Jessie Bates, The GoodSamaritan Home, Evansville; KristinHall, Community Hospital, Indianapolis; Kathy Ellington, St. Peter’s UnitedChurch of Christ, Evansville; Julie Heil,Liberty Auto Salvage, Evansville;Christy Carmichael, Owensboro MercyHealth System, HealthPark, Owens-boro, Kentucky; Melanie Koressel,Whirlpool Corporation, Evansville.Mark Maurer and Kay Huber ofLiberty Auto Salvage said, “Having astudent do her practicum at Liberty fitin perfectly with our company philosophy. For the past several years we'vemade a real effort to promote healthconsciousness in the workplace, frombuilding a gym to helping employeeswith drug, alcohol, and smokingissues. Beyond the obvious benefits tothe health and well-being of the individual employee, these kinds of activities go a long way in enhancing proSee Wellness, page 3University of Southern Indiana Synapse/Fall 2003
Program NotesDental Assisting andDental HygieneStudent progressAll students in the Class of 2003successfully completed the NationalBoard Dental Hygiene Examination.Sigma Phi Alpha Dental HygieneHonor Society and junior dentalhygiene students sponsored a picnicduring orientation to welcome newstudents into the program. Twenty-fourstudents are enrolled in the sophomoreclass, 23 students return in the juniorclass, and 12 students are returning tocomplete the bachelor's degree indental hygiene education.Continuing educationThe dental hygiene programsponsored a continuing educationprogram for community oral healthcare professionals on September 13.Entitled “Emerging Trends in PeriodontalTherapy,” the program attracted about80 professionals and students from theTri-State and northern Indiana.Health Services16 new MHA studentsThe Master of Health Administration program, now in its third year,has admitted its largest class to date.The 16 students come from diversesettings with work backgrounds inhealth information technology, academia,exercise science and athletic training,physical and occupational therapy,accounting, social work, communityhealth education, long-term careadministration, out-patient surgery service, clinical nursing specialties, insurance coding and reimbursement, andbusiness and hospital administration.WellnessContinued from page 2ductivity as well as building loyaltyand a positive attitude in the workplace.”The School of Nursing and HealthProfessions offers a 10-week Internet-In addition to the MHA studentsadmitted this fall, the program has twospecial non-degree seeking graduatestudents and two special guest studentswho are taking courses in preparationfor, or as post-doctorate work.The charter MHA class has begunwork in the culminating course, ahealth-care administrative residencywhich places students in a practicumdesigned to use the advanced skillsthey have learned in the classroom.Students are working with a mentorand a faculty advisor on projects ofimportance to the host facility andwill present their recommendationsand accomplishments to fellow students,the faculty, the MHA Advisory Council, and invited guests at the end ofthe semester.NursingGraduate enrollmentThe graduate nursing program has185 students enrolled for fall in fivespecialties including acute care nursepractitioner, clinical nurse specialist,family nurse practitioner, nursing education, and nursing management andleadership. Dr. Ann White, programdirector of graduate nursing, saidapproximately 50 students will earnmaster’s degrees in nursing in 2004.Nursing education courses areoffered for the first time this year andare available through Internet-deliveredinstruction. Many nursing educationprograms throughout the country arelimiting enrollment due to a shortageof nursing faculty. Online delivery ofthese courses by the School of Nursingand Health Professions makes this curriculum available to those who desireit in any location.delivered certificate program in worksite wellness and health promotion,opening the door for individuals in anylocation to participate. Nurses fromJamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago havecompleted this program.University of Southern Indiana Synapse/Fall 2003OccupationalTherapyBackpack savvyStudents in the occupationaltherapy assistant program visitedSt. Benedict School in Evansville forBackpack Awareness Day in September. The OTA students weighed backpacks and discussed the dangers ofan overloaded pack.Master’s programThe first course offerings in theMaster of Science in OccupationalTherapy program, a postprofessional(advanced) degree offered via distanceeducation, began this semester.RadiologicTechnologyProfessional meetingThirteen second-year studentsattended a meeting of the IndianaSociety of Radiologic Technologistsin Merrillville, Indiana, in September.They earned second place for anexhibit they entered in competitionwith students from other universities.Respiratory Therapy29 studentsEighteen first-year students areenrolled in the respiratory therapy program, and 11 students continue as second-year students. All are involved inthe Respiratory Care Club.The program has received notification from the Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care of continuingaccreditation with the next accreditation review to be done in 2013.Worksite wellness programs canimprove the well-being of employeesand impact business with improvedmorale, reduced turnover, increasedrecruitment potential, reduced absenteeism, and health-care cost containment.3
Faculty NotesDeborah L. Carl, program directorfor dental hygiene; Phyllis Maddox,assistant professor of dental hygiene;and Mara Beth Womack, instructor ofdental assisting/hygiene, attended ameeting of the Indiana Dental HygieneEducators Association in Indianapolisin May. Carl attended the NationalDental Hygiene Directors Conferencein Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, inJune, and Maddox attended the 2ndAnnual Conference of Dental PublicHealth Educators in Albuquerque inearly October. Both Carl and Maddoxwere honored recently during USIFounders Day activities for 25 yearsof service to the University. Dr. Barbara A. Davis, associateprofessor of nursing, wrote the article“Patient satisfaction of emergencynursing care in the United States,Slovenia, and Australia,” which will bepublished this year in the Journal ofNursing Care Quality. She is co-authorof “Community-based chronic diseasemanagement program for AfricanAmericans,” published in the Julyissue of Outcomes Management. Linda Evinger, instructor innursing, has written a chapter onesophageal varices for the textbookCase Studies in Critical Care Nursing,edited by Sheila Melander. Evingerand Dr. Kathy Riedford, who teachesin the mental health nursing course,co-wrote a chapter on drug overdose. Cynthia S. Goodwin, instructor innursing, has completed Level 5 training in the Healing Touch PractitionerCertificate Program and has appliedfor certification as a healing touchpractitioner. Dr. Judith Halstead, director ofinstructional services and resourcesand professor of nursing, deliveredthe keynote presentation “CreatingExcellence in Nursing Education: CoreCompetencies for Nurse Educators”at the 5th Annual Northwest NursingEducation Institute in Portland, Oregon,4in June. She chairs the task group onnurse educator competencies for theNational League for Nursing, and ischair-elect of the executive committeeof the Nursing Education Research,Technology, and Information Management Advisory Council for 2003-05and will serve as chair 2005-07.Halstead is co-editor of Teachingin Nursing: A Guide for Faculty, nowbeing revised for its second edition.The text is used in graduate nursingprograms across the country. USI faculty members preparing material forthe book include Dr. Elizabeth G.Johnson. Dr. Roberta Hoebeke, assistantprofessor of nursing, and Dr. ElizabethG. Johnson, associate professor ofnursing, attended a conference duringthe summer to complete training assite visitors for the Commission onCollegiate Nursing Education. Thethree-day conference was held inJuly in Alexandria, Virginia.Hoebeke made a presentationon low-income women’s barriers toengaging in physical activity for healthbenefits in April at the 29th AnnualMeeting of the National Organizationof Nurse Practitioner Faculties inPhiladelphia. Dr. Martha B. Sparks, associateprofessor of nursing, has attained certification as a trainer of the End-of-LifeNursing Education Consortium graduate curriculum. She completed thethree-day training session in Los Angeles during the summer. The ELNECproject is a comprehensive, nationaleducation program to improve end-oflife care by nurses.In July, Sparks reviewed grantapplications for the ComprehensiveGeriatrics Education Program as amember of the program’s IndependentReview Committee in Washington, D.C.The program is sponsored by the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services to improve geriatric care provided by registered nurses.Sparks recently gave presentationsabout care of persons with Alzheimer'sdisease at a continuing education program at Indiana State University and ata program in Evansville sponsored bythe Alzheimer's Association.Sparks and Dr. Roberta Hoebeke,assistant professor of nursing, werepeer reviewers for an article submittedto the Applied Nursing ResearchJournal. Dr. Karen L. Parker, assistantprofessor of nursing, and SammieRutherford, instructor in nursing,wrote the article “Inner Strength inSalvadoran women: a SecondaryAnalysis” published in the spring 2003issue of Journal of Cultural Diversity.Parker said that implications for practice resulting from the secondaryanalysis facilitated understanding ofbehaviors affecting health and illnessand provided a “rich and holisticunderstanding of the culture.” Theoriginal ethnographic study by Rutherford in 1999 examined health beliefsand practices of Salvadoran women. Mayola Rowser, grant projectcoordinator and instructor in nursing,is beginning the second year of worktoward earning a clinical doctorate asa psychiatric family nurse practitioner.Offered by the University of TennesseeMemphis College of Nursing, the degreeprogram integrates the roles of thepsychiatric clinical specialist and thefamily nurse practitioner. Gina L. Schaar, instructor in nursing, practiced during the summer inthe newborn intensive care unit at St.Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville. Colleen R. Walsh, instructor innursing, has been selected for theNational Speaker's Bureau of theNational Association of OrthopaedicNurses. Members serve as instructorsfor certification courses held throughout the country. In May she attendedtraining and the organization’s annualconference in Orlando, Florida.University of Southern Indiana Synapse/Fall 2003
Deaconess Hospital establishes nursing scholarshipsDeaconess Hospital of Evansvillehas established a pilot project that provides scholarships to nursing studentswho agree to work at Deaconess indirect patient care for three years afterobtaining licensure as a registerednurse.Beginning this semester, the Deaconess Nursing Scholarship programwill award seven 7,000 scholarshipsannually over five years.Full-time nursing students who arebeginning their final year of nursingeducation prior to licensure are eligible to apply.According to the scholarship application, the “vision of the scholarshipprogram is to identify a selected number of future nursing professionals topromote the profession of nursing andcultivate future nursing leaders withinour community.”ProposalsContinued from page 1ment. One of the pieces is an infantcare center that provides monitors andother functionality to care for bothhealthy and sick newborns. This centeralso provides suction and oxygencapabilities for resuscitation. The second piece of equipment is a set ofbilirubin lights used for hyperbilirubinemic babies — babies who canbecome jaundiced shortly after birth.Tinsley said that the WashingtonCounty hospital sees everything fromtrauma in the emergency room todrop-in deliveries.“Some of our equipment wasso old that we could no longer getreplacement parts for it, and when itcomes to deliveries, it is imperativethat we be prepared for anything andeverything that comes through ourdoors,” she said. The proposal wasfunded by WHAS Crusade for Children of Louisville, Kentucky.In addition to Rubel and Tinsley,the following students have receivedfunding for grant proposals: Jonni Pielin-Kircher, D.A.R.E.(Drug Abuse Resistance Education)School Expansion Program, SouthAllegheny School District of AlleghenyCounty, Pennsylvania Pamela Diane Cherry, WesternBaptist Hospital Safety Program,Western Baptist Hospital, Paducah,KentuckyLisa Miller, staff educator/qualitymanagement coordinator, at PerryCounty Memorial Hospital in Indiana,developed a business plan for a ruralhealth center in the county. While shewas developing the plan during thesummer, the hospital coincidentallypurchased land in northern PerryCounty for a future facility.“Because the hospital has alreadyinitiated plans for the clinic, eventhough not in the immediate future,I feel that my business plan will helpthem once they are ready to take thenext step,” she said.In addition to Miller, Pam Isbell, astudent in Florida, has implemented agraduate nurse internship program inthe Orlando Regi
Carleen Rubel’s proposal to turn this site at Deaconess Hospice Care Cen-ter into a meditation garden will be funded by the Deaconess Foundation. LaV . designations, the School of Nursing and Health Profes-sions could a
