The George Washington University / School of

SPRING 2017

FROM PRACTICE TO POLICY

Table of Contents

Departments From the Dean 3 GW Nursing News 4 Nursing Policy Updates 18 At Home and Around the World 26 Faculty, Student and Staff News 30 Meet the Advisory Council 36 Philanthropy News 37 Features Alumni News 38 10 21 Policy and Nursing: New Faculty and Staff A Rightful Place at the Table The School of Nursing has welcomed 11 At GW Nursing, health policy is a pillar of faculty and 12 staff members since mid- the school’s mission and vision as students summer 2016. Each adds his or her expertise, and faculty are encouraged to engage in knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to GW critical thinking, analysis and reflection, Nursing as the school expands its footprint and to apply nursing knowledge to crafting in the world of nursing education, practice salient, sanguine health policy. and policy.

The George Washington University STEVEN KNAPP WRITERS AND CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS GWNursing is published biannually by: PRESIDENT AMANDA CHARNEY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY TEDDI FINE SCHOOL OF NURSING ERIN HARKINS-MEDINA 45085 University Drive School of Nursing ERIN JULIUS Innovation Hall, Suite 201 PAMELA JEFFRIES MONICA KRZYSZCZYK Ashburn, VA 20147-2604 DEAN AND PROFESSOR JUSTIN POHL Telephone: 571-553-4498 REESE RACKETS Email: [email protected] Website: nursing.gwu.edu GWNursing PHOTOGRAPHERS WILLIAM ATKINS ERIN JULIUS MANAGING EDITOR Comments, letters, advertising and change REESE RACKETS DAVID BIGLARI of address notices are welcome. LOGAN WERLINGER CONSULTING EDITOR ©2017 The George Washington University DESIGN AND EDITING LYNN SCHULTZ-WRITSEL DIVISION OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS The George Washington University is RACHEL MUIR PHOTO EDITOR an equal opportunity/affirmative action MARKETING AND CREATIVE SERVICES ERIN JULIUS university. DOMINIC N. ABBATE JOSH SCHIMMERLING

From the Dean We’ve come a long way, Nursing!

“Nurses should have a voice in health policy decision making and be engaged in implementation efforts related to health care reform.” —institute of medicine. “the future of nursing: leading change, advancing health.” 2011

Less than six years ago—just before the George Washington University School of Nursing was established—the Institute of Medicine published the groundbreaking report that challenged the nursing profession and issued a call to action for nursing education. “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” urged us to “prepare the nursing workforce to assume leadership positions across all levels…” and to ensure our graduates acquire the skills and expertise needed to develop and formulate policies with public, private and governmental health care decision-makers. The report followed and in part responded to a 2010 Gallup survey of 1,509 health care opinion leaders. Conducted for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Nursing Leadership from Bedside to Boardroom: Opinion Leaders' Perceptions revealed that although thought leaders in higher education, insurance, corporations, health services, government and industry found that nurses were perceived as the most trusted of health care professionals and greatly influenced the quality of health care systems, they had little to no influence on policies and reform. And those leaders wanted to see that role change. Nursing has come a long way in meeting the professional and educational challenges laid out in the report and the survey. More nurse leaders now have a seat at the table and are at the heart of formulating and influencing health care policy and reform. Nursing education, particularly at GW through our programs and new policy center, is making the curricular changes necessary to prepare these leaders. At GW Nursing, we have taken the urgings of the report and survey to heart by making policy development central to our mission and curricula. In this issue, From Practice to Policy, we explore how our faculty, alumni and students are working to ensure that our research and best practices are reflected in the federal, state and local policies that guide the future of health care. We, too, have come a long way.

Pamela R. Jeffries, phd, rn, faan, anef Dean and Professor

nursing.gwu.edu / 3 GW Nursing News

GW HOSPITAL OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS TO GW NURSING STUDENTS

4 / More scholarship support is now available MSN GRADUATES FIND to help students pursue a GW nursing degree. The new Nursing Scholars Program, EMPLOYMENT READILY offered by the George Washington University Hospital, covers 100 percent AVAILABLE, DNPs of tuition for registered nurses seeking a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and EXPERIENCE SALARY 50 percent tuition to students who enter the Accelerated BSN program. Those who INCREASES are awarded these scholarships will be required to work at the hospital for “Employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 16 percent from 2014 to 2024, three years. much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will occur for a number of The GW Hospital is a for-profit, reasons, including an increased emphasis on preventive care; growing rates of chronic academic medical center jointly owned conditions, such as diabetes and obesity; and demand.” and operated through a partnership —U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics with Universal Health Services (UHS) and George Washington University. The A recent survey conducted by GW Nursing of 2016 GW Doctor of Nursing hospital has a strong affiliation with GW Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) graduates finds most Nursing and with the GW School of are benefiting from the growth described by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medicine and Health Sciences. Recently, For MSN graduates, job offer and placement rates at graduation exceed UHS was ranked by its employees as one the national average rate of 67 percent determined through the American of 30 Business Insider “Most Meaningful Academy of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2013 survey. Of the 53 GW MSN Companies to Work for in America.” The respondents, 34 were already employed or had found employment prior to hospital serves a diverse group of patients, graduation, seven were postponing the job search and 12 were continuing from area residents to visiting dignitaries to seek employment at graduation. Within three months, nine of the 12 (75 and heads of state in D.C. and the region. percent) had found employment. On learning the news of the Nursing Many DNP graduates, whether they remain with their current employers Scholars Program, Dean Pamela Jeffries or seek new positions, experienced salary increases. Among the 20 graduates told GW Hospital Chief Nursing Officer who responded to the survey, 10 (50 percent) reported a significant jump in Johnny Veal, “You have made my day!” salary post-graduation. Dr. Jeffries says, “The hospital’s interest in offering these scholarships is evidence of THE BY THE NUMBERS how it values our students and how willing it is to provide such an incredible boost to those pursuing a BSN degree.”

______100,000 To learn more about the Nursing Scholars New nursing jobs available each year Program and other scholarships, contact the GW Nursing Office of Admissions at 571-553-0138 or [email protected] 500,000 1.05 million RNs anticipated to retire between Total job openings for nurses 2012 and 2022 between 2012 and 2022

source Bureau of Labor Statistics

nursing.gwu.edu / 5 GW Nursing News

NEW PROGRAM scope of practice to include the care of Assistant Dean Pamela Slaven-Lee. individuals, families and populations with “Collaborative interprofessional clinical ADDRESSES complex mental health needs. Students will sites, which the school is forming through be able to complete the program in as little partnerships with the GW Clinical MENTAL HEALTH as one calendar year. Psychology program and the GW School of The online-based curriculum is derived Medicine and Health Sciences Department ACROSS THE from nursing science, neuroscience, of Psychiatry, will be a feature of the LIFESPAN behavioral change theories and other program. Students will also have the psychotherapeutic frameworks. Students opportunity to complete clinical hours will learn to assess, diagnose, treat and with approved preceptors in their Mental illness is a significant public manage mental illnesses across the local area.” health concern on a global scale. Given lifespan. The program of study will also The PMHNP program director, the extreme shortage of mental health include opportunities for students to gain Assistant Professor Rhonda Schwindt, professionals, the need for programs expertise in disease prevention, crisis says, “This is an exciting time at the preparing psychiatric/mental health nurse intervention, family systems, trauma- GW School of Nursing. We have practitioners (PMHNPs) has never been informed care, group therapy, health policy the unique opportunity to design a greater. According to the Health Careers and many other topics and issues germane cutting-edge program that will prepare Network, PMHNPs are among the most to the care of individuals, families and PMHNPs to deliver expert, holistic in-demand specialties. populations. Upon completion, they will and compassionate care to an often In response to this demand, the new be prepared to deliver high-quality, client- under-resourced and vulnerable client GW Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse centered and recovery-oriented care. population. Our graduates will be well- Practitioner post-graduate certificate “The innovative, contemporary positioned, along with other members of program launches in fall 2017. The first PMHNP curriculum that we are offering the interprofessional team, to improve the cohort of advanced practice registered was designed by expert educators and quality of mental health care on a nurses (APRNs) will seek to expand their seasoned clinicians,” says MSN Program national scale.”

6 / GW Nursing News

FACULTY future community chairs as supporting support the faculty in a unique way, ” individualized faculty development by says Dr. Malliarakis, an adult nurse COMMUNITIES a chair who works closely with faculty practitioner who served for five years in members—within their communities—to the policymaking White House Office of FORMED ON set their individual and collective goals, National Drug Control Policy. “Helping provide feedback on career advancement our faculty develop their own leadership EXPERTISE, opportunities and conduct formal reviews and research skills is an honor.” In addition RESEARCH and evaluations each year. to her new role as a community chair, As chairs of their respective Dr. Malliarakis also leads the Nursing communities, Drs. Pulcini and Malliarakis Leadership and Management MSN Faculty development has have outlined goals that include bringing and DNP programs. faculty members with like research and Dr. Pulcini, an internationally known taken a central role at the scholarly interests together in teams to pediatric nurse practitioner, is the director GW School of Nursing provide mutual support; creating systems of GW Nursing’s Community and Global of internal and external mentorship to Initiatives. She is an expert on the evolving with the creation of two guide faculty in focusing and advancing roles of nurse practitioners worldwide and faculty communities. their research and scholarly and teaching focuses on nurse practitioner education, endeavors; and improving and promoting reimbursement and political advocacy and The Acute and Chronic Care Community, recognition of faculty work. Emphasis on removal of barriers to practice. chaired by Professor Joyce Pulcini, is will be on encouraging faculty to provide Dr. Jeffries applauds their leadership composed of faculty who focus on service to the school, university and and their community goals. “Our physiologic, psychosocial and behavioral community in a meaningful way congruent professional development needs are health concepts. Through research with their own career goals. growing exponentially given the number evidence and guidelines, they enhance Through one-to-one connections, of new faculty and the multifaceted and and bring best practices to patient care, the chairs will provide faculty with changing roles of current faculty. As senior symptom management and end-of-life a mechanism for support, voice and faculty retire over the next decade, those support. Their investigations and teaching empowerment, and will promote in mid-career will experience a need for span the care continuum from outpatient leadership in each faculty member. They continued professional development settings to specialized critical care units. also will meet with each faculty member— opportunities as they take on increasing The work of those in the Policy, identifying concerns, issues and solutions responsibilities for providing leadership Populations and Systems Community to problems—to create culture change and within the profession and our nation’s and their chair, Associate Professor Kate cohesiveness within the school. health care system.” Malliarakis, provides important insights “The School of Nursing has grown and avenues to drive positive change in significantly in the past few years, the areas of health disparities, vulnerable and we now have an opportunity to populations and global health. Their endeavors emphasize health systems leadership, analysis and innovation as well as policy inquiry and development. The two communities were organized through Dean Pamela Jeffries’ formation last year of a faculty steering committee charged with determining the scope and function of a structure to meet “the demand for faculty development across a continuum of needs.” At the time, Dr. Jeffries said such development “is so critical and individualized that it needs to be tailored to the faculty rather than standardized into one centralized schoolwide function.” In her charge to the committee, she emphasized the leadership roles of the

Kate Malliarakis (left) and Joyce Pulcini (right) have been nursing.gwu.edu / tapped to lead the new GW Nursing Faculty Communities. 7 GW Nursing News

FACULTY-LED GROUP HELPS STUDENTS DEAL WITH STRESS

With the stress of balancing classes, clinical rotations and studying for both, students can get overwhelmed by it all and overlook JoAnn Conroy engages with students at taking time to take care of themselves. Stitch 'n' Stitch gathering. In an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, that stress can very stressful program,” says Georgiann students found that mindfulness activities build up quickly. Heinly, a student in Cohort 10, who were effective “in reducing measures of To help students practice self-care and graduated in December. depression, anxiety and stress.” With ease some of that stress, Clinical Assistant “The initial intent of this group was students who balance class, studying, Professor JoAnn Conroy started Stitch to provide a quiet and peaceful respite clinical rotations and all the demands ‘n’ Stitch a few years ago. The program, from the demands of the program and of day-to-day life, a group dedicated to named for when students would ask a place to slow down and be mindful,” decompressing and reducing stress can be Dr. Conroy to teach them to knit to reduce Dr. Conroy says. “I find that slow stitching a big help. stress, attracts students from different helps me slow down and focus. I also “I know it sounds dramatic to say a cohorts. Dr. Conroy said it is common for notice that it helps me listen more closely group like Stitch ‘n’ Stitch helped me students in older cohorts to offer advice and retain more.” graduate from , but it was and recommendations to students in Research into the benefits of more about the support and how the group newer cohorts. mindfulness-based stress reduction and allowed me to take a step back and refocus “The idea of a mindfulness group really self-care supports the goals of Stitch every week,” Ms. Heinly said. “It got me appealed to me as I knew I was starting a ‘n’ Stitch. A study of Korean nursing through the program.”

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GW School of Nursing @gwNURSING 31 Oct 2016 This cute little Snow White came trick or treating today with her daddy, one of our #BSN students #GWU #nursing #Halloween

GW School of Nursing The Mall (Washington DC) The fall issue of our magazine is coming your way! #GWU #GWnursing #nursing #nurses #WashingtonDC #autumn #leaves

8 / GW Nursing News

✚✚ The results are in, and GW Nursing IN BRIEF boasts a 92 percent National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate. Due to revisions in the GW School of Nursing bylaws and changes in the school’s organizational structure: ✚✚ George Washington University is ✚✚ Associate Professor Kate Malliarakis is now the interim assistant dean, DNP now an official member institution Program, and chair of the Policy, Populations and Systems Community. of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements ✚ ✚ Professor Joyce Pulcini is chair of the Acute and Chronic Care Community. (NC-SARA), an agreement among ✚✚ Assistant Professor Pamela Slaven-Lee is assistant dean for the MSN Program. member states to establish and uphold comparable national standards for ✚ ✚ Assistant Professor Billinda Tebbenhoff is assistant dean for the ABSN Program online education. While an important and associate dean, Virginia Science and Technology Campus. milestone for the university, it is ✚✚ Karen Dawn and Gretchen Wiersma are now assistant professors, and especially critical for GW Nursing’s Dr. Wiersma has been appointed director of the Veterans BSN Program. online programs that attract students from across the country.

GW NURSING MOVES UP—AGAIN The recently released U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools listings show the GW Nursing master’s and DNP programs to be rising steadily among the ranks of top schools. Among the 292 schools surveyed, the school’s master’s programs overall are now placed at 31st in the country—up from 34th the previous year—and the DNP program is 26th, up from 30th in the second annual ranking of DNP programs.

Connect with the GW School of Nursing

/GWnursing @GWnursing @GWnursing

Kimberly Acquaviva @kimacquaviva Very excited that my book launch party will be at @busboypoets! @ HarringtonPP @ColumbiaUP #hpm #palliative #hospice #GWU

GW School of Nursing During exams, be like George and always look on the bright side. You’re almost done! #GWnursing #GWU #nursingschool

nursing.gwu.edu / 9 HEALTH CARE POLICY AND NURSING: A RIGHTFUL PLACE AT THE TABLE

Nursing

10 / Health policy—formed and informed by the actions of “Anyone who tries to solve policymakers and influencers—is the bedrock on which the nation’s health care system is structured, delivered the issues of the health care and funded. As with all policy, it is not immutable; it is changeable, responding to the vicissitudes of politics delivery system without nurses and values, to new discoveries, data and analytics and to popular opinion and public activism. at the table is being worse than History is rife with examples. Hospitals, established initially to safeguard the public from people with irresponsible. They mental illnesses or communicable diseases, became places of healing. Public health programs, which arose are incompetent.” at the dawn of the industrial era to promote sanitation and reduce acute illnesses and epidemics in crowded cities, today emphasize health promotion and chronic —Nursing workforce researcher disease reduction. While nurses have consistently exerted significant Jack Needleman, Chair, influence over policies on behalf of their patients and the public, history illustrates that nurses not invited to Department of Health Policy and the table often resorted to indirect or circuitous routes to achieve that influence. Management, UCLA School of Public Health WAXING AND WANING OF THE NURSE’S ROLE From the Civil War era through the early 20th century, individual nurses stepped up as founders, architects and framers of health care practice and policy. Professor Diana Mason, nurse and co-director of the new George Washington School of Nursing Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement, calls them “visionaries who recognized the health needs of vulnerable populations and pressured policymakers to respond to those needs.” Florence Nightingale influenced the public through her horrific accounts of medical care during the

nursing.gwu.edu / 11 From left to right, GW Nursing Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement Executive Director Mary Jean Schumann discusses the new center's launch with co-directors Diana Mason and Barbara Glickstein.

Crimean War, driving policymakers to improved the quality of care by nurses nurses required new strategies in their make changes in military health care that and physicians, focused on the need for administrative and decision-making roles continue today. Her demands for data upon better-educated nurses, and underlined the to remain influential. which decisions were made about care importance of prevention and Nursing education—increasingly are reflected in current measurements of early intervention. specialized, sophisticated and clinically quality and use of evidence. Civil War nurse As times changed, so did health demanding—focused on nurses’ roles at documented conditions in policy and practice. New 20th-century the hospital bedside. Lifespan-expanding prisons and mental asylums, galvanizing technologies, medications and procedures, medical advances demanded more nurses a movement for reform. coupled with intensive patient care needs, who could function at higher and higher Mary Breckinridge created the Frontier shifted the focus of health care from the levels. The priority in nursing education Nursing Service for low-income patients, community to the hospital, and from became increasing the pipeline of nurses, introducing rural family health care. prevention and early intervention to with more of a focus on specialized New York’s Henry Street Settlement acute care. clinical skills and less time devoted founder and community health nurse The complexity of acute care grew to professional issues and preventive Lillian Wald started the Visiting Nurse alongside the growth of technology-rich measures. “Historically, nursing education Service for underserved immigrant care environments; the role of physicians simply didn’t emphasize the competencies populations and advocated for public expanded and the professional hospital and skills to inform, shape and disseminate health interventions for children administrator emerged. Despite the policy,” says GW Nursing Dean and communities. increasing importance of nurses as the Pamela Jeffries. Each recognized the power of words 24-hour safety net for patients when and actions to change policy. Their work other decision-makers went home,

12 / TEACHING POLICY

GW Nursing’s mission as a premier school of nursing for education in health policy provides both students and nurses with a growing array of resources and learning opportunities, many of which will “Historically, nursing education be provided through the new GW Nursing Center for Health Policy simply didn’t emphasize the and Media Engagement. competencies and skills to inform, One such opportunity, a yearlong graduate certificate program shape and disseminate policy.” in health policy and media engagement, will launch in August — GW Nursing Dean Pamela Jeffries 2017 under the leadership of Professor Mary Jean Schumann. She describes the five-course (15-credit) online program as “a focused, high-powered journey through the underpinnings of the political, executive and judicial processes and strategies essential to effective regulatory and legislative implementation.”

Dr. Schumann says the program will include frequent experiential learning activities as students engage in the process of shaping The scope of health care continues to policy with local, state and federal THE PENDULUM evolve, from an ongoing focus on even decision-makers. The courses will SWINGS higher acuity levels and greater need for allow students to use a variety of intensive care beds to a new emphasis tools and tactics as they explore Nurse leaders continued to step out and on home- and community-based care, and apply the health care financing speak up about health care deficiencies, particularly primary care, prevention and and reimbursement principles and for example, the negative impact of poor early intervention. Nurses, long known strategies to health care policy working conditions and reduced staffing for focusing on the health of the whole solutions. Students will also identify on patients’ quality of care and safety. By person within his or her environment— and analyze health problems, using 1994, more nurses joined in their efforts while promoting a team approach to care these analyses to both create and and created a groundswell sufficient to integration—are viewed by workforce shepherd policy solutions through invoke the American Nurse Association experts as being best positioned to actual or virtual policymaking Resolution on Safe Patient Staffing, drive policy changes in today’s health processes in legislatures, regulatory suggesting strategies such as staffing care delivery. environments or within the principles and nurse-to-patient ratios. By The seminal 2011 IOM report, “The justice system. 2000, two Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing: Leading Change, reports gave credence to a downward spiral Advancing Health,” also gave nurses the “Over the next decade, this of patient safety and quality, the loss of impetus to step up as policy advocates. and other academic offerings patient life due to medical errors and the Calling for nurse leaders and educators to will increase the capacity and recognition that health care delivery was prepare the workforce to step up and gain confidence of GW-educated everyone’s problem. Nurses then came to that “seat at the policy table,” the report nurses to take increasingly visible the table, actively engaging, shaping urged nurses to overcome the hierarchy of and critical roles in shaping and and supporting policies for reforming clinical health services and delivery that leading critical policy changes,” health care. had undervalued and underestimated them. Dr. Schumann says.

nursing.gwu.edu / 13 THE SEAT AT THE TABLE

Nurses constitute up to 80 percent of the health care workforce, with 3.6 million working in the U.S. Numerous annual Gallup polls show they are the most respected of all health care providers. That gives nurses clout as advocates, and it makes the time ripe for nurses to move beyond the bedside to make and shape the future of health policy. “Because nurses provide a perspective

TALKING POLICY Engaging in health policy demands a willingness to speak, step up, advocate and lead. GW Nursing faculty are doing just that on a regular basis.

✚✚ Faculty member Nancy Rudner, head ✚✚ The American Academy of Nursing’s ✚✚ Research Instructor Edward Salsberg, of the Florida League of Women Voters 2016 policy summit, Transforming who is also a founding director of GW’s Closing the Gap health initiative, took Health, Driving Policy, explored how Health Workforce Studies Institute, to the radio on WRPK in Winter Park, nurses can shape health policy as spoke later in the AAN conference Fla. She spoke on crafting health policy leaders in boardrooms as well as on the impact of a changing delivery and discussed the future of health care classrooms. In her opening address, system on the health care workforce. He around the country and in Florida, a Dean Pamela Jeffries reminded the recommended workforce agility and state with the second-highest uninsured audience that “leadership is intrinsic to ongoing monitoring to meet demands rate in the U.S. our profession, regardless of your role, of integrated care, a “whole-person” title or position.” She urged them to approach to services and value- “embrace this not as a challenge, but as based reimbursement. an opportunity.”

14 / NURSES CONSTITUTE UP TO 80 PERCENT OF THE HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE, WITH 3.6 MILLION WORKING IN THE U.S.

that sees the person, not just the illness, as a trusted source of health policy interests of patients, most importantly, we can bring important values, data education that is impartial, fact-driven those that improve access, lead to better and knowledge to the policy table,” and consumer-centered. With the new care and create healthier communities,” Dr. Jeffries says. “The time is now for center and an emphasis on policy content she says. nurse leaders to engage in critical thinking, being woven into the school’s curricula, Professor Mary Jean Schumann, analysis and reflection, and to apply our the GW-educated nurse will be vocal executive director of the new center and knowledge to crafting salient, sanguine and articulate in crafting and building the faculty leader responsible for bringing health policy.” consensus for important responses. the policy-centered graduate certificate to Under Dr. Jeffries’ leadership, Dr. Jeffries says the faculty and the center fruition, agrees that nurses need to speak GW Nursing is bringing policy will ensure GW graduates have the skills to up. “It’s about advocating for our patients and communications expertise to engage in policy debates, discussions and at every level, even doing something at the nurses. Health policy is now a pillar actions with stakeholders ranging from the grassroots level.” of the school’s mission and vision, community to Congress. “The GW nurse Dr. Mason adds that, “nurses have a and Dr. Jeffries envisions the school will shape and promote policies in the best long history of being innovators, with

✚✚ Assistant Professor Malinda Whitlow’s presentation, “Bringing Technology to the Bedside: Using Smartphones to Improve Interprofessional Communication,” earned a best poster award at the Virginia Nurses Association’s annual legislative summit. Her study findings led the University of Virginia Medical Center to implement smartphone technology across its acute care units. ­ —Teddi Fine

nursing.gwu.edu / 15 “Including nurses’ voices at all health-related policy- and decision- making tables is crucial if we’re to improve the health of the nation.” — Dr. Diana Mason ADVOCATING POLICY

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” urged nurses to become health program and policy spokespersons and to build strong relationships with the news media, from reporters and editors to podcasters and bloggers. That is precisely what GW a mandate and a legacy of which to be Nursing’s Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement is all about. mindful and proud. It’s a history of advancing community-based, public health The center, led by Executive Director Mary Jean Schumann, is poised to amplify care that is coming full circle. Including the school’s voice and enable faculty and students to better share policy and nurses’ voices at all health-related policy- health information with the public, the media and policy influencers. and decision-making tables is crucial if we’re to improve the health of the nation.” Dr. Schumann is joined by two co-directors—Dr. Diana Mason and Ms. Barbara Barbara Glickstein, a nurse, journalist Glickstein, who bring years of policy experience to the center. For Dr. Mason, and media expert, has also joined the the relocation of the center from New York City to Washington, D.C., provides center as a co-director. She advocates for a “great opportunity to take the lead in health policy in the very town where nurses acquiring the skills necessary for national policy is made and state policy is influenced.” Ms. Glickstein adds that effective public communication. “Media it will serve “to position nurses as media experts in their fields to impact health training can give nurses the confidence and health policy through multiple media platforms, hold media accountable to and tools they need to be proactive in include nurses in reporting and deliver nursing’s message to the public and key shaping policy,” she says. policymakers.” Dr. Jeffries, Dr. Schumann, Dr. Mason and Ms. Glickstein agree At the center, nursing faculty and students will learn to explain complex research that nurses now must not only be even or policy by putting a face on the issue or telling its story in ways that capture better educated but also supported the interest of the public, media and policymakers. Visiting scholars will help through mechanisms such as the new participants hone social media and mass media communication skills. The center to influence high-level policy school’s unique mix of distance- and on-site learning, fellowships and hands-on proactively, openly and frequently. They experience will take the work to a practical level, providing an incubator for cite the words of former surgeon general nurturing new policy-savvy and articulate nurse communicators. and former nurse Richard Carmona: “Working together, learning the ropes of “The center is a place to learn new ways of messaging and how to take policy and politics, and mentoring others, those messages to people with whom nurses don’t routinely interact,” says …[nurses] can change the future of the Dr. Schumann, adding that communication skills and media acumen will give nation’s health.” nurses nationwide a growing, better-respected voice and presence at the policymaking table.

16 / BUILDING POLICY Just as clinical education and practice are informed by basic and applied research, at GW Nursing, meaningful health policy is being built on a bedrock of research and its application.

✚✚ Assistant Professor Asefeh Faraz is and demonstrate comparable NP APRN’s primary care scope of practice, examining factors influencing whether quality of care in states with and without and a recently published article a novice nurse practitioner (NP) independent practice environments considers the impact of scope-of- successfully transitions to primary care for NPs. “Given these findings, practice laws on both NP autonomy and practice during the first post-graduate policymakers may want to consider patient access to care. year. She will expand her work with easing NP restrictions, particularly when ✚✚ A recent Health Affairs blog by Research this cohort to gain insight into their job ensuring that the needs of low-income Instructor Edward Salsberg documents satisfaction, distribution and retention. and underserved populations—who an apparent flattening in the number “With primary care physician shortages often rely on CMHCs for care—are met,” of new RN graduates entering practice and new patients entering the health says Dr. Kurtzman. each year, after 14 years of growth. The care system, NPs can help meet the ✚✚ In two American Academy of Nursing number of associate degree entrants is demand for high-quality primary care,” briefs, Professor Joyce Pulcini and waning; BSN graduates now represent says Dr. Faraz. others consider the role of NPs and the 46 percent of all first-time exam takers. ✚✚ Associate Professor Ellen Kurtzman’s effect of integrated care on primary He also advises nurse educators to recently published studies set in care practice and focus on leadership “monitor trends to ensure against over community health centers (CMHCs) roles for NPs in patient-centered, expansion” by primary care nurse and show comparable quality-of-care integrated care delivery. Another brief physician providers. outcomes and practice patterns among examines the impact of broadening —Teddi Fine NPs, physicians and physician assistants Policy Update

success. Per the “Nation’s Report Card” prepared by the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 66 percent of U.S. students do not read proficiently by the end of third grade. In Washington, D.C., where that number grows to 73 percent, a diverse group of public health, health care and education organizations are taking bold steps to radically change child outcomes. After successfully piloting the initiative in Atlanta, I am working with other Dr. Darcy-Mahoney modeling TWMB health professionals in the D.C. area to strategies with a parent and child. launch Talk With Me Baby (TWMB), an innovative public action campaign designed to increase children’s access to Rx: LOTS OF WORDS, DAILY and acquisition of strong language skills. Pediatricians, nurses, nurse practitioners, BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ASHLEY DARCY-MAHONEY, PHD, NNP, FAAN, medical assistants, nutritionists and FOR THE TALK WITH ME BABY COLLABORATIVE* psychologists from Children’s National Health System—the hub of pediatric Literacy and Health: What is the link? word you say is another penny you invest.” care in Washington, D.C., and one of the In 2014, the American Academy of The more words a child hears from infancy organizations most trusted by the area’s Pediatrics released its first policy to age 3, the more neuronal connections families—will be trained to engage and statement on early literacy education, a call are made. And it doesn’t cost anything to coach parents on ways to deliver language to pediatric health care providers to inform make these connections. It is about telling to their children, beginning in the last parents about the benefits of reading aloud a child a story or even just describing the trimester of pregnancy. to their children, starting in infancy. Why act of folding laundry—in whatever style or Initial funding for TWMB was did a health care providers’ professional language parents feel most comfortable. provided by the United Way of Greater association decide to set policy on an issue Unfortunately, many infants and Atlanta. Now, through a new partnership with seemingly no direct connection to toddlers do not have these frequent verbal with the Barbara Bush Foundation, health? Steven H. Woolf, director of the exchanges and therefore are negatively TWMB is expanding its training and Center on Society and Health at Virginia affected in academic achievement, health resources nationwide. A newly developed Commonwealth University, said it best: outcomes, economic opportunities and online toolkit and a training curriculum “Children with less education are destined social mobility. Just as children’s bodies that equips health care providers to to live sicker and die sooner.” require warmth, food and protection, their serve as Language Nutrition coaches in brains need “language nutrition” to support their own communities was launched in A Daily Dose of Words maximum developmental potential. September 2016 and highlighted at the Children realize their greatest potential White House Summit on Behavioral for brain development in their first three D.C., Get Talking Science Insights. By delivering this years of life. The University of Chicago’s Research indicates that a child’s vocabulary coaching to parents, TWMB is bringing Dana Suskind, founder of the Thirty at the age of 3 is a key predictor of third- the Academy’s policy to practice in hopes Million Words Initiative, says, “Think of grade reading comprehension, which is of changing the devastating report card your child’s brain like a piggy bank—every a powerful indicator of later academic statistics in our nation’s capital and throughout the country.

* The Talk With Me Baby Collaborative: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Marcus Autism Center, Georgia Department of Public Health and Department of Education, the Atlanta Speech School, Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, GW School of Nursing and Get Georgia Reading - Campaign for Grade-Level Reading.

18 / GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NURSING ACADEMIC PROGRAMS

Academic opportunities at the GW School of Nursing reflect the changing nature of the field and the increasing diversity of the nursing profession. The school offers opportunities for nurses in all stages of their careers through several Bachelor of Science in Nursing options, the Master of Science in Nursing , the Doctor of Nursing Practice, multiple post-graduate certificates and extensive distance-based learning programs.

Bachelor of Science in Master of Science in Doctor of Nursing Practice Post-Graduate Certificates Nursing (BSN) Nursing (MSN) (DNP) ✚✚ Family Nurse ✚✚ Accelerated Bachelor of ✚✚ Family Nurse Practitioner ✚✚ Post-BSN DNP Family Practitioner Certificate Science in Nursing Nurse Practitioner ✚✚ Adult Gerontology Primary ✚✚ Adult Gerontology ✚✚ Veterans Bachelor of Care Nurse Practitioner ✚✚ Post-BSN DNP Adult Primary Care Nurse Science in Nursing Gerontology Primary Care Practitioner Certificate ✚✚ Adult Gerontology Acute Nurse Practitioner ✚✚ RN Pathways Care Nurse Practitioner ✚✚ Adult Gerontology ✚✚ Post-BSN DNP Adult Acute Care Nurse ✚✚ RN to BSN ✚✚ Nurse Midwifery Gerontology Acute Care Practitioner Certificate ✚✚ RN to BSN/MSN ✚✚ Nursing Leadership & Nurse Practitioner ✚✚ »» Family ✚✚ Post-MSN DNP (generic) Education Certificate Nurse Practitioner »» Adult Gerontology ✚✚ Post-MSN DNP ✚✚ Psychiatric/Mental Primary Care Executive Leadership Health Nurse Practitioner Nurse Practitioner Certificate ✚✚ Post-MSN DNP Health »» Nurse Midwifery Care Quality ✚✚ Health Policy and Media ✚✚ RN to MSN - Bridge Engagement Certificate (includes all MSN tracks) ✚✚ Advanced Practice Palliative Care Certificate

GW SON VOICES

“I chose the GW MSN-FNP program because “The simulation laboratory run by the faculty “GW SON encourages and supports dreams. I had such a wonderful experience in my truly mimicked real-life situations that nurses The DNP program helped to open my mind ABSN program here… The GW name in the encounter on a daily basis. Practicing on the to all kinds of possibilities and experiences D.C. nursing/medical community is very well mannequins helped me learn the necessary both nationally and internationally…and the respected…making clinical rotations easier and skills so as to ease my transition into the location at the very center of the free world really carrying a lot of weight when applying clinical setting… I credit my nursing success to incorporates and encourages a very diverse for jobs outside of the D.C. area.” GW SON.” student population.” —WILL SMITH, BSN ’14, MSN FNP ’16, —MELISSA BRODER, BSN ’14, —KELLEY MILLER WILSON, DNP ’15, Primary Care Family Nurse Practitioner, , High Risk Perinatal Clinical Associate Professor, University Erie Family Health Center, Chicago, Ill. Unit, Holy Cross Hospital, of South Carolina College of Nursing, Silver Spring, Md. Columbia, S.C.

APPLY NOW REQUEST INFORMATION Office of Admissions Graduate Programs 571-553-0138 1919 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Ste. 500, Washington, D.C., 20006, 202-994-7901 email: [email protected] Undergraduate Programs Innovation Hall, 45085 University Dr., Ste. 201, Ashburn, VA, 20147, 571-553-4498

New Faculty and Staff Join GW Nursing

GW Nursing has welcomed 11 faculty and 12 staff members since mid-summer 2016. Each adds his or her expertise, knowledge, energy and enthusiasm to GW Nursing as the school expands its footprint in the world of nursing education, practice and policy. Learn more about them on the following pages and see their photos (number following their names is the key).

Faculty Staff ✚✚ Jess Calohan, DNP, PMHNP-BC [9] ✚✚ Kyla Arager, Program Associate, DNP [8]

✚✚ Catherine Wilson Cox, PhD, RN [16] ✚✚ David Biglari, Director, Marketing and Communications [1]

✚✚ Karen Dawn, DNP, RN [13] ✚✚ Shafiah Firoz, Instructional Designer[7]

✚✚ Maritza Dowling, PhD [2] ✚✚ Gina Gerard, Human Resources Manager [18]

✚✚ Asefeh Faraz, PhD, APRN [14] ✚✚ Barbara Glickstein, Media Projects Director, Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement [17] ✚✚ Kathleen Griffith, PhD, MPH, FNP-BC[15] ✚✚ Sha’Lace Gregg, Program Manager, Division of Entrepreneurial Enterprises [3] ✚✚ Karen Kesten, DNP, APRN, CCRN-K [12] ✚✚ Jenny McCauley, Student Services Specialist [20] ✚✚ Diana Mason, PhD, RN, FAAN [11] ✚✚ David Mossinger, Instructional Technologist [19] ✚✚ Rhonda Schwindt, DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN [10] ✚✚ Tilly Parkin, Program Coordinator, Veterans BSN [5] ✚✚ Margaret Venzke, DNP, FNP-BC, APRN [4] ✚✚ Justin Pohl, Special Assistant to the Dean [6]

✚✚ Samantha Robaina, Records and Registration Manager [20] ✚✚ Ayesha Waqas, Research Administrator

[4] [2] [6] [8] [3]

[1]

[7]

[5]

nursing.gwu.edu / 21 New Faculty and Staff

✚✚ Karen Dawn [13] is now on faculty as a family nurse practitioner at the WELCOME, NEW as an assistant professor. She has University of Virginia Health System FACULTY taught at George Mason University as well as via Maven Digital Clinic, a and the University of Virginia and has telemedicine platform. extensive experience working with ✚✚ Associate Professor Kathleen ✚✚ Assistant Professor Jess Calohan nursing students in community settings, Griffith [15] is a researcher and [9], a board-certified psychiatric including public health departments, practicing clinician. Her research mental nurse practitioner, recently community service boards, clinics, program focuses on symptom retired from the U.S. Army after homeless shelters, summer camps with management related to cancer and 20 years of distinguished service. vulnerable populations, environment its treatment, investigating new ways Having treated service members with protection and prisons. She is a to alleviate persistent chemotherapy- combat-related PTSD in deployed certified diabetes educator and induced peripheral neuropathy and and non-deployed settings for over public health clinical nurse specialist to better understand weight gain 18 years, Dr. Calohan is a recognized with over 30 years of experience in during breast cancer chemotherapy, expert in the field, presenting diabetes management, chronic disease an independent risk factor for nationally and internationally and prevention and health promotion. She breast cancer-specific mortality. Her authoring multiple peer-reviewed has developed hundreds of creative current National Institutes of Health publications. In 2013, he was awarded health education tools to assist people funding focuses on aerobic and the prestigious “A” designator by the with chronic disease. Her specialties resistive exercise to improve painful U.S. Army surgeon general, an honor include diabetes education and research, chemotherapy-induced peripheral given to less than 5 percent of Army health promotion, disease prevention, neuropathy by examining changes in medical officers, for his expertise and public health and intensive diabetes clinical examination and peripheral significant contributions to military management, including insulin neuropathology resulting from the medicine. He has also earned multiple pump therapy. military awards, most notably the intervention. Dr. Griffith comes to ✚ Bronze Star and Defense Meritorious ✚ Maritza Dowling [2] joins GW GW Nursing from the University of Service Medal. He maintains a tele- Nursing as an assistant professor Maryland School of Nursing. and biostatistician. Formerly an psychiatry practice serving rural and ✚✚ Associate Professor Karen associate scientist and co-director underserved populations. Kesten [12] is a national leader in of the Biostatistics and Data nursing education, having served most ✚✚ Associate Professor Catherine Management Unit at the Wisconsin recently as the director of faculty Wilson Cox [16] most recently Alzheimer’s Disease Research initiatives at the American Association served as the American Association of Center, Dr. Dowling is particularly of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Prior Colleges of Nursing (AACN) director interested in measurement issues to joining AACN, Dr. Kesten was of programs. She planned, implemented in the longitudinal assessment of an associate professor and program and evaluated conferences and meetings health constructs, patient-reported director for the Adult Gerontology for faculty teaching at the bachelor’s, outcomes and cognitive function in Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and master’s and doctoral levels as well as for older adults and the application of Clinical Nurse Specialist programs at deans responsible for those programs. novel statistical approaches to model Georgetown University. She played a She also spearheaded initiatives the relationships between Alzheimer’s critical role in the design, development on leadership development and disease biomarkers. assisted with diversity, inclusivity and and launch of their graduate distance ✚ sustainment programs. Dr. Cox began ✚ Assistant Professor Asefeh learning and DNP programs. Her her career as an ICU nurse at the Faraz [14] is on the faculty of the research interests are innovative National Naval Medical Center and, in Family Nurse Practitioner program teaching strategies, simulation, 2014, retired from the Navy Reserves option. Dr. Faraz is a health care competency-based education as a captain. She previously was on workforce researcher interested in and advanced nursing practice. faculty at Marymount and Georgetown nurse practitioner issues, particularly Dr. Kesten currently chairs the board universities and the University of North the novice nurse practitioner transition of directors for the Certification Carolina at Wilmington. into primary care and alternative Corporation of the American workforce solutions to improve patient Association of Critical Care Nurses. access to primary preventive care. Dr. Faraz maintains her clinical practice

22 / New Faculty and Staff

✚✚ Diana Mason [11] joins the faculty and referral to treatment and from education and developing opportunities as the senior policy service professor Indiana University Health to reduce for interprofessional collaborative and co-director of the new Center for smoking rates among pregnant women. practice. Her clinical and research Health Policy and Media Engagement. Most recently, Dr. Schwindt led the interests focus on adult immunizations, Former Rudin Professor of Nursing and development of an online training patient vaccine refusal and falls co-founder of the Center for Health, module that prepares clinicians to prevention for older adults in primary Media and Policy at Hunter College, engage in motivational interviewing, care settings. she served for a decade as editor-in- an interprofessional tobacco cessation chief of the American Journal of Nursing. program targeting smokers with mental For over 30 years, she has produced illness and a web-based tool to assist and moderated “HealthCetera,” a clinicians with screening and brief radio program in New York City. As intervention for substance lead co-editor of the award-winning use disorders. book “Policy and Politics in Nursing ✚✚ Assistant Professor Margaret and Health Care,” she writes and Venzke [4] brings over 20 years of speaks about health policy and politics, teaching experience in graduate adult serves on the board of the Primary and family nurse practitioner programs Care Development Corporation and to GW. Her academic interests are in is the immediate past president of the creating innovative online curricula American Academy of Nursing. and simulation in graduate nursing ✚✚ Rhonda Schwindt [10] joins GW Nursing as an assistant professor and director of the post-master’s Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse [15] Practitioner program option. Dr. Schwindt’s research is focused on reducing the disproportionate impact [14] of tobacco use among high-risk populations. She has received external funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to advance multidisciplinary education for screening, brief intervention [11]

[9] [10]

[13] [16]

[12] nursing.gwu.edu / 23 master’s-prepared nurse, comes ✚✚ Tilly Parkin [5] is the program WELCOME, NEW from Hunter College, where she and coordinator for the Veterans BSN STAFF Diana Mason co-founded the Center program. For the past six years, she for Health, Media and Policy, an has worked in higher education in the interdisciplinary initiative advancing areas of admissions, recruiting and ✚✚ Kyla Arager [8] is the DNP program public health and policies through advising. Most recently, Ms. Parkin was associate. Ms. Arager will work closely media, research, education and public an admissions officer with Baptist with Kate Malliarakis, interim assistant forums. College of Health Sciences and worked dean for the DNP program, providing directly with the Nursing, Health Care ✚✚ Sha’Lace Gregg [3] is the program administrative support for the program Management and Biomedical manager for GW Nursing’s Division and service to the students. While Sciences programs. completing a master’s degree in higher of Entrepreneurial Enterprises ✚ education at the University of Virginia (DEE). She previously served as ✚ Special Assistant to the Dean Justin (UVA), she served as student services program coordinator for one of the Pohl [6] has served in multiple roles and program coordinator with UVA’s nation’s leading orthopedic practices. across higher education, including University Internship Programs. Ms. Gregg’s passion for continuing operations manager, assistant dean education programs has brought of students and assistant director of ✚✚ Director of Marketing and her to DEE, where she joins Ronna student development for the College Communications David Biglari [1] Halbgewachs, working to broaden the of Charleston School of Education, has over 10 years of marketing school’s reach and visibility. Health and Human Performance. His experience in higher education and roles ranged from advising the dean to ✚✚ Jenny McCauley [21] has assumed health care industries. He previously overseeing fraternity and sorority life the newly created role of student was assistant dean at Towson and university leadership programs. University’s College of Business and services specialist. Ms. McCauley, who ✚ Economics, providing oversight for its worked as an RN for eight years, earned ✚ Samantha Robaina [20] joins accreditation, reporting and strategic a master’s degree in higher education the Student Services team as the initiatives. Prior to that, at the Johns to pursue a career focused on college records and registration manager. Hopkins School of Nursing, he led students. She previously worked at Ms. Robaina worked in the Office of the digital strategy and managed multiple Hagerstown Community College and Registrar at the University of Maryland award-winning website redesigns. Shepherd University. College Park for the last six years. ✚ ✚ ✚✚ As GW Nursing’s newest instructional ✚ David Mossinger [19] joins the ✚ Ayesha Waqas is the school’s designer, Shafiah Firoz [7] focuses Online Learning and Instructional research administrator and its first on ways to facilitate learning through Technology team as an instructional full-time staff member dedicated to effective and efficient uses of technologist. He has spent several years supporting research infrastructure. educational technology. She is pursuing working as a multimedia specialist for She supports pre- and post-award a doctoral degree in educational training, including at the Raytheon activities and principal investigators. leadership and management at Drexel Corporation where he developed virtual Ms. Waqas has worked in multiple University. Ms. Firoz, who comes from reality training simulations. He holds a roles at GW, including for four years in Johns Hopkins University, currently master’s degree in digital imaging and the Office of Research as a sponsored holds master’s degrees in information design and is pursuing a master’s degree research administrator. systems and biotechnology enterprise in educational technology. and entrepreneurship. ✚✚ Gina Gerard [18] is GW Nursing’s first dedicated human resources manager. Ms. Gerard has worked [18] [20] in the HR departments at Reston Hospital Center (RHC) and West [21] Virginia University, where she earned a master’s degree in labor relations [17] and HR management. While at RHC, she discovered her admiration for the dedicated and compassionate nurses and other workers in the health care [19] industry. ✚✚ Barbara Glickstein [17] joins the new Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement as media projects director. Ms. Glickstein, a

24 /

GW Nursing at Home and Around the World

ECUADOR: A STUDENT'S EXPERIENCE Our trip last year to Ecuador with the George Washington University School of “Better Than Any Hospital…” Nursing was an experience like no other. Working in the local community and BY STEVEN ROZECKI, BSN COHORT 10 collaborating directly with local health care professionals offered unique opportunities to see international health care firsthand. One day we walked nine miles through the streets of Tumbaco, going door to door administering polio vaccines and speaking with families in Spanish about the importance of maintaining immunizations. The experience painted a picture of their access to care, what the community is like and how they live day to day. It epitomized the cultural immersion that we experienced throughout our week there. Working in a clinic, daycare centers and schools allowed us to further develop the clinical skills we will use as nurses. We performed assessments, provided patient education and worked on our communication skills, with fewer and less technologically advanced resources than we have access to in the United States. This learning opportunity was better than any hospital could offer. In the classroom, we are taught the importance of respecting cultural diversity while providing care in different communities. Traveling to Ecuador, we learned these lessons in real life. As we worked directly with local providers— respecting their cultural norms—we were challenged to adapt our skills to their needs. This experience has helped us grow more confident in ourselves, to be definitive in our clinical opinions, to be adaptable and to be professionals.

For more photos from Ecuador, visit go.gwu.edu/EcuadorWithRozecki

26 / increase access to and education about palliative and end-of-life care for ELNEC- International. They and other ELNEC trainers and faculty from 88 countries have traveled to six continents to train more than 10,500 nurses and other health care providers. Nurse leaders from across Asia attended the conference’s Palliative Care Nurse Leadership course, which featured the eight modules of the ELNEC-Core: Nursing Care at the End of Life; Pain Management; Symptom Management; Ethical/Legal Issues; Cultural Considerations in End-of-Life Care; Communication; Loss, Grief, Bereavement; and Preparation for and Care at the Time of Death. It was incredible to share common experiences in palliative care with nurse leaders from across the world who are caring for pediatric, adult and geriatric patients. Though our language and resources sometimes differ across the globe, our desire to provide compassionate care and prevent suffering is the same. I will never forget this experience and opportunity, not to mention the dim sum and other tasty Chinese cuisine, touring CHINA: PALLIATIVE CARE and shopping at the markets. “Finding Common Ground…” For more information about:

BY CHERYL ANN THAXTON, DNP CANDIDATE —The GW Nursing Post-Graduate APRN Certificate: Advanced Practice As a second-year DNP student at the Northwestern University Cancer Pain Palliative Care Certificate for Nurse George Washington University School Program, and Pam Malloy, director and Practitioners, visit of Nursing, I’ve learned it helps to follow co-investigator of the End-of-Life Nursing go.gwu.edu/PalliativeCare models of resilience in nursing leadership Education Consortium (ELNEC) Core as I focus on ways to move toward the Project and an American Association of —ELNEC-International education and finish line. Colleges of Nursing leader. Our goal was resources, contact Pam Malloy, RN, MN, One such opportunity was last year to provide education and resources about FPCN, at [email protected] at the International Conference on nursing leadership and palliative care to Cancer Nursing in Hong Kong. I had the conference attendees. —American Association of Colleges of honor of serving as principal faculty on a For several years, Drs. Paice and Nursing. (2016). ELNEC Fact Sheet, course with Judith Paice, director of the Malloy have traveled across the world to visit http://www.aacn.nche.edu/elnec/ about/fact-sheet nursing.gwu.edu / 27 GW Nursing at Home and Around the World FACULTY AND STUDENTS PRESENT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AROUND THE WORLD Summer 2016 through Winter 2017

During the past six months, GW Nursing faculty and students participated in hundreds of conferences and events. Here’s a sampling of presentations across four countries, one commonwealth and 13 U.S. cities.

Anaheim, Calif. | At the November Boston | Last summer at the Academy Guangzhou, China | A thousand American Association of Colleges Health Annual Research Meeting, people attended PROFESSOR JOYCE of Nursing Baccalaureate Education ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR ELLEN PULCINI’S presentation, “Advanced Conference, faculty participation KURTZMAN presented “Do State Scope Practice Nursing: Practice and Service included the panels, “Meeting the of Practice Restrictions Affect Nurse Impact,” at the Advanced Practice Nursing Triple Aim: Interprofessional Education Practitioners’ Patterns of Practice or Quality Conference in September. Implementation within an Accelerated of Care in Health Centers?” Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program," Hong Kong | PROFESSOR JOYCE led by ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MALINDA ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CAROL LANG, PULCINI and colleagues presented “Latin WHITLOW and featuring ASSISTANT FACULTY MEMBER NANCY RUDNER, America and the Caribbean: Opportunities PROFESSOR MAJEDA EL-BANNA and CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR and Challenges for APNs” at the PROFESSOR ANGELA MCNELIS; and KAREN DAWN and PROFESSOR JOYCE International Nurse Practitioner/Advance “Veterans’ Success in an Accelerated BSN PULCINI presented a satellite discussion Practice Nursing Conference in September. Program Strategies that Work!” presented of their research developing international by CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR clinical practicum experiences at the Keystone, Colo. | In July, FACULTY GRETCHEN WIERSMA. In addition, Global Nursing Caucus, SEED Global MEMBER NANCY RUDNER served CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Health conference, in October. as the moderator for an ethics forum, JOANN CONROY presented her “End-of- “Practitioners’ Ethical Responses to Life Simulation” research poster. Coronado, Calif. | CLINICAL ASSISTANT Immunization Refusals,” and presented PROFESSOR KAREN DAWN and “Putting Population Health into Your Atlanta | ASSISTANT PROFESSORS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR CAROL LANG Practice: Strategies to Improve Outcomes” CAROL LANG and MALINDA WHITLOW presented the poster, “Nurse-led Health and “It’s in My Truck: Patient Motivation gave the presentation, “Team Building and Promotion in Haiti," at the American and Adherence” at the National Nurse Strategic Partnership: Multicultural, Inter- Association of Colleges of Nursing Faculty Practitioner Symposium. professional Short-Term Medical Missions Practice conference in January. to Haiti,” at the American Academy of Kingston, R.I. | ADJUNCT INSTRUCTOR Family Physicians in September. Denver | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ESTHER EMARD was the keynote speaker ASHLEY DARCY-MAHONEY and for the University of Rhode Island’s annual In November at the Association of Nurses colleagues presented “Talk With Me Baby: Pathways College event, "Our Career Paths in AIDS Care Conference, ASSISTANT Georgia’s Language Nutrition Strategy” at to the IOM's Future of Nursing Goals," PROFESSOR DANA HINES delivered the the American Public Health Association in December. presentation, “HIV Testing and Linkage to conference in November. Care among Transwomen in Indiana.” Mexico City | PROFESSOR JOYCE Fairfax, Va. | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR PULCINI delivered the panel presentation, Baltimore | At the 26th annual Summer ELLEN KURTZMAN presented “Nurse “Development of Institute in Nursing Informatics in July, Practitioners’ Quality of Care” in October Education and Educators,” at the 15th Pan ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR KAREN WHITT at George Mason University’s Department American Colloquium presented “Electronic Health Records of Health Administration and Policy and in October. and Patient Safety: Nurse Practitioners’ the Center for Health Policy Research Experiences in Clinical Practice.” and Ethics Fall 2016 Health Policy Seminar Series.

28 / GW Nursing at Home and Around the World

Miami | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Washington, D.C. | ASSISTANT In November, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR SANDRA DAVIS delivered the presentation, PROFESSOR ASHLEY DARCY-MAHONEY ELLEN KURTZMAN made several “Teaching Social Determinants of Health participated in “Language Nutrition presentations to delegations of and Disparity Reduction: A Simulation Competency Exam: A New Measure of government officials from Shanghai, China. Innovation,” at the Beyond Flexner Pediatric Providers’ Knowledge of Early The presentations at the GW Columbian conference in September. Language Acquisition & Development” College of Arts and Sciences included “U.S. at the Council for the Advancement of Health Policy: Current Trends and Future Nottingham, United Kingdom | Nursing Science in September. Directions,” “U.S. Health Policy: Caring for At the Royal College of Nursing’s 22nd an Aging Population” and “Election 2016.” International Network for Psychiatric Also in September, ASSISTANT Nursing Research Conference in PROFESSOR ARLENE PERICAK presented GW Nursing DNP graduates and students September, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR the poster, “Preventing and Responding ETSEGENET TAYE, LINDA CASSAR, AZRA CAROL LANG gave the presentation, to Domestic and Sexual Violence, A KUKIC, DEBRA KRAHLING, HANNAH “Assessing the Burden and Impact of Caring Course for a Haitian Medical School,” at ALORGBEY, KATHLEEN HEWITT, MONICA for Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior the State of the Science Congress on HAMILTON, PEARLY BROWN, REBECCA Disorders on Family Relationships.” Nursing Research: Determinants of MANCE and ZAHRA MOHSENI presented Health conference. podium and poster findings related to Palm Springs, Calif. | In October, their DNP projects at the November ASSISTANT PROFESSOR ASHLEY DARCY- At the GW Teaching and Learning Day Washington Regional Nursing Research MAHONEY presented “Bilingualism and in October, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Consortium’s Doctoral Student Research Executive Inhibitory Control in 4- and CAROL LANG, FACULTY MEMBER NANCY Conference at Georgetown University. 5-Year-Old Preterm Born Children: A Pilot RUDNER and CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR DIANA MASON, the keynote Study” at the National Association of PROFESSOR KAREN DAWN presented the speaker, discussed “Transforming Research Neonatal Nurses national conference. poster, “Haiti as Classroom for Community into Policy.” Focused Global Health Nursing and Phoenix | ASSISTANT PROFESSOR Applied Research.” CLINICAL ASSISTANT In December, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR BRENDA SHEINGOLD presented PROFESSOR GRETCHEN WIERSMA KAREN WHITT presented a webinar, “Fostering Connectional Intelligence to addressed “Using Debriefing Techniques “Nursing Students’ Evaluation of Electronic Design an Evidence-based Tool to Assess to Foster Critical Reflection During Health Records for Safety and Quality Bruising as Forensic Biomarker of Abuse” Clinical Post Conference” and ASSISTANT in Clinical Practice Utilizing the SAFER at the Gerontological Advanced Nurse PROFESSOR MAJEDA EL-BANNA Guides,” to the U.S. Department of Practice Association conference in Phoenix. led “Flipping Around the Classroom: Health and Human Services Office of the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing National Coordinator of Health Information San Jose, Costa Rica | During a Students’ Satisfaction and Achievement” Technology Clinical Grand Rounds. December interprofessional partnership with ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MALINDA exploration trip with the GW School of WHITLOW and PROFESSOR ANGELA Medicine and Health Sciences, DEAN MCNELIS. The poster presentation, “What’s PAMELA JEFFRIES presented “George Your Style? Enhanced Interprofessional Washington School of Nursing: Our School, Communication and Practice Using Programs, and Global Opportunities” at the Communication Wheel,” featured the Universidad Hispanoamericana. ASSISTANT PROFESSOR MAJEDA EL-BANNA and CLINICAL ASSISTANT PROFESSOR JOANN CONROY, and the San Juan, Puerto Rico | At the Third poster, “The Students’ Voice Regarding Congress in Clinical Simulations in Faculty Site Visits in Nurse Practitioner November, DEAN PAMELA JEFFRIES Education,” was presented by ASSISTANT presented “The State of the Science PROFESSORS ARLENE PERICAK and and Insight into the Future of Clinical MARJORIE GRAZIANO and PROFESSOR Simulations on Patient Safety and Quality ANGELA MCNELIS. Care” and “National League for Nursing/ Jeffries Simulation Theory.”

nursing.gwu.edu / 29 Faculty, Student and Staff News

Research Examines Medical Research Foundation, Associate Research Professor Dale Lupu is taking Ways to Help on that challenge. Through her “MY WAY, Make Your Wishes About You” project, she Patients Plan developed a patient guide about advance care planning and an accompanying Advance Care coach-training curriculum. Both are being distributed through the Coalition Communication for Supportive Care of Kidney Patients (CSCKP), a national coalition of all major Coach or no? Trial will show organizations involved in care of patients The best way to go. with chronic kidney disease. The guide is — Haiku for MY WAY Project free and currently available on the CSCKP website. Patients dealing with chronic kidney Dr. Lupu is now studying the impact disease don’t always have an opportunity of using a coach who meets individually to engage in discussions and decision- with patients in the nephrologist’s office making about advance care planning. to guide them through the advance care Despite clinical practice guidelines that planning process. The motivational urge nephrology care teams and patients interview approach helps patients to do so, implementation of the practice articulate their preferences and values, has not been widespread. Most patients select a health care decision-maker and report wanting to have such discussions, work with the nephrology care team but less than 50 percent do. As Medicare to make sure their choices are implements a new payment explicitly appropriately documented. for advance care planning, there is an In related research, Dr. Lupu is opportunity to develop tools and processes co-principal investigator—with CSCKP to help patients and their nephrology care Chairperson Alvin Moss—of a Gordon and teams engage. Betty Moore Foundation-funded project With a three-year grant from the to develop supportive care pathways for Patrick and Catherine Weldon Donaghue patients with chronic kidney disease. Led by the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition, the “Pathways Project” also addresses development of supportive tools and management for patients with kidney or end-stage renal disease. “This research and the new tools will allow for better supportive care for people with chronic kidney disease,” says Dr. Lupu, who has spent nearly three decades in the field of hospice and palliative care. “Nephrology care teams want to provide person-centered supportive care, but they often don’t know where to start. We’re developing the tools and best practices that will become the essential tools of quality renal disease management.”

30 / Virginia Nurses Dr. Hahn has served as the board’s president and vice president. Throughout Foundation Honors her career, she has been a leading advocate for nurses and the nursing profession, GW Nursing working with organizations such as the Nursing Alliance for Quality Care and Associate Professor the Nurse Administration Academy, which she developed in partnership with Joyce Hahn, president of the Virginia the American Organization of Nurse and a founding faculty Executives. Dr. Hahn has been an active was the Five-Point Standard of Health. member of GW Nursing, has been named member of the VNA and is involved in the Schoolchildren who met the standard the 2016 Nancy Vance Award recipient by Virginia Action Coalition, a VNF initiative. in the five areas—weight, vision, hearing, the Virginia Nurses Foundation (VNF). The Nancy Vance Award is the throat and teeth—were awarded the Five- The award is bestowed upon a Virginia VNF’s highest honor and is awarded Point Certificate. Nurses Association (VNA) member who annually in October at the Virginia “I won’t compare myself to that has made significant contributions to the Nurses Foundation Gala. It continues incredible nurse, Nancy, and her legacy, community through exceptional the legacy of Nancy Vance, whose most but I am honored to be ... standing here leadership, sustained dedication and important contribution to nursing in in her shadow,” said Dr. Hahn at the inspiring achievements. Virginia was her implementation of a award ceremony. As a three-term gubernatorial program for improving the health of the appointee to the Virginia Board of Nursing, state’s children. The focus of her program

(From left to right) SSH Past President Dr. Chad Epps, President SSH—a simulation professionals’ Dr. Christine Park and President-elect Dr. Joe Loprieato congratulate Dean Pamela Jeffries (second from right) on her induction. association—ensured the applicants for fellows underwent a rigorous selection process. Reviewers sought evidence of sustained contribution and impact to the field of health care simulation and to SSH, and a commitment to support the mission and vision of the academy. To give applicants an equal and thorough assessment, reviewers represented operations, research, EMS, education, nursing, medicine and industry perspectives in the academic and service settings. Dr. Jeffries has served SSH in many GW NURSING Thirty-four internationally known health capacities, including as its president. She care simulation professionals, including is a leader in simulations, is the author of DEAN NAMED Dean Pamela Jeffries, were inducted Jan. 30 “NLN Jeffries Simulation Theory” and has INAUGURAL as inaugural fellows of the newly formed edited three books on the topic. Academy of the Society for Simulation in “It is an honor to be among this diverse FELLOW IN NEW Healthcare (SSH). The cohort of fellows, and expert group,” she says. “We will use selected by the SSH board of directors, our skills and knowledge to ensure the SIMULATION are known for their outstanding academy is successful in its mission and contributions to the development of vision to advance and grow our field.” ACADEMY health care simulation.

nursing.gwu.edu / 31 Faculty, Student and Staff News

NEWS IN BRIEF

IN THE MEDIA produce an educational documentary in ✚✚ As a fellow of the American Association ✚✚ An interview with Clinical Professor partnership with Public Broadcasting of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and a Cathie Guzzetta appeared on Service affiliate WETA-TV. The member of the American College of AllNurses.com in June and was updated documentary will focus on the Bruise Cardiology, Assistant Professor in December. As the American Assessment Rubric (BAR Tool) she Linda Briggs represented the Association of Critical Care Nurses developed with a grant from the U.S. AANP on the multidisciplinary 2016 Pioneering Spirit Award recipient, Department of Health and Human 2016 Anticoagulation Consortium Dr. Guzzetta shared her viewpoint and Services Centers for Medicare and Roundtable convened by the American experiences in having family present at Medicaid Services. College of Cardiology in October. a patient’s bedside during resuscitation. ✚✚ Adjunct Instructor Esther Emard ✚✚ Assistant Professor Mayri Sagady was elected as the graduate counselor Leslie’s Journal for Women's Health for GW Nursing’s Phi Epsilon Sigma article of the year, “Perspectives on Theta Tau Chapter, served as the Implementing Delayed Cord Clamping,” subject matter expert and team was repurposed in September as a member for a National Quality Matters consumer article—“Don’t Clamp review and was selected as a mentor and Cut that Cord Just Yet”—at the AWARDS, HONORS & for a nursing leader candidate in the HealthyMom&Baby website. ACCOMPLISHMENTS Florida Hospital’s REACH Leadership ✚✚ At the Association of Nurses in Development program. ✚ AIDS Care conference in November, ✚ Associate Professor Kimberly ✚✚ Faculty member Nancy Rudner was Assistant Professor Dana Hines was Acquaviva is the first GW Nursing faculty member to publish a single- selected by the Maitland (Fla.) City interviewed by The Body Pro journalist Council to serve on the city’s Parks and Heather Boerner for a feature article, author book with a major university Recreation advisory board. “We Have Work Before Us, People: HIV press. Her book, “LGBTQ-Inclusive Nurses Meet, Mourn and Prepare to Hospice and Palliative Care: A Practical ✚✚ Associate Professor Ellen Kurtzman Fight in Wake of U.S. Election.” Guide to Transforming Professional has been named to the GW Academic Practice,” will be published in April Integrity Council, a representative ✚✚ Assistant Professor Ashley Darcy- and is available for pre-order from body of students and faculty from Mahoney’s blog, “Five Things Parents Columbia University Press. each academic college that facilitates Should Know About Talking to Their ✚ hearings and addresses instances Baby,” launched in November on the ✚ The Robert Wood Johnson of academic dishonesty within the Children’s National Health System Foundation has awarded Assistant university community. blog site. Professor Erin Athey a three-year fellowship to support her work in ✚✚ Assistant Professor Carol Lang ✚✚ Associate Professor Kate Malliarakis addressing mental health issues while was selected to co-chair the Faculty and Professor Diana Mason providing primary care services for Consultative Committee in the GW conducted a radio interview, underserved communities at the Care presidential search. “Substance Use Disorder among Nurses,” Center, an HIV clinic in Southeast that aired in December and is available Washington, D.C. In November, ✚✚ Assistant Professor Mayri Sagady at healthmediapolicy.com. Dr. Athey was certified as an HIV Leslie has been appointed to the board of directors of the international ✚✚ In January 2017, Assistant Professor specialist through the American MotherBaby Childbirth Organization. Brenda Sheingold began 12 months Academy of HIV Medicine. of research leave, during which she will

32 / Faculty, Student and Staff News FAREWELL ✚✚ The University of New Mexico’s ✚✚ Professor Joyce Pulcini received College of Nursing has named the 2016 Rodham Institute Academic Assistant Professor Marjorie Clinical Instructor Rebecca Community Development Award for Graziano, director of the Mance a 2016 distinguished alumna. “Engaging Communities to Enhance Family Nurse Practitioner Ms. Mance has also been selected as Coordinated Asthma Care,” a project (FNP) program track, retired a 2017 Paul Ambrose scholar by the in partnership with the District of at the end of December. The Association of Prevention Teaching Columbia Asthma Coalition. FNP program, both at the and Research and the U.S. Department ✚✚ Assistant Professor Billinda master’s and post-master’s of Health and Human Services Tebbenhoff was selected as an levels, grew significantly under Office of Disease Prevention and advisory board member for the HOPE her leadership, expanding to a Health Promotion. initiative in Loudoun County, Va. The twice-per-year admission cycle ✚✚ Professor Angela McNelis has been HOPE initiative connects community with an annual enrollment appointed to the editorial board of resources to prevent youth suicide. of over 100 students. As , the evidence of the hard work and Nursing Education Perspectives ✚✚ At the September 2016 Council for the journal of the National League for dedication of Dr. Graziano and Advancement of Nursing Science State Nursing. She also has been named a her team, the students’ pass of the Science Conference, Associate distinguished alumna of the Indiana rate for the arduous program is Professor Karen Whitt was awarded University School of Education, where consistently above 90 percent. “Abstract of Distinction” for her she received a master’s degree in Dr. Graziano leaves behind a presentation “Nurse Practitioners’ education while pursuing graduate strong legacy and foundation Use of Pharmacogenetics in degrees in nursing. for the school to continue to Clinical Practice.” build upon.

nursing.gwu.edu / 33 Faculty, Student and Staff News Faculty Publications— Spring 2016-Spring 2017

ASHLEY DARCY-MAHONEY and B. PAMELA JEFFRIES and J. Bauchat, R. M. Minter, M. Higgins, Y. Guo, B. Williams, L. Seropian. “Communication and empathy Head, K. Burch. “Probability of an autism in the patient-centered care model —Why diagnosis by gestational age.” Newborn and simulation-based training is not optional.” Infant Nursing Reviews, December 2016. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, August 2016. … and B. Minter, M. Higgins, Y. Guo, L. … and H. Connors, D. Skiba, M. Rizzolo, D. Head, J. Hirst. “Maternal and neonatal Billing. “Health information technology birth factors affecting the age of autism scholars program from implementation to spectrum disorder diagnosis.” Newborn and outcomes.” Nursing Education Perspectives, Infant Nursing Reviews, December 2016. November-December 2016.

ASEFEH FARAZ. “Novice nurse ELLEN KURTZMAN and B. Barnow, J. practitioner workforce transition and Johnson, S. Simmens, D. Infeld, F. Mullan. turnover intention in primary care.” “Does the regulatory environment affect Journal of the American Academy of Nurse nurse practitioners’ patterns of practice or Practitioners, May 2016. quality of care in health centers?” Health … “Novice nurse practitioner workforce Services Research, February 2017. transition into primary care: A literature … and J. Agley, J. Carlson, RHONDA review.” Western Journal of Nursing Research, DALE LUPU and J. S. C. Russell, S. Seliger, SCHWINDT, C. Clark, K. Lay, R. Gassman, May 2016. A. Moss. “Providing supportive care to D. Crabb. “If you teach it, they will screen: patients with kidney disease.” Nephrology Advanced practice nursing students’ use CATHIE GUZZETTA and S. Hott. News Issues, April 2016. of screening and brief intervention in “Resuscitation and invasive procedures: … and K. Bickel, K. McNiff, M. Buss. the clinical setting.” Journal of Nursing AACN suggests new guidelines on family “Defining high-quality palliative care in Education, April 2016. presence at the bedside.” Advance for Nurses, oncology practice: An American Society of … and K. Dreifuerst, M. Weaver, M. May 2016. Clinical Oncology/American Academy of Broome, C. Draucker, A. Fedko. “Exploring Hospice and Palliative Medicine guidance the pursuit of doctoral education by nurses DANA HINES and D. J. Biederman. statement.” Journal of Oncology Practice, seeking or intending to stay in faculty “Barriers to care for transgender people: A August 2016. roles.” Journal of Professional Nursing, May- conversation with Dana Hines, PhD, MSN, June 2016. RN.” Creative Nursing, May 2016. ANGELA MCNELIS and K. Becker, T, … “Developing a research career in Crowe, B. Walton-Moss, A. Lin, A. Parsons JOYCE PULCINI and K. Zug, S. Cassiani, transgender health: A doctoral scholar Schram, L. Hanyok, J. Hayashi, N. Culhane, A. Bassolabre-Garcia, F. Aguirre-Boza, describes potential barriers to professional P. Teague. “Interprofessional debriefing: JEONGYOUNG PARK. “Advanced support.” American Journal of Nursing, A novel synthesis of the 3D model and practice nursing in Latin America and the September 2016. systems centered therapy.” Journal of Caribbean: Regulation, education and Interprofessional Education & Practice, practice.” Latin American Journal of Nursing, March 2016. August 2016. … and K. Delaney, M. Naegle, M. Flinter, E. Hauenstein. “Critical issues for registered and advanced practice nurses in integrated care models.” Nursing Outlook, October 2016.

LAURIE POSEY and CHRISTINE PINTZ. “Transitioning a bachelor of science in nursing program to blended learning: Successes, challenges & outcomes.” Nursing Education in Practice, October 2016.

34 / Faculty, Student and Staff News

NANCY RUDNER. “Medical management … and ANGELA MCNELIS, J. Agley. health coaching begins with respectful “Curricular innovations in tobacco outreach.” Journal of Managed Care Nursing, cessation education for prelicensure October 2016. baccalaureate nursing students.” Journal of … and M. Kung. “An assessment of physician Nursing Education, August 2016. supervision of nurse practitioners.” Journal of Nursing Regulation, January 2017 KAREN WHITT and L. Eden, K. Merrill, M. Hughes. “Nursing student experiences RHONDA SCHWINDT and ANGELA regarding safe use of electronic health MCNELIS, K. Lay, M. Bentley. “Student records: A pilot study of the safety and perceptions of a tobacco education assurance factors for EHR resilience intervention.” Archives of Psychiatric guides.” Computers, Informatics, Nursing, Nursing, April 2016. January 2017.

nursing.gwu.edu / 35 Advisory Council

MEET THE ADVISERS TO GW NURSING

LUCAS HUANG, B-LINE MEDICAL

MR. HUANG is the co-founder of B-Line Medical, LLC, a digital solutions company that has provided simulation and clinical skills center management solutions to more than 500 health care institutions in 31 countries. He earned two bachelor’s degrees from North Carolina State University: one in electrical engineering and another in aerospace engineering. Prior to B-Line Medical, he was a systems engineer, test engineer and software developer, eventually leading the team that redesigned the control center for the Hubble Space Telescope, one of the first fully web-based satellite control centers.

HOME: Ellicott City, Md.

PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: After installing B-Line Medical Software in an LAST BOOK READ: “Elon Musk: Tesla, GREATEST WISH FOR GW NURSING: underperforming NICU, a 70 percent SpaceX, and the Question for a To become one of the best nursing schools improvement was reported in just two Fantastic Future,” by Ashlee Vance. in the world, raising the bar and setting weeks. Most notable was knowing that the standard for education, research and B-Line Medical had a helping hand in NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT: I clinical practice. saving the lives of children. finished a half-Iron Man, but an 85-year-old grandmother finished four minutes faster.

MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL

Co-Chairs Members

Mary-Michael Brown, Diane Billing, Lucas Huang, BEE, BAE Lynn Mertz, PhD Al Shimkus, MSN, RN, DNP, RN EdD, RN, FAAN B-Line Medical AARP Center to Champion Capt. USN (Ret.) MedStar Health Indiana University in America Naval War College of Nursing Robin Kaplan, MSN, RN Karen N. Drenkard, Kushner Hebrew Academy Angela Patterson, Janet R. Southby, PhD, RN, FAAN Alan Schurman Cohn, JD DNP, RN PhD, RN GetWell Network AbsoluteCare Elizabeth (Betsy) K. CVS MinuteClinic Interagency Linsert, MS, FNP Institute for Federal Ellen Dawson, PhD, RN GW Colonial Health Center Sandra Ryan, HealthCare Executives MSN, RN, FAAN Malcolm Harkins III, JD Molly McCarthy, Walmart Care Clinic Philip Spector, JD St. Louis University School MBA, RN Talemi, LLC of Law Microsoft US Health

36 / Philanthropy News

ANONYMOUS DONOR SEEDS GW NURSING RESEARCH POWER & An anonymous gift of $40,000 will practices that influence the practice of support GW Nursing Dean Pamela nursing and affect public health. “This is an PROMISE Jeffries’ goal of growing the school’s opportunity to start and grow a fund that research capacity. As seed money for the will launch new investigators and support UPDATES … School of Nursing Research Fund, the ongoing research projects,” said Dr. Jeffries. gift will enable Dr. Jeffries and Associate “When other funding is not available or ✚✚ In December, the trustees of Dean for Scholarship, Innovation and dries up, the fund can offer the boost that the James M. Johnston Trust Clinical Sciences Angela McNelis to could make all the difference in the world.” for Charitable and Educational investigate innovations, policies and best Purposes granted $25,000 to GW Nursing for support of a Power & Promise RN-to-BSN scholarship. Since it began grantmaking SAE-A CONTINUES disciplines, including emergency/trauma, operations in 1969, the trust pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology has supported scholarships, SUPPORT TO (OB/GYN), urology, pain management, training programs and faculty dermatology, surgery, family medicine, salaries in higher and secondary HAITI MEDICAL internal medicine, otolaryngology educational institutions located and ophthalmology. in Washington, D.C., and MISSIONS With the support of the Sae-A gift, two North Carolina. senior family nurse practitioner students ✚✚ A $75,000 GW Power & Promise Last November, GW Nursing again joined the GW Nursing team of BSN award from the Caroline paired with a medical team from South students, other graduate students and Fredricka Holdship Charitable Korea’s Pusan National University Yangsan faculty, adding to a higher quality of care in Trust continues to benefit Hospital to conduct a medical mission the mission’s adult, pediatric and economically disadvantaged trip to Haiti. This third medical mission, OB/GYN clinics. students seeking a second sponsored by global apparel degree. To date, 26 students in manufacturer Sae-A Trading Co., the GW Nursing Accelerated Ltd., provided primary health BSN program have received care services, health screening the scholarship. and health education to more than 2,200 adults and children living in Caracol and neighboring areas. CORRECTION The mission In the fall 2016 issue of GW Nursing, the Johnson-Pawlson Scholarship team—composed of was incorrectly identified as the Americans, Koreans Johnson-Paulson Scholarship. and Haitians— brought to the community a wide variety of expertise across multiple

nursing.gwu.edu / 37 Alumni News

Spotlight On… Meet Mary Jo Assi, DNP ’14, a vice president of the American Nurses Association (ANA) whose areas of Mary Jo Assi, responsibility include the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation initiative, scope and DNP, RN, FAAN standards of nursing practice, and healthy work environment with an emphasis on Vice President, Nursing quality care and patient and nurse health, Practice and Innovation, wellness and safety. With her more than American Nurses Association 35 years of nursing experience, Dr. Assi has worked in many different roles, including clinical nurse, , advanced practice nurse and nurse executive. She also served as an American Nurse Credentialing Center magnet commissioner for six years and as a magnet program director for the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System.

38 / GWN: You joined the ANA leadership a little more than three years ago as the director of nursing practice and work environment. During that time, how have your role and ALUMNI AMBASSADORS responsibilities evolved into your current position of vice president for nursing practice and innovation? CONNECT, SPEAK AND Dr. Assi: I was finishing my DNP program at GW in 2014 when the ANA director of nursing practice and work environment VOLUNTEER position became available. The goal of the newly created position was to ensure relevance in the application of policy and legislative GW Nursing alumni of all programs are engaging work to the practice setting. This was an incredible opportunity with future and current nurses to spread the word for a DNP-prepared professional nurse to practice at the national about the nursing profession, the GW School of level. Nursing and the opportunities offered by both. Over the past three years, the department has doubled in size and expanded to include numerous new practice-focused issues Appearing on panels, staffing booths, speaking such as infection prevention and control. The focus on innovation at career days and volunteering in the school’s in ANA’s new strategic plan created an opportunity for my role simulation centers and at community events to be expanded as well. We will be exploring--through the lens of throughout the Washington, D.C., area, these innovation—old and persistent issues that compromise the work environment of nurses. ambassadors report positive experiences and a feeling of giving back. GWN: What are the most intriguing future opportunities you Last fall, Isoke Baptiste, BSN ’12, MSN ’15, see for nursing practice and innovation? participated in the Health Professionals Panel Dr. Assi: ANA is moving into new domains of connectedness hosted by the George Washington University Center and networking—particularly in virtual space—to ensure that for Career Services. “Being able to speak to fellow members and nonmembers alike can participate in ANA’s nursing Colonials about my current profession in hopes of giving community. This will allow for greater opportunities to capture— them pointers on their career choice was a great feeling,” she within a relatively abbreviated timeline—innovation and best said. “I felt proud to offer advice and believe the ambassador practices related to issues of importance for nursing. program is a great asset in helping individuals home in on their career interests.” GWN: What are the greatest challenges facing nurses in Jenna Goffee, BSN ’16, staffed the GW Nursing today’s world of ever-changing health care policies? “Ask a Nurse” booth at the Foggy Bottom/West End Dr. Assi: In today’s highly turbulent and financially restricted Annual Neighborhood Block Party in October. “I health care environment, the nursing profession is again facing decided to become an alumni ambassador because I the challenge of communicating the value and critical importance truly think it is important to keep current nursing students of nursing to safe, quality care and exemplary outcomes. In an and nursing alumni connected,” she said. “Through the environment of increasing accountability for outcomes that ambassador program, I have been able to not only give meet or exceed predefined benchmarks, the ability of nurses at back, but also to share with current nursing students my all levels to understand, articulate and demonstrate the very real experiences as a new RN. I have thoroughly enjoyed my role connection of the quality of the work and practice environment to as an ambassador and am excited to continue!” patient outcomes will continue to increase in importance. GW Nursing alumni who are interested in the program and want to become an alumni ambassador, email To learn more about the ANA’s Healthy Nurse, Healthy [email protected] with ”alumni ambassador“ in the Nation initiative, visit: www.nursingworld.org/ subject line. MainMenuCategories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Nurse

nursing.gwu.edu / 39 Alumni News

WELCOME NEW GW ALUMNI!

At the traditional senior class toast in early December, the GW School of Nursing welcomed its 10th undergraduate cohort of students to the GW alumni community. The toast is held by each senior class in celebration of a successful Senior Class Gift Campaign. The event has been a GW tradition since the 1980s and provides an opportunity for each class to leave an imprint on the university. Senior Class Gift Campaign representatives Steven Rozecki, BSN ’17, and Morgan Rollo, BSN ’17, were instrumental in achieving an 85 percent class participation rate, with 37 percent of the class pledging sustaining gifts to the school. Alumna Elizabeth Demarest, BSN ’14, led the toast and welcomed the graduating students to the GW alumni community. Also in December, families, friends and faculty braved the winter weather to attend the Pinning Ceremony, the final milestone event for this class of undergraduate students. The ceremony marks the culmination of 15 months of study and hard work and recognizes and celebrates the achievements of these new alumni. Faculty members, students and Major General Dorothy A. Hogg, the deputy surgeon general and the event’s keynote speaker, offered some pearls of wisdom to the more than 80 graduates and close to 500 people gathered at the Westfields Marriott in Chantilly, Va. “Florence Nightingale said, ‘Let us never consider ourselves finished nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.’ The George Washington University School of Nursing has given you the foundations— not the ceiling—on which to practice,” said Maj. Gen. Hogg.

40 / Events & Programs— Alumni Resources GW Alumni Calendar of Events alumni.gwu.edu/events Our more than 1,900 alumni are a vital part of the School of Nursing community, actively giving back by offering their News & Updates— time, talents and expertise. GW offers a variety of programs GW Alumni News and services tailored especially for alumni. We invite you gwalumni.org to explore these resources and opportunities and to stay involved with the community. Connections— Update Contact Information, Alumni Directory Update your information and share your news! alumni.gwu.edu/alumni-directory alumni.gwu.edu/update-your-contact-information

School of Nursing Benefits & Services— Office of Development and Alumni Relations Alumni Education Programs, 45085 University Dr. Transcripts & Diplomas, Email Suite 302K alumni.gwu.edu/benefits-services Ashburn, VA 20147 Phone: 571-553-0122 GWAlumni GWAlumni Erin Harkins-Medina The George Washington Alumni Association Associate Director for Development School of Nursing [email protected]

Monica Krzyszczyk Development and Alumni Relations Coordinator [email protected] School of Nursing The George Washington University 1919 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20006-5818

From practice to policy, bring your vision to life.

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