Rising to Leadership: Graduate Programs at the School of Nursing

PITT

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH FALL 2014 SCHOOL OF NURSINGNurse MAGAZINE About the Cover: This issue explores two of the School of Nursing’s graduate programs: the master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs. Readers will have a chance to meet school administrators and expert faculty members as well as to learn more about the areas of concentration within each degree program.

Throughout 2014, the school has been celebrating the 75th anniversary of its founding in 1939. As part of the festivities, the school presented the faculty, staff, and students with a commemorative T-shirt. These members of the school from the Pittsburgh (left) and Johnstown (above) campuses are happy to gather together and show off their pride in being part of the Pitt nursing community!

Inside PITT NURSE RISING TO LEADERSHIP: GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT THE SCHOOL OF NURSING

Pitt Nursing Graduate Programs: Development...... 18 Steps to Success...... 2 School News ...... 19 The Master’s Program ...... 3 Nursing Continuing Education. . . . . 23 The Nurse Anesthesia Program . . . . . 10 Alumni News + Notes...... 24 The Doctor of Nursing Practice Program ...... 12 NurseBeat...... 26 DEAN'S MESSAGE

In response, our Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and DNP programs In the last issue of Pitt have been transformed to produce Nurse, we documented sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified nursing professionals. the evolution of the We have added BSN-to-PhD and University of Pittsburgh BSN-to-DNP options to facilitate I early admission to graduate nursing School of Nursing in programs. Many of our advanced the context of society’s practice specializations have been tran- sitioned to the DNP level. Course work changing expectations covering health care policy, ethics, of nurses . For 75 leadership, and research has been expanded to provide graduates with the years, the school has systemwide perspective that is essential expanded its academic to guiding health care entities and implementing comprehensive change. offerings to ensure that graduates have The school’s faculty members possess the expertise and the clinical, research, the appropriate level of or administrative experience that is skills and knowledge to much sought after by students and their employers. Some have had function effectively in extensive careers in nursing administra- associations. Pitt nursing alumni hold the ever-changing health tion as chief nursing officers (CNOs) senior positions with multinational cor- of major hospitals or as nurse practi- porations, major research universities, care environment . tioner leaders of community clinics. government agencies, foundations, the Many bring their federally funded military, and research institutions. research and results into the classroom, exposing students to leading edge The health care industry needs nurses Program evaluation and revision have topics and research. Many faculty with greater research, leadership, man- not ended—indeed, there are current members have risen to positions of agement, and technological capabilities. national mandates to increase the leadership in national nursing associa- Here at Pitt, we prepare students to academic preparedness of nurses and tions, giving them a robust knowledge assume leadership roles and to take nurse leaders, driving even further of the issues facing the profession. advantage of the many expanded change. The Institute of Medicine’s Today, 98 percent of our full-time opportunities now available in nursing. The Future of Nursing report calls faculty members are prepared at the I invite you to learn more by reading for doubling the number of nurses doctoral (PhD or DNP) level. this issue of Pitt Nurse and by visiting with a doctorate by 2020 as well as our Web site at nursing.pitt.edu. for universities to “prepare and enable Graduates of the MSN and DNP nurses to lead change to advance programs have earned positions that health.” The American Association enable them to impact care on the of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) issued national and global stages by serving a 2005 charge to move the current level as leaders of major community-based Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, FAAN of preparation for advanced nursing health care systems, collegiate nursing Dean and Distinguished Service Professor practice to the Doctor of Nursing schools, health plans, National of Nursing, University of Pittsburgh Practice (DNP) level. Institutes of Health-hosted study School of Nursing sections, and national nursing

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 1 THE Modern medicine and health care have undergone great transformation pitt with the introduction of new tech- nologies, drugs, devices, procedures, MASTER’S and tests that have revolutionized NURSING Mthe way people live, the treatment of diseases, and the methods of health care delivery. Health care has been PROGRAM evolving at a breakneck pace since the 1940s. Antibiotics, vaccines, the identification of DNA, and organ transplantation became realities. Medical care, which had taken place THE graduate in the home, shifted to hospitals and specialty care settings. Today, people have unprecedented access to health PROGRAMS care in this country as well as to more NURSE ANESTHESIA effective surgeries, therapies, and artifi- cial limbs and organs. Not surprisingly, nursing education and practice have STEPS advanced as well. PROGRAM Since the School of Nursing was founded in 1939, the responsibilities of nurses have grown exponentially. to Today, nurses are leaders in patient care, research, policy making, and system management. The school has THE Success spearheaded the preparation of nurses for these enhanced roles by offering academically and clinically rigorous programs at the graduate level: DOCTOR OF NURSING master’s (1940s), PhD (1950s), and DNP (2006). Pitt nursing faculty members bring to the classroom their own significant clinical experiences and PRACTICE PROGRAM knowledge based on state-of-the-art research. Students can take advantage of diverse practical learning opportunities at facilities ranging from a Level I trauma center to nonprofit community clinics in underserved neighborhoods. Alumni have taken the extensive skills and knowledge they acquired at Pitt into hospitals, clinics, health care systems, and government agencies around the world. The school was seventh in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 ranking of the country’s best graduate nursing programs.

2 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING THE MASTER’S PROGRAM

Master’s education is critical to producing nurses who can engage in higher-level practice and leadership, seamlesslyTHE move into further graduate study, and meet the growing Mexpectations of patients and facilities. It builds on the baccalaureate degree, NURSEpreparing ANESTHESIA students to contribute to advanced nursing practice in a specialized role. Students gain mastery-levelPROGRAM knowledge from nursing and other disciplines as A PERFECT TRANSLATION well as the ability to evaluate and use evidence-based research in care Linda Dudjak, PhD (above), doesn’t The opportunity to care for oncology settings. Course work addresses hesitate when asked to talk about patients has been a shaping force, interprofessionalism, leadership, what attracted her to nursing. personally as well as professionally. ethics, informatics, communication, “Probably at the heart of it was the Her early experiences were in medical- and managementTHE so that graduates opportunity to blend my intrigue with surgical units in the days when can work within and direct health medicine and science with my passion oncology units were not prevalent in care systems and institutions. L for making a difference in people’s community hospitals. Even then, she lives,” she says. One of the ways that DOCTORMaster’s-level OF education NURSING in nursing recognized the chronic nature of a Dudjak is clearly making a difference is designed to build competencies cancer diagnosis and saw that there is by sharing her acknowledged in either direct or indirect patient was a huge opportunity for nurses to expertise in health care leadership. care roles. It features increasing influence patients and families through She has been in her current position PRACTICElevels of supervised PRpracticalOGRAM teaching and compassionate care as as an associate professor in the School experiences to allow students to well as through helping them to coor- of Nursing’s Department of Acute/ put to use what they have learned dinate services and navigate the health Tertiary Care responsible for the in the classroom. Graduates have care system. “I felt most rewarded MSN administration and leadership mastery of higher-level thinking and when I cared for patients with that concentration since 2008 and the a comprehensive understanding of diagnosis,” she says. “Those patient DNP administration concentration systems-level care and management. experiences have taught me so much since May 2014. To that role, she At Pitt, the School of Nursing offers about life. They are the things that brings a breadth of experience gleaned the majors described in the following keep me grounded.” from opportunities as a clinical nurse sections (please note that some of specialist in radiation oncology; One of the highlights of Dudjak’s career these concentrations are offered in director of inpatient services at the was in the late 1980s, when she was the online environment in addition to University of Pittsburgh Cancer a member of the team that developed on the Pittsburgh campus). Institute; program administrator at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer UPMC Presbyterian; and chief nursing Institute, which brought together health officer and vice president of patient care professionals from many different care services for UPMC Horizon, a hospitals and organizations under a 12-hospital rural health system in continued Mercer County, Pa.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 3 RISING TO LEADERSHIP

A PERFECT TRANSLATION continued WHERE DO OUR MSN STUDENTS common umbrella and vision. “It was MSN Students, 2009–14 such a positive experience, because COME FROM? everyone who was part of that initiative was someone whose professional heart More than 600 was invested in the care of patients with students have been cancer and their families,” she says. admitted to the “That was their identity.” The institute program over a obtained National Cancer Institute five-year period. designation as a Comprehensive Cancer 600+ Center in less than five years—something of a record.

When she began to work in formal nursing leadership roles, friends would 19 percent of ask Dudjak if she missed patient care. “I felt as though I still touched patient MSN students care through the people that I prepared are male. and mentored as nurses and leaders themselves,” she says. “It allowed me to not just influence the care of the 19% patients that I was assigned [to] on that shift but to potentially influence the care of patients in a whole department or organization.” Her positions in executive nursing and operational roles in both academic and community settings have allowed her to see the unique challenges and opportunities of 29 Students are from 29 30The average age working in a complex tertiary setting different home states. at admission is 30. as well as the unique challenges that exist to influence practice and patient care in a small community setting. MSN students have earned Selected employers of For Dudjak, the opportunity to teach previous degrees from schools MSN students at the time courses and advise students in admin- including: of admission: istration is a perfect translation of her Arizona State University MedStar Georgetown professional career. “In an academic University Hospital environment, you are able to devote Baylor University Emory University Hospital time to delving into the evidence; Boston College exploring the best, most innovative Duke University Brigham and Women’s Hospital practices; sometimes discovering new Florida State University New York-Presbyterian Hospital knowledge; and being able to instill a Johns Hopkins University Vanderbilt University Medical Center curiosity for that cutting-edge knowl- Loyola University Chicago edge in students in a classroom or Pennsylvania-based institu Ohio State University clinical setting,” she says. “It has been tions, including Allegheny an absolute joy to be able to make that Oregon Health & Science General Hospital, Conemaugh University connection between what I learned Memorial Medical Center, through day-to-day experience with University of California, Excela Westmoreland Los Angeles Hospital, Penn State Milton what I now know as formal evidence University of Michigan S . Hershey Medical Center, and put those together to prepare and University of Pittsburgh future leaders. It’s the perfect job. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) I love it.” University of Virginia

4 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING “Our program is unique in that our faculty have all practiced Nurse Specialty Roles at an executive nurse level ”. Nursing Administration Linda Dudjak

This curriculum prepares nurses to “Our program is unique in that serve as managers at the department our faculty have all practiced at an coordinator of the nursing adminis- or director level through foundational executive nurse level. We really are tration area of concentration. Before courses on evidence-based practice, experts in the field of health care teaching at Pitt, Dudjak was the vice nursing outcomes, health promotion, leadership and are able to bring that president of patient care services technology, and organizational to the classroom at the graduate level. for a health system in northwestern theory. Students then explore finance/ I think that’s unique to Pitt’s program, Pennsylvania. Another faculty member, economics, health policy, or leadership and it’s a huge value because you Judith Zedreck, was the interim chief development. Graduates benefit from really are able to relate to the prob- executive officer/chief operating officer clinical residencies at a wide range of lems and the questions that students as well as vice president and chief sites, including a world-class research bring and you’re able to offer them nursing officer for a multicampus and teaching institution. real-world solutions,” explains Linda 700-bed hospital who had both site Dudjak, PhD, associate professor and and system responsibilities.

FULL CIRCLE

Five years ago, Judith Zedreck, Zedreck’s commitment to education is DNP (right), was walking through a such that she actually completed her Nordstrom when a woman called her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree in name. Though Zedreck hadn’t seen her 2013 while she was the interim chief in many years, she recognized her as executive officer/chief operating officer FPatty, the mother of a premature infant at Allegheny General Hospital. “I went she had cared for back in her early days back to school not because I didn’t as a staff nurse in the neonatal intensive have enough to do but because I really care unit at Magee-Womens Hospital of thought it was the best thing to do,” UPMC. And now here she was, telling she says. “I wanted to be sure that I her that her baby, who had been so tiny was in a structured learning environ- and fragile, was all grown up. “Elizabeth ment so that I knew what the trends got married,” Patty told Zedreck, with were and what were best practices— the sound of a miracle in her voice. not only evidence-based practice in clinical settings but also in administra- And here’s the second-best part of that tive settings.” encounter: Patty opened up her wal- let—not to show Zedreck a picture but One of Zedreck’s earliest roles was to pull out one of the “Dear Mommy” as a clinical educator. After a career notes that Zedreck had been in the prac- that took her to the highest levels of tice of writing after an overnight shift administration, she is thrilled to be to let the parents know how things in back in the classroom. “The respect that touch-and-go world had gone. “She and the pride for nursing, for me, are said that when Elizabeth got married, just phenomenal. I love to be in that they talked about those notes and how environment,” she says. “There’s no much they meant to her,” Zedreck, now time you’re in the Victoria Building that a professor in the Department of Acute/ you’re not proud to be a part of that. Tertiary Care remembers. “And you And it’s not just about teaching and know, they were just nothing. I mean, it training. It truly is about the profession took me 30 seconds to write those notes. and how we’re advancing it.” But that was a lifetime for that mother.”

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 5 RISING TO LEADERSHIP e THE MASTER’S MASTER’S

PROGRAM (MSN) THE PROGRAM (MSN) Clinical Nurse MASTER’S Leader (CNL) PROGRAM This relatively new role for nurses is dedicated to improving the quality of patient care, at both the individual e and the aggregate levels, in the clinical setting. A CNL evaluates patient out- MASTER’S comes, assesses risk across groups of PROGRAM (MSN) patients, develops or revises care plans, coordinates care across the continuum of health care services, and tests innovative care methods. Course work W covers research for evidence-based GET TO KNO W practice, health promotion in diverse populations, diagnostic T GET TO KNO exams across the life span, educa- OUR EXPER T tion and mentoring in the clinical LTY OUR EXPER setting, and pathophysiology FACU ROSEMARY L. HOFFMANN, PhD across the life span. LTY FACU CNL program faculty members Position: Associate professor, Of Note: Hoffmann believes that the include Associate Professor and Department of Acute/Tertiary Care, CNL program does a good job of Coordinator Rosemary L. Hoffmann, and coordinator, clinical nurse leader teaching students to identify problems PhD, a certified nurse leader. program; and online programs at the microsystem level (e.g., a hospi- Hoffmann currently serves on the tal unit, rehab facility, long-term care Commission on Nurse Certification Class Act: The CNL role is a facility, or community-based setting) Board of Commissioners and has relatively new one. “With the health and then implement strategies to won awards for her teaching and system rapidly changing and hospital- improve outcomes based on the latest clinical scholarly work. Her recent ized patients being more complex,” evidence. “[The clinical nurse leader] research addresses teaching strategies Hoffmann says, “there needs to be a should be the nurse who the staff goes in asynchronous learning and high- nurse who can be a liaison and deliver to for consultation,” Hoffmann says. fidelity human simulation in addition best practices among the bedside “The staff nurse realistically does not to the barriers to outpatient care in provider, the nursing administration, have sufficient time to look at data community settings. and the health care team.” and implement projects. The clinical nurse leader serves as their leader to The role of the CNL was first intro- Investigations: Hoffmann, who is get the interdisciplinary team together duced in 2003 in reaction to Institute certified by the Commission on Nurse to discuss a complex patient. CNL of Medicine reports on quality and Certification as a clinical nurse leader, students are educated in quality, safety. As of August 2014, there are conducts research into teaching safety, organization, and outcomes.” more than 3,000 individuals who strategies. “I identify different types have earned CNL certification. of teaching strategies to use in the Standouts: Hoffmann was a classroom and online,” she says. recipient of the provost’s Innovation “I try to incorporate what is working in Teaching Award for helping to best with the students.” incorporate high-fidelity human- simulated technology into the undergraduate program. In 2007, she received the Distinguished Clinical Scholar Award to incorporate interprofessional health care education within the School of Nursing.

6 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING Nursing Informatics This area of concentration combines Faculty members for this area of con- teaching in this areas is Christine principles of nursing science with centration include Elizabeth LaRue, Curran, PhD, who served as the those from cognitive, computer, and PhD, (below), who holds graduate chief nursing informatics officer at information sciences. It focuses on the degrees in library and information UMass Memorial Medical Center. development, analysis, and evaluation science. She has served as an informa- She also held leadership positions of information systems to enhance and tion systems specialist at the Medical in nursing informatics at the Ohio manage patient care. Discipline-specific College of Georgia, as the assistant State University Medical Center courses investigate informatics theories director for education and technology and Columbia University. Her work and issues, database management, at Rush University, and as the head explores informatics competencies and information technology project of reference and educational services she is a codesigner of the information management, clinical information at Columbia University’s Augustus C. management framework developed by systems, and technology evaluation Long Health Sciences Library. Also Staggers, Gassert & Curan in 2001. and usability.

ELIZABETH LARUE, PhD, MLS

Position: Assistant professor, Multidisciplinary faculty teach Department of Health and Community the nursing informatics courses, e THE Systems, and coordinator, nursing thereby exposing students to different MASTER’S informatics concentrationMASTER’S thought processes and different knowledge bases.” PROGRAM (MSN) PROGRAM (MSN) THEBack Story: LaRue has a master’s MASTER’Sin library science and a doctorate in Of Note: LaRue was awarded a highly library and information science from competitive and prestigious Fulbright PROGRAMPitt. She came to nursing informatics award for the 2014–15 academic year. as a medical librarian after being asked She will be in Lilongwe, the capital city to liaise with a nursing school that of Malawi, where she will be helping was transitioning to evidence-based the Kamuzu College of Nursing at epractice. “Evidence-based practice has the University of Malawi to establish MASTER’Sa whole lot of library science in it,” a master’s program in nursing infor- says LaRue. “I fell into informatics matics. LaRue was in Malawi for a PROGRAM (MSN) through that realm.” few weeks last year to look at the way a software company was developing Class Act: Nursing informatics is a electronic health records and how the W relatively new field—an area that blends software was being used in the hospitals cognitive psychology, information sci- and clinics there. “It was being devel- GET TO KNO ence, and computer scienceW with nurs- oped, but it really wasn’t being used,” T ing. “It providesGET TOnurses KNO with another she recalls. “I just saw computers way to offer care throughT analyzing sitting in corners that were all dusty.” OUR EXPER systems and the data within the systems She ended up going to the Kamuzu LTY to deliver betterOUR care,”EXPER LaRue says. College of Nursing, speaking with some FACU LTY faculty members, and giving a couple of Standouts: LaRueFACU is not trained as lectures to introduce them to the field of a nurse but says that she believes that nursing informatics. On being awarded “students benefit from working with a Fulbright, LaRue says, “I’m still over- somebody who is not one of them. whelmed when I think about it.”

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 7 RISING TO LEADERSHIP KATHLEEN GODFREY, DNP, NNP-BC, CPNP

Neonatal Nurse Position: Assistant professor, in addition to the typical.” Not Department of Health Promotion only that, but because she is so well Practitioner and Development, and lead faculty integrated into preemie and sick baby member, neonatal nurse practitioner care in Pittsburgh, Godfrey also is able This type of advanced practice nurse program to bring in top physicians, advanced manages the care of high-risk infants practice nurses, pharmacists, nutri- and children (up to 2 years of age) as Back Story: As a new nurse, Godfrey tionists, and developmental specialists part of a team of neonatologists and had hoped to work in pediatrics, but to teach. “The expertise we have in other pediatric specialists. Working in there were no jobs open. So she took this city is amazing,” Godfrey says. NICUs and other high-risk settings, a position doing what seemed to be neonatal nurse practitioner (NNP)s the next closest thing, which was Best Practice: For her own DNP coordinate care for those with chronic working at Magee-Womens Hospital capstone project in 2011, Godfrey health problems going from hospital to of UPMC in the newborn nursery. tested an occlusive wrap in which home. They select and perform diag- When she agreed to transfer to the to place the tiniest premature babies nostic and therapeutic procedures in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), the second they are delivered—even intensive care setting; therefore, students she says, “I didn’t know a lot about it. before drying them off. “The tiniest take courses in physical assessment Initially e I was thinking, ‘Well, at least babies get coldTHE very quickly,” she and differential diagnosis as well as it’s taking care of sick babies. That’s says. “HypothermiaMASTER’S can have terrible neonatal specialty courses focusing on someMASTER’S pediatrics.’ ” In spite of the early effects on babies, especially preemies.” development and diagnostic differences Procedures, including resuscitation, misconceptionPROGRAM (MSN) of what was involved,THE PROGRAM (MSN) within this special population. Classes Godfrey has flourished in the NICU. can be done through this occlusive in evidence-based practice, research, MASTER’S wrap, which is a little like being and management of the sick neonate Class Act: Godfrey brings 30 years saran-wrapped from the neck down. are included. Students have a diverse of neonatal nursing experiencePROGRAM to Godfrey determined through her set of facilities in which to gain clinical her teaching role. “I am a clinician; I project that by the time the babies experience. “The clinical experiences feel that’s my calling,” she says. “But were admitted to the NICU from the the students get at the NICU sites in I enjoy sharing my knowledge eand delivery room, they had improved Pittsburgh are unbelievable. They can expertise with the students. All sick temperatures. “This led to a change go anywhere from here having had the newborns aren’t alike. HavingMASTER’S seen in standard practice at Magee such exposure to any kind of scenario in a so much over the years, I PRcanOGRAM bring (MSN) that now all babies born at less NICU,” explains Kathleen Godfrey, my students the atypical scenarios than 29 weeks are placed in this DNP, faculty member and certified wrap,” she says. neonatal nurse practitioner. The faculty members for this area of W concentration include Donna Nativio, GET TO KNO W PhD, considered to be one of the T GET TO KNO founders of the American nurse practitioner movement. Nativio has almost OUR EXPER T 30 years of clinical experience as a LTY OUR EXPER pediatric nurse practitioner and has FACU LTY served in leadership positions with FACU the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties and American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Courses also are offered by Godfrey, who has a distinguished record of clinical experience as both a neonatal and pediatric nurse practitioner at leading regional hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.

8 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING e THE MASTER’S MASTER’S

PROGRAM (MSN) THE PROGRAM (MSN) MASTER’SMEET OUR LEADING ALUMNI PROGRAMDeans of Schools of Nursing: Yale University Margaret Grey, DrPH, FAAN eUniversity of Illinois at Chicago MASTER’S Terri Weaver, PhD, FAAN Ohio State University PROGRAM (MSN)Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, FAAN Oregon Health & Science University Susan Bakewell-Sachs, PhD, FAAN W Case Western Reserve University GET TO KNO Mary Kerr, PhD, FAANW Kent State University T Barbara Broome,GET TO KNOPhD, FAAN OUR EXPER Robert Morris University T LTY Valerie Howard,OUR EXPER EdD FACU SUNY Delhi LTY ELIZABETH A. SCHLENK, PHD Mary Pat Lewis,FACU PhD Military: Position: Associate professor, Investigations: Issues of adherence U.S. Army Surgeon General and Department of Health and Community to chronic disorder regimens have Commander, U.S. Army Medical Command Systems, and coordinator, certificate always interested Schlenk. “When Patricia Horoho, MSN program in nursing research I came to Pitt, I started to make Hospital/Health Administration: connections with rheumatologists,” Back Story: When Schlenk finished President and CEO, Allegheny General she says. “I’ve focused my attention Hospital her PhD at the University of Michigan lately on rheumatologic conditions, Michael Harlovic, MSN School of Nursing, she came to Pitt specifically osteoarthritis.” And originally as a postdoc. Academic because, she says, chronic disorders President and CEO, Nicholas H. Noyes research had always been her goal. Memorial Hospital never travel alone, one study is exam- Amy Pollard, MSN “Sometimes doors open and you have ining adherence to physical activity to decide if you are going to walk regimens in patients with osteoarthritis President and Founder (retired 2014), through them or not,” she says. “And I and high blood pressure. Angeles Home Health Care did—and it’s been really wonderful.” Rita Doll, MA Of Note: As a mentor, Schlenk has CEO, Advanced Surgical Hospital Class Act: Schlenk teaches a core a full slate, counseling students in Anne Hast, DNP course called Research for Evidence- research practicums and independent Health System Administration: based Practice 2 to help graduate studies as well as chairing DNP students to become consumers of Senior Vice President and Chief capstone project and PhD dissertation Nursing Officer, Excela Health research, be able to critically appraise committees. “It’s very rewarding,” Helen Burns, PhD, FAAN it, and then be able to apply it appro- she says, “to be preparing the next priately to their practice. “Evidence- generation of advanced practice nurses Vice President and Chief Nursing based practice is a thread throughout Officer, Bon Secours Health System and young investigators.” Andrea Mazzoccoli, PhD the whole curriculum, so from early on, students are learning about Standouts: Schlenk is on the execu- Director, Learning and Innovation, Health First practice that’s based on evidence, not tive committee of the Association of Melanie Shatzer, DNP on opinion or intuition.” An online Rheumatology Health Professionals, Federal Government: 17-credit certificate program in nursing an interdisciplinary organization that Assistant Deputy Undersecretary for research was approved last fall, and advances knowledge and skills of Organizational Integration, Veterans Schlenk teaches one of the courses in health professionals in rheumatology Health Administration, U.S. Department that program on coordinating clinical through education, practice, research, of Veterans Affairs trials. (One of her students takes the and advocacy. Catherine Dischner, MSN course from faraway Palermo, Italy.) continued

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 9 THE MASTER’S PROGRAM RISING TO LEADERSHIP

MEET OUR LEADING ALUMNI THE continued Federal Government: Principle Investigator, Biobehavioral NURSE ANESTHESIA Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health Wendy Henderson, PhD PROGRAM Program Analyst, Office of Evaluations and Inspections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Certified registered nurse anesthetists doctoral-level degree by 2015; as of this Holly Williams, PhD (CRNAs) are the providers of more than printing, the school is in the process of 34 million anesthetics each year in this this transition and offers the MSN-to- Industry: country. These advanced practice nurses DNP option. Chief Nurse, Cerner Corporation have successfully completed specializedTHE Darinda Sutton, MSN Cgraduate-level education and can admin- The nurse anesthesia program features Director of Clinical Programs, UPMC ister anesthesia for all types of cases and several unique components, including Health Plan in various settings. From preoperative an anesthesia crisis resource manage- Laura Fennimore, DNP assessmentDOCTOR to discharge, the CRNA OF is a mentNURSING course (the first offered in the Senior Clinical Research Associate, patient advocate and collaborator with country); a partnership with the Peter Merck & Co., Inc. other health care practitioners in provid- M. Winter Institute for Simulation, Cynthia Brown, MSN ing cost-effectivePRA anesthesia.CTICE PREducation,OGRAM and Research, the largest U.S. Operations Owner, iOpener Institute civilian simulation center in the country; for People and Performance Since the 1980s, the University of a robust CRNA student mentoring part- Diane Scott, BSN Pittsburgh School of Nursing has offered nership between the School of Nursing this well-regarded and very popular and the University of Pittsburgh Professional/Academic Organizations: graduate program, which is accredited Physicians (UPP); and a clinical rotation Chief Executive Officer, American by the American Association of Nurse in Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine. Association of Colleges of Nursing (AANC) Anesthetists’ Council on Accreditation Michael Neft, DNP, CRNA, assistant Deborah Trautman, MSN and ranked third in the nation in U.S. director of and assistant professor in Board Chair, Commission on Nurse News & World Report’s 2011 ranking this specialization, notes that nurse Certification, AACN of the top graduate nursing programs anesthesia students get “their clinical Rosemary Hoffmann, PhD in the country. The curriculum incor practice in world-renowned hospitals. Chair, State Steering Committee, porates principles of anesthesia, devel We have a wealth of experience with Pennsylvania Action Coalition oping an anesthesia management plan, our affiliated hospital partners, so we Victoria Rich, PhD administration of anesthetic agents can bring in subject matter experts President and CEO, West Virginia and associated medications, and team to teach.” University Foundation training in patient safety. Cynthia Roth, MPM International: In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) endorsed Adjunct Research Fellow, National moving the current level of preparation Health Research Institutes, Taiwan Yu-Mei Yu Chao, PhD necessary for advanced nursing practice (for those in specialty nursing) from the Coordinator; Gender, Equity and Human master’s degree to the DNP or other Rights; World Health Organization Prakin Suchaxaya, PhD Assistant Dean, Boromarajonani Michael Neft, DNP, CRNA (left), and Richard Henker, College of Nursing, Thailand, PhD, CRNA, FAAN (right), are among the extremely Phensiri Dumrongpakapakorn, PhD qualified faculty in this program. Neft brings to the classroom more than 20 years of experience with the U.S. Army as a staff nurse anesthetist, nurse, and instructor. Henker, in addition to his teaching and clinical responsibilities, serves as the school’s international education coordinator and provides anesthesia care at hospitals in Cambodia and Thailand.

10 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING HE’S THE (SIM)MAN

In the early 2000s, when medical 40 hours in the simu- equipment manufacturer Laerdal lation lab learning and Medical had cutting-edge medical practicing skills from training products in the pipeline, John how to intubate to how O’Donnell, DrPH, CRNA, professor to check the anesthesia Iand chair of the Department of Nurse gas machine, read the Anesthesia and director of the nurse miniature printout, and anesthesia program, struck a deal. He position a patient on the had a faculty development grant in operating room table. All simulation, and he wanted to use it of these individual skills to acquire a SimMan for training his are mastered before a students. SimMan is a computer- student is brought in for controlled mannequin. It is very life- a simulated operating like—it breathes, has a heart rhythm, room experience. bleeds, and talks, for starters. It was so early in production that Laerdal “I’ve always been hadn’t even determined the final cost interested in safety. I’ve of SimMan. O’Donnell approached always been interested the company, saying, “Here’s the deal. in education. And I’ve I have this money, and if it costs less always been intrigued than this, then you’ve made a profit. by the idea that if we And if it costs more … ” Laerdal could train somebody to agreed. “We received the very first do a dangerous task on simulator to come off the assembly line a mannequin, it would in the United States,” O’Donnell says. be better than having As to who got the better end of the them do that for the first deal, O’Donnell is keeping mum. time on a person. There wouldn’t be a O’Donnell’s teaching has received risk of hurting them,” O’Donnell says. attention both locally and nation- O’Donnell got involved with simu- “So just from an ethical standpoint, I ally. He is especially proud of the lation on the ground floor back in would say there’s a very strong argu- Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching 1994 in the early days of Pitt’s Peter ment for using this kind of training if Award he received in 2011. Also M. Winter Institute for Simulation, we can get people to be better at their special to him are the 2006 national Education, and Research (WISER). actual clinical jobs.” Program Director of the Year award Now WISER’s director of research from the American Association and associate director for nursing O’Donnell has a pair of degrees from of Nurse Anesthetists and a 2010 programs, O’Donnell is known Pitt—his MSN in nurse anesthesia University of Pittsburgh School of internationally for his expertise in and his doctorate in public health Nursing Cameos of Caring award. He’s simulation educational methods and in epidemiology. In fact, his is a Pitt also quick to point out that the school’s more specifically for his work in family. His wife, Melinda, who nurse anesthesia program is ranked debriefing after simulation events. manages the surgical clinics at the third in the country by U.S. News & VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, has World Report. “I think we’re one of For students in the nurse anesthesia her bachelor’s and master’s degrees the top anesthesia programs in the program, this means that they get to from the School of Nursing. Daughter country,” he says. “We produce nurse train in one of the world’s preeminent Maeve is working on her BSN, and anesthetists who can work in any set- simulation facilities. Before a beginning one son, Conor, is taking premed ting directly out of school with almost student walks into the simulation lab, courses. His other son, Liam, starts no orientation.” he or she has already been prepped at the University of Pittsburgh at with 30 hours of classroom expla- Greensburg this fall. And that’s something that can’t nation. Then he or she spends about be simulated.

Congratulations to the nurse anesthesia program on being awarded departmental status in August 2014!

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 11 THE MASTER’S PROGRAM

THE NURSE ANESTHESIA PROGRAM RISING TO LEADERSHIP

THE DOCTOR OF NURSING PRACTICE PROGRAM

The Doctor of Nursing Practice The PhD program in nursing was finance. Students are admitted to areas (DNP) program offers the complex founded in 1954. This rigorous doc- of concentration including various clinical skills and critical knowledge of toral program has gained an interna- nurse practitioner specialties, clinical evidence-based practice to empower tional reputation for its preparation of nurse specialists, administration, or nurses to positively impact health graduates and pioneering research. To nurse anesthesia. All DNP students Tcare delivery systems. This alternative meet the National Research Council’s must successfully complete a capstone to the research-focused PhD was call for a nonresearch clinical doctor- project, which showcases the synthesis recommended in the 2005 report ate, the school began offering the DNP and application of knowledge gained Advancing the Nation’s Health Needs, program in 2006. The program enables throughout the program. in which the National Research graduates to evaluate research results Council of the National Academies and to use that evidence in clinical The school has crafted both BSN- called for nursing to develop a “non- decision making, implementation of and MSN-to-DNP programs to benefit research clinical doctorate to prepare clinical innovations, and improvement those with differing educational back- expert practitioners who can also serve of patient care on both the micro and grounds. Post-master’s DNP courses as clinical faculty.” DNP-prepared macro levels. Course work examines are offered via Pitt Online, the advanced practice nurses are amply advanced evidence-based practice, University of Pittsburgh’s accessible qualified for leadership roles in direct organizational and systems manage- platform for distance learning, which patient care, systems-focused care and ment, clinical research and analytical has been honored by the Blackboard administration, and clinical education. methods, informatics and patient care Catalyst Awards program for four Thus, it is no wonder that Pitt DNP technology, and health care policy and years in a row. graduates have achieved the highest clinical and administrative positions.

Pictured here are faculty members who teach core courses in the DNP program: Heidi Donovan, PhD; Janice Dorman, PhD; and Sheila Alexander, PhD. Their courses cover health promotion in diverse populations, genetics and molecular therapeutics, and pathophysiology.

12 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING TRAILBLAZER

Donna G. Nativio, PhD, FAAN, would serve us best in that law. The FAANP, was sitting in the library at law has changed several times since, the University of Pittsburgh Graduate but I can still see some of what I wrote School of Public Health, where she back then.” was a masters student in the 1960s, She was a powerhouse then and is when she read a small article in a D still one today—a huge presence at journal. It was about a program in the School of Nursing as director Denver, Colo., that was training nurses of the Doctor of Nursing Practice as practitioners who could provide (DNP) program as well as director services in rural Colorado to popula- of family, adult-gerontology primary tions that didn’t have access to health care, pediatric, and neonatal nurse care. Nativio already had her nursing practitioner areas of concentration. degree. “I thought, ‘I think that’s “We were one of the universities that for me. That’s what I want to do,’ ” introduced the DNP program early, she recalls. “I guess if I had an ‘aha’ thanks to our current dean,” Nativio moment, that was it.” Nativio finished says. “I lived through no credentialing her master’s, completed a residency in being required and the master’s not public health, and then went off to being required for [becoming a] nurse Denver to find out how that program practitioner. If history repeats itself was preparing what would come to in terms of regulation and legislation, be called nurse practitioners. I think the DNP will become a Back in Pittsburgh, she took a position required degree,” she says. with the Allegheny County Health This is a wonderful time to be a nurse Department overseeing the pediatrics practitioner, Nativio believes. “In all portion of a federally funded maternal “There are lots of jobs as the years I’ve been doing this, this may infant care program. There, she be one of the very best times because more and more people developed a demonstration project of the federal health care law that that included a curriculum to prepare who weren’t insured has said that nurse practitioners are experienced public health nurses at included as primary care providers. become insured . Almost well-baby clinics to carry out physical There’s lots of data that show it can be anything you pick up exams and make decisions about done,” she says. “There are lots of jobs immunizations. that talks about work- as more and more people who weren’t force talks about an Nativio, now associate professor and insured become insured. Almost vice chair for administration in the anything you pick up that talks about increase in demand for workforce talks about an increase in Department of Health Promotion and nurse practitioners ”. Development at the Pitt School of demand for nurse practitioners. And Nursing, went on to become a driving often they will couch it in terms of Donna G . Nativio force for the introduction of nurse taking care of the physician shortage. practitioners in the state in the 1970s. But I don’t think that’s the only reason. In fact, when she looks at the law in Nurse practitioners are good at what Pennsylvania today that addresses the they do, and I think some people prefer credentialing of nurse practitioners, the nurse practitioner.” she can still see some of the words Nativio, who has many awards and that she contributed. “I was able to be distinctions to her name, was selected involved in how Pennsylvania decided as a 2014 fellow of the American to credential,” she remembers. “I Academy of Nurse Practitioners. submitted terminology that I thought

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 13 e THE MASTER’S MASTER’S

PROGRAM (MSN) THE PROGRAM (MSN) MASTER’S RISING TO LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

e DNP AREAS OF MASTER’S CONCENTRATION PROGRAM (MSN) (AS OF PUBLICATION): Clinical Nurse Specialist (Adult Gerontology) W GET TO KNO W Nurse Administration T GET TO KNO Nurse Practitioner [Adult OUR EXPER T Gerontology Acute Care, Adult LTY OUR EXPER Gerontology Primary Care, Family FACU (Individual Across the Life Span), CULTY Neonatal, Pediatric Primary Care, FA Psychiatric Mental Health]

Adult Gerontology MARGARET ROSENZWEIG, PhD, CRNP-C, AOCNP

This concentration—offered as part of Position: Associate professor, Rosenzweig can bring case studies both the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) Department of Acute/Tertiary Care in to supplement textbook teaching. and nurse practitioner options—equips “In order for students to learn the Specialty: Oncology graduates to develop and manage care material, it needs to be presented in a programs for patient populations, Back Story: As a student, Rosenzweig very clear algorithm,” she says. “But to foster change in nursing practice, thought she would be a staff nurse, it adds a great deal of validity to what to lead multidisciplinary groups in perhaps specializing in psychiatric you’re saying when you can talk about implementing innovative projects, and nursing, when she finished her under- what you see in practice.” to initiate research projects to test new graduate nursing program. That all Investigations: While racial dis- practices. Students may choose to focus changed in her senior year, when she parities in cancer screening and their clinical experiences on cardio- cared for a patient with cancer at the prevention have attracted earlier pulmonary care, critical care, primary end of life. “It was instant that I knew attention, Rosenzweig focuses her care, oncology, or trauma and these were the patients I wanted to NIH-funded research efforts on racial emergency preparedness. work with,” she remembers. “I disparity in cancer treatment. “It’s was interested in cancer, che- about what happens when Black motherapy, the whole process patients come to the cancer care world of living with cancer, what it Rosenzweig is pictured here with fac- and what the difference is between did to the family—all of that ulty colleagues Marilyn Hravnak, the experience of a Black patient and was very intriguing to me.” PhD, CRNP, FCCM, FAAN, and Kathy a White patient,” she says. “I do a lot Magdic, DNP, ACNP-BC, FAANP. of general cancer lectures in the school Hravnak is continuing her more Class Act: Rosenzweig than 30 years of clinical prac- developed the curriculum across the master’s and undergraduate tice, teaching, and research for the oncology focus [programs]. I always feel that I want in critical care. Magdic is in the acute care nurse to be an advocate for being sensitive renowned as an author, practitioner program. to cultural needs.” presenter, and national Because she also is in and international con- Of Note: Rosenzweig has been clinical practice as a sultant on the role, selected as a 2014 fellow of the presti- nurse practitioner scope of practice, and gious American Academy of Nursing, education of the adult for women with where she joins thought leaders in gerontology acute breast cancer, care nurse nursing and health care. practitioner.

14 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING Administration Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses are taking on more responsibil- Graduates of this concentration effective and that will significantly ities and more challenging roles in the (offered within the CNS and nurse impact health care outcomes. administration of health care facilities practitioner foci) function as principal and systems. As members of an exec- care providers for psychiatric clients Students in this concentration are utive team, nursing leaders (such as in a variety of settings, treating them directed by with Heeyoung Lee, PhD, chief nursing officers) are involved both episodically and chronically. assistant professor and coordinator at the highest levels of management The curriculum enables graduates of the psychiatric primary care nurse and governance, helping to identify to effectively manage common and practitioner program. Lee, who is and implement strategic directions for complex medical and psychobiological a certified adult psychiatric mental patient care as well as nursing staff problems for psychiatric clients across health nurse practitioner and a members and their role within the the life span. Emphasis is placed on certified registered nurse practitioner facility and/or system. psychobiological diagnosis and treat- in adult psychiatric mental health, ment, including therapies for clients is a prolific researcher looking into At Pitt, this concentration involves and their families that promote mental mental health outcomes including extensive course work on evidence- health and prevent mental disorders. psychiatric symptoms, psychosocial based practice and research, nursing Students gain the skills to design functioning, and the functioning of outcomes, organizational theory and programs of care delivery that are families with adolescents diagnosed health policy, leadership, and clinical with schizophrenia. systems analysis and design. Students participate in a unique clinical residency with a senior-level mentor and complete a capstone project. HEEYOUNG LEE, PhD, APRN-BC e THE In this specialization, students have an amazing opportunity to study MASTER’Swith MASTER’SPosition: Assistant professor, faculty members who have real-world Department of Health and Community PROGRAM (MSN) THE PROGRAM (MSN) experience in managing and leading Systems, and coordinator, psychiatric health care entities and organizations. MASTER’S mental health nurse practitioner program As she does in the MSN program, area of concentration Linda Dudjak brings her executive PROGRAM nursing and operational expertise to Back Story: Lee earned her BSN and the classroom, sharing her experience MS in psychiatric nursing at Hanyang as her career path went from a clinical e University in Seoul, South Korea. She nurse specialist to the chief nursing received her PhD in psychiatric nursing officer and vice president of a rural MASTER’S from the University of Washington. health care system. Judith Zedreck PROGRAM (MSN) bases her teaching on her distinguished Class Act: The University of Pittsburgh career as a lead administrator (includ- School of Nursing stands out in the way ing interim CEO and COO) for the it prepares psychiatric nursing students West Penn Allegheny Health W to identify medical conditions that may System, where she was responsible GET TO KNO masqueradeW as a psychiatric condition, for budgets exceeding $90 million Lee believes. “Before we think about a and multiple facilities. Other T GET TO KNOdiagnosis, we have to think first if there’s faculty members have risen to OUR EXPER a medical condition there,” sheT says. “There are conditions leadership positions in hospitals that may actually mimic psychiatric symptoms.” Colleagues LTY OUR EXPER and health care systems across FACU from other programs often comment, Lee says, on how good the country. the students in her programLT Yare at using the evidence. FACU Of Note: In 2012, Lee was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nurse Faculty scholar semifinalist.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 15 RISING TO LEADERSHIP SANDRA FOUNDS, PhD, CNM, FNP

Position: Associate professor, scenarios that illustrate or exemplify Department of Health Promotion the theoretical content,” Founds says. and Development Investigations: Founds’ research Specialty: Women’s health and focus is on genetics and the pregnancy pregnancy disorder preeclampsia, particularly e basicTHE molecular genetic research MASTER’SBack Story: In the mid-1980s, after MASTER’Sin the placenta. “Preeclampsia earning her BSN, Founds went on to has implications for lifelong car- PROGRAM (MSN)become certifiedTHE as a nurse-midwife PROGRAMdiovascular (MSN) health risk factors for and a family nurse practitioner. “I women,” Founds says. Recently, she wanted to takeMASTER’S care of the pregnant was awarded a highly competitive woman in the context of her fam- NIH R03 grant for a pilot project to PROGRAM ily,” Founds says, “although most localize preeclampsia candidate genes advanced practice nursing positions in first-trimester placentas. tend to be one or the other.” e Of Note: Founds says that clinical Class Act: Founds teaches women’s sites appreciate the quality of Pitt health as wellMASTER’S as the adult, acute and students due to their preparation: chronic clinicalPROGRAM and role (MSN) practicum “They’re getting the theory, and courses in the Doctor of Nursing then they’re in practice situations Practice program. She where they’re getting to apply it. I also is in clinical practice think we’re doing that really well. I W at a student health personally like the way the clinical GET TO KNO service and at Magee- experienceW is constructed in the series T Womens HospitalGET of TO KNOof three clinical practice levels.” UPMC OB-GYN out- OUR EXPER patient clinics. “Students Standouts:T Founds’ honors include the 2012 International Society of LTY appreciate whenOUR I discuss EXPER FACU cases from my clinical Nurses in Genetics Founders Award LTYin research. practice to give concreteFA CU

Family Nurse (INDIVIDUAL ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN) This program prepares a nurse prac- and molecular therapeutics, and titioner to be the principal provider clinical diagnostics. of primary health care for patients of all ages. Graduates have the skills to Students can truly learn from Catherine identify health risks, promote wellness, Grant, DNP (right), who is an assistant diagnose and manage acute and professor in the Department of Health chronic illnesses, and harness commu- Promotion and Development and a nity resources to benefit the patient nurse practitioner at/owner of the first and family. nurse-owned and -managed health center in Western Pennsylvania. At Course work within this concentration her clinic, Grant treats patients from delves into adolescent health theory, infants to the elderly, providing every- family theory for nurse practitioners, thing from wellness visits to physical diagnosis and management of psychiat- exams to treatment of episodic and ric conditions in primary care, genetics chronic health problems.

16 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING Pediatric and Neonatal There are opportunities to specialize and clinical aspects of well-child care, CPNP, assistant professor and lead in the neonatal (high-risk infants from pediatric health problems, adolescent faculty member for the neonatal nurse birth to 2 years of age) and pediatric health, sick neonatal care, and neonatal practitioner program, has served as (birth through adolescence) areas in disease process. a nurse practitioner for the past 30 the School of Nursing DNP Program. years, primarily as a neonatal nurse Neonatal nurse practitioners manage The school’s faculty members bring practitioner in a NICU at Magee- the care of high-risk infants in clinical to the classroom the benefits of their Womens Hospital of UPMC. Cynthia settings, including intensive care and expertise and amazing experience Danford, PhD, PNP-BC, CPNP-PC, newborn nurseries as well as high-risk in these two critical areas. Brenda teaches in the pediatric nurse practi- follow-up clinics. The pediatric pri- Cassidy, DNP, CPNP-PC, assistant tioner program while maintaining an mary care nurse practitioner provides professor and lead instructor for the active research program that seeks to primary, health promotion, mainte- pediatric nurse practitioner program, promote children’s health in vulnerable nance, and prevention services to chil- is a pediatric CRNP for a large urban populations through family-focused dren as well as diagnoses and manages pediatric practice, where she specializes interventions that address eating and care for acutely or chronically ill chil- in comprehensive adolescent health activity behaviors. She was recently dren and adolescents in primary care care and gynecological care of teens, as honored with the American Nurses or subspecialty settings. Course work well as at a regional children’s facility. Foundation’s Virginia S. Cleland covers the theoretical underpinnings Kathleen Godfrey, DNP, NNP-BC, Scholar Grant for her research with preschool children.

“The clinical experiences that students get in the NICU sites in Pittsburgh are amazing . Our DNP graduates are some of the best-prepared neonatal nurse practitioners in the country having had this exposure ”. Kathleen Godfrey

Pitt nursing faculty members Cassidy, Danford, and Godfrey are pictured in the school’s skills laboratory with a Sim baby.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 17 DEVELOPMENT

The Hearst Foundations: A History of Giving The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing has always students in reading and math and truly enjoyed making a been a leader in the evolution of nursing education, research, difference in someone’s day. Even then, Klimek knew that she and practice. To accomplish this, it is essential to forge wanted to pursue a career in which she could have a direct partnerships with like-minded community organizations and impact on people every day and, better yet, be part of a com- individuals. The School of Nursing is honored to have been munity of individuals dedicated to doing the same. Nursing given the opportunity to create this type of relationship with was the perfect fit. Tone of the most well-respected foundations in the nation, the Hearst Foundations. Although she was born in Pittsburgh, Klimek calls West Chester, Ohio, home. She chose to attend the University of For nearly seven decades, the Hearst Foundations have Pittsburgh because of the nursing program’s strong reputation supported numerous organizations within the fields of and early opportunities for clinical experience. For now, education, health, culture, and social services. Entrepreneur Klimek is interested in the specialty of geriatrics but plans to and businessman William Randolph Hearst founded the keep her options open. She hopes to be a nurse practitioner Hearst Foundation, Inc., in 1945 and in 1948 established the by the age of 30. California Charities Foundations, later renamed the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Today, these two philanthropic According to Klimek, the Hearst scholarship has lifted a huge entities are collectively known as the Hearst Foundations and financial weight off her shoulders and has enabled her to focus have made more than 19,000 grants nationwide totaling more on her education. Receiving the award has made her more than $925 million. realize and appreciate that there are people and organizations willing to support the education of nursing students. Higher education is an important component of the Hearst Foundations’ mission and a primary beneficiary of their “Sometimes when I’m studying late in the library, I pause and support. The educational institutions funded by Hearst reflect on how [the foundations] believe in my abilities enough demonstrate extraordinary success in preparing students to contribute toward my goal of becoming a Pitt nurse,” she from all backgrounds to thrive in a global society. says. “This scholarship gives me confidence to continue to keep up my grades and achieve academic success.”

Connecting to Pitt: Thanks to the Hearst Foundations, students like Klimek can The William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship achieve their academic goals without undue financial burdens. Fund for Undergraduate Students By giving these young students at the School of Nursing the The Hearst Foundations were introduced to Pitt’s School opportunity to focus on their studies, the Hearst Foundations of Nursing by University of Pittsburgh trustee and School are truly helping to advance the field of nursing, both today of Nursing honorary alumnus John Conomikes. A Hearst and for generations to come. Foundations board member, Conomikes is a strong advocate for nursing and played a key role in identifying common interests between the two organizations. In 2004, the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund for Undergraduate Students was established at the School of Nursing through a $150,000 gift from the Hearst Foundations. In 2013, an additional $100,000 was added to expand the endowment’s reach and include support for graduate students.

Impacting Pitt Nursing Students Since the scholarship’s creation, nine University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing students have received a total of $70,000 from this fund (one student per academic year). One of those students is 19-year-old sophomore nursing student Sarah Klimek. Klimek (shown at right with Dean Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob) hails from a family of nurses—her grand- mother, mother, sister, and three aunts and uncles all work in the profession. In high school, she tutored elementary school

18 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING SCHOOL NEWS

Pitt Nursing Community Celebrates

Alumni Day, May 16, marked the kickoff of the School Alumni and faculty were of Nursing’s 75th anniversary festivities. The day’s events thrilled to welcome offered the perfect opportunity to celebrate the accomplish- back a former dean ments of the school and its alumni, to recall treasured memo- of the School of ries, and to reconnect with fellow graduates and faculty. Nursing, Marguerite Schaefer. During her The 50+ Alumni Luncheon recognized those who graduated deanship, the school from the school from 1943 to 1964 and included several received funding for alumni from some of the earliest graduating classes (1945, the construction of the 1946, and 1947). After lunch, Dean Jacqueline Dunbar- Victoria Building and Jacob hosted a “repinning” ceremony and recognized each the nation’s first oncol- graduating class represented. ogy nursing specialist program was introduced. The school hosted an evening reception for alumni at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts, where all enjoyed sampling This isn’t the end of the hors d’oeuvres, exploring the center’s exhibits, and catching anniversary festivities. up with friends old and new. Smiles and chuckles abounded There will be more events as the dean invited guests to remember the highlights of held on October 24 during their time at the school, from watching Tony Dorsett win homecoming weekend. the Heisman Trophy to sliding down Lothrop Street in Visit the school’s Web site the winter to laughing in Ellen Chaffee’s anatomy and at nursing.pitt.edu for physiology class. more details.

The school thanks former dean Marguerite Schaefer (shown at left with Dean Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob) for her gracious underwriting of the commemorative lamps for the 75th anniversary celebration.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 19 SCHOOL NEWS

Helene Fuld Health Trust Nursing Alumnus Featured Grant to Underwrite at 2014 Graduation and BSN Scholarships Pinning Ceremony

The Helene Fuld Health Trust has committed to a three-year On April 25, the School of Nursing hosted grant of $650,000 to create the Helene Fuld Health Trust its 2014 Graduation and Pinning Ceremony Scholarship Fund for students enrolled in the Pitt School welcoming more than 380 graduates to the school’s of Nursing’s accelerated second degree BSN program. This alumni community. Parents, children, friends, and degree program enables current students or recent graduates family joined in the celebratory event that featured alumnus of nonnursing degree programs to earn a Bachelor of Science Andrea Mazzoccoli (PhD ’06), FAAN, as the keynote speaker. in Nursing (BSN) degree in three consecutive terms. The Mazzoccoli currently serves as vice president and chief nurs- trust is dedicated to supporting and promoting the health, ing officer for Bon Secours Health System. welfare, and education of student nurses, with the top priority being financial aid. Therefore, the trust establishes endowed scholarships for students at leading nursing B K. . Simon Family Charitable schools and other organizations to help prepare the nursing workforce to address the increasingly complex health Foundation Underwrites BSN care environment. Scholarships

Thanks to the generosity of the B.K. Simon Family Charitable Foundation, the School of Nursing has a significant pool of Jonas Center for Nursing and scholarship resources for undergraduate nursing students from Veterans Healthcare Grant to Southwestern Pennsylvania with demonstrated financial need. The foundation was created in memory of the late B. Kenneth Fund Nursing Doctoral Students Simon, a Braddock Heights native who went on to build up All-Pak, a very successful distributor, designer, and contract A 2014 grant from the Jonas Center for Nursing and manufacturer of packaging containers. In the most recent Veterans Healthcare will fund scholarships for three year, the foundation grant supported more than 30 students students in the School of Nursing’s doctoral programs. enrolled in the BSN program. The $30,000 grant, which will be matched in part by school funds, will be used to support one PhD Jonas Nurse Leader scholar, one PhD Jonas Veterans Healthcare scholar, and one DNP Jonas Veterans Healthcare scholar School Secures Scholarship over a two-year period. The Jonas scholar grants are part Funds from Robert Wood of a national effort to stem the nursing faculty shortage, and the Pitt School of Nursing is proud to be among the Johnson Foundation 110 schools supported by Jonas Center programs. The School of Nursing is pleased to announce that it “We are so gratified to receive this award from the Jonas has received funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, as it offers Foundation’s New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program. our doctoral students financial support as well as oppor- One of 52 institutions selected for this competitive funding tunities for networking and collaboration on a national opportunity, the school will use the $50,000 grant to under- level,” notes Dean Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob. “With this write scholarships for students enrolled in the accelerated grant award, the Jonas Center is increasing our capability second degree BSN program during the 2014–15 academic to recruit and retain outstanding doctoral students. Upon year. The New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program is graduating, these Jonas scholars will have a tremendous designed to help alleviate the nursing shortage and increase impact on the education of future nursing students and the diversity of nursing professionals. The foundation on the advancement of nursing research.” advocates that accelerated baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs are particularly efficient and effective in addressing this shortage, as they put more nurses into practice quickly and into clinical teaching positions more expeditiously.

20 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING New Graduates Honored with School Awards

For the first time, the School of Nursing presented several helping to establish a Pittsburgh chapter and developing an awards to its graduating students, recognizing their accom- annual fundraising event for the group. plishments and endeavors in the areas of global health, community service, clinical practice, and research. Nominated and Graduate Outstanding Research Award: Jessica A. Devido selected by faculty members, these honorees demonstrated (BSN ’04, MSN ’08, PhD ’14) their commitment and skills in efforts that went beyond Devido’s research explored the experiences and examined course work requirements. the knowledge and confidence of parish nurses in providing diabetes education and preconception counseling to women 2014 Student Award Recipients: (especially African American women) with type 1 and Undergraduate Global Health Initiative Award: Ellyn type 2 diabetes. Hefflefinger (BSN ’14) Congratulations to the following students in the nurse anes- Hefflefinger treated patients during an international service thesia program, who were presented with awards as part of learning medical trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua and their graduation celebrations: authored a paper and presentation on her experiences to broaden the global health awareness of her fellow students. “Above and Beyond” Service Award: Jennifer Fisher (MSN ’14), Sarah Zangle (BSN ’06, MSN ’14), Erica Wiesen Outstanding Community Service Award: Linden Wu (BSN ’14) (MSN ’14), and Jeffrey Rompala (BSN ’07, MSN ’14) Wu designed and taught an exercise and nutrition course for women in an underserved community in Pittsburgh. Helen Lamb CRNA Educator Award in Recognition of Dedication and Valuable Contributions to Instructional Outstanding Practice Initiative Award: Mariah Streck Excellence as a Nurse Anesthesia Student: Jeffrey Rompala (BSN ’14) Agatha Hodgins Award for Academic and Clinical Excellence: Streck created the nation’s first virtual support group for Erica Wiesen children of early onset Alzheimer’s disease patients (Growing Up Purple) as part of her clinical experience with Pitt’s Academic Achievement Award: Sarah Zangle, Erica Alzheimer Disease Research Center. Wiesen, Laurie Ratica (BSN ’10, MSN ’14), and Ashleigh Griechen (MSN ’14) Outstanding Research Award for Students: Kelly Billet (BSN ’14) and Andrea Pennett (BSN ’14) The School of Nursing’s administrators, faculty, and staff Billet initiated and completed a research project and thesis on members congratulate these 2014 graduates and wish them Tobacco Use among Nursing Students: Prevalence, Attitudes, the best of luck in future endeavors. and Education. Over a period of three years, Pennett conducted a research project titled Risk Factors for Respiratory Depression in Upcoming Events Postoperative Orthopaedic Trauma Patients. Homecoming Winter Graduation Graduate Global Health Initiative Award: Sarah Zangle Featuring a continuing Ceremony (BSN ’06, MSN ’14) education event and Friday, December 12, 2014 alumni reception 6 p.m. Zangle volunteered at the Siaya District Hospital in Kenya, Friday, October 24, 2014 The University Club working on a pediatric ward where she cared for patients 1:30 p.m. 123 University Place with HIV/AIDS and malaria. She also has been working Victoria Building Pittsburgh, PA 15260 with faculty members on a quality improvement plan for the 3500 Victoria Street Department of Anesthesia at Angkor Hospital for Children Pittsburgh, PA 15261 For additional information in Siem Reap, Cambodia. about School of Nursing Cameos of Caring® events, contact Jennifer Awards Gala Graduate Outstanding Community Service Award: Fellows at 412-624-5328 Mary Rodgers Schubert (DNP ’14) Saturday, November 8, 2014 Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom or [email protected]. Schubert was recognized for her years of effort, service, and David L. Lawrence commitment to the American Liver Foundation, including Convention Center Pittsburgh, Pa.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 21 SCHOOL NEWS

Blue Skies and Challenging Course Make for Fun, Charitable Outing

Monday, July 21, was the perfect day for the Nancy Glunt Hoffman Memorial Golf Outing. The skies were vivid blue, the Shannopin Country Club course was challenging, and everyone was out to have fun while supporting a great cause. The day included the tournament, a skills competition, dinner, and a highly competitive silent auction. Host J. Roger Glunt (BBA ’60), Pitt emeritus trustee, welcomed everyone and noted how their support will help to underwrite the work of the Nancy Glunt Hoffman Endowed Chair in Oncology Nursing at the School of Nursing. Thanks to all who attended and to our sponsors.

Sponsors AlpernSchubert P.C.: Favor Sponsor FHLBank of Pittsburgh: Closest to the Pin Sponsor Kenny Ross Chevrolet Buick GMC: Hole in One Sponsor Glunt Development Co., Inc.: Longest Putt Sponsor

Tee and Hole Sponsors Michael Bryson Lawrence Chaban G. Reynolds Clark Cura Hospitality Fazio Mechanical Services, Inc. Glunt Contracting Services Kingston Coal Company Frank Mangery & Sons MM Marra Construction, Inc. School of Nursing Is Ranked Ronald Poropatich Best Nursing School by Debra Thompson GraduatePrograms com. White Heating

Division Winners The School of Nursing has been ranked first among 25 Men’s Foursome: Jerry Pecora, Gerry Pecora, Ken Buettner, nursing schools in a ranking by GraduatePrograms.com. and Ray Secoli The Web site produces its ranked lists of graduate programs by calculating the average scores given by student reviewers Women’s Mixed: Chris Rickens, Lynn Wehrli, and across 15 categories, such as academic competitiveness, Kathy Puskar career support, student diversity, and financial aid. This differentiates the GraduatePrograms.com rankings from Skills Winners others in that the reviews are provided by students rather Longest Drive: Mary Ann Dunkin and Jason Richards than academic leaders or educators in the same field. Closest to the Pin: Elaine Hatfield and Alek Oleszkowicz Longest Putt: Carla Gedman and Rich Schubert

22 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING

Nursing Continuing Education

Pitt Nursing Alumnus to Speak at Homecoming Continuing Education Event

The University of Pittsburgh will celebrate homecoming October 24–26, 2014. Make sure to come back to Pittsburgh, particularly to

attend the school’s special events,

a continuing education event and PIT N T A IO an alumni reception on Friday, LUM CIAT NI ASSO October 24. Also, don’t forget to rub the panther’s nose for luck as the Panthers face Georgia Institute of Technology on the 25th! Alumnus Nancy L. Rothman (BSN ’63), EdD, will be the keynote speaker for the nursing continuing education event. Rothman is the Independence Foundation Professor of Urban Community Nursing and the director of community-based practices in Temple University’s Department of Nursing. We’re so happy that Rothman can join us to offer her invaluable insights into independent nursing practices. Her presentation, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., will be followed by a special alumni reception for the School of Nursing and then by the University-wide Welcome Back Reception. Visit the school’s events Web page for more details.

Pitt Nursing Continuing Education Addresses Safe and NEED CONTINUING Effective Drug Administration EDUCATION BUT HAVE NO TIME TO ATTEND CLASSES? During the 2014–15 academic year, the School of Nursing continuing education (CE) program will present its monthly series, the Between working shifts, teaching students, and trying to Pharmacology and Clinical Practice Update, offering the latest have a home life, it’s hard to find the time to earn the information on evidence-based clinical practice. The programs, required continuing education contact hours. Through running through June 2015, are presented on Saturday mornings Pitt’s nursing continuing education enduring/online activities, at the school, and each program provides three pharmacothera- you can explore topics such as addiction, ethics, peutic contact hours. You also can participate asynchronously technology, arthritis, chronic diseases such as diabetes, and via an easy-to-use Web conferencing tool. best practices—all from the comfort of your home and On October 4, the school will be hosting Linda Gordon (DNP ’11), whenever you have the time. CRNP, an acute care nurse practitioner at Donohue Cardiology at UPMC Shadyside. Gordon will provide an update on hyperlipidemia treatment, a critically important topic as we consider the number of people trying to control their cholesterol and triglycerides. School of Nursing Continuing Education The School of Nursing CE Program provides you with access to [email protected] a full slate of learning opportunities, both face to face and online. 412-624-3156 You can explore topics ranging from special treatments for specific populations to clinical ethics to advanced informatics for nurses. www.nursing.pitt.edu/academics/ce/index.jsp Please consult our Web site, nursing.pitt.edu, for a complete listing of topics and dates. Multisession discounts are available.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 23 ALUMNI NEWS + NOTES

Based on three years of Journals Filter: Data-driven Outcomes. Newton presented 1960s research, Paulette Belle Snoby Evidence Assessing Clinical Utility” part of his doctoral work in July Sandra Sulsberger Bowles (BSN ’75) published her first explores the effectiveness of the 2014 at the Sigma Theta Tau (BSN ’61, MNEd ’64) retired book, the nonfiction April’s core clinical journals filter to limit International Nursing Research as dean of the Bert Bradford Revolution: A Modern Perspec to clinically useful journals. Congress in Hong Kong, China. tive of American Medical Care Division of Health Sciences at Scott M. Newton (BSN ’02) the University of Charleston in of Civil War Soldiers and African 2010s Slaves, in March 2014. recently graduated from the Johns 2008 after 22 years. She then Hopkins University School of Chelsea Seely (BSN ’13) was agreed to assist the university’s Nursing, earning his Doctor of honored as Rookie of the Year new School of Pharmacy for 1980s Nursing Practice degree. The title by UPMC Presbyterian. Seely is one year as it worked toward Joyce E. Alisesky Ott of Newton’s capstone project was a staff nurse in the cardiology ACPE accreditation. Bowles is (MSN ’84), assistant professor Rapid Access to Tertiary Care: care unit. still at Charleston’s School of of nursing and director of the Mitigating Barriers Impacting Pharmacy and has agreed to RN–MSN and MSN programs Clinical, Financial, and Operational be its dean for academic affairs. at Robert Morris University, She continues to serve as a was appointed to the board peer reviewer and team chair of the Central Valley Education for the Higher Learning Foundation in Center Township, New RMU Nursing Dean Commission. Pa. Ott also was commissioned as a faith community nurse after Is Pitt Alumnus 1970s completing a program presented Valerie M. Howard (MSN ’95) has been Mary Lou Bond (MN ’73) has by the Pittsburgh Mercy Health named dean of the School of Nursing been honored with a 2013 System Parish Nurse and Health and Health Sciences at Robert Morris Distinguished Alumni Award Ministry Program. University. Joining RMU in 2004, Howard has served as interim dean, assistant dean for Excellence in Nursing by the Diane Scott (BSN ’87) owns for external affairs, director of develop- University of Texas at Austin the U.S. operations for the ment, and director of the school’s simula- School of Nursing and was iOpener Institute for People and tion center. Howard, who also earned her doctorate in education named a 2013 honorary Performance, an international at Pitt, is a master trainer for TeamSTEPPS, the evidence-based alumnus by the University of consultancy that helps organiza- teamwork training system developed by the Agency for Healthcare Arkansas for Medical Sciences tions to achieve their strategic Research and Quality and the U.S. Department of Defense. Her College of Nursing. She is an and commercial goals by areas of expertise and research interests cover the use of simula- adjunct professor of nursing maximizing the performance, tion in learning, faculty mentoring, and nursing education. at the University of Texas at productivity, and happiness of Arlington. business-critical employees. Mary Ann Newell Gapinski Scott has numerous clients (BSN ’76) was recently worldwide, including McDonald’s Alumnus Named appointed to the position of and the United Nations. She director of school health ser- recently traveled to Ethiopia, CEO of AACN where she met and coached vices for the Massachusetts Deborah E. Trautman (MSN ’87), PhD, leaders of several African nations. Department of Public Health. has been appointed chief executive Cydney Afriat Menihan (BSN 2000s officer of the American Association of ’73) published Point-of-Care Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Trautman Assessment in Pregnancy and Kimberly Anderson (BSN ’07, previously held the position of executive Women’s Health: Electronic MSN ’12) published “Calcific director of the Center for Health Policy Fetal Monitoring and Sono Uremic Arteriolopathy: Overview and Healthcare Transformation at the graphy. This is a new book in a for the Nurse” in AACN Advanced Johns Hopkins Hospital. She also served as vice president of series, published in place of a Critical Care. Anderson is patient care services for Howard County General Hospital and third edition of Electronic Fetal currently a CRNP at UPMC as director of nursing for emergency medicine at the Johns Monitoring: Concepts and Presbyterian. Hopkins Hospital. Applications. Menihan added a Michele Klein-Fedyshin This 2007–08 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy special acknowledgment on the (BSN ’09) was published in the fellow contributed to the shape and promotion of the Affordable dedication page: “To the Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Care Act legislation. She also worked with Nancy Pelosi, then University of Pittsburgh School Practice. Her article, “Evaluating Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, as the national of Nursing (1969–73) for getting the MEDLINE Core Clinical health care debate took place. Best wishes to Trautman as she me off on the right foot.” takes on this exciting new position!

24 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING In Memoriam Alumnus Honored Nora Cunningham Bartley Mary Jo Labuda as ACC Women’s (BSN ’48) (MSN ’86) Basketball Legend Margaret F. Breuer Devera Bloom Lucker (BSN ’49) (BSNEd ’60) Jennifer Bruce Scott (BSN ’86) represented Pitt at the Atlantic Margaret O. Brophy Margaret C. Marburger Coast Conference (ACC) (BSN ’49) (BSNEd ’56, MNEd ’69) Women’s Basketball Legends’ Luncheon, the first Pitt athlete/ Eleanor Louise Moors Carter Ruth D. Massenburg alumnus to do so. The legends (BSNEd ’60) (BSN ’52, MNEd ’68) program recognizes both play- ers and coaches from the 15 Audrey J. Cervik Kathryn E. McGeary ACC member schools who have (BSNEd ’62) (BSN ’52) contributed to the league’s rich Margery J. Conlin Marian A. Murray tradition. Bruce Scott is still (BSNEd ’48) (BSNEd ’52) the second all-time leading scorer in Pitt basketball (men’s Mary S. Freliga Anne G. Norman or women’s) history and continues to hold the record for the most (BSN ’59) (BSN ’51, MSN ’54) field goals. This outstanding graduate is a three-time All-Big East honoree and a University of Pittsburgh Varsity Letter Club Dorothy Hornick Glasson Carolyn D. Perry Awardee of Distinction and was selected for the Big East Silver (BSN ’44) (BSN ’58) Anniversary Squad. Beverley D. Graham Dorothy Jean Barton Reid (BSN ’85) (BSN ’55)

Lois J. Grillette Irene K. Renaldi (BSN ’71) (BSNEd ’60)

Edythe P. Haney Janet H. Rittenour (BSNEd ’48) (BSN ’70)

Jelerma V. Hill Mary T. Vins Roll (BSNEd ’51) (BSN ’54)

Bernadette Halloran Kaelin Jean Rutledge Sherman (BSNEd ’60) (BSN ’46)

Eunice J. Kennedy Patricia S. Strayer Three Alumni Selected as (BSN ’57) (BSN ’45) AANP Fellows Fannie O. Kensic Irene M. Surovec Three Pitt School of Nursing alumni have been named fellows (BSNEd ’54) (BSNEd ’58) of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP): Victoria Soltis-Jarrett (MSN ’88), Susan Van Cleve (BSN ’77), Helen Kish Carol A. Urban and Donna Nativio (BSN ’63). The AANP fellows program recog- (BAS ’77) (BSN ’89) nizes those nurse practitioner leaders who have made outstanding contributions to health care through clinical practice, research, Vivian L. Krall Anna E. Wagner education, or policy. Soltis-Jarrett is a clinical professor at the (BSN ’67) (BSNEd ’60) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing. Van Cleve is the immediate past president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and an associate professor at the Robert Morris University School of Nursing and Health Sciences in Pittsburgh. Nativio is an associate professor here at the School of å Nursing and director of the school’s DNP program. She also is the Correction: in the Spring 2014 Pitt Nurse magazine, we incorrectly coordinator of four of the nurse practitioner areas of concentration. identified the journal Maternal-Child Nursing Journal, when referring to the publication initiated by Pitt nursing faculty members Florence Erikson and Reva Rubin (page 11). Our apologies.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 25 * NURSEBEAT Faculty Grants (February–July 2014) Susan A. Albrecht (BSN ’75, MN ’78), PhD, Valerie Swigart, PhD, CRNP, professor, was FAAN, associate dean for external relations, the recipient of the school’s 2014 Nursing was awarded a grant from the University of Excellence in Teaching and Technology Pittsburgh Advisory Council on Instructional Award. With this award, the school acknowl- Excellence (ACIE) for the project Evidence- edges the exceptional efforts of faculty to based Teaching and Learning in the Health enhance the educational experiences of Susan A. Albrecht Sciences: Principles of Interprofessional students, patients, or the community Valerie Swigart Learning in a Clinical Environment. Her through the use of technology. Swigart, co-investigators include Zsuzsa Horvath, along with Michael Gold, professor emeritus faculty in the School of Dental Medicine in Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and and Susan M. Meyer, faculty in the School International Affairs, produced two techno- of Pharmacy. logically rich learning tools: a clinical terminology course offered as a MOOC Salah Al-Zaiti, PhD, ANP-BC, assistant and a multilanguage online dictionary of professor, was awarded a grant by the clinical terms and abbreviations for begin- University of Pittsburgh Central Research ning students in the health sciences. Development Fund for his study, Myocardial JiYeon Choi Ischemia Detection for the Early Identifica Sheila Alexander tion of Patients with Ischemic Chest Pain. Faculty JiYeon Choi (PhD ’08), assistant professor, received a grant from the University of Distinctions Pittsburgh Central Research Development Sheila Alexander, PhD, has been promoted Fund for her project, Providing Tele to associate professor with tenure. rehabilitation at Home for Adult Intensive Care Unit Survivors and Their Family Sandra Founds, PhD, CNM, FNP, has been Caregivers. promoted to associate professor with tenure. Elizabeth LaRue Elizabeth A. Crago (PhD ’12) research Irene Kane, PhD, CNAA, HFI, has been pro- Sandra Founds assistant professor, received a grant from moted to associate professor. the Pitt Competitive Medical Research Fund Judith A. Mermigas, MSN, CRNA, instruc- for her project, The Relationship of tor, was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau Eta Hormone Levels to Outcomes after Acute Chapter at its spring 2014 ceremony. Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage. Ann Mitchell, PhD, AHN-BC, FAAN, has Christopher Imes, PhD, assistant profes- been promoted to full professor. sor, was honored with a grant from Sigma Theta Tau International for his study, Jennifer Lingler American Heart Association’s My Life Faculty Degrees Ann Mitchell Check to Improve Dietary and Physical Activity Habits among Young Adults. Dawn Drahnak (BSN ’04, DNP ’14), MSN, CCRN, earned her Doctor of Nursing Elizabeth LaRue, PhD, assistant professor, Practice degree upon successfully complet- will be traveling to Malawi in September ing her capstone project, Evidence-based 2014 thanks to her selection for a Fulbright Guidelines and Scripting to Support Acute award. LaRue will be creating and teaching Care Nurses in Sepsis Recognition, introductory nursing informatics courses Reporting, and Treatment. and seminars as well as developing new teleconferencing informatics curricula at Elizabeth Katrancha (BSN ’04, DNP ’14), John O’Donnell the University of Malawi Kamuzu College MSN, CSN, CNE, earned her Doctor of of Nursing. Nursing Practice degree upon successfully completing her capstone project, Utility of Jennifer Lingler (MSN ’98, PhD ’04), assis- T’ai Chi Exercises in Improving Center of tant professor, received a three-year grant Balance and Falls Efficacy in Community- in excess of $1 million from the National dwelling Older Adults. Institute on Aging for her study, Return of Amyloid Imaging Research Results in MCI. Lisa Kreashko, MSN, earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree upon successfully John O’Donnell (MSN ’91), DrPH, profes- completing her capstone project, the sor and director of the nurse anesthesia Development of an Education Program program, received a grant from the Health Designed to Increase Parental Knowledge Resources and Services Administration for of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. nurse anesthetist traineeships for 2014–15.

26 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING Congratulations to the Spring New Faculty 2014 STTI Eta Chapter Inductees Judith Callan (BSN ’80, MSN ’84, PhD Christopher Imes, PhD, assistant profes- Graduate Students ’07), assistant professor in the Department sor in the Department of Acute/Tertiary Janet Ann Arida of Health and Community Systems, earned Care, recently earned his PhD in nursing Jaymie J. Cullens (BSN ’12) her PhD in nursing at the University of science, public health genetics, at the Aleda E. Elkin (BSN ’12) Pittsburgh and recently completed a K12 University of Washington, following more Linda Govere award at Pitt’s Clinical and Translational than a decade of service in the U.S. Army. Hideru Inoue (MSN ’14) Science Institute. Dan Li, PhD, assistant professor in the Kirsten T. Walther Christine Feeley, PhD, assistant professor Department of Health and Community Undergraduate Students in the Department of Health Promotion and Systems, recently earned her PhD in nurs- Justin M. Bailey (BSN ’14) Development, completed her doctoral stud- ing at the University of Miami School of Nicole M. DiPietro (BSN ’14) ies in nursing at the University of Alabama Nursing and Health Studies. Rachel C. Flowers (BSN ’14) at Birmingham in 2012 and then served as Marsha Weiner, PhD, assistant professor Connor R. McClellan (BSN ’13) a postdoctoral fellow in a NIH-funded T-32 in the Department of Acute/Tertiary Care, training grant at Emory University’s Nell recently earned her DNP at Florida Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. State University. Student Distinctions Jessica A. Devido (BSN ’04, MSN ’08, Student News PhD ’14) successfully defended her dissertation, “Exploring the Role of the Parish Twenty-three Students Present this year’s conference were Shreya Nurse in Providing Diabetes Education and at National Conference Bhatnagar (BSN ’14), Victoria Buck, Preconception Counseling to African Jefi Buenaventura, Jessica Choi, American Women Using a Community- The School of Nursing offers students at all Ceara Conley, Rebecca Findle, Elise engaged Mixed-methods Approach.” levels opportunities to participate in Gamertsfelder (BSN ’14), Alexandra Jane Kathleen G. Hopkins (PhD ’14) success- research so that they will have a proper Hudson, Caitlin Kilcullen (BSN ’14), fully defended her dissertation, “Symptom foundation for engaging in evidence-based Rachel Marie Klinges (BSN ’14), Jennifer Experience following Lung Cancer Surgery.” practice. The school is pleased to note that Mai, Marianne McCoy, Eliza McGoldrick, 23 of its students—a record number—were Abbey Parrott, Leah Rosenblum (BSN Caitlin Kilcullen (BSN ’14), was selected invited to present their research at the 2014 ’14), Alyssa Marie Sartore, Elizabeth to present a poster at the national ACC National Conference on Undergraduate Skrovanek (BSN ’14), Amanda Stone Meeting of the Minds 2014 conference. Research. The conference attracts under- (BSN ’14), Teika Takedai, Leah Winner, Her poster was titled “Optimism, Self- graduate students from across the United Erica Wolf, Linden Wu (BSN ’14), and efficacy, and Discrepancies in Medication States to present research posters and Jenna Zaldonis. Reconciliation in a Sample of Caregivers papers. Pitt nursing students attending of Community-dwelling Individuals with Memory Loss.” BSN student Lisa Nagy founded the Pitt Trauma and Emergency League, a multidisciplinary organization designed to help students from many health care fields to learn about the local and global impact of trauma, to practice the type of interdisciplinary research and teamwork seen in the field, and to explore careers in trauma and emergencies. Nagy worked with a trauma league in Cuenca, Ecuador, during a global health rotation and realized the potential success of this concept at the University of Pittsburgh. PhD student Jennifer Seaman was featured in an article in the Pittsburgh Post- Gazette, “Hospice Care in Allegheny County Bucks National Norm.” Seaman is part of the Pitt research team exploring the issue;

continued Conference participants with Julius Kitutu, assistant dean for student services.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 27 * NURSEBEAT she analyzed the data from a survey of Marsena Ruth Pelton, who is working Congratulations to three of the school’s county residents, part of which addressed toward her MSN, has been chosen to PhD students for being selected for hospice care. receive a scholarship from the Nightingale American Cancer Society doctoral scholarships: Teresa Hagan, Bethany Thelen, BSN student was selected as Awards of Pennsylvania. Mary Sligh and Theresa Koleck. a 2014 Browne Leadership fellow. The PhD student Bethany Thelen received a interdisciplinary fellowship offered by the grant from the National Institute of Nursing Pitt School of Social Work is aimed at Research for her project Cognitive Function preparing students to become engaged and Work Productivity in Survivors of civic leaders working for economic and Adolescent Cancer. social justice. Salina Smialik and her mentor, Lorraine Novosel, were honored with the inaugural Sigma Theta Tau Eta Chapter Under graduate Research Award for their study, What’s Happening? Student Nurses’ Initial Clinical Experience, Please share information about your career achievements, advanced education, publications, presentations, Confidence, and Attitudes towards honors received, and appointments. We may include your news in the Alumni News & Notes section or Older Adults. other media. Indicate names, dates, and locations. Photos are welcome! Please print clearly. During their last term, graduating BSN students Cassandra Tavares (BSN ’14) –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– and Linden Wu (BSN ’14) were chosen Name (include name at graduation as well as current name) to represent Pitt at the annual statewide event Undergraduate Research at the –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– Degree(s) and Year(s) of Graduation Capitol Pennsylvania. Tavares’ poster explored “Evaluation of a Wellness –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– Conference for African American Breast Home Address Cancer Survivors” and Wu’s was “Reducing Risk and Improving Protective –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– Factors in Teen Dating Violence.”

PhD student Susan Thrane was awarded –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– first place for her doctoral podium presen- Home Telephone tation at the 2014 Eastern Nursing Research Society conference. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– Professional Position PhD student Jennifer Thurheimer won first place in the PhD student poster cate- –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– gory at the 2014 Eastern Nursing Name of Employer Research Society conference. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– Student Grants Employer’s Address Doctoral student Theresa Koleck –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––------–––––– (BSN ’11) was selected as a recipient E-mail Address (please note home or work) of the 2014 Nightingale Awards of Pennsylvania Scholarship. News______One of the school’s postdoctoral scholars, Marci Nilsen (BSN ’05, MSN ’08, PhD ’13), ______won a grant from the Gerontological Society of America as the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing ______Excellence 2014–15 Claire M. Fagin fellow. ______PhD student Nicole Osier successfully sought a grant from the National Institute Complete and return to: University of Pittsburgh of Nursing Research for her study on School of Nursing Mechanism of Melatonin-induced Janice Devine, Director of Alumni Relations and Development Neuroprotection in Traumatic Brain Injury. 218 Victoria Building 3500 Victoria Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261 E-mail: [email protected]

28 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH SCHOOL OF NURSING SCHOOL OF NURSING Advancement and External Relations Staff Susan Albrecht Associate Dean for External Relations and Associate Professor [email protected] Jennifer Fellows Director of Advancement and External Relations [email protected] 412-624-5328 Janice Devine Director of Alumni Relations and Development [email protected] 412-624-7541 Kelly Shaffer Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications [email protected] 412-624-4663 Kathryn Rubino Alumni Relations Coordinator, Health Sciences [email protected] 412-647-4220 THE SCHOOL WELCOMES Charlotte Heller Webmaster PITT’S NEW CHANCELLOR [email protected] The School of Nursing is so pleased to 412-624-3689 welcome Patrick Gallagher, PhD, who is Amy Lyn Elliott the 18th chancellor and chief executive Office Coordinator officer of the University of Pittsburgh. [email protected] Chancellor Gallagher took this position on 412-624-0856 August 1, 2014, succeeding Mark A. Nordenberg, who had led the University Pitt Nurse for 19 years. Editor Chancellor Gallagher earned his PhD in Kelly Shaffer Assistant Director of Marketing physics here at Pitt in 1991 after receiving and Communications a bachelor’s degree in physics and philos- [email protected] ophy from Benedictine College. Most 412-624-4663 recently, Gallagher served as director of Contributing Writers the National Institute of Standards and Megan E. Edwards Technology (NIST) and as undersecretary Sally Ann Flecker of commerce for standards and technol- Kelly Shaffer ogy. He was responsible for high-level Art Director direction for NIST, an agency at which the Jane Dudley areas of highest priority include promoting Department of Communications U.S. innovation and industrial competi- Services tiveness. In addition, Chancellor Gallagher was appointed acting deputy secretary of commerce by President Barack Obama in 2013. In this role, he served as the chief The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative operating officer for the U.S. Department action, equal opportunity institution. Published in cooperation with the Department of of Commerce. Communications Services. DCS97067-0914 The School of Nursing looks forward to working closely with Chancellor Gallagher Recycle This Magazine to promote nursing, the health sciences, Follow the University and the University of Pittsburgh. Share it with someone of Pittsburgh School you know and help to spread of Nursing on Facebook. the word about Pitt nursing.

PITT NURSE FALL 2014 29 NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PITTSBURGH PA School of Nursing PERMIT NO. 511 218 Victoria Building 3500 Victoria Street Pittsburgh, PA 15261 Web nursing.pitt.edu

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