News Archive, 1999 - 2020

Where do individual rights fit in when public health is threatened? What roles do psychology, faith, and reasoning play in decision-making about whether to trust or reject science? How do different health professions contribute to vaccine development, research, vaccine distribution, and public health education? Such are the questions that need to be addressed as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, according to speakers at University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Seventh Annual Interprofessional Forum on Ethics and Religion in Health Care. The event explored the topic of vaccines through the lens of bioethics and religion, with perspectives from various health disciplines. (The event took place prior to the Food and Drug Administration’s emergency use authorization of the Pfizer/BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, which University of Maryland Medical System health care workers have started to receive.) This year’s forum, “Unraveling Vaccine Science, Faith, and Public Discourse,” was held virtually for the first time, in keeping with COVID-19 safety precautions. The program featured religious leaders including Rabbi Shmuel Silber of Suburban Orthodox Congregation Toras Chaim in Pikesville and Bowyer G. Freeman, DMin, senior pastor of New St. Mark Baptist Church in Baltimore, as well as medical, legal, and pharmaceutical experts. Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and director of UMB’s Center for Interprofessional Education, offered welcoming remarks to kick off the event. “Certainly, virtual events such as this one have become standard operating procedure but even though we are growing used to them, they are still a potent reminder of the ongoing dislocations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. Read More

On Thursday, Dec. 17, the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, welcomed UMSON’s July and December 2020 graduates, their families and friends, and faculty and staff to UMSON’s first winter virtual conferral of degrees in the School’s 131-year history. The virtual event was attended by more than 700 people. “It goes without saying that nursing, at its very core, is a profession marked by a deep dedication and commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our patients and our communities,” Kirschling told graduates attending the Zoom ceremony. “However, the events of this year – our national and global struggle to combat COVID-19 – give additional meaning to this dedication. It is a reminder that nursing does not have the opportunity to pick and choose its moments of service, but rather, it must always be at the ready to respond.” During the ceremony, University of Maryland, Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, conferred 179 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, 79 master’s degrees, one certificate, two Doctor of Nursing practice degrees, and four PhD degrees. University System of Maryland Regent William T. Wood offered remarks during the ceremony, and Kirschling recognized the entry-into-practice students who took advantage of UMSON’s early-exit option, an effort to bolster the nursing workforce in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in November and those who have volunteered to serve in other capacities during this time. “To all of our students: You have successfully persevered during this semester, completed your studies, and earned your degrees, all while balancing multiple demands and stresses. You have my deepest respect and that of all of us for your efforts and hard work,” Kirschling said. Student speaker Lauren Russell, BSN ’20, a Conway Scholar, shared her experiences as a nursing student during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We did not expect a virtual learning environment, let alone a virtual graduation,” Russell said. “And yet, here we are, standing tall, prepared to be impactful in our designated specialties of choice. Utilizing the knowledge we have garnered and the skill sets that we have sharpened as we have matriculated through this nursing program.” During the ceremony, DAISY Awards for Extraordinary Nursing Students were awarded to Lisa Eng, a graduate of the BSN program at the Universities at Shady Grove location, and Katherine Couch, a graduate of the Clinical Nurse Leader master’s option. The DAISY awards are given each fall and spring to two graduating entry-into-practice students who demonstrate empathic care and service to patients and their families. And the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Faculty was presented to Amanda Roesch, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, assistant professor, recognizing her commitment to education and her inspirational influence on students. Preceptor Awards, given to preceptors who have facilitated a transformational experience for students with whom they have worked in the clinical setting, were presented to Tania Randell, MS, RN, ACCNS-AC, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Progressive Cardiac Care Unit, at the graduate level and Rhianna Moyer, BSN, RN, CPN, University of Maryland Medical Center, Pediatric Progressive Care Unit, at the undergraduate level. Dean Kirschling concluded the ceremony with congratulatory remarks for the graduates. “On behalf of the entire University of Maryland School of Nursing, all of us join in celebrating your achievements and we send you forward to serve, knowing that each one of you will contribute to improving the health and well-being of our state, our nation, and our world,” she said.

Students have been strongly encouraged to begin clinical experiences as early as Dec. 14. Baltimore, Md. – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact nursing education­ and in response to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s request that nursing programs encourage student engagement in caring for hospitalized COVID-19 patients and in assisting with COVID-19 screenings and vaccines, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been strongly encouraging its entry-into-practice students scheduled to graduate in spring 2021 to begin participating in clinical experiences and community/public health rotations as soon as possible, before the Jan. 28 start of the spring 2021 semester. This voluntary option is being offered to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s option students, as the second large surge of ill COVID-19 patients affects nurse staffing at UMSON’s partner agencies and institutions. With the surge expected to increase over the coming months and continue into spring, causing uncertainty regarding availability of clinical sites, UMSON has provided this option to students to ensure they can participate in and complete their spring 2021 requirements. “The University of Maryland Medical System hospitals warmly welcome the University of Maryland School of Nursing entry-into-practice students to begin their final semester practicums this month. The experience and insight they’ll gain working alongside our expert and knowledgeable registered nurses during the COVID-19 surge will serve them well over the course of their nursing careers,” said Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, CENP, FAAN, chief nurse executive, University of Maryland Medical System, and senior vice president and chief nursing officer, University of Maryland Medical Center.  Priority for the December/January clinical experience option is dependent on clinical site availability, and students will be placed on a first-come, first-served basis in a medical/surgical or acute care unit or with community/public health nursing partners as clinical sites are identified. “I thank the University of Maryland School of Nursing leadership and its students for stepping up and demonstrating their continued active commitment to service in the midst of this pandemic,” said James D. Fielder Jr., PhD, secretary of higher education, Maryland Higher Education Commission. “The opportunities for students to accelerate their academic schedule in order to actively contribute during the current COVID-19 surge is deeply appreciated. The state of Maryland thanks you.” UMSON has 65 BSN and 13 CNL students scheduled to patriciate in the early clinical experiences. Participating students will begin their clinical experience no later than Monday, Dec. 21, 2020. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

When the staff of the Baltimore Business Journal decided last summer to create the publication’s first Leaders in Health Care Awards to honor Baltimore’s health care community, they could not have foreseen the challenges and pressures health care professionals would experience in times of a pandemic. Last year, “we could not have had the appreciation that we have today for what it takes to be a true leader in health care,” said Rhonda Pringle, market president and publisher of the Baltimore Business Journal. “What we found when we read the nominations are leaders willing to embrace new ideas, new technologies and unafraid to shake up the status quo.” Originally the publication had intended to select seven honorees, but given the number of outstanding nominations, “it became clear that seven was not enough,” Pringle said. Instead, 17 leaders in health care were chosen, with three from the University of Maryland, Baltimore community among them: Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON); Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FCP, FAAPS, dean of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP); and UMSOP’s Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS. Leaders in Health Care honorees were recognized in a Dec. 3 virtual ceremony during which the awards were announced by Kevin Carnell, health care practice leader, RCM&D. Kirschling, dean of UMSON since 2013, was recognized in the category of health education. Eddington, dean of UMSOP since 2007, and Sera, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, were recognized in the medical cannabis category. “When we look back at 2020 in the history books, we will never forget the adversity and hardships,” Carnell said. “However, we will also remember the countless examples of strength, courage, and perseverance displayed by those in the health care community. All who we recognize today are to be commended for the work they do every day, and especially in today's world. You all make a tremendous positive impact on our community, and we are grateful for your efforts.” Under Kirschling’s leadership, UMSON has continued educating a new generation of nurses and helps meet staffing needs for the state's medical system by allowing qualified, trained nursing students to work in hospitals to help address a surge in COVID-19 patients, Carnell said. In addition, UMSON for the second time approved an early exit for entry-into-nursing students who were scheduled to graduate Dec. 17, 2020. In an effort to bolster the nursing workforce, students approved for an early exit could begin working as nursing graduates. “Thank you for this award as a leader in health care,” Kirschling said in accepting the award. “The University of Maryland School of Nursing faculty, staff, and students have shown amazing resilience during COVID-19, and we continue to produce excellent nurses for the workforce. We are forever grateful for this recognition.” Read More

All graduating Bachelor of Science in Nursing students to exit as early as Nov. 30. Baltimore, Md. - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s widespread community transmission across the state and surging metrics across the country, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s request, and UMSON’s assessment of students’ readiness, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) for the second time has approved an early exit for entry-into-nursing students who are scheduled to graduate on Dec. 17, 2020. In an effort to bolster the nursing workforce, students approved for an early exit can begin working as nursing graduates. All graduating Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) students will exit early, Nov. 30, provided successful completion of fall courses. Graduating entry-into-nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s students will be given the option to exit as early as Dec. 2. To be eligible for the early-exit option, CNL students must meet specific GPA and academic program requirements. Hogan’s public health surge plan has called for allowing hospitals that are either full or nearing capacity limits to transfer patients to hospitals that are equipped to provide them with the care they need, helping to alleviate overcrowding in hospitals. The School of Nursing has collaborated with the chief nursing officers of major hospital systems and ascertained their need for and interest in hiring nursing graduates and designed a protocol for linking UMSON’s early-exit students to these institutions: the University of Maryland Medical System, the Johns Hopkins Health System, MedStar Health, Anne Arundel Medical Center (Luminis Health), and Holy Cross Health.  “We are committed to once again partnering with Maryland’s health care systems to support them as they navigate the increasing demands for personnel during this latest phase of the pandemic,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “School of Nursing students eligible for this early-exit option are fully prepared and equipped to help meet the state’s needs by serving our health care institutions as nursing graduates. I applaud those students selecting the early exit option for their willingness to contribute their skills during this time of increasing urgency and sincerely thank all of our students – whether continuing their studies or preparing to graduate – for persevering in their education and preparation for nursing careers despite challenging and sometimes difficult circumstances.” UMSON will provide a letter to participating students that they can in turn provide to prospective employers stating that they have met all the program requirements and have qualified for and taken an early-exit option from UMSON. UMSON has 138 BSN and 44 CNL students who are qualified to participate in the early exit. In April 2020, UMSON had 62 BSN and 45 CNL students who took an optional early exit prior to the May 14 graduation date.  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

“In the patient population that I see, I frequently come across people who just don’t have any cooking skills,” said Lauren Hynicka, PharmD, BCPS, associate professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP). “They might not even have a stove or the proper utensils and cookware to prep the meals.” Health professionals can face similar challenges in providing the proper nutrition education to their patients. To overcome that, 24 University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) students from the schools of pharmacy, dentistry, law, and medicine enrolled in a 1-credit culinary health and medicine elective in the spring hosted at The Institute for Integrative Health in Harbor East. The elective provides an opportunity for students outside of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, which includes culinary medicine as part of its core curriculum, to add to the breadth of patient care. Christopher D’Adamo, PhD, director of research and associate director, Center for Integrative Medicine, also was part of the course team. Hynicka’s presentation was one from four teams that presented results of their 13-month interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional care projects funded through UMB’s Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE) at a Nov. 18 faculty symposium via Webex. The grants ranged from $10,200 to $15,000. “For me as a prior transplant surgeon, interprofessional care of the patients was the only way you took care of them,” UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, said. “Having that as part of our learning objective is really important to me.” CIPE, directed by Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, is a national leader in providing interprofessional education for health, law, and human services professionals that is grounded in best practices for educational innovation and assessment. Here are the IPE 2019-2020 seed grant projects and team members:  “Using Gamification to Enhance the Learning of Interprofessional Antimicrobial Management” Kimberly Claeys, PharmD, BCPS — School of Pharmacy Emily Heil, PharmD, CPS AQ-ID, AAHIVP — School of Pharmacy Neha Sheth Pandit, AAIVP, BCPS — School of Pharmacy Roseann Velez, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, FAANP — School of Nursing Jacqueline Bork, MD — School of Medicine Kerri Thom, MD — School of Medicine “Interprofessional Care for Head and Neck Radiation Patients” Dima Ghunaim, DDS, MS, FACP — School of Dentistry/UMMC Tiffani Tyer, CRNP-AC, AOCNP — University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Cynthia Idzik-Starr, DDS — School of Dentistry Donita Dyalram, MD, DDS, FACP — School of Medicine/UMMC Bridgitte Gourley, DNP, FNP-BC — School of Nursing “An Interprofessional Training to Improve Advance Care Planning Skills of Students and Healthcare Professionals by Collaborating with Oncology and Palliative Care Champions” Leah S. Millstein, MD — School of Medicine Paula Rosenblatt, MD — School of Medicine John Cagle, PhD, MSW — School of Social Work John Allen, MD — School of Medicine Mel Bellin, PhD, LCSW — School of Social Work Steven R. Eveland, MBA, RN, CHPN — School of Social Work Mei Ching Lee, RN, PhD, CHPN — School of Nursing Barbara Perez Marquez, MFA — School of Medicine  “Interprofessional Education Awareness (IDEA) for Maternal Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)” Doris Titus-Glover, PhD, MSN — School of Nursing Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN — School of Nursing Fadia T. Shaya, PhD, MPH — School of Pharmacy Kathleen Hoke, JD — School of Law Christopher Welsh, MD — School of Medicine Jamie E. Swietlikowski, MS — School of Medicine Rebecca Vivrette, PhD — School of Medicine Katherine Fornili, DNP, MPH, RN, CARN, FIANN — School of Nursing  “Development of an Interprofessional Culinary Health and Medicine Elective” Christopher D’Adamo, PhD — School of Medicine Lauren M. Hynicka, PharmD, BCPS — School of Pharmacy   Read More  

Alumna and victimology/forensic nursing pioneer to present Shattering Silence: Clinical Perspectives on Sexual Violence 1970 - 2020 Baltimore, Md. – On Thursday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m., Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, MS ’59, APRN, FAAN, professor of psychiatric nursing, Boston College Connell School of Nursing, will kick off the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) 2020 - 21 Dean’s Lecture series as the featured guest lecturer of The Ann Ottney Cain Lecture in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, presenting “Shattering Silence: Clinical Perspectives on Sexual Violence 1970 - 2020.” The lecture will also commemorate the 65th anniversary of UMSON’s psychiatric nursing program, now the Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Family specialty, of which Burgess is an alumna. Burgess’ online lecture will trace the changing historical context for sexual violence over the past 50 years and explore the implications of this for current clinical practice, as well the understanding of both victims and perpetrators. It will provide evidence-based guidance on the presenting characteristics and behaviors of sexual predators and outline best practices for using trauma-informed approaches in the assessment and treatment of victims of abuse. And it will probe the progress made or not made with regard to nurses’ legal and clinical responses to sexual violence and the impact of this on victims, offenders, and society at large. Although the issues of sexual assault and sexual violence have vaulted into the headlines, the slow, hard scientific work to understand victims and perpetrators has been the focus of Burgess’ research, publication, and teaching for close to 50 years. A pioneer in the field of victimology and forensic nursing, Burgess is recognized for her contributions to understanding sexual violence. In an era during which rape was not discussed, Burgess and her colleague Lynda Lytle Holstrom began one of the first hospital-based programs for rape victims. Their resulting publication in 1973 in the American Journal of Nursing of findings drawn from their interviews of 146 rape victims aged 3 - 73, “The Rape Victim in the Emergency Ward,” called into question victims’ treatment by police, health care institutions, and the criminal justice system; raised the notion that rape was about power and control; and advocated crisis counseling for victims. Burgess and Holstrom’s subsequent 1974 publication in the American Journal of Psychiatry, “Rape Trauma Syndrome,” introduced the term into the scientific literature, delineated the syndrome’s symptomatology, and noted that one of the variations, the silent rape reaction, required clinicians to be “alert to indications of the possibility of rape … even when the patient never mentions the attack.” She recently published the third edition of her seminal text, Victimology: Theories and Applications, and provided the afterword to The New Evil: Understanding the Emergence of Modern Violent Crime.  Burgess entered popular culture as the role model for the television character Dr. Wendy Carr in the Netflix series Mindhunter. It is based on Burgess’ work with the FBI interviewing victims and systematically cataloging information from these interviews, as well as subsequent efforts to understand the minds of serial killers, which contributed to a criminal profiling system and was the first to establish connections between a killer’s past trauma and subsequent crimes. In keeping with her commitment to the advanced education and practice of nurses, Burgess, a board-certified psychiatric clinical nurse specialist, only regrets that her fictional self was portrayed as a psychologist rather than a nurse. At this lecture, UMSON will pay tribute to Ann Ottney Cain (1934 - 2020), PhD, RN, CSP, FAAN, professor emerita, who was a leader in psychiatric mental health nursing, specifically in family systems therapy. Her tenure at UMSON spanned more than three decades, and upon her retirement in 1994, her colleagues, students, and friends created the Ann Ottney Cain Endowed Lecture in Psychiatric Nursing. Cain passed away in February.  "Dr. Cain reframed understanding and treatment assessment to include the significant relationships in every unique family system. This system thinking broadened individual perspectives and enhanced student practitioners’ abilities to become nonjudgmental, empathic witnesses,” said Charon Burda, DNP ’19, MS ’03, PMHCNS, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, associate professor and director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner specialty. “The systems thinking process remains a cornerstone of our curriculum today. The Psychiatric Mental Health specialty stands on the shoulders of transformational leaders who represent a long, rich history; innovation; integration of evidence; and healers of great influence. Dr. Ann Burgess, this year’s esteemed presenter and a colleague of Dr. Cain, worked in the forensic system, broadening understanding and new assessment considerations to therapeutically respond to victims and perpetrators involved in violent reactions. These educators represent the highest level of scholarship, leadership, dedication, and service. Our students, faculty, and alumni are honored to be a part of this rich, distinguished lineage."  The 2020 - 21 Dean’s Lecture Series will include three additional lectures scheduled for later this winter and next spring. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

“That is one language that is commonly spoken across Nigeria, in the cities, suburbs, and in the villages. Everyone understands Pidgin English,” said one of the President’s Fellows, Henry E. Inegbenosun, BSN ’15, who was raised in Lagos, Nigeria. “I think that’s something that can be explored when communicating with patients of different parts of a country.”    Inegbenosun is a Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner student at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). Read More

Office of Diversity and Inclusion kicks off Perspectives on Diversity and Inclusion speaker series. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of nursing (UMSON) has received the 2020 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education. This is the third year in a row that UMSON has been named a HEED Award recipient. The HEED Award recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. UMSON will be featured, along with 44 other recipients, in the December 2020 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. “The School of Nursing is deeply honored to receive the HEED Award for a third time,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The annual process provides an opportunity for us to again reflect on and assess our program. We remain committed to the development of a diverse health care workforce – not only racially and ethnically, but also with respect to sexual orientation and gender identification, and a host of economic, cultural, and social factors. Such a diverse workforce is essential to ensuring an effective and equitable system of health care for all. This year, in particular, the events of recent months – from the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on vast sectors of our population to the stark reminders of our unfinished business in responding to structural racism – are a renewed call to action. We still have much work to do, in order to truly live the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion."  Health Professions HEED Award application is open to all accredited U.S. and Canadian health profession schools, including medical, dental, pharmacy, nursing, veterinary, and osteopathic medical schools. The award is the only national initiative that honors individual institutions for being outstanding examples of colleges, universities, or health profession schools that are committed to making diversity and inclusion a top priority across their campuses. The HEED Award’s rigorous application includes questions related to recruitment and retention of students and employees, continued leadership support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion. The program looks for institutions where diversity and inclusion are woven into their everyday work  In its 2020 application, UMSON highlighted three areas of innovation: incorporating diversity and inclusion into faculty and staff performance reviews through the addition of annual learning objectives focused on cultural competence and/or education and training integrating Restorative Justice practices into the UMSON community as a way of offering faculty, staff, and students tools to better communicate, solve problems, and nurture authentic relationships the Booked for Lunch Club affinity group, which offers a platform for dialogue, cultural and racial awareness, and meaningful conversation through shared review of a broad array of diverse reading and media materials. Continuing its leadership role within UMSON, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion kicked off “Perspectives on Diversity and Inclusion,” a three-part series of half-day presentations and discussions for faculty and staff, on Wednesday, Nov. 4.  The series, presented by Steven K. Ragsdale, MSL, will explore the role that Baltimore has played in shaping the world’s concepts on race, gender, and health care politics. Presentations will include “The Unknown, Untold Truth: The Roots of Inequity and Racism in Health Care” and “Nursing and Deconstruction of Systems and Historical Group Think.  Ragsdale is a senior consultant and former administrator with more than 25 years of experience building and managing hospital operations, developing health care innovations, and advancing pathways to better and safer care. His work in diversity, equity, and inclusion is guided by his deep understanding of and desire to appreciate concepts that drive difference as a normal part of society and how it animates behavior and performance over time. Ragsdale now provides expertise on standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion across medicine, education, environmental justice, and the law. As a lecturer, he provides guidance to students and professionals seeking to understand the value of socio-ecological modeling in developing culturally competent systems. “With our mission of developing leaders in education, research, and practice we cannot consider our ourselves highly effective without thoroughly embedding diversity and inclusion as core foundational principles,” said Jeffrey Ash, EdD, assistant professor and associate dean for diversity and inclusion. “As evidenced by our third HEED Award, our faculty, staff and students are becoming more aware and embracing our rich and vibrant working and learning environment where knowledge is created and shared. Through our teaching and learning, we will be relentless and unapologetic in our pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence. We will be intentional, leaving no stone unturned, in our attention to diversity details, our passion, and our profound commitment to pursuing and addressing diversity and inclusion in health and the health care of individuals, communities, and those underrepresented and marginalized.” ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has named Veronica Quattrini, DNP, MS ’99, BSN ’85, FNP-BC, assistant professor, as the senior director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. Quattrini is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the DNP program. She also serves as the academic leader overseeing operational aspects of the program, such as admissions, clinical placement and tracking, and simulation. Quattrini has over 35 years of nursing experience and more than 20 years of experience as a nurse practitioner. She has held several leadership roles throughout her career, including serving as vice president of clinical support and training at ChoiceOne Urgent Care. During her role at ChoiceOne, she was instrumental in developing a clinical partnership between UMSON and ChoiceOne. In 2016, she joined UMSON as an adjunct faculty member, and in 2017, she became an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. Before joining UMSON, she taught at Thomas Jefferson University and Salisbury University. Quattrini is active on many committees at UMSON, including the DNP Curriculum Committee, the Advancing Implementation Science Education Leadership workgroup, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education workgroup, and the Interprofessional Education Student Activity subgroup. She is also a member of multiple professional organizations, including the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland, where she recently completed a term on the financial board of directors and the executive board as treasurer; the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties; the American Association of Nurse Practitioners; and the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners. “Dr. Quattrini’s breadth of experience in advanced practice nursing and academia give her the skills to lead the DNP program into the future,” said Shannon K. Idzik, DNP ’10, MS ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP Program. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore community extends its congratulations to Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FCP, FAAPS, dean of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP), and UMSOP’s Leah Sera, PharmD, MA, BCPS. All three are recipients of the Baltimore Business Journal’s first-ever Leaders in Health Care Awards. Read More  

Assistant professor awarded funds for completing Certified Nurse Educator credential. Baltimore, Md. – Michelle Moulton, DNP ’19, MS ’09, RN, PCCN-K, CHSE, CNE, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, was named a recipient of the Academic Nurse Educator Certification (ANEC) Award granted by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) through the Nurse Support Program (NSP) II. She was awarded the maximum amount of $5,000 for demonstrating excellence as an academic nurse educator through achieving the National League for Nursing’s Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential. The CNE credential establishes nursing education as a specialty area of practice and creates a means for faculty to demonstrate their expertise in this role. It communicates to students, peers, and the academic and health care communities that the highest standards of excellence are being met. By becoming credentialed as a CNE, she serves as a leader and role model. Developed by NSP II, which is funded by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by MHEC, at the request and with the guidance of the Maryland Council of Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs, the ANEC award program recognizes professionalism in support of ongoing faculty development requirements necessary to maintain the CNE credential. The awards are intended to assist Maryland nursing programs in recruiting and retaining nursing faculty to produce the additional nursing graduates required by Maryland’s hospitals and health systems. The award funds may be used to supplement the awardee’s salary; to pay for activities for professional development, including conference fees and travel and expenses for speaking engagements; to pay professional dues, CNE examination fees, and continuing education expenses; or to assist with graduate education expenses, such as loan repayment. To prepare for their own CNE certifications, Michelle R. Spencer, DNP ’19, MS ’06, BSN ’84, RN, assistant professor, and Patricia Zimberg, JD, MS, RN, assistant professor, completed a MHEC prep course,  Certified Nurse Educator Workshop, on Feb. 21, 2020.   “We are grateful to the Maryland Higher Education Commission for creating the Academic Nurse Educator Certificate Award program; it underscores the importance of the Certified Nurse Educator credential. We deeply appreciate MHEC’s support of our nursing faculty in preparing for and achieving this designation of expertise in nursing education,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We congratulate Dr. Moulton on this achievement and look forward to her joining with other CNE-credentialed faculty to continually advance teaching excellence at UMSON.”   ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Eight alumnae join associate professor in cohort of AAN distinguished nurse leaders. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) proudly announces that Tonya Schneidereith, PhD, CRNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNE, CHSE-A, associate professor, and eight UMSON alumnae were selected as Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). They will be recognized for their contributions to health and health care at the academy’s annual Transforming Health, Driving Policy Conference, taking place virtually Oct. 29 - 31, 2020. The following alumnae were also among the 230 distinguished nurse leaders who compose this year's cohort of AAN fellows: Kristen M. (Stanich) Brown, DNP, MS ’06, CRNP, CPNP-AC, CHSE-A Mary DiBartolo, PhD ’01, RN-BC, CNE, FGSA Jun-Yu Fan, PhD, MS ’93 Mary Fey, PhD ’14, MS ’01, RN, CHSE-A, ANEF Kathleen Griffith, PhD ’06, MPH, FNP-BC Catherine Haut, DNP ’10, MS ’93, CPNP-AC/PC, CCRN, FAANP Belinda Mandrell, PhD, MS ’91, BSN ’89, RN PNP Azizeh Sowan, PhD ’06, RN Criteria for selection as an AAN Fellow includes evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current AAN Fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee’s nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and well-being of all. The academy’s approximately 2,700 fellows, with the addition of this newest class, represent all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; the U.S. Virgin Islands; and 38 countries. Schneidereith is recognized throughout the nursing education community for spearheading state, national, and international service initiatives that advance simulation-based learning in prelicensure and nurse practitioner education. Her work has included the development of an unfolding case for the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Advancing Care Excellence-Pediatrics series, which combines storytelling with the experiential nature of simulation. She also co-created the NLN A VISION FOR Integration of the Social Determinants of Health into Nursing Education Curricula. She was recently appointed by leaders of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties to co-author the first nurse practitioner Simulation Guidelines and Best Practices, for which she is an associate editor. Schneidereith has also been named a Fellow of the National League for Nursing (NLN) Academy of Nursing Education. She was inducted at the 2020 NLN Education Summit, which took place virtually Sept. 23 - 25, 2020. She is one of only 15 distinguished nurse educators to be selected for the 14th class of fellows.  In a competitive application process, an Academy of Nursing Education Review Panel recommends fellowship candidates to the NLN Board of Governors. Evaluations take into account applicants’ contributions to innovative teaching and/or learning strategies; nursing education research; faculty development activities; academic leadership; promotion of public policy initiatives that advance nursing education; and/or collaborative educational, practice, or community partnerships. Fellows are expected to provide visionary leadership in nursing education and in the academy and to support the NLN’s vision. NLN academy membership now totals 317.  “We congratulate Dr. Schneidereith on the distinct honor of being named a Fellow of both the American Academy of Nursing and the National League for Nursing,” said Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It speaks volumes about her dedication and commitment to innovations in teaching, to nursing education research, and to advancing the nursing profession. We are proud of her achievement and look forward to her continued contributions to the teaching, research, and practice missions of the School of Nursing as we work to improve the delivery of health care to our patients, their families, and our diverse communities.” ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

UMSON’s Pi Chapter becomes Pi at-Large Chapter during chartering ceremony. Baltimore, Md. – On Monday, Sept. 21, 2020, the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Pi Chapter of Sigma international nursing honor society officially recognized Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) as a member organization during a chartering ceremony, thus changing the chapter’s name to Pi at-Large Chapter. Sigma’s at-large chapters are organized groups of nursing students and nurse leaders from two or more schools of nursing or practice settings. The change to Pi at-Large reflects the chapter’s growth and will allow for greater collaboration between UMSON and AAMC. The union increases visibility of Pi at-Large in the workplace and promotes engagement, satisfaction, and retention of clinical nurses through opportunities to network and learn together  The chartering also formalized an existing partnership between Sigma’s Pi Chapter and AAMC. While leading the chapter’s Leadership Succession Committee in 2016, Cynthia Sweeney, DNP, BSN ’76, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, FAAN, vice president for nursing, The DAISY Foundation, now president of Pi at-Large Chapter, had an idea to engage and honor outstanding nurse leaders at local hospitals with Sigma membership. Sweeney worked with Barbara Jacobs, MSN, RN-BC, NEA-BC, AAMC vice president of nursing and chief nursing officer, to create a partnership to recognize outstanding nurse leaders at AAMC with an opportunity to join Sigma. To date, 32 nurse leaders from AAMC have been inducted into Pi at-Large Chapter.  “This opportunity brings together academic and practice settings, allowing us to acknowledge the strong leadership of nurses,” Sweeney explains. “I am very happy to see the links of practice and academia come together to further the mission of Sigma: ‘Developing nurse leaders anywhere to improve healthcare everywhere.’ The possibilities multiply when academia and practice come together with a common goal such as this one.” The chartering ceremony took place in conjunction with a virtual presentation from Ric Ricciardi, PhD, MS ’91, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, president of Sigma, on “The State of Nursing in the World: The Value of Infusing Joy.” During Ricciardi’s presentation, he shared the first report ever to collate the global state of nursing and midwifery, and he examined the impact of COVID-19 on the profession. Ricciardi also served as the chartering officer who ceremoniously designated Pi as an at-Large Chapter on behalf of Sigma.  “We can’t thank our University of Maryland School of Nursing colleagues enough for allowing us to partner,” Jacobs said. “Many of us have been members of Sigma since our undergraduate years, but this will allow us to participate in Sigma’s global work to enhance nursing practice.” Pi Chapter, which was established at UMSON in 1959, was founded as the 15th chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society (now known as Sigma), which today boasts over 540 chapters worldwide and more than 135,000 active members. “I want to extend a very warm welcome to Dr. Barbara Jacobs and our many nursing colleagues from the Anne Arundel Medical Center,” said Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, at the opening of the program. “We come together to enthusiastically embrace this new and innovative incorporation of a practice setting into Sigma.” ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) announces that Allison D. Davis, PhD ’06, MS ’03, BSN ’02, RN, assistant professor, has been appointed director of the Master of Science in Nursing program’s Community/Public Health Nursing specialty.  As specialty director, Davis is responsible for leadership of the master’s specialty and of community/public health nursing coursework in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and RN-to-BSN programs and in the entry-into-nursing Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) option. All community/public health nursing coursework has a strong focus on population health, social justice, and evidence-based programs. The Community/Public Health Nursing master’s specialty prepares graduates to assume leadership roles in addressing large-scale health challenges that impact entire communities. In her new role since May 1, Davis also oversees the academic trajectory of students in the master’s specialty and in the Environmental Health and Care Coordination certificates. Davis, a faculty member since 2004, teaches community/public health nursing to CNL students, Health Promotion and Population Health to master’s-level and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students, and Theory for Evidence Based Practice to DNP and Doctor of Philosophy students. She provides mentorship for other faculty members through the Nurse Leadership Institute for Nursing Practice and Education. She serves on the CNL and Post-Master’s DNP admission committees and conducts interviews for students applying to both of these programs. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association and the Association of Community Health Nurse Educators. “Dr. Davis brings a tremendous amount of experience to the role,” said Bimbola F. Akintade, PhD ’11, MS ’05, MBA, MHA, BSN ’03, CCRN, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, associate professor and associate dean for the Master of Science in Nursing program. “She is an astute teacher and leader, a mentor to faculty and students, and an asset to the University. We look forward to her dynamic and innovative contributions to the Community/Public Health Nursing specialty.” Davis succeeds Patricia McLaine, DrPH, MPH, RN, who served as the Community/Public Health Nursing specialty director from 2012 until her retirement in June 2020. Under McLaine’s leadership, the specialty expanded its program options to include an RN-to-MSN pathway and the Care Coordination Certificate. McLaine established and led the Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative to provide health oversight for children and families served by Baltimore City Early Head Start and Head Start centers, and she expanded connections and placements with local, state, and national community and public health organizations. Under her leadership, in 2016, the specialty received two American Association of Colleges of Nursing awards: the Innovation in Professional Nursing Education and the Innovations in Baccalaureate Population Health Award. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The board convened Thursday, Sept. 18, to honor the nine recipients of the 2020 USM Regents Staff Awards. The UMB recipients are: Judith Edelman, MA, administrator, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) Mary Beth Gallico, CRA, administrator, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UMSOM Mishawn Smith, MBA, executive administrative assistant, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) “Our staff members along with our outstanding faculty and campus leadership are at the heart of USM's status as a nationally recognized system of academic excellence, dynamic research, meaningful impact and community service,” board chair Linda R. Gooden, MBA, said. Read More

Esther E. McCready, DPS (Hon.), DIN ’53, the first African American to gain admittance to the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), died at Peak Health Patapsco Nursing Home on September 2, 2020, after a lengthy illness.   In 1950, at only 19 years old, McCready pursued a Maryland Court of Appeals decision after UMSON originally denied her admission. Earlier, the School’s offer to pay McCready to attend a Tennessee nursing school had been upheld as legal by a Baltimore court. With the help of her attorney Thurgood Marshall, who had already gained prominence for his work with the NAACP, McCready sued for admission to UMSON, and the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in her favor. The case helped lay the groundwork for the 1954 landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The ruling, however, marked only the beginning of McCready’s struggle for justice and equality. During her years at UMSON, she faced students who were hostile to her, professors who ignored her, and supervisors who attempted to sabotage her work. Yet, through it all, she maintained a quiet dignity and determination that could not be defeated. Her courage helped open the doors for generations of African-American nursing students, for whom she has served as a mentor and role model. Today, 49% of UMSON’s student body represents ethnic and racial diversity. Upon graduation in 1953, McCready passed the state nursing boards on her first attempt and began a career that included nursing, teaching, and public speaking. She worked in hospitals in Baltimore, Boston, and New York for 35 years. She pursued her passion for music, completing undergraduate and graduate degrees at the Manhattan School of Music. She credited her older brother as a significant influence on her musical appreciation; he taught piano lessons at home, and she was permitted to sit quietly in a corner and listen. Later, her brother would ask her to evaluate the lesson and the student’s performance. This early exposure left a lasting impression on McCready and stirred in her a desire for music education. She served for 20 years as an educator in the New York City public school system, sang with the Metropolitan Opera production of Porgy and Bess, and toured with opera singer Grace Bumbry. She also taught Raven Symone, the child actress who played Olivia on The Cosby Show. McCready returned to Baltimore in the mid-1990s and was active at the School as well as in the Baltimore community. She served on UMSON’s Board of Visitors from 1996 - 2004 and on the Alumni Council and as a docent for its Living History Museum from 2002 - 12. In 2004, McCready was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame for her unique and lasting contributions to the economic, political, cultural, and social life of the state. Always deeply interested in the challenges faced by nursing students, McCready took every opportunity to connect with and encourage students, including speaking with students as an invited guest to their classrooms, interacting with students as a volunteer docent at UMSON’s Living History Museum, and reaching out to students whenever she was on campus for alumni- or School-related events. In 2011, she was asked by UMSON Master of Science Clinical Nurse Leader option graduate Nicole Parson to serve as her pinner at the graduation ceremony. In 2014, on the occasion of the School’s 125th anniversary, she was inducted as one of the UMSON’s 25 inaugural Visionary Pioneers, selected for having made a significant impact on and contributions to the nursing profession based on their leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship. In 2015, McCready received a Doctor of Public Service honorary degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore – the same institution that in 1949 denied her entry to the School of Nursing because of her race. “There is a famous poem by African-American writer Langston Hughes that asks the question of what happens to a dream deferred,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, during the ceremony conferring the degree. “To Esther McCready, the answer is that it isn’t [deferred]. She applied to nursing school in the hopes of earning her diploma in nursing, and her application was denied. Never one to back down from a challenge, she agreed to let the NAACP argue her case in the Maryland courts. Not only were Esther’s dreams not deferred, but thanks to her courage and bravery, the dreams of so many others did not have to be, either. Esther, you are a civil rights icon, a transformational figure in education. You are a treasure.” Esther lived at home as long as she was able, and enjoyed spending time with her family, friends, and the family of cats that kept her company and endlessly entertained her. Even in the final chapter of her life, when her voice was a whisper and movement required significant effort, she remained an independent, strong-minded woman. She spoke her mind, maintained her sense of humor, and shared her unique and profound experiences with anyone who would take the time to listen to this Visionary Pioneer for our time, for all time.   Read tributes to Esther McCready from those who knew her. In honor of Esther’s memory and legacy, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and friends may contribute to a scholarship established in her name at the School of Nursing. All gifts to the scholarship will be matched. You may contribute here.  

“Wisdom is not a product of schooling but a lifelong attempt to acquire it.” The quote made famous by Albert Einstein reflects the beliefs behind the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) new Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL). ALL’s mission is to create and present health and human services academic content to inspire, engage, and educate learners from middle school through retirement. It is built to engage UMB alumni and the broader community in an online forum where more than two dozen subject matter experts answer questions submitted by the general public. The hot topic right now? The novel coronavirus, of course. Content recently added to the ALL website includes a video in which Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, describes what the school and its graduates and researchers are doing to fight the pandemic. Read More

Associate dean to serve on board as an advocate for minority nurses. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Bimbola F. Akintade, PhD ’11, MS ’05, MBA, MHA, BSN ’03, CCRN, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, associate professor and associate dean for the Master of Science in Nursing program, has been appointed to the Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNPs) of Color inaugural Board of Directors. DNPs of Color is a nonprofit nursing organization with a mission to serve DNPs of color through networking, mentorship, and advocacy to increase diversity in doctoral studies, clinical practice, and leadership. The nonprofit, which launched in May, works to create opportunities for engagement in academia, research, and clinical practice. It also advocates for educational support for DNPs of color. DNPs of Color, which began in the mid-Atlantic region, has expanded its reach nationally. “As a faculty member and leader at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, this appointment provides me with the opportunity to continue to inspire and highlight the many efforts of promoting diversity in the student body, staff, faculty, and leadership of the University,” Akintade said. “Being a founding board member of this unique and impactful association puts me in a position to advocate for minority nurses, especially those in doctoral programs. This is an important initiative to increase diversity in the nursing workforce while reducing health disparities for patients.” With 19 years of clinical experience (four years as a nurse and 15 years as an acute care nurse practitioner) in trauma and critical care, Akintade is aware of how serving the health care needs of diverse patients requires a diverse nursing workforce. As a DNPs of Color board member, he will support the organization’s mission, serve as an ambassador for the organization, and lend advice and expertise to the organization’s leadership. He will also help provide operational and fiscal oversight, attend and assist with development of fundraising events, solicit and evaluate prospective members, and participate in board meetings. Serving in this role allows Akindate to advocate for minority nurses nationwide, especially those in doctoral programs. It also helps him effectively identify opportunities to mentor and support minority students at UMSON through their academic journeys and beyond. At UMSON, where diversity is a source of strength and innovation, 46% of DNP students identify as members of minority ethnic/racial groups, compared to just 36% of DNP students nationally. Overall, 49% of UMSON students identify as members of minority ethnic/racial groups, while nationally, nurses from minority backgrounds represent just 19.2% of the registered nurse workforce. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) announces that Nancy Bolan, PhD, MPH, FNP, CNM, (left) assistant professor, has been named director of the Office of Global Health (OGH) and Lynn Marie Bullock, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, assistant professor, has been named director of the Office of Professional Education (OPE).  Bolan came to UMSON, joining the Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice (PPEP), in December. In her new role as director of OGH, which she assumed in March, Bolan is responsible for expanding established relationships, programs, and partnerships and ensuring that OGH’s activities are aligned with UMSON’s strategic goals. OGH works to build nursing capacity, strengthen health systems, and improve global health by supporting the UMSON community and international collaborators as they conduct education, research, and practice. Bolan came to UMSON from Geneva, Switzerland, where she worked with the World Health Organization as a policy and research consultant on newborn health and human resources for health. Over the past five years, she has been researching continuing education using mobile phones with health workers in sub-Saharan Africa and on strengthening health systems for improved maternal and newborn care. Bullock joined UMSON, also as a member of PPEP, in March. As director of OPE, she will oversee the School’s professional education and continuing education offerings, including symposia, conferences, institutes, lectures, and online continuing education courses through edX. The office also offers interprofessional continuing education programs in collaboration with other University of Maryland, Baltimore schools and manages the Nurse Leadership Institute, a yearlong leadership development program for nurse educators and clinicians. UMSON is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.  Bullock joined UMSON from Greater Baltimore Medical Center, where she was director of the Center for Nursing Excellence. Her expertise is in leading departmental and organizational initiatives in the areas of clinical practice, staff development, education, research, and quality measurement processes. “We welcome with excitement Dr. Bolan and Dr. Bullock to the Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, CRNP-Neonatal, FAAN, associate professor and chair, PPEP. “We look forward to their strategic and visionary contributions to the School of Nursing.” ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.      

In Shira Devorah’s first semester in the Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader option at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) last spring, disappointment was not a planned part of the curriculum. That was before March 21, when clinical placement guidelines were put into place at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Under the guidelines, all in-person experiential learning activities with patients and clients were halted and converted to virtual activities, and distance simulation was encouraged. While understanding the need for such policies, Devorah said she felt like she was missing out on one of the most valuable aspects of her education: learning in a clinical setting. Thankfully, the disappointment was short-lived. Herculean efforts by UMSON faculty, staff, and partner institutions have resulted in reopening the doors to experiential learning. By the start of UMSON’s summer semester, with a host of safety protocols in place, Devorah and her classmates were participating in face-to-face simulation and in clinical experiences at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). Additional students will participate in hands-on learning as of the fall semester. Read More

UMSON faculty member leads public health mission to prevent the spread of COVID-19. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Marik Moen, PhD ’18, MPH, RN, assistant professor, who teaches and has a clinical practice in community/public health nursing, sought to help the populations she serves to be safe, collecting face masks for patients living with HIV. But she sensed the need for deeper involvement in the COVID-19 response. A few weeks later, Charles “Chuck” Callahan, DO, vice president of population health, University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), invited Moen to serve as the director of nursing at the Lord Baltimore Hotel Triage, Respite, and Isolation (TRI) Center in downtown Baltimore. The center is one of the only isolation hotels of its type in the state and one of a few dozen isolation sites nationally. In March, the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services and the Baltimore City Health Department (BCHD) identified the need for isolation space for people with known or suspected COVID-19 to prevent outbreaks in congregate living settings. These patients were initially placed in a hotel setting where they received support from outreach workers, but BCHD quickly realized the need for more support to ensure clinical stability, triage to higher levels of clinical care when needed, and determine a timeline for isolation completion. In early May, the Mayor’s Office and BCHD negotiated a partnership with the Lord Baltimore Hotel and the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) to establish the TRI Center to support residents with known or suspected COVID-19 who do not require hospitalization and are unable to self-isolate. The center opened to residents on May 12 with a public health mission to prevent the spread of disease. Residents at the TRI Center can be self-referred or are referred from emergency rooms, health care facilities, or congregate living facilities (shelters or substance use recovery settings). The center strives to serve all, regardless of circumstance. Moen has championed measures developed in collaboration with BCHD to implement appropriate accommodations for the safety and well-being of those who may use opioids, alcohol, or nicotine. Residents have twice daily checks by clinical staff, and if their health becomes compromised in any way, they are immediately transitioned to a hospital setting. The center accommodates individuals, couples, or families who are isolating together. Some floors are used for patients under investigation who have not yet tested positive for COVID-19; once their test results are returned, they are either moved to a positive patient floor or released following CDC guidelines. “Residential support staff work with hotel staff who go above and beyond to accommodate resident needs. This holistic approach is part of what makes this isolation site uniquely successful,” Moen says. “We strive to keep people comfortable and safe while they are here, and this is because we cannot emphasize enough the public health responsibility that we have. As of Aug. 11, we have served 400 people. Every person served equates numerous infections prevented in Baltimore and beyond.” According to findings published in The Lancet, swift isolation of COVID-19 positive people may play the largest role in controlling COVID-19 outbreaks. The registered nurses and clinical support (allied health) team are the bedrock of TRI Center and provide 24-hour, on-site care and support, working hand in hand with nurse practitioners and physicians. In addition to Moen, 13 clinical staff members at the center are UMSON alumni. Until mid-August, when Moen's role became part-time, she served as co-lead of the center in partnership with Kevin Burns, MD, MPH, DTMH, former TRI Center medical director for UMMS. “Five months ago, there was no facility like this in the United States, and we started quickly due to the immediate crisis that COVID created in Baltimore,” Burns says. “Looking at how our clinical team has come together, I can’t imagine a better person to lead this project with than Marik. Her background as a teacher and her experience with vulnerable populations in both hospital and community settings has been essential to our success. Our facility combines hospital and community nursing and medicine to care for the people we are helping isolate safely. Our nursing staff has become the backbone of our service.” Also, overseeing operations at the center are Vanessa Augustin, MS '20, RN, nurse manager at the TRI Center; Elise Gillespie, assistant deputy chief of staff, Office of the Mayor, who is leading overall operations at the TRI Center; Robert “Bobby” Harris, CRNP, Baltimore City Health Department, who is serving as the TRI center site director; and Amanda Rosecrans,  MD, MHS, Baltimore City Health Department, who is serving as TRI Center clinical director. To keep employees safe, every patient floor is located within one floor of a personal protective equipment (PPE) donning and doffing station, where providers put on and take off their PPE. A system of plastic-walled antechambers was installed to seal off areas where residents reside. Elevators operate solely within “hot” areas (access to COVID-19 positive residents) or “cold” areas (access to public spaces) so as not to cross-contaminate. A specialty environmental services company provides daily trash removal and disinfection during room turnovers between residents. “What I am doing is not like anything that I’ve ever done before, apart from supporting the populations I am familiar with, including persons who are experiencing homelessness and those who are vulnerable to ill health because of conditions of poverty or racial injustice,” Moen says. “In sailing the ship as we built it, we created an incredible institution within a matter of days. There was no template, everything was new, from the way isolation zones were created; management of personal protective equipment; how clinical procedures were to occur; coordinating with, at least, three different partners; and meeting residents’ unique needs during the challenge of COVID times.” The nurses at the TRI Center are involved in vetting referrals, performing intake assessments, conducting daily in-person resident checks-ins, and making follow-up phone calls when they assist with medical or mental health care needs. They coordinate care for residents such as facilitation of appointments with specialty or primary care providers; coordinate prescription medications for delivery, including opioid medication assisted treatment; and communicate and coordinate with outside health care providers, family members, and support programs. Nurses also provide education about COVID-19 and other health conditions and serve as a supportive and reassuring therapeutic presence. The nurses and clinical support staff are also responsible for assuring infection prevention training for all site staff, procuring and delivering over-the-counter medications and clinical supplies for residents, conducting inventory and materials management, and more. The collaboration is anticipated to continue as long as the need exists. View more photos:

Three University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) employees have been recognized with University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Staff Awards for 2020, and a professor from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UMSOD) was honored with a USM Board of Regents Faculty Award earlier this year.  Mishawn Smith, MPA, executive administrative assistant, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, was honored for her commitment to diversity and passion for making UMB a better, safer, and more inclusive place for people to work. In her UMSON role, she supports associate dean for diversity and inclusion Jeffrey Ash, EdD, and founded the Booked for Lunch Book Club, where faculty, staff, and students can have honest discussions and review books, literature, and media on diversity, social justice, and professional development. The book club was named one of Insight Into Diversity magazine’s 2020 Inspiring Affinity Group Award winners and will be featured in its August 2020 issue. Read More

Eight faculty members receive funding to increase nursing capacity in Maryland.  Baltimore, Md. – University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been awarded six Nurse Support Program (NSP) II grants totaling more than $9.6 million. NSP II grants aid in increasing nursing capacity in Maryland by implementing statewide initiatives to grow the number of nurses prepared to serve effectively in faculty roles and by strengthening nursing education programs at Maryland institutions. Grants are funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “We are thrilled that UMSON has received NSP II grant support for six significant projects, each of which will help address Maryland’s need for a well-educated and well-prepared nursing workforce,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are grateful to the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission for its generous support of nursing initiatives and to the Maryland Higher Education Commission for its leadership with regard to the NSP II program. Together, we are working to ensure that Maryland’s residents have access to excellent health care now and in the future.”  The NSP II grants awarded to UMSON faculty beginning in Fiscal Year 2021 include: Jana Goodwin, PhD, RN, CNE, assistant professor and director of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, and Maeve Howett, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC, CNE, professor and associate dean for the BSN program - Entry‐Level BSN Expansion: UMSON at Shady Grove ($1,081,606 over five years) Using a phased approach, UMSON will increase admission for entry-into-practice BSN students at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, from 64 to 100 each semester (fall and spring), growing the UMSON student body at USG by 72 students, which will require additional faculty, staff, classrooms, and simulation facilities. Funding will also be used to add a clinical coordinator position to assist in identifying and credentialing students. Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, CRNP, FNAP, FAAN, associate professor and chair of the Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice - Nurse Leadership Institute ($1,718,866 over five years) The Nurse Leadership Institute (NLI) recruits nurse faculty and clinicians to a yearlong program that prepares them to assume leadership positions, facilitate collaborative partnerships between academia and practice, and improve health outcomes for Maryland’s citizens. Over the past five years, the NLI has involved a total of 249 nurse leaders (127 fellows and 122 mentors). With this funding, NLI will continue to serve as a statewide resource for developing academic and practice nurse leaders.  Carol A. O’Neil, PhD, RN, CNE, associate professor - Advancing Nurse Educator Skills to Meet the Needs of Tomorrow ($3,987,694 over five years) With this funding, UMSON’s NSP II Cohen Scholars initiative will build on the success of UMSON’s Institute for Educator’s mission to prepare nurse educators and provide ongoing professional development. This grant will enhance the expertise and resources within the Institute for Educators and improve preparation of nurse educators, nurse faculty, or clinical educators and the quality of nurse education throughout Maryland. This Cohen Scholars initiative will also expand the current scholarship program and formalize a process to mentor and support cohorts of future nurse educators. Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ’03, RN, FAAN, professor and director, Nursing Informatics master’s specialty - Care Coordination Education to Practice Scale Up ($1,343,858 over five years) With a prior NSP II planning grant, Nahm developed and piloted a Care Coordination/Health Information Technology (CC/HIT) focus area within UMSON’s RN-to-BSN program. Responding to high demand, her team then transformed the CC/HIT courses into separate online modules for nurses. With this funding, Nahm’s team will now implement CC/HIT’s innovative collaboration model, UMNursing Care Coordination Implementation Collaborative, to assess CC/HIT’s direct impact on patient outcomes, a joint effort between UMSON and the University of Maryland Medical System hospitals through the institutions’ academic-practice partnership, building upon a longstanding relationship between UMSON and the University of Maryland Medical Center. Amanda Roesch, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, assistant professor; and Ann Felauer, DNP ’18, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, assistant professor and director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Acute Care and Primary Care specialties - Head Start Partnership to Expand Pediatric Clinical Opportunities ($918,069 over four years) Felauer and Roesch will use the grant to expand UMSON’s capacity to provide pediatric clinical experiences to its entry-level and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)/advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) students through an innovative existing partnership with Maryland Family Network Early Head Starts and Head Starts in Maryland. This grant will help fill a critical gap in pediatric primary care clinical sites for DNP/APRN students and will offset the reduced size of hospital-based pediatric clinical sites while also providing required examinations and screenings for children enrolled in Early Head Start and Head Start. Victoria L. Selby, PhD ’17, MS ’09, BSN ’06, CRNP-PMH, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, assistant professor - Substance Use and Addictions Nursing Education Implementation ($584,484 over two years) Substance use disorders are a leading cause of death in Maryland and throughout the United States, having reached crisis proportions. This funding will expand nursing education in substance use and addictions by implementing a focus area for RN-to-BSN students and expanding graduate education in substance use and addictions nursing. This work builds upon UMSON’s successful planning grant, supported by a survey of 522 enrolled nursing students that found strong interest in education about substance use and addictions. Additionally, Crystal DeVance-Wilson, PhD ’19, MS ’06, MBA, BSN ’00, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor, is serving as a consultant on a $146,722 NSP II grant awarded to Morgan State University to support Maryland nursing schools to develop and implement mentoring programs. As part of the grant, DeVance-Wilson is coordinating an online workshop, Mentoring: A Strategy for Enhancing Student Engagement and Success, supported by UMSON’s Maryland Nursing Workforce Center. The workshop is the first step in preparing nursing schools across the state to develop and implement mentoring programs designed specifically for their students.  “This diverse array of projects will provide continued progress in a number of important areas,” Kirschling said, “including increasing the number of baccalaureate-educated nurses, increasing nursing knowledge regarding substance use and addictions, continuing to foster important collaboration between clinical nurses and academic faculty to improve patient care, expansion of care coordination and the delivery of patient-centered care, providing new opportunities for pediatric clinical nursing education, and facilitating the preparation of future nurse educators through the Cohen Scholarship program.” (left to right: Goodwin, Howett, Ogbolu, O'Neil, Roesch, Nahm, Selby, DeVance-Wilson. Not pictured: Felauer.) ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Researchers explore predictors of chronic pain and test function-focused care for Alzheimer's patients. Baltimore, Md. -  The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Susan G. Dorsey, PhD ’01, MS ’98, RN, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science; Cynthia Renn, PhD, MS ’97, RN, FAAN, associate professor; and Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, professor, Sonya Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, and co-director of UMSON’s Biology and Behavior Across the Lifespan Organized Research Center, have been awarded more than $5.4 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund their research projects. Dorsey and Renn, with co-principal investigator Angela Renee Starkweather, PhD, have been awarded more than $3.1 million over five years to fund the research project Neurophysiological and Transcriptomic Predictors of Chronic Low Back Pain: Towards Precision Pain Management (NEAT Study). Resnick has been awarded more than $2.3 million over five years to fund the research project Testing the Efficacy of Function-Focused Care for Acute Care (FFC-AC-EIT) in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. One of the most common and costly chronic pain conditions is lower back pain, with as many as 39% of patients who experience an acute lower-back pain episode reporting chronic lower-back pain lasting more than three months and long-term disability lasting two or more years. The NEAT Study seeks to understand the transition from acute to chronic lower-back pain, which will enable researchers to identify biomarkers early in the transition period and to provide new therapeutic targets (e.g., newly identified signaling receptors that could be blocked in the central nervous system) at critical windows of opportunity to prevent and/or better manage chronic lower-back pain. The study will explore if differences in patients’ neurophysiology and gene expressions can be used to build a predictive model that will use lower-back pain to identify which patients might transition from acute to chronic pain.  “Chronic low-back pain affects millions of Americans each year and, unfortunately, it is difficult to prevent and manage,” Renn said. “Through this new grant, we hope to identify new therapeutic targets that will lead to new treatment strategies to prevent this often devastating condition.” Resnick’s research recognizes that older adults in assisted living settings are particularly at risk for a decline in function and physical health as are older adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias who are hospitalized. These individuals, along with nursing home residents, are at increased risk for delirium, falls, behavioral symptoms, and longer lengths of stay when hospitalized. Physical activity (e.g., mobility, bathing, dressing) has a positive impact on older adults, including prevention of functional decline, less pain, less delirium, fewer behavioral symptoms, fewer falls, shorter lengths of stay, and decreased unplanned hospital readmissions. Despite known benefits, physical activity is not routinely encouraged, and older patients in all care settings spend the majority of time sedentary.  To address this issue, Resnick developed the Function Focused Care (FFC) approach to care and an implementation approach using the social-ecological model, social cognitive theory, and the Evidence Integration Triangle (EIT) to manage behavioral symptoms associated with dementia across all care settings. FFC-AC-EIT involves a four-step approach in which nurses teach, cue, and help ensure that older adults engage in physical activity and that staff motivate them to do so during all care. With this recent NIH funding, Resnick will test the efficacy of FFC-AC-EIT at the patient level. She will also evaluate FFC-AC-EIT’s impact on policies and environments that facilitate function and physical activity by comparing hospital units exposed to FFC-AC- EIT versus those exposed to FFC education only. She will also evaluate the feasibility of using FFC-AC- EIT, based on treatment fidelity (e.g., delivery of the intervention, receipt of the intervention by staff and patients, enactment or performance of the new behaviors in real-world settings), relative costs, and cost savings. “I am so grateful to NIH to have the opportunity to test implementation approaches to change behavior among staff and older individuals to help optimize health and quality of life,” Resnick said. “Engaging in physical activity is critically important for older adults today, and I look forward to continued research in this area in the post-COVID-19 era.”  (left to right: Dorsey, Renn, and Resnick) ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellows are dedicated to the global advancement of nurse practitioners and high-quality health care.  Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) proudly announces that three of its faculty have been named 2020 Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP):   Bimbola F. Akintade, PhD ’11, MS ’05, MBA, MHA, BSN ’03, CCRN, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, FAANP, assistant professor and associate dean for the Master of Science in Nursing program  Kristen Rawlett, PhD ’14, FNP-BC, FAANP, assistant professor  Jan Wilson, DNP ’09, MS ’94, BSN ’74, CRNP, NNP-BC, FAANP, assistant professor and director of UMSON’s Doctor of Nursing Practice Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty.   UMSON alumnae Kathleen Cox, DNP ’14, MS ’07, and Stefanie Glenn, MS ’02, BSN ’00, have also been selected as Fellows.   The AANP is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties, representing the interests of the more than 290,000 licensed NPs in the United States. The association’s Fellows are NP leaders who have made outstanding contributions to education, policy, clinical practice, or research. AANP Fellows work toward furthering the profession, developing nurse leaders, and enhancing AANP’s mission of empowering NPs to promote and advance high-quality health care. The five UMSON faculty and alumni will be inducted as of June 28; as members of AANP’s 20th cohort of fellows, they will join more than 800 other fellows nationally.   “We are extremely proud of our newly elected fellows and congratulate them on this tremendous honor,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It is gratifying that they have been recognized by their peers for their contributions to health care as nurse leaders. It is a testament to their ongoing efforts to further the role of nurse practitioners and advance excellence in nursing.”  NPs assess, diagnose, and treat acute and chronic diseases as well as counsel, coordinate care, and educate patients regarding their illnesses, bringing a comprehensive perspective to health care. Americans make more than 1.06 billion visits to NPs annually. NPs are poised to deliver increasingly more of the nation’s primary care services, supplementing the current physician-based primary care workforce, which is under enormous strain. Nearly 20 million Americans gained health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010, which included provisions to bolster primary care provided by nurse practitioners.  The AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state, and national levels; promotes excellence in practice, education, and research; and establishes standards that best serve NPs’ patients and other health care consumers.   (left to right: Akintade, Rawlett, and Wilson) ###  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.   

In what Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, described as a ceremony that won’t soon be forgotten, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) recognized its Class of 2020 with an unprecedented virtual conferral of degrees watched by more than 1,100 graduates, faculty, staff, and alumni. “Although each graduation ceremony is momentous, this one in particular — the first virtual conferral of degrees in our 131-year history — is something that I am sure we will always remember,” Kirschling told graduates via Webex in the May 14 ceremony. The Class of 2020 consisted of 209 Bachelor of Science, 106 Master of Science, three PhD, 104 Doctor of Nursing Practice, and eight certificate graduates. “Of course, we truly hope that it will be possible to join together at a future date and celebrate in person, but for now, it is important that we go ahead and recognize the achievements of our graduates — especially under such unique and difficult circumstances,” Kirschling added. Nursing, at its very core, is a profession marked by a deep dedication and commitment to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of patients and communities. “However, the events of this spring — our national and global struggle to combat COVID-19 — give additional meaning to this dedication,” Kirschling continued. “It is a reminder that nursing does not have the opportunity to pick and choose its moments of service, but rather, it must always be at the ready to respond.” She paid special tribute to audience members who have been serving on the front lines of the pandemic, including 107 students, who, after meeting certain criteria, were able to join the workforce prior to graduation. She also thanked graduates who had volunteered to serve in other capacities during the pandemic. “To all of our students, you have successfully persevered during this semester, completed your studies, and earned your degrees, all while balancing multiple demands and stresses. You have my deepest respect and that of all of us for your efforts and hard work,” Kirschling said. May 2020 graduates were celebrated during a week marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, recognized as the founder of modern nursing. Her protégé Louisa Parsons, a graduate of Nightingale’s legendary nursing school, became the first superintendent of UMSON, in 1889. Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, interim president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, also participated in the ceremony, conferring the degrees. As Kirschling pointed out, Jarrell, a skilled metal worker and artist, crafted UMSON’s ceremonial mace, with assistance from his daughter, Gwynneth, BSN ’06. The mace, usually on stage during the school’s Convocation ceremony at Royal Farms Arena, remains on display year-round in the UMSON lobby. In what has become a familiar scene to anyone working or learning from home during the pandemic, UMSON faculty and administrators also took part in the ceremony, visible in each of their own screens, dressed in full regalia. Associate deans offered congratulatory remarks and expressed hopes for celebrating the students’ accomplishments at an in-person ceremony one day. “Today, it is quite obvious that we are in the midst of an exceptional time, but although COVID-19 brings a particular set of challenges, there will always be challenges of some type during your nursing careers — just as there have been for those who have preceded you,” Kirschling said. “I urge you to meet them with the same commitment to patient care and to making a difference in the lives of families and communities that inspired your decision to become a nurse and fuels your passion for nursing.” The ceremony closed with a virtual recitation of the Professional Nursing Pledge by graduates, nurses on the faculty, and nurses in the viewing audience. “On behalf of the entire University of Maryland School of Nursing, all of us join in celebrating your achievements and we send you forward to serve, knowing that each one of you will contribute to improving the health and well-being of our state, our nation, and our world,” Kirschling concluded. “Congratulations, graduates! The world is in your hands!” View photos from the Virtual Degree Conferral, here. View the May 2020 Graduate Photo Montage, here. 

For instance, School of Nursing (SON) professor Kirsten Corazzini, PhD, FGSA, has had to make adjustments to her project, “Developing Capacity for Long-Term Care of Older Adults Living with Dementia in Brazil,” because the study’s population includes nursing home caregivers and residents, a group at the highest risk of COVID-19-related deaths. “Just as we see nursing homes in the United States struggling to keep residents and staff safe, so, too, are our geriatric medicine clinician-researcher partners in Brazil struggling to provide safe and compassionate care,” says Corazzini, whose project partners are SON assistant professor Vivian Schutz, PhD, MBA, RN, and School of Pharmacy assistant professor Ester Villalonga Olives, PhD, MSc. “How to collect data and co-develop new models of care in this context, therefore, requires integrating COVID-19-related measures and questions, ensuring that the knowledge gained addresses our shared and emergent needs.” Read More

Brian Zelip, MSLIS, MA, emerging technologies librarian at the University of Maryland Health Sciences and Human Services Library’s (HS/HSL) Innovation Space, answered the call to arms for 3D printers to help with personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturing during the COVID-19 outbreak. “This is Baltimore, where making is a tradition,” Zelip said. Zelip lugged the 138-pound Raise3D N2 printer from HS/HSL to his Baltimore home during the lockdown as institutions like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and others released files to print PPE components. His wife’s handbag-making studio is now a miniature PPE plant. When the University Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) asked for help from the community with PPE components, Zelip got to work making ear savers for surgical masks. The first batch of 100 was an S-shaped tool. Read More

In response to COVID-19, early exit offered to select entry-into-practice students. Baltimore, Md. - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s request, and UMSON’s assessment of students’ readiness, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has approved an early-exit option for students who want to begin working as nursing graduates in an effort to bolster the nursing workforce. The early-exit option is available to select students in the entry-into-practice Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s option who are scheduled to graduate on May 14, 2020, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Hogan’s public health surge plan has called for the addition of up to 6,000 hospital beds across the state, including the reopening of Laurel Hospital as well as a field hospital and alternate care site at the Baltimore Convention Center. The School of Nursing has collaborated with the chief nursing officers of major hospital systems and ascertained their need for and interest in hiring nursing graduates and designed a protocol for linking UMSON’s early-exit students to these institutions, which in addition to the University of Maryland Medical System and Johns Hopkins Medicine includes MedStar Health, Holy Cross Health, and Shady Grove Adventist. UMSON has 98 BSN and 53 CNL students who are qualified to request an early exit.  “We are very pleased to partner with key Maryland health care systems to support them in meeting their needs for nursing personnel during this incredibly critical time,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The UMSON students opting into our early-exit option are well prepared and fully equipped to make a major contribution through their service as nursing graduates. I salute those students eligible and willing to serve under this unique initiative. And, I applaud all of our students for their dedication and resiliency during this tumultuous time, whether they are persevering in continuing their educational studies under difficult circumstances or are preparing to graduate and serve our larger community.”    To be eligible for the early-exit option, students need to meet specific GPA and academic program requirements. Once interested students notify the School of their desire to participate, UMSON will provide a letter to these students that they can provide to prospective employers stating that they have met all the program requirements and have qualified for and taken an early-exit option from UMSON. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

When student Maria Segovia received an email from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), inviting students, alumni, faculty, and staff to sew cloth masks to be donated to University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) to assist employees on the front lines of the COVID-19 epidemic, she knew she wanted to get involved. In the last few weeks, UMSON has collected more than 3,000 cloth face masks from across the country. Packages of homemade face masks show up daily at the home of Susan G. Dorsey, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor and chair of UMSON’s Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, who along with volunteer Deb Greenspan, a retired seamstress for the Baltimore Ravens, launched the campaign. On April 8, a batch of 600 was dropped off at UMMC.  Read More

At the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), even before the UMB guidelines went into effect, students were already being asked by partner placement sites to stop reporting to their clinical rotations, said Maeve Howett, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC, CNE, professor and associate dean for baccalaureate education. “We started with eight students [being turned away from their clinical rotations] and then all of a sudden, it was everyone,” she said. Before long, all nursing students were out of their clinical settings. UMSON leadership purchased high-fidelity software that simulates patient care in 3-D modeling, providing students with learning experiences similar to virtual reality alternatives, but with no special glasses needed. Similar software programs are used for military, surgical, and submarine training, Howett said. The software, on three different platforms, vSim for Nursing, I-Human Patients, and DocuCare, simulates nurse scenarios using virtual patient encounters. These programs will be used by all students in lieu of clinical instruction until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Howett said. “They will be able to meet all the learning objectives,” she said. “It is almost the same amount of hours and the intensity level is high. You are not taking the time to get a towel or bring someone grape juice. We can give a lot of experience in a short amount of time.” Because UMSON already places a strong emphasis on simulation, with state-of-the-art simulation labs at its Baltimore and Universities at Shady Grove locations, “we are in a better position than a lot of other schools of nursing,” Howett said. “We are ready to roll and we are confident that simulation is a great substitute [for clinical settings]. The data is there that this is a good substitute. We have to do it in very unusual circumstances but it’s OK. We are going to be all right.” Read More

Research examines the impact of a Cancer Survivorship Patient Engagement Toolkit. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ’03, RN, FAAN, professor and director, Nursing Informatics master’s specialty, has received a one-year, $15,000 UMNursing grant, a joint venture between UMSON and the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), for the project “The Impact of a Digital Cancer Survivorship Patient Engagement Toolkit (CaS-PET Silver) on Older Cancer Survivors’ Health Outcomes: A Pilot Study.” Nahm has partnered with Mary McQuaige, BSN, RN, OCN, at the UMMC Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center to conduct the research.  As of Jan. 1, 2019, there were more than 16.9 million cancer survivors living in the United States, and the number is expected to reach more than 22.1 million by 2030, according to the American Cancer Society. This is a testament to advanced research and health technologies that are allowing survivors to live longer. Nahm and McQuaige’s research is focused on providing older cancer survivors with the support they need through digital technologies, offering them resources and support in community settings, and connecting them to their peers in an online environment where they are already spending time. Through the grant, Nahm and McQuaige will work to assess the preliminary impact of CaS-PET Silver Plus, an online portal that uses resource modules, informed by clinicians, on topics relevant to cancer survivors, such as diet and managing difficult emotions. Appropriate amounts of information are delivered in a user-friendly format at the right time. “Upon completion of the cancer treatment, we send e-messages every other week through the patient portal to ask how they’re doing, and in the messages we embed links to support modules and video lectures,” Nahm said, adding that cancer survivorship has become a population health issue. “Survivors’ numbers will increase because of the advanced treatment, but it doesn’t mean that their quality of life is guaranteed. It’s important that we provide continuous support to enhance quality of life for the rest of their lives.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader option remains No. 2.    Baltimore, Md. — In the newly released 2021 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has remained ranked among the best schools in the nation for its overall Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs, out of 603 accredited nursing schools surveyed.   The MSN Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) option, the only such program in Maryland, remains ranked No. 2 in the nation for the second year in a row. The program has been ranked among the top five in the nation for more than five years. Launched in 2005, UMSON’s innovative CNL program has prepared more than 1,000 students with degrees in other fields to enter the nursing workforce.  The School’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) DNP specialty rose in the nationwide rankings to No. 4 among all schools of nursing and No. 1 among public schools of nursing. The specialty is offered both in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, an effort to expand FNP education to better meet the needs of nurses and to prepare them to practice in underserved areas in the western, more rural portion of the state. The program boasts a 100% pass rate on the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board exam for its 2019 graduates.   Among public schools of nursing, UMSON also ranked No. 1 in the nation in the DNP Administrative/Management category (No. 7 among all public and private schools) and the DNP Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (No. 8 among all schools). In the MSN Nursing Administration category, UMSON ranked No. 4 among public schools of nursing and No. 11 among all schools.  With the 2021 rankings, U.S. News is no longer ranking a number of specialty areas and has chosen to rank many nurse practitioner programs only at the master’s level. Such previously top-ranked UMSON programs include the Nursing Informatics master’s specialty, which was ranked No. 1 for the entire period the organization ranked such programs; the Nurse Anesthesia DNP specialty; the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner DNP specialty; and the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Family DNP specialty.   UMSON launched its DNP program in 2006, as one of only 20 such programs in the nation at that time. Subsequently, in response to national recommendations from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and others to provide nurse practitioner education at the doctoral level, UMSON transitioned its advanced practice nursing programs from the master’s to the doctoral level.   “It is gratifying to continue to be recognized nationally for our master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The School of Nursing continues to play a vital role in state and national efforts to increase the number of nurses with advanced degrees, which we believe is essential to ensuring that nurses are well prepared to meet the needs of our communities as our health care system becomes increasingly complex, provides care across a broad array of sites, and responds to the growing diversity of our population and the increasing number of older individuals in need of care.”  Rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including student selectivity and program size, faculty resources, and research activity, and on survey data from deans of schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.    # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Students attending IPE Day enhanced their knowledge of using a team-based approach to health care, law, and social work as they assisted actors playing the role of patients addicted to prescription opioids. The 220 students came from UMB as well as the University of Maryland, College Park, which was represented by participants who study audiology or speech language pathology. The day began with a welcome from UMB Interim President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, and UMB Center for Interprofessional Education (CIPE) director Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). Read More

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has named Bimbola F. Akintade, PhD ’11, MS ’05, MBA, MHA, BSN ’03, CCRN, ACNP-BC, NEA-BC, assistant professor, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, as the associate dean for the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. He succeeds Gail Schoen Lemaire, PhD ’96, RN, PMHCNS, BC, CNL. Akintade is responsible for providing vision and leadership for the master’s program, including innovative program development and integration of technology. He is also responsible for administration and program coordination, curriculum planning, student recruitment, advisement, and retention. In addition, he will continue the School’s development of partnerships with other academic institutions and health care organizations to facilitate entry of nurses into the master’s programs. In 2011, Akintade joined UMSON as an assistant professor in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty (AGACNP); he became AGACNP co-specialty director in 2012 and served as specialty director from 2013-16. He helped lead the AGACNP program’s conversion from a master’s-level specialty to the DNP and he served as a member of the Master’s to DNP Transition Task Force. He also participated in the specialty’s Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accreditation process in 2014. Akintade teaches in the Master of Science in Nursing Health Services Leadership and Management specialty. His teaching areas have included diagnosis and management, health care finance, nursing leadership, and biostatistics. He has more than 17 years of nursing experience, including more than 13 years of clinical experience as an acute care nurse practitioner in trauma and critical care nursing. He currently practices at the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center, part of University of Maryland Capital Region Health, in the Trauma/Surgery Intensive Care Unit; his prior experience includes the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit and MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s Surgical Critical Care Department. Akintade’s research and scholarship include his current role as co-principal investigator for the Nurse Support Program II grant “Development and Implementation of a Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Clinical Training Program.” He has been an author on 11 peer-reviewed articles and eight book chapters. He has served as a member of Doctor of Philosophy dissertation committees and as chair or member of DNP scholarly project committees. "I am delighted that Dr. Akintade has assumed the role of associate dean for the Master of Science in Nursing program; he is well prepared to build upon the legacy of Dr. Lemaire, who has played such a significant leadership role in master’s education at UMSON since 2005," said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. "Dr. Akintade brings considerable teaching, practice, and research experience to his new role, as well as a solid understanding of the School of Nursing and its highly diverse student population. I am certain that he will do an outstanding job in his new role and foster the continued innovation of our master’s-level offerings." Akintade holds a PhD from UMSON, where he also earned his master’s and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees. He also holds a Master of Science in Business Administration, International Healthcare Business, and a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration, Healthcare Organizational Leadership, from the University of Maryland, University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus). He has been recognized as a Scholar by Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Faculty Leadership Academy. Lemaire, PhD ’96, RN, PMHCNS, BC, CNL, who served as associate dean for the master’s program from 2015, is continuing as a faculty member serving in a part-time role. Lemaire, a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist and psychotherapist, has been a faculty member at UMSON since 2000. She previously served as the director of the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s option, an entry-into-practice pathway for individuals who hold a degree in a different field, from 2008 - 15 and was the option’s co-director from 2005 - 08. Her leadership of the CNL option from its inception was instrumental in garnering its national reputation for excellence; it is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation. The School of Nursing’s master’s program enrolls more than 500 students, including more than 230 in the CNL option. UMSON also offers master’s-level specialty areas in Nursing Informatics, Community/Public Health Nursing, and Health Services Leadership and Management. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Student completing Bachelor of Science in Nursing with full scholarship funded by Bill and Joanne Conway. Baltimore, Md. – Lauren Russell, BS, RN, became the first student from the University of Maryland (UM) Prince George’s Hospital Center to take advantage of a full scholarship and enroll in the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) through its Conway Scholarship Hospital Partnership Program. Funds for the Conway Scholarship Hospital Partnership Program, which seeks  to facilitate baccalaureate-level education for registered nurses at the UM Prince George’s Hospital Center, part of UM Capital Region Health, and at the UM Medical Center Midtown Campus, come from a transformational $10 million gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation. The Conway Scholarship covers in-state tuition, fees, books, and the cost of community college prerequisites required for admission to UMSON’s RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The gift will fund Conway Scholarships for 42 registered nurses to earn their BSN degrees through the Hospital Partnership Program.  Russell, a clinical nurse I on the Trauma Intensive Care Unit at UM Prince George’s Hospital Center, has recently begun her second semester in UMSON’s RN-to-BSN program. She earned a bachelor’s degree in community health from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2013 and an Associate Degree in Nursing from Baltimore City Community College in 2016. She becomes the second RN-to-BSN student to enroll at UMSON through the program, following a student from the UM Medical Center Midtown Campus who began the program in spring 2019. Russell said she is excited to be continuing her education at another University of Maryland institution and hopes eventually to pursue a career as a nurse anesthetist. “Receiving the Conway Scholarship has opened so many doors for me,” Russell said. “My plan was always to go back to school, even though I knew it would be difficult to do so while working full time, and I didn’t know how I would afford it without taking out more loans. Now everything is coming together as it was meant to, and that’s an amazing feeling.” “We are excited to welcome Lauren Russell as the first Conway Scholar from UM Prince George’s Hospital Center under our Hospital Partnership Program,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “As a clinical nurse, Ms. Russell has already demonstrated her dedication and commitment to excellent patient care. This program gives us the opportunity to support her further education, so that as a BSN-prepared nurse, she can continue to expand her role in serving our community. Ensuring a well-prepared nursing workforce is in keeping with our longstanding academic-practice partnership with the University of Maryland Medical System and the truly visionary philanthropy of the Conways.” The Conway Scholarship Hospital Partnership Program is helping to respond to one of the central recommendations of the Institute of Medicine’s landmark 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which seeks to increase the percentage of nurses educated at the baccalaureate level. The Conways have pledged more than $15 million to UMSON since 2015. Their most recent gift was the largest outright scholarship gift in UMSON’s history. In addition to funding the Hospital Partnership Program, the Conways’ latest gift will fund 341 scholarships, bringing the total number of students benefiting from Conway Scholarships to more than 470. The Conways decided several years ago that their philanthropy should help people who have demonstrated financial need to receive the education necessary to obtain jobs. Bill Conway is a founder, co-chief executive chairman, and director of the Carlyle Group in Washington, D.C. The Conways are trustees of the couple’s Bedford Falls Foundation, which has bestowed significant nursing scholarships in the Mid-Atlantic region. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has named Maeve Howett, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC, CNE, as associate dean for the baccalaureate program and professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. UMSON’s baccalaureate program offers two Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) options: traditional BSN or RN-to-BSN for licensed RNs. As associate dean, Howett is responsible for facilitating innovative program development and the integration of technology to shape the educational experiences of entry-level students. She is also developing partnerships with other academic institutions and health care organizations to assist with the transition of transfer students and students who are graduates of associate degree nursing programs. She joins UMSON from the University of Massachusetts Amherst College of Nursing, where she served as a clinical professor and assistant dean of undergraduate education. While at her former institution, Howett served on the Chancellor’s Campus Resiliency Taskforce, the Undergraduate Deans Council, and the Academic Matters Council; as the College of Nursing’s representative to the Western Massachusetts Nursing Collaborative; and as a member of the Technology Committee of the American Association of Nurses, Massachusetts Chapter. She received her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, master’s degree in nursing, and PhD in Nursing from Emory University in Atlanta, where she has also served in a variety of capacities, including clinical professor. Howett’s research efforts include serving as the lead for the Community Outreach and Translation Core on “Center for Children’s Health, the Exposome, the Microbiome, and Metabolomics (C-CHEM2),” funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). She was co-principal investigator for “Analysis of Neonatal Admissions at CHOA: A Pilot Proposal for the Birth and Neonatal Outcomes CORPH from the Clinical Outcomes Research and Public Health Pilot Grants Program,” funded by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She has also produced more than 50 scholarly journal articles; book chapters; and international, national, and regional presentations. Howett has received numerous honors and awards, including being selected as a Higher Education Resource Services Leadership Institute fellow, an American Association of Colleges of Nursing Leadership for Academic Nursing Program fellow, and a National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners Health Policy Advocacy scholar. She currently serves on the EPA’s Children’s Health Protection Advisory Council. She succeeds Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, associate professor, who served in the associate dean role from 2016 and was the interim associate dean from 2015 - 16. Trocky has returned to full-time teaching as an associate professor, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. She worked diligently to apply her skills and abilities to the complex task of managing the ongoing growth of UMSON’s baccalaureate programs. Under her leadership, UMSON continued to lead the way in addressing Maryland’s statewide nursing shortage. She created collaborations with educational partners throughout Maryland, including UMSON’s successful Dual-Admission Partnerships program that now reaches into every corner of the state; she supported the launch of the Conway Scholars program; and she developed relationships with UMSON’s hospital partners.                                                                         ###  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

The two hour expo designed to highlight the combined power of the two institutions to grow the state economy, advance research, and demonstrate service to Maryland citizens, featured some of the best collaborations between the state’s largest research engines. University of Maryland School of Nursing student Lexi Saunders credits The University of Maryland Scholars Summer Research Program (UM Scholars) funded by MPower, with helping her to clarify her career path. Saunders spent 10 weeks in the summer of 2019 working with NIH-funded researcher Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, associate professor, School of Nursing, assisting Colloca in her groundbreaking exploration of pain treatment. “I had an interest in research as well as in nursing, but I wasn’t really sure how the two came together,” said Long. “This program really allowed me to figure out that research does play an important role in nursing and vice versa.” Read More

Students complete traditional four-year undergraduate experience before entering competitive master’s program. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) have launched a Guaranteed Seat Partnership for UMSON’s Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Option, which prepares students with undergraduate degrees in fields other than nursing for careers as the nation’s most trusted professionals, according to Gallup.  The CNL Guaranteed Seat Partnership, the first of its kind, is for students who wish to have a four-year undergraduate experience, plan to become a nurse, and want to earn a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Through the partnership, UMSON provides UMBC students who meet criteria with guaranteed admission to its competitive CNL program, ranked No. 2 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. The CNL role was developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing in 2003 to address the critical need to improve the quality of patient care outcomes. A CNL helps solve complex health care challenges via an advanced degree and collaborates with health care providers from other disciplines to ensure the most effective and efficient care possible. The partnership positions students for career progression and for doctoral education and allows students to leverage their first degree in a strategic and supported way. “This partnership deepens the strong relationship we have with our colleagues in Catonsville as we provide pathways for exceptionally talented students at UMBC who wish to complete their undergraduate education and then embark upon their nursing journey with us,” said Larry Fillian, associate dean for Student and Academic Services, UMSON. “The UMBC undergraduate educational experience is exceptional and produces students who think critically, communicate effectively, and appreciate an approach to learning which is both grounded in theory and in practice. These skills will serve students very well in nursing school, and we look forward to ensuring their educational dreams become a reality.” Any undergraduate major is applicable. Interested UMBC students should speak to their advisors; UMSON expects the first partnership students to matriculate into its CNL program in fall 2021. “We are proud to be working with our colleagues at UMSON to offer UMBC students a unique opportunity to pursue a career as a medical professional after completing a traditional four-year degree in any major,” said William R. LaCourse, dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences at UMBC. “A strong liberal arts education teaches students to effectively communicate, solve problems, and have cultural competence. This multidisciplinary approach will better serve patient and societal needs in the field of nursing.”   Selected students will know early in their undergraduate career if they’ve been accepted to the partnership program and can then plan for the CNL pathway and trajectory accordingly. To be eligible to apply to UMSON, students must have completed at least 45 undergraduate credits at UMBC, have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.0 science GPA, and interview at UMSON. For those in the partnership program, the UMSON application fee will be waived. Hands-on advising at UMBC and UMSON will ensure students take the correct prerequisites courses during their undergraduate studies. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

“The thing with interdisciplinary learning is each discipline comes from a different perspective, and the point of this, in these teams, they’re already divided into different disciplines,” said Jackie Bateman, DNP, RN, CHPN, CNEcl, from UMSON. “We have dental, medicine, nursing, physical therapy, and pharmacy. So they’re learning how to communicate in a basic activity now, putting together dominoes in a set design versus being over top of a patient in a critical situation.” READ MORE  

“We celebrate you today and we anxiously anticipate the contributions you will make as the next chapter of your career unfolds. Our nation and our global society look to you to create the future of human health,” said Rear Adm. Carol A. Romano, PhD ’93, MS ’85, BSN ’77, RN, NEA-BC, FACMI, FAAN, dean and professor, Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, who served as the keynote speaker at the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s Dec. 12 Graduation ceremony.At Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre, 220 degrees were conferred by Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, University of Maryland, Baltimore executive vice president, provost, and dean of the Graduate School who will soon begin his tenure as UMB interim president. This included 117 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 92 Master of Science, four Doctor of Nursing Practice, and three Doctor of Philosophy degrees and four certificates. At a sister ceremony at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, the following day, Jarrell conferred 70 BSN degrees.“Nurses are on the frontline of protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of our nation. Nurses are the heroes of health who dare to care,” Romano told the audience during her address. “Our nation needs its nurses, every one of them. Nurses promote health, nurture the human response to illness, direct the social reintegration of people’s lives, and advance the quality and safety of care.”Student speaker Rose Catherine Vielandi, MS ’19, a graduate of the Clinical Nurse Leader master’s option, encouraged her classmates to remember where their journeys began.“We all come from such different stages and places in our lives and yet we all have one thing in common: A few years ago, we decided to take a leap of faith. We wanted to be a part of a profession driven by compassion, selflessness, and love,” Vielandi said. “We all knew what we wanted from our professions and we were willing to fight for it.”Romano concluded her remarks with this reminder: “This calling to serve others is demanding, it is tiring, it is stressful. And your most important contributions in making a difference in people’s lives will not always be celebrated like today, but they will be no less significant. You will touch and change lives. You will bring hope to the hopeless, and you will be called to greatness.” top: Romano addresses the audience; bottom: graduates stand with their pinners on stage

Research to explore using video clips and virtual reality for acute pain management. Baltimore, Md. – Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded more than $3.6 million by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund the research project Neural Correlates of Hypoalgesia Driven by Observation. The nation’s opioid epidemic has highlighted the increasing need for scientific knowledge about inhibiting neural pain as the foundation for low-risk, non-opioid-based pain interventions. Understanding humans’ propensity for social learning, Colloca and her team are the first to demonstrate that social observation can generate expectations about the effectiveness of treatment, which in turn can alter clinical responses. Discovering the underlying mechanisms of pain relief due to social observation can be a basis for interventions from cognitive behavioral therapy to virtual reality that can then be applied to acute and chronic pain management. Colloca’s research is focused on understanding how social learning affects neural systems to enhance internal analgesic responses in the brain, release internal opioids in the brain (also called endorphins), potentially reducing reliance on opioids. The newly awarded NIH Research Project Grant seeks to generate research on the underlying mechanisms that can be used to develop easily implementable therapeutic strategies, such as video clips and virtual reality tools, for acute pain management. This is relevant in acute pain settings as an alternative to opioid therapy. The grant will provide $3,659,838 in funding over five years. “Research in non-pharmacological pain management seeks to offer alternatives to pain treatments that carry severe side effects. This endeavor is of increasing importance as opioid addiction and deaths in the United States rise and as governmental agencies recommend health care practitioners and patients move away from opioid-based pain management,” Colloca said. “An approach to pain management that combines pain reduction related to social observation and virtual reality tools presents novel opportunities for reducing patient suffering and contributing to clinically relevant knowledge for future therapeutic approaches. The proposed research can be directly applied to developing easily implementable therapeutic strategies for acute pain management.” Building upon years of experience in placebo research with University of Maryland, Baltimore collaborators experienced in brain mapping and pain research, Colloca and her team aim to discover how social observation can inhibit pain and serve as an alternative therapeutic treatment for pain. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

A team from the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Schools of Social Work, Nursing , and Medicine  has received a three-year $1.35 million workforce development grant from the Health Services Resources Administration (HSRA) to address the opioid crisis. The long-term goal is to build a behavioral health workforce focused specifically on this population in high-need locations and to model the effectiveness of using interprofessional core competencies to change future practice and improve health outcomes. Paul Sacco, PhD, MSW, associate professor and associate dean of research will coordinate the project at SSW. Charon Burda, DNP ’16, PMHCNS, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health, and director, Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner–Family specialty, will lead the project at UMSON, assisted by her school colleague Katherine Fornili, DNP ’16, MPH, RN, CARN, FIAAN, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health at UMSON. Burda will serve as co-director of the grant and Fornili will be program trainer. Devang Gandi, MBBS, MD, adjunct associate professor, and Eric Weintraub, MD, associate professor, Department of Psychiatry, will organize and implement the program at UMSOM. Read More

For the second year in a row, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has won the Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. The HEED Award recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. UMSON was among 43 institutions recognized with the HEED Award, and all are featured in the December 2019 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity publication in higher education.   Read More

Professor and chair honored for breakthrough research and influencing the next generation of nurses. Baltimore, Md. – Susan G. Dorsey, PhD ’01, MS ’98, RN, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), and co-director of the Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, has received the 2019 Welch/Woerner Path-Paver Award from the Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research (FNINR). Dorsey was honored at FNINR’s 2019 NightinGala in Washington, D.C., held Oct. 23, where she was presented with the award in recognition of her contributions to developing strategies for the use of multiomics (e.g., genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, metabolomic) methods to identify the biological mechanisms underlying symptoms and self-management of symptoms. This work has led to new discoveries regarding genomic factors of neuromuscular weakness in muscular dystrophy and in the transition from acute to chronic pain across numerous conditions. The translational potential of her work — the interface between bench research and clinical care — has led to nearly $27 million in National Institutes of Health research funding and numerous publications, honors, and awards. She has also worked to inspire researchers as they pursue their own multiomics research, innovation, and discovery. The Welch/Woerner Path-Paver award recognizes a mid-to-late career nurse scientist who has achieved one or more breakthroughs in theory development, research methods, instruments, or subject matter that has paved the way for other scientists and who has influenced and mentored the next generation of nurse researchers. “I am honored to receive this prestigious award, which is named in honor of Dr. Colleen Conway-Welch, the former dean of the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and Ms. Louise Woerner, a founding member of FNINR,” Dorsey said. “It has been my great privilege to work with nurse scientists and trainees from around the country to advance the use of multiomics methods to more fully understand the symptoms associated with chronic disease and disease treatment, to improve the quality of life for those who suffer.”  Dorsey’s research examines the molecular, cellular, and genetic factors associated with the development and persistence of chronic pain. More people suffer from chronic pain than from cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined. Although people who suffer from chronic pain cost the United States more than $600 billion annually, there are few effective treatments that can reduce or eliminate chronic pain without significantly disrupting quality of life. Dorsey’s research seeks to remedy this problem. “We congratulate Dr. Dorsey on her receipt of this very prestigious honor from FNINR,” said Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. “Dr. Dorsey’s expertise and excellence in research encompasses the scientific skills and spirit of inquiry, which allow her to address difficult and significant problems as a nurse researcher in her own right, and she also possesses an exceptional ability to engage a wide range of interdisciplinary colleagues at both national and international levels to advance and accelerate high-impact science through multi-investigator grants and funded centers. Dr. Dorsey has worked tirelessly to assemble and lead teams to tackle clinical problems that have a high impact on quality of life and functional status. She is a gifted scientist able to translate science to the bedside and back to the bench, and we are thrilled that her work has been recognized by FNINR.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Assistant professor and director named IntNSA’s 2019 Education Award recipient. Baltimore, Md. – Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members brought the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) 43rd Annual Education Conference to Baltimore at a time when the Baltimore metropolitan area’s rate of opioid-involved overdose deaths per 100,000 residents is nearly 70% of the entire state of Maryland’s rate, and the state’s rate of opioid-related overdose deaths is twice the national rate. Katherine Fornili, DNP ’16, MPH, RN, CARN, FIAAN, (left) assistant professor and president of IntNSA, and Charon Burda, DNP ’16, PMHCNS, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, (right) assistant professor and director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Family specialty and director at large of IntNSA, helped bring more than 230 nurses from more than 10 countries to the conference, Oct. 9-12. The event focused on the knowledge, skills, and abilities of nurses who care for people with substance use and addictive disorders and provided a platform for attendees to increase their skills and knowledge for collaborative practice with other health care colleagues to further patient-centered care for those with substance use disorders (SUDs). IntNSA recently achieved affiliate status with the International Council of Nurses. “Addiction seems to be a major issue here in Baltimore City, and bringing experts from all over the world together to help find solutions is really important to us, to the School of Nursing, and to the work that we do,” Burda said. In 2017, Maryland ranked among the top five states for opioid-related overdose deaths, with 1,985 deaths, or about 32 deaths for every 100,000 Maryland residents. That same year, more than 70,200 Americans died of drug overdoses, making overdose deaths a leading cause of death in the United States, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. With 275 million people worldwide using drugs at least once a year, IntNSA’s mission is to advance excellence in nursing care for the prevention and treatment of addictions for diverse populations across all practice settings through advocacy, collaboration, education, research, and policy development. At the conference, Burda received IntNSA’s 2019 Education Award, which honors exemplary teacher who bring attention to addictions issues and stimulate knowledge development or research in addictions nursing through teaching. Burda was recognized for her continued work to educate students on the addiction process, to strive for excellence in interdisciplinary events, and to develop an addictions certificate for advanced practice nurses. In 2010, Burda and Fornili co-developed the course Addictions, Society, and the Role of the Nurse, which has become one of the most popular undergraduate electives offered at UMSON. Students who have taken the course describe gaining an increased awareness of how our society creates a culture of judgment that allows addiction to continue and have reported that working with patients with SUDs is less challenging once they have an increased understanding of the addictions process and are aware of resources and interventions. “People with substance use disorders recover better when the clinician and the patient can form a therapeutic alliance,” Fornili said. “What is really important is the ability of the nurse to instill the expectancy of hope in the patient. People do recover from substance use disorders, but they are more likely to do it when we can help them see that there is a way out of their predicament.” Burda and Fornili have partnered with Victoria L. Selby, PhD ’17, MS ’09, BSN ’06, CRNP-PMH, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, assistant professor, and Alison Trinkoff, ScD, MPH, RN, FAAN, professor, on a $140,000 Nurse Support Program (NSP) II grant-funded project Substance Use and Addictions Nursing Education Initiatives, which plans for the expansion of nursing education in substance use and addiction. Selby and Trinkoff conducted an assessment of students’ perceived learning needs regarding the care of patients with substance use and addiction; preliminary survey results were presented at the IntNSA conference. They will use the results to inform a SUD focus area for undergraduate nursing students, particularly registered nurses returning to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the development of a graduate certificate program in addictions nursing, primarily for nurse practitioners. The NSP II is funded by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Presentations focus on Scope, Impact, and Consequences Baltimore, Md.–The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) 2019-20 Dean’s Lecture Series will feature five diverse presentations focused on “Violence: Scope, Impact, and Consequences.” The annual lecture series kicks off this fall with the Virginia Lee Franklin Lecture on Wednesday, Oct. 16, and the Millicent Geare Edmunds Lecture on Thursday, Nov. 21. The series continues in spring 2020 with the Inaugural Dr. Barbara R. Heller Lecture in Health Policy, the Anne Ottney Cain Lecture on Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, and the Commander Lura Jane Emery Lecture. Although the scope and genesis of violence continues to be studied, violence is increasingly recognized as a significant public health issue. Research indicates that targets and perpetrators of violence, along with their communities, experience short- and long-term adverse health effects. These lectures approach this topic through varying lenses, including youth and community violence, workplace violence, violence in the context psychiatric mental health, violence related to military service, and the implications of violence for the healthcare delivery system and health policy. The Virginia Lee Franklin Lecture, “S.E.L.F. Community Conversations: A Resilience Framework for Youth and Young Adults in Communities Vulnerable to Violence,” will explore the intersection of trauma, violence, and community resilience. Speakers will discuss how youth voices, when integrated into leading conversations through a trauma-informed methodology, address the effects of toxic stress and complex trauma and will describe S.E.L.F. Community Conversations, a strength-based, trauma-informed, resilience approach that supports agency and emotional regulation in youth and young adults. Speakers: Stacey Jefferson, MBAAssociate Director, Policy and Community EngagementBehavioral Health Systems Baltimore Richard L. Norman, LCSW-CChief Executive OfficeThe Martin Pollak Project Michael M. Sinclair, PhD, MSSWAssociate Professor and Chair, Urban Children, Youth and Families SpecializationMorgan State University School of Social Work The Millicent Geare Edmunds Lecture, “Civility Matters! Best Practices to Foster Healthy Work Environments,” will examine the harm resulting from incivility in health care, which has been identified as the next frontier in patient safety efforts, especially since uncivil acts may lead to life-threatening mistakes, preventable complications, or injury to a patient. This engaging and thought-provoking session provides a deepened and empirical understanding of workplace incivility and its impact on individuals, teams, organizations, and patient care — emphasizing the need to cultivate and sustain healthy workplaces. Speaker: Cynthia Clark, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAANStrategic Nursing Advisor, ATI Nursing EducationProfessor Emeritus, Boise State UniversityAuthor, Creating and Sustaining Civility in Nursing Education “These two lectures speak to the insidious violence in our communities and in our workplaces,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “At a time when we all recoil at the violence in our society, our speakers offer strategies for reducing its occurrence and impact. They hold out hope that through better understanding and tested techniques, we can each help make a difference. We look forward their insights and their recommendations for action.” Upcoming spring 2020 Lectures will include: The Inaugural Dr. Barbara R. Heller Lecture in Health Policy The Ann Ottney Cain Lecture in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing The Commander Lura Jane Emery Lecture # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Associate professor named ANPD president-elect and selected as an inaugural ELAN fellow by AACN. Baltimore, Md.–Susan L. Bindon, DNP ’11, RN-BC, CNE, CNEcl, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) associate professor and director, Doctor of Nursing Practice post-master’s option, has been named president-elect of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD). She has also been selected as a member of the inaugural class of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Elevating Leaders in Academic Nursing (ELAN) Fellows, a revamped successor to the Leadership for Academic Nursing Program.    Bindon was named president-elect of the ANPD in spring 2019 and will assume the role of president in May 2020. ANPD’s mission is to advance quality health care by defining and promoting nursing professional development practice. As the incoming president, Bindon looks forward to continuing to advocate for nurses in professional development and the important work they do to ensure health care team members are well prepared and practice safely. Bindon, a member of ANPD member for 12 years, served on the Board of Directors from 2012-14 and as the editor of the Journal for Nurses in Professional Development from 2014-18.  In the yearlong ELAN fellowship, designed for aspiring faculty leaders, Bindon will benefit from a focused assessment experience, a range of content and exercises related to successful executive leadership, and the opportunity to establish a peer network that fosters long-term partnerships and collegial support. The class of 38 fellows, selected from across the United Sates through a competitive process, includes those with a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and skills needed to be leaders in academic nursing. Bindon attended the inaugural ELAN program, held July 28-Aug. 2 in Chaska, Minnesota, where she participated in intensive classes and exercises designed to build leadership skills and prepare for more senior roles in academic nursing administration. The fellowship, provides access to an online community, two four-hour e-learning workshops, and peer group discussions. Individualized coaching and mentoring are also available. “I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in this AACN program,” says Bindon. “I hope to share and apply what I am learning from ELAN here at the School of Nursing as we move into the future. I am also excited to engage with ANPD members and stakeholders in my new role role as the nursing professional development practice continues to evolve.” Along with her administrative role at UMSON, Bindon teaches in UMSON’s Institute for Educators and mentors faculty across various settings. She also maintains a faculty practice in nursing professional development at the University of Maryland Medical Center and manages a statewide Nurse Support Program II grant focused on developing clinical nursing faculty. Bindon presents regularly and has authored articles and book chapters on professional development, leadership, and online learning. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Mei Ching Lee, PhD, MS, RN, assistant professor, Lee sees her participation boosting her knowledge in the areas of teaching, research, and clinical application. “The program is providing me with the experience of IPE didactic teaching of students from several schools at UMB,” she says. “These teaching experiences broaden my knowledge of barriers and facilitators in learning interprofessional collaboration from students’ perspectives, and they enhance the development and implementation of effective IPE courses at the University. “The knowledge gained from teaching will inform better design of IPE studies and interventions that are practical and feasible,” Lee adds. “In addition, the Faculty Scholars Program will provide opportunities for networking and working with IPE experts on campus, facilitating team-building and collaboration in research. And by sharing IPE experiences and knowledge in clinical settings, staff and students will facilitate the implementation of interprofessional teamwork in the workplace.” Read More

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has named Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, CRNP, FNAP, FAAN, as the chair of the Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice (PPEP). Since 2015, she has served as the director of the Office of Global Health within PPEP; she served as the office’s deputy director from 2010 to 2015. As chair of PPEP, Ogbolu will serve as an administrative officer of one of UMSON’s five academic departments, leading departmental faculty members in UMSON’s tripartite mission of education, research and scholarship, and service. PPEP consists of 17 full-time and three part-time faculty members and 19 administrative staff members. The Department is diverse and consists of the Clinical Simulation Labs on the Baltimore Campus, the Governor’s Wellmobile Program, the Institute for Educators, the Office of Global Health, the Office of Professional Education, and the Standardized Patient Program, offered in collaboration with the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Ogbolu has held the rank of UMSON assistant professor since 2010, and since 2015, she has held a dual appointment as an assistant professor in the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Master of Public Health program. During her tenure as director, the Office of Global Health developed new global health education opportunities, including courses for graduate and undergraduate students; a global health certificate program; service-learning courses for students to travel abroad; and 42 of UMSON’s courses now include global health content. Ogbolu has been responsible for forging and maintaining international partnerships and leading and facilitating meetings with international visitors and scholars, international nursing universities, and leaders from global ministries of health. Ogbolu’s research and scholarship focus has been on health equity, social justice, and improving the lives of vulnerable newborns and their families. She is currently the principal investigator (PI) on the research project “Family Social Inclusion: Global Learning from Brazil to Baltimore,” funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Her clinical and professional experience includes 23 years as a neonatal nurse practitioner. She also brings extensive experience in health policy and community engagement to her new position. She serves as the chair of the interprofessional Taskforce on the Social Determinants of Health in Baltimore, led by the University of Maryland, Baltimore and established by the Maryland General Assembly, and previously served as the subcommittee co-chair for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Governor’s Taskforce on Cultural Competency and as a member of the Governor’s Epidemiology Taskforce on Infant Mortality.  “I am truly delighted that after a broad national search, Dr. Ogbolu has been selected as the chair of this important academic department,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She has ably demonstrated her abilities as an educator, researcher, and administrative leader. In addition, her deep commitment to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations locally, nationally, and internationally is impressive, including service on numerous taskforces and committees here in Baltimore, developing international educational opportunities for our students, and improving the delivery of health care services in Africa and South America. We congratulate her on her appointment to this new role and look forward to her continuing contributions to the School of Nursing and those we serve.” Ogbolu holds a PhD from the University of Maryland School of Nursing, where she also earned her master’s and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees; she received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Baltimore City Community College. She has been recognized with numerous honors and awards, including as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, as a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, and as a RWJF Scholar. She has also been recognized with the Harriet Tubman Legacy in Maternal Child Health Nursing Award from the Minority Nurses Association of Maryland and with the Governor’s Citation Award. Ogbolu succeeds Kathryn Lothschuetz Montgomery, PhD ’97, RN, NEA-BC, a retired rear admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service, associate professor and chair of PPEP, who retired Oct. 1, 2019. Montgomery joined UMSON in 1999 as senior specialist for clinical management and leadership; in 2000, she served as the acting chair of Education, Administration, Health Policy, and Informatics. After a brief period away from UMSON, she returned in 2003 and was named associate dean for Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives. In 2013, she became the chair of the newly established PPEP. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) commemorated its 130th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 21, with a gala honoring its impact on nursing education and its continued leadership in Maryland and around the world. At the gala, the School inducted five new alumnae Visionary Pioneers, who are selected for their significant impact on, and contribution to, the field of nursing based on their leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship. The new Visionary Pioneers join the 25 alumni recognized on the occasion of UMSON’s 125th anniversary in 2014. Every five years, UMSON names an additional five Visionary Pioneers to this esteemed group, composed of alumni who have rendered distinctive service to nursing and health care through clinical practice, education, or scholarship and research. The newly inducted Visionary Pioneers include: Bertha L. Davis, PhD, MS ’77, RN, ANEF, FAANRetired Dean and Professor Emerita of Nursing, Hampton UniversityRetired Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Nurse Corps Kathleen Milholland Hunter, PhD ’89, MS ’81, BSN ’76, FAAN (Deceased)Former Professor, Chamberlain University College of Nursing Robin Newhouse, PhD ’00, MS ’99, BSN ’87, RN, NEA-BC, FAANDean and Distinguished Professor, Indiana University School of Nursing Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, MS ’99, RN, FAAN, FNAPPrincipal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Margaret Chamberlain Wilmoth, PhD, MS ’79, MSS, BSN ’75, RN, FAANProfessor, University of North Carolina School of NursingRetired Major General, U.S. Army At the gala, UMSON welcomed more than 100 guests as they recognized a rich and storied heritage and looked ahead to new and emerging challenges facing the field of nursing. “It takes considerable fortitude and resiliency to reach 130 years, and the School of Nursing has an enviable record of accomplishments and ‘firsts’ over the course of these years,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, in a welcome letter included in the gala program. “No institution — particularly one with a compelling history such as ours — can rest on legacy alone. Every day, our past inspires us to commit our individual and collective intellect and energy to addressing the many and varied needs of our patients, communities, nation, and world — much as those who preceded us harnessed their talents and abilities to shape the accomplishments that we so admire today.” Back row, left to right: Arthur J. Milholland, MD (brother of Kathleen Milholland Hunter, accepting on her families behalf); Mary Etta C. Mills, ScD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN; Margaret Chamberlain Wilmoth; Robin Newhouse; Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams. Front row: Bertha L. Davis. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioners selected through Nurse Practitioner Residency Expansion Program. Baltimore, Md. – Shannon Hansen, DNP ’19, CRNP, AGNP-C, and Jade Kim, DNP ’19, CCRN, AGPCNP-BC, both graduates of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specialty, have been selected to serve as AGPCNP residents at the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) during the 2019-20 academic year as part of a Nurse Practitioner (NP) Residency Expansion Program. As the program is being offered for the first time ever during this academic year, Hansen and Kim will serve as pioneers, selected from among 13 applicants to fill both of the available residency positions. The AGPCNP specialty is ranked No. 11 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The program aims to provide comprehensive education in primary geriatrics to increase novice NPs’ clinical skills and improve health-related outcomes for older veterans. The highly competitive program offers NPs the opportunity to strengthen clinical, diagnostic, leadership, and scholarship skills as a primary care provider within an interprofessional team. The VAMHCS partnered with UMSON in developing the residency program and will also work with VAMHCS staff on its implementation. As residents, Hansen and Kim will benefit from additional on-the-job education that fosters a successful transition into clinical practice, and they will work as members of an interdisciplinary team to provide patient-centered health care to veterans. Throughout the one-year program, NPs and physicians will mentor Hansen and Kim to facilitate development of their communication, reasoning, and diagnostic skills. The program also aims to expand their ability to perform quality improvement projects independently in real-world settings. “The University of Maryland School of Nursing and the Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System have had a wonderful relationship for many years, and we were pleased to again collaborate with them on this initiative,” said Shannon K. Idzik, DNP, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP program, UMSON. “Dr. Hansen and Dr. Kim are excellent representatives of the high quality of the UMSON DNP program. This residency will help them fulfill the nation’s need for expert clinicians in geriatrics, adult primary care, and veterans’ health.” The VAMHCS is a dynamic and progressive health care organization that is dedicated to providing quality, compassionate, and accessible care and service to Maryland’s veterans. As a leader in education, the VAMHCS prides itself on an active affiliation with local colleges and universities. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Funding from alumna Mary Catherine Bunting will support UMSON’s work in Baltimore Early Head Start and Head Start centers. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has received a $500,000 gift from Mary Catherine Bunting, MS ’72, CRNP, RN. The donation will continue the work of UMSON’s Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative (CPHEI) to provide health oversight for children and families served by Baltimore City Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) centers. Established in early 2016 with a $750,000 gift from Bunting, CPHEI is a collaborative effort with the Maryland Family Network to improve overall health and environmental health for EHS and HS center children from birth until age five through programs that support their mental, social, and emotional development. CPHEI delivers health services to seven of eight EHS centers and seven of 47 HS centers; to date these efforts have benefited 2,675 children and their families. Students and faculty from UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and RN-to-BSN programs, entry-into-nursing Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s option, Community/Public Health Nursing master’s specialty, and Doctor of Nursing Practice specialties participate in CPHEI as part of the School’s ongoing service learning commitment. The latest funding will support CPHEI’s continued efforts, which include UMSON students and faculty reviewing more than 1,000 child health records and identifying children with chronic health conditions and those behind on preventative care required under Maryland’s Medicaid program. They have also provided direct care services — including health screenings, hearing and vision screenings, and blood pressure and body mass index checks — and home visits for children with chronic conditions such as asthma and for pregnant women and new mothers. They have offered 113 educational classes to parents, more than 60 classes to EHS and HS staff, and 24 prenatal classes for members of the community. In addition, they have taught parents and staff how to access children’s patient portals to obtain health records. Funding will also support CPHEI’s efforts to continue enabling EHS and HS centers to become Eco-Healthy Child Care® certified. Since 2016, with the help of CPHEI, all eight EHS and 18 HS centers have become Eco-Healthy Child Care® certified by eliminating environmental health hazards in or around the facilities and pursuing free or low-cost environmentally healthy best practices. “CPHEI has brought much needed nursing services and environmental health oversight to a highly vulnerable population,” said Laura Allen, MA, MS, RN, CPHEI program director. “If we weren’t there, there wouldn’t be as strong an emphasis on health, well-being, and how they relate to education. These families would be missing out on health screenings, health education, and general health literacy.” Over the next five years, CPHEI looks forward to helping all 47 of Baltimore’s HS centers become Eco-Healthy Child Care® certified and to continuing its work of providing nursing services in EHS and HS centers. The initiative plans to engage in more special projects, such as -the community garden at Waverly EHS, and to advocate for children’s health at the legislative level. CPHEI will also continue to disseminate its work to other professionals at state and national conferences and to form partnerships with organizations that support children’s environmental health. “We are thrilled to receive this additional contribution from Ms. Bunting for our Community and Public Health Environmental Initiative,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “As we seek to build a culture of health that can benefit all Marylanders, it is essential that we seize the opportunity to protect the very youngest children from the environmental hazards that can have a devastating impact on their lives. The health services and preventative care delivered under this program improves the futures of these children and their families and is work that could not be done without this support.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Four faculty members receive funding to increase nursing capacity in Maryland. Baltimore, Md. – Four University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been awarded Nurse Support Program (NSP) II grants totaling more than $2.4 million. NSP II grants aid in increasing nursing capacity in Maryland by implementing statewide initiatives to grow the number of nurses prepared to serve effectively in faculty roles, thereby increasing the number of students who can be enrolled in Maryland nursing schools and subsequently increasing the number of qualified nurses across the state. Grants are funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “We are thrilled that UMSON has received NSP II grant support for four significant projects, each of which will help address Maryland’s need for a well-educated and well-prepared nursing workforce,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This diverse array of projects will: ensure the highest level of proficiency among academic clinical nurse educators throughout Maryland; develop a streamlined path for previously certified adult nurse practitioners and gerontology nurse practitioners to be recertified under the successor specialty designation; enhance nurse education in substance use disorders and create a certificate program in addictions nursing; and support the ongoing work of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center to ensure appropriate data for decision-making. “We are grateful to the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission for its generous support of nursing research and to the Maryland Higher Education Commission for its leadership of NSP II initiatives. Together, we are ensuring that Maryland’s residents have access to excellent health care now and in the future,” Kirschling continued. The NSP II grants awarded to UMSON faculty beginning in Fiscal Year 2020 include: Susan L. Bindon, DNP, RN-BC, CNE, CNEcl, associate professor and director, Doctor of Nursing Practice Post-Master’s option – Building Clinical Nursing Faculty Competency in Maryland ($264,677 over two years): Bindon will work to increase the number of well-prepared clinical nursing instructors by supporting new faculty teaching in Maryland’s pre-licensure programs. Funding extends UMSON’s current success in preparing clinical educators and will provide six faculty workshops and national certification exam support. Expected outcomes include the preparation of up to 240 clinical instructors with certification exam support for participants interested and eligible to sit for the National League for Nursing certification exam for clinical faculty. Participants will potentially teach 1,920 students per semester and will enhance the learning experience in the high-stakes clinical environment for nursing students.   Margaret Hammersla, PhD, CRNP-A, assistant professor and senior director, Doctor of Nursing Practice program – Streamlined Path to AGPCNP Certification ($121,972 over three years): More than 10 years ago, the APRN Consensus Model combined the adult nurse practitioner (ANP) and gerontological nurse practitioner (GNP) designations to create the adult-gerontological primary care nurse practitioner (AGPCNP) designation, but an unintended outcome was that all nationally certified ANPs and GNPs hold a certificate that is no longer being offered. The ANP and GNP exams were retired, meaning that nurse practitioners who allow their certification to lapse have no opportunity to become recertified. This funding aims to increase the number AGPCNPs by creating a streamlined path for ANPs and GNPs to convert to the AGPCNP specialty; UMSON will offer an option for master’s-prepared ANPs and GNPs to complete a Doctor of Nursing Practice; ANPs and GNPs with a doctoral degree will be able to earn a post-doctoral certificate to gain the necessary additional knowledge required for AGPNCP certification. Victoria L. Selby, PhD, CRNP-PMH, PMHNP-BC, assistant professor – Substance Use and Addictions Nursing Education Initiatives ($137,408 over one year): Substance use disorders are now the leading cause of death in the United States, doubling the numbers of related deaths a decade ago, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. This funding will support planning for the expansion of nurse education in substance use and addiction by creating a focus area for undergraduate nursing students, particularly registered nurses returning to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and by developing a post-baccalaureate certificate in addictions nursing.  Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of UMSON at the Universities at Shady Grove – Maryland Nursing Workforce Center ($1,912,767 over five years): Funding will support the work of the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center (MNWC) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore as it continues to provide access to and assist with analysis of nursing workforce data. The MNWC was established in 2018 with NSP II funding to ensure the state is meeting the recommendation of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2010 Future of Nursing report calling for improved workforce data collection. This data will be used to plan for future workforce needs and to measure the success of programs and initiatives. Clockwise from top left: Bindon, Hammersla, Wiseman, and Selby # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has named Kirsten Corazzini, PhD, FGSA, as professor with tenure and associate dean of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program. UMSON’s PhD program, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, prepares students as researchers and scholars to tackle some of the greatest challenges facing health care, such as aging populations, pain and symptom science, and women’s health and birth outcomes. Corazzini will be responsible for ensuring that graduates of the PhD program are well prepared to engage in research and scholarship that enhance the field of nursing, influence health care, and spark new approaches to scientific questions. She will oversee the recruitment, retention, and advancement of doctoral students; develop and implement new initiatives to advance their research capacity; and facilitate interprofessional interactions and learning. Corazzini has an extensive background in nursing education and research. She joins UMSON from Duke University, where she was an associate professor with tenure in the School of Nursing, a member of the graduate faculty, and Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Corazzini to the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” said Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She brings a deep commitment to the teaching and mentoring of students at the PhD and post-doctoral levels and to excellence in research and scholarship as evidenced by her impressive record. We look forward to her leadership and innovative ideas as she builds upon the impressive work of Dr. Meg Johantgen and leverages our distinguished 40-year history as the 16th doctoral nursing program in the nation and a program that has continued to be highly ranked.” Corazzini is a renowned researcher with a focus on person-centered long-term care, both domestically and globally; the organizational context of residential long-term care of older adults; and the regulation of nursing care in long-term care internationally. She served as a Fulbright Schuman Scholar from 2015-16 and a senior research fellow with City University of London, Division of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, London, United Kingdom. She has authored more than 80 published research papers and more than 60 abstracts and has contributed to more than 30 research projects that have received more than $4 million in funding. She earned a PhD from the University of Massachusetts-Boston and her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She was selected as a HERS Fellow in 2017 and has been a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America since 2012. Mary (Meg) Johantgen, PhD, RN, who served as the associate dean of the PhD program from 2014-19, is stepping away from her administrative duties and will return to her faculty role as associate professor in the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. While serving as associate dean, she obtained complete tuition funding for four PhD students through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program. She launched new initiatives to advance student learning in the PhD program, including a manuscript option dissertation, a required class in grant writing, and a “3-minute thesis” competition that taught students how to succinctly and persuasively explain their scientific research to others. She also secured a five-year Nurse Support Program II grant to launch a collaborative statewide effort to promote careers as nurse scientists to undergraduate and graduate nursing students throughout Maryland. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Faculty awarded funds for completing or renewing their Certified Nurse Educator credential. Baltimore, Md. – Five University of Maryland School of Nursing faculty members are among the inaugural 57 recipients of the Academic Nurse Educator Certification (ANEC) Award granted by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) through the Nurse Support Program (NSP) II. The faculty were each awarded the maximum amount of $5,000 for achieving or maintaining their National League for Nursing Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential during the academic years spanning 2017-19. The faculty are: Hannah Buc, MSN, RN, CNE, clinical instructor, recognized for initial receipt of the CNE credential Kathleen M. Martin, DNP, RN, CNE, assistant professor, recognized for recertification of the CNE credential Gina C. Rowe, PhD, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, PHCNS-BC, CNE, assistant professor, recognized for recertification of the CNE credential Mary Pat Ulicny, MS, MHA, RN, CNE, CHSE, director of simulation at the Universities at Shady Grove, recognized for recertification of the CNE credential Janet Armstead Wulf, DNP, RN, CNL, CHPN, CNE, assistant professor, recognized for initial receipt of the CNE credential The CNE credential establishes nursing education as a specialty area of practice and creates a means for faculty to demonstrate their expertise in this role. It communicates to students, peers, and the academic and health care communities that the highest standards of excellence are being met. By becoming credentialed as a CNE, faculty serve as leaders and role models. Developed by NSP II, which is funded by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by MHEC, at the request and with the guidance of the Maryland Council of Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs, the new ANEC award program recognizes professionalism in support of ongoing faculty development requirements necessary to maintain the CNE credential. The awards are intended to assist Maryland nursing programs in recruiting and retaining nursing faculty to produce the additional nursing graduates required by Maryland’s hospitals and health systems. The award funds may be used to supplement the awardee’s salary; to pay for activities for professional development, including conference fees and travel and expenses for speaking engagements; to pay professional dues, CNE examination fees, and continuing education expenses; or to assist with graduate education expenses, such as loan repayment. (Left to right) Buc, Martin, Rowe, Ulicny, and Armstead Wulf. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

A survey of more than 800 hospital nurses in 2014 found that one of the things they wanted most was reduced documentation, Jane Englebright, PhD, RN, CENP, FAAN, HCA Healthcare senior vice president and chief nursing executive, indicated in her keynote address during the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) 29th annual Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics (SINI), July 16-19. More than 230 leaders in health care informatics from around the globe, including China and the United Kingdom, convened for educational programming and networking opportunities, and an additional 48 joined the conference via a live-stream webcast. In her keynote address, “Reducing Documentation Burden: Results from the Front Line,” Englebright shared the story of HCA’s journey to re-evaluate its documentation practices and develop a new evidence-based clinical documentation (EBCD) system. HCA Healthcare manages facilities, including 185 hospitals and 119 freestanding surgery centers in 21 states and in the United Kingdom. The company oversees 94,000 registered nurses and “the amount of time, effort, and energy that was being spent on the documentation system was just to the point where they were quite vocal about the need for something dramatically different,” Englebright said. HCA’s vision was to create a patient-centric record that guides and informs the provision of safe, effective, and efficient care by an interprofessional team that produces data to evaluate the care of individual patients and entire patient populations, Englebright said. “So we wanted it to both be effective for the patient we are taking care of right this minute, while also generating data for all the future patients yet to come.” Englebright said the new EBCD system aims to enhance communication and transition of care as information is shared among providers and caregivers; provide standardized descriptions of nursing-related patient issues; and provide standardized, comparable data to drive improvements and to analyze differences in nursing practices to determine what is most effective. “I had to bulldoze my way through a few things,” Englebright said. “And part of the way I did that was saying, ‘This is what our nurses need to give great care to patients. And it will save them time.’ That is totally how I sold it.” Among the new strategies deployed was to eliminate documentation not needed in the patient record, including an inventory of the patient’s belongings, the number of times nurses washed their hands, safety measures defined by policy, and routine explanations of care processes. Also, decisions about what needs to be documented would be based on two criteria: it is meaningful to patient care or it is necessary for regulatory or billing requirements. A pilot of the new EBCD approach resulted in 93% of nurses reporting increased time at bedside. EBCD “helps them have more time at the bedside and less time in front of a computer, to the point that there are sometimes no nurses in the (nurses) station, because they’re all with patients,” she said. “This is truly transforming the delivery of care.” Just prior to Englebright’s keynote, UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, welcomed attendees to SINI and reflected on this year’s theme, “Healthcare Informatics: A Catalyst for Value-Driven Care Transitions.” “I am struck by how timely it is and how much we truly need deeper conversations around the topical areas reflected in this year’s program,” she said. “At a time of such rapid evolution in our health care system, it is essential that we continue to explore the ways in which data can support and foster much needed care coordination, ensure the delivery of value-based services, and support and enhance the overall quality of care delivery.” UMSON became the first school in the world to offer a master’s specialty in nursing informatics in 1989, and the program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for the past five years according to U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” UMSON was also the first school in the nation to offer a PhD program with a nursing informatics concentration, beginning in 1991. UMSON’s nursing informatics programs, including a post-baccalaureate certificate, prepare nurses to improve patient care and outcomes through the development, implementation, and evaluation of information technology. This expertise informs SINI content, and this year’s participants elected to attend one of three informatics-related content tracks: “Use of health care IT data and quality outcome measures to improve value-based care coordination and transition management,” “The use of innovative technologies to support the internal transition of care as well as the external interoperability of care management,” or “Confronting documentation burden while creating high-value, care-centered systems.” Attendees were also invited to participate in various luncheon roundtable discussions, which were facilitated by SINI Planning Committee members and focused on topics such as “Artificial Intelligence Trends in Health Care,” hosted by Ron Piscotty Jr., PhD, RN-BC, FAMIA, assistant professor, UMSON; “Future of Mobile Apps in Chronic Disease Management,” hosted by Ernest Opoku-Agyemang, MA, MS, RN, clinical instructor, UMSON; and “International Perspective on Nursing Informatics,” hosted by Paula Procter, RN, PGCE, MSc, SFHEA, FBCS, CITP, FIMIANI, professor of nursing informatics, , Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, England; and more. Participants also attended tours of the University of Maryland, Baltimore Health Sciences and Human Services Library’s Innovation Station, where they learned how virtual reality glasses aid in teaching critical thinking in simulated patient care environments and how 3-D printers can create models for nursing education. Patricia P. Sengstack, DNP, MS ’88, BSN ’82, RN-BC, FAAN, director, Nursing Informatics specialty, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and nursing informatics executive, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, closed SINI with her endnote presentation, “Can We Stop the Perpetual Growth and Complexity of the EHR and Give Nurses Time Back with Their Patients?”  Sengstack shared an overview of the burden of clinical documentation in electronic health records (EHR); provided data on measuring EHR satisfaction; highlighted a variety of resources; and encouraged the review of policies, procedures, and documentation needed for accreditation agencies. She ended the conference by encouraging everyone to be a part of the solution, asking the audience to improve what they can control today at their own institutions. View photos and a video from SINI 2019.

International Society for Anthrozoology presents 2019 award for outstanding lifetime achievement. Baltimore, Md. – Erika Friedmann, PhD, associate dean for research, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Anthrozoologist Award by the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ). Friedmann was honored at ISAZ’s 2019 Conference in Orlando, held July 1-4, where she presented “Human-Animal Interaction Research Related to Human Health: What We Know and Challenges for Future Research.” The Distinguished Anthrozoologist Award recognizes outstanding lifetime achievement in anthrozoology/human-animal interaction studies by an ISAZ member who is a senior scholar. The award is presented every other year in recognition of a corpus of published work (books, journal articles, and/or book chapters) that are judged to have made a particularly significant or scholarly contribution to the understanding of human-animal interactions and relationships. Friedmann’s PhD work gave rise to one of the preeminent publications in anthrozoology, “Animal Companions and One Year Survival After Discharge From a Coronary Care Unit,” published in 1980 in Public Health Reports, and provided the first scientific evidence that pet ownership could have a measurable and significant impact on human health. She has authored or co-authored more than 150 scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters, with many addressing the impact of companion animals on human health and well-being. She has also been highly successful in obtaining funding for human-animal interaction research, including a 2019 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant for the project “Evaluating the Efficacy of a Service Dog Training Program for Military Veterans with PTSD” with co-principal investigator Cheryl Krause-Parello, PhD, RN, president of ISAZ. “I am extremely honored to receive this award from my peers. It is particularly meaningful, having been a part of the maturing of a field that my colleagues and I developed from infancy 30 years ago,” Friedmann said. “I couldn’t have imagined that my dissertation research could supply the impetus for a scholarly field and influence public perceptions. It’s gratifying to know that the science behind our knowledge that owning a pet and interacting with animals are beneficial to people’s health, stemmed from my collaborators’ and my research. I am excited to continue to develop this understanding, particularly with the validation of the field that comes from NIH calls for research in human-animal interaction. There is so much more to learn.”  Friedmann, one ISAZ’s co-founders, was elected a fellow of the society in 2016. She served three terms as the organization’s president, has been a board member for 27 years and was just elected to another two-year term, and is the deputy editor of ISAZ’s journal, Anthrozoös. In 2017, Friedmann was named an honorary member of Sigma, the honor society of nursing, in recognition of her achievements contributing to the advancement of nursing and health care. At UMSON, Friedmann serves as professor and associate dean for research; she teaches research methods and statistics and has served on more than 50 doctoral dissertation committees since she joined the faculty 16 years ago. In addition to conducting her own research, she supports, facilitates, and mentors UMSON faculty to develop their own research and scholarship. “We congratulate Dr. Friedmann on this extraordinary honor recognizing her long-standing contributions to the field of anthrozoology,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. Friedmann has had a distinguished career, having shown exceptional promise and impact while still a graduate student, and she has been in the unique position of being able to nurture and grow an entire field of study. As a researcher and scholar, as an educator, and as a mentor to the next generation of researchers, she continues to make her mark. We are enormously proud of our colleague, applaud her accomplishments, and look forward to what we know will be her continued contributions to research, education, and practice.”   (Above) Friedmann (left) is picuted with Cheryl Krause-Parello (right), PhD, RN, president of ISAZ.   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellows to lead changes to enhance health outcomes for Maryland residents. Baltimore, Md. – The Nurse Leadership Institute (NLI) at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (USMON) is pleased to announce the 2019-20 class of NLI Fellows, the institute’s fifth cohort. The group of 35 nurse educators and clinicians from throughout Maryland were selected through a competitive application process and will participate in a yearlong Leadership Development Program (LDP) designed to prepare nurse faculty and practitioners to assume leadership positions, facilitate collaborative partnerships between academia and practice, and improve health outcomes for Maryland’s residents. Admitted Fellows demonstrate leadership potential through their work and professional activities. During the LDP, Fellows develop and strengthen their leadership skills, style, and competencies. The program includes a robust evaluation process, a residential training program, didactic and simulated learning experiences, collaborative team activities, and interaction with expert faculty and trainers. Fellows also select a mentor who serves as a professional guide throughout the program. In addition, the program offers a free, one-year membership in the Maryland Organization of Nurse Leaders and continuing education units for all LDP activities. “I continue to receive updates from previous Fellows who found this a transformational experience in both their professional and personal lives,” said Patricia D. Franklin, PhD, RN, director, Nurse Leadership Institute, and assistant professor and director, Office of Professional Education, UMSON. “I cannot wait for this new cohort to enjoy a similar experience. The 2019-20 Fellows represent multiple areas within Maryland’s health care systems. Leadership at all levels of a system is crucial for designing and implementing sustainable innovation; therefore, this group of emerging nurse leaders represent the promise of better health outcomes for Maryland’s residents.”       The NLI was established by a $2.5 million, five-year grant awarded in 2015, funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission through the Nurse Support Program II. Grant funding covers program expense, fees, and costs for Fellows selected to attend the year-long LDP. “The Nurse Leadership Institute is a testament to the importance of continually expanding nursing leadership throughout Maryland,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “NLI exemplifies the power of collaboration among nurse educators and nurse clinicians, as evidenced by the impressive array of educational and health care institutions that participate and the caliber of the individual Fellows. The ongoing accomplishments of past and present Fellows speaks to the importance of this innovative work. The health care system of Maryland, and the patients, families, and communities that we collectively serve, all benefit from the leadership skills and abilities that program graduates exhibit. We welcome the 2019-2020 Class of Fellows and look forward to their continued contributions to improving the health of Maryland’s residents.” To date, 92 Fellows have completed the LDP, with the 2019-20 Fellows beginning the program on Sept. 1. The 2019-20 Fellows represent 22 health care organizations and higher education institutions statewide; they are: Rachel Allen, MS, CRNP-A, nurse practitioner supervisor, St. Agnes Hospital Sarah Arnett, DNP, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, executive director acute care services, Peninsula Regional Medical Center Kelsey Brooks, MSN, RN-IV, CEN, staff nurse, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health Leigh Chapman, MS, RN, CIC, director surgical nursing, University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center Elizabeth Cipra, DNP, clinical nurse specialist, University of Maryland Medical Center Amanda Curry, MSN, RN, CEN, nurse manager – emergency, Anne Arundel Medical Center Eursula David-Sherman, MSN, RN, nurse residency coordinator, Adventist Healthcare-Shady Grove Medical Center Miriam Dobson, DNPc, RN, CPH, NHDP-BC, director community health services, Frederick County Health Department Rachael Farrell, EdD, assistant director of nursing, Howard Community College  Michael Hamburg, MSN, RN, CEN, director patient care services, Northwest Hospital  Linda Hamel, MSN, RN, assistant professor, College of Southern Maryland Heidi Holdren, MSN, RN-BC, nurse manager, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center  Maranda Jackson-Parkin, PhD, RN, CRNP, ACNP-BC, CCNS, CCRN-K, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing  Dawanya Lewis, MSN, RN, CCM, NEA-BC, nurse manager, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Denise Lyons, MSN, RN, CEN, associate professor, Anne Arundel Community College Cheryll Mack, MPA, RN, senior clinical nurse II, University of Maryland Medical Center Carol Maddrey, MSN, RN, nurse manager, Johns Hopkins Hospital Kaitlyn Mannon, MSN, RN, NHDP-BC, CEN, CPEN, senior clinical educator, Anne Arundel Medical Center Brenda Martin, MSN, RN, CNML, manager nursing practice and innovation, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Cynthia Mitzman, MSN, RN, clinical unit coordinator, St. Agnes Hospital Alexandra Mora, MS, RN, charge nurse, Mercy Health Clinic Toni Murray, DNPc, RN-BC, CENP, CMSRN, director nursing professional development, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital Deborah Naccarini, DNP, RN, CNE, associate dean, Notre Dame of Maryland University Anna Nji, PhD, RN, administrator, Gandhi Health Career Services Marlene Pasion, MSN, RN-BC, clinical nurse specialist, St. Agnes Hospital Jill Patton, MSN, CRNP, AACC, nurse practitioner supervisor, St. Agnes Hospital Kimberly Sadtler, MSN, PMH, APRN-BC, NE-BC, nurse manager, University of Maryland Medical Center Christie Simon-Waterman, DNP, RN, CRNP, nurse practitioner, Johns Hopkins Hospital Edna Travers, MS, RN, VA-BC, interim assistant director nursing/nurse manager, Johns Hopkins Hospital Chinyere Uduhiri, MSN, CRNP, DNPc, nurse practitioner, FutureCare Capital Region Jaime Van Allen, MS, RN-BC, clinical practice development coordinator, University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Lesley Weihs, MBA, MSN, RN, CENP, director professional practice and nursing Quality, Peninsula Regional Medical Center Autumn Wilkins, MSN, RN, CMSRN, nurse manager, St. Agnes Hospital Chuwana Woode, MHA, RN, administrative coordinator, University of Maryland Capital Region Health Michele Zimmer, DNP, RN, CCRN-CMC, assistant nurse manager, University of Maryland Medical Center # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Director of Clinical Simulation Labs to explore psychological safety in simulation education Baltimore, Md. – Amy Daniels, PhD ’18, MS ’12, BSN ’89, RN, assistant professor and director of the Debra L. Spunt Clinical Simulation Labs at the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Baltimore campus, has been named an International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Research Fellow.  Daniels will participate in a web-based fellowship designed to develop future leaders in simulation research. The fellowship provides new researchers an avenue to advance their scholarly work under the mentorship of renowned researchers. Through the fellowship, Daniels will further her investigation into psychological safety, students’ perceptions that a particular environment is a place where mistakes can be made in the service of learning, and its impact on learning outcomes in simulation-based education. “I am extremely honored to be selected for this opportunity,” said Daniels. “I am excited to receive mentorship from established researchers whose focus is simulation in nursing education. The outcome of this experience, a fully developed research project that can be submitted as a proposal for simulation research funding, will align directly with my long-term goals to research psychological safety in simulation.” At UMSON, Daniels facilitates simulated educational experiences and oversees operations, curriculum integration, and faculty development in all of UMON’s clinical simulation programs in Baltimore. She has taught students using simulation since 2010. The Debra L. Spunt Clinical Simulation Labs celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2018. In 2004, when UMSON opened its simulated operating room, the total number of sim labs was 24 — the most of any nursing school in the nation. Today, the School has 20 clinical simulation laboratories in Baltimore and eight at the Universities at Shady Grove, and approximately 10% of pre-licensure students’ clinical hours in any given course take place in labs. The facilities are increasingly important as UMSON responds to a rising national emphasis on simulated learning to improve nursing outcomes.  INACSL, representing more than 1,800 members from 29 countries, is committed to advancing the science of health care simulation. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Faculty contribute expertise to Maryland Health Care Commission and Montgomery County Commission on Health Baltimore, Md. – Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been named to Maryland health care commissions. Margaret Hammersla (left), PhD, CRNP-A, assistant professor and senior director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, has been appointed to the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC), while Crystal DeVance-Wilson (right), PhD, MBA, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor, has been appointed to the Montgomery County Commission on Health (COH). Hammersla will work with the MHCC to continue its efforts to modernize the state’s certificate of need program, intended to insure that new health care facilities and services are only developed as needed, supporting the state’s goals under Maryland’s all-payer model. She will also support the MHCC’s efforts to increase the use of data, including expanding the Wear the Cost initiative, which seeks to increase transparency and raise public awareness of health care costs. The MHCC is an independent state regulatory agency that plans for health system needs, promotes informed decision-making, increases accountability, and improves access to care in a rapidly changing health care environment. Appointed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, Hammersla will serve a four-year term ending Sept. 30, 2022. DeVance-Wilson will serve on the Montgomery County COH, which advises the county executive and the county council on public health issues, programs, services, and the allocation of public health funding. The commission is also responsible for monitoring and assessing Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (MCDHHS) health priorities. As a commissioner, she will interface and collaborate with the MCDHHS and various county boards and commissions to identify gaps, deficiencies, or duplication of efforts. She was appointed by former Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett and will serve a three-year term ending June 30, 2021. “We congratulate Drs. Hammersla and DeVance-Wilson on their appointments to these significant leadership positions within Maryland’s health care system,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Given their extensive clinical expertise, and their experience as doctorally prepared nurse educators and researchers, I am confident that each of them will bring important perspectives to the work of their respective commissions and through this contribute to improving health care for individuals, families, and communities throughout Maryland.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC), the state’s arm of the national Campaign for Action, serves as one of the driving forces for transforming health care in Maryland. Recognizing the important work already underway in the state and with a goal of improved health outcomes for its residents, MDAC leads innovation in the health of the population through efforts that build and sustain a culture of health.  Read More  

For UMSON students, it’s a chance to learn outside of a traditional classroom setting, said Niki Papageorgopoulos, MS. “I think it shows the kids that people from outside the community really care and that we are here to support each other,” she said. “And as nursing students, it gives us real-life experience with health disparities. It helps give us an understanding of patient-centered care in West Baltimore.” Read More 

Funding to aid research aimed at improving health care outcomes for the aging population. Baltimore, Md. – University of Maryland School of Nursing PhD students Hyojin Son (left) and Jungmin Yoon (right) have been awarded Sigma Small Grants, intended to encourage nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research. Son and Yoon each received about $5,000 in funding to support their proposed research projects. Son’s funding will aid her dissertation examining patient experience using a patient portal, a secure online environment in which patients can view health records and send messages to providers. Nearly 60% of American adults have one or more chronic conditions, emphasizing the need for health information technologies to support patients’ self-management. Her research will also compare the difference in perceived usability, self-efficacy, and use of the patient portal between older adult patients recruited from ambulatory care clinics and older adults recruited from communities. Yoon’s dissertation hopes to demonstrate the value of adequate staffing levels and proper training for quality dementia care, necessitated by increasing health care demands from nursing home residents with dementia. In 2014, more than 50% of the 1.4 million nursing home residents nationwide were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. Yoon’s work will examine nursing home deficiencies with regard to inappropriate antipsychotic medication use in relation to staffing levels and nursing home in-service dementia care training. “We are so proud that two of our PhD students received these Sigma grants, as they are open to all registered nurses with a graduate degree, including faculty from all around the world,” said Meg Johantgen, PhD, RN, assistant professor, associate dean for the UMSON PhD program. “Such financial support helps students purchase software, data, and supplies that are essential for their research.” Allocation of Sigma Small Grant funds, provided by the Sigma Foundation for Nursing, is based on the quality of the proposed research, the future promise of the applicant, and the applicant’s research budget. In 1936, Sigma became the first U.S. organization to fund nursing research, and from its inception, it has recognized the value of scholarship and excellence in nursing practice. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Close to 500 degrees conferred at the 2019 Convocation ceremony. Baltimore, Md. - Very few professions afford the privilege of having as significant an impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities as nursing does. That was the message UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, greeted the Class of 2019 with during the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Convocation ceremony May 16 at Royal Farms Arena. At the ceremony 445 degrees were awarded, including 205 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 123 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), 105 Master of Science (MS), six Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and six certificates. Kirschling welcomed graduates receiving their first degree in nursing to a profession filled with unparalleled possibilities with many diverse paths and opportunities for professional advancement. She thanked the registered nurses who had returned to school to complete their baccalaureate degree for their continued commitment to education. “To the master’s and doctoral graduates, your expanded knowledge and skills extend your professional toolkit – and I know you will continue to truly make a difference in the work you do,” she said. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students was presented to Baltimore student Julie Ann Factor, BSN ’19, and Universities at Shady Grove student Jacob Aaron Rodriguez, BSN ’19, for their outstanding compassion and care for patients and their families. The award, given in memory of Patrick Barnes, is supported through the DAISY (Disease Attacking the Immune System) Foundation, whose executive director is Cynthia Sweeney, MSN, BSN ’76, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC. Factor was recognized for her work providing patient/family-centered care with a calm demeanor, and Rodriguez was honored for his advocacy of patient needs and acute awareness of health and social disparities. The 2019 Dean’s Medal for Distinguished Service, which each year recognizes someone, external to the School, who has demonstrated “an exceptional commitment to advancing UMSON and its mission,” was presented to John Bing, CRNA. Bing has represented nurse anesthesia at the state, national, and international levels, with a special focus on nurses of color. He was instrumental in the establishment of the School’s Nurse Anesthesia program, now a Doctor of Nursing Practice specialty that is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and he formerly served as a chair on the UMSON Board of Visitors. “He personally solicited support from the Maryland Legislature and secured grant funding to finance the start of the program,” Kirschling said. Bing has served as president of the Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia Mentorship program, and has mentored prospective students, leading to admissions in 52 of the 121 Nurse Anesthesia programs nationwide. He also includes nurse anesthesia students on humanitarian missions to Central America, where he has provided medical care to more than 1,000 families whose children were born with a cleft lip/palate. “To the students of 2019, I’m out in the field doing anesthesia and nursing, there has not been a better time to be a nurse in the history of nursing,” Bing conveyed to the graduating class. “You are the bridge between sickness and health and we are depending upon each and every one of you not only to be great nurses, but to make sure you give back to the community.“  Student speaker Ann Madden, DNP ’19, a graduate of the Nurse Anesthesia program, asked the graduating class to define their experience in just two words.  “For me, those two words are vigilance and gratitude,” Madden said. “The education we have all received from the University of Maryland has given us a foundation to be some of the best health care providers in the country. Your hard work and dedication has gotten you this far; let vigilance and gratitude carry you through the rest of your career.”     Kirschling concluded the ceremony by reminding graduates, “We find ourselves confronted with great challenges in the health care arena. Each of you will be obliged to confront these challenges in some fashion during your careers, and I can only urge you to meet them with the same commitment to patient care and to making a difference in the lives of families and communities that inspires your passion for nursing itself.”   

Reflecting on the many ways the school is meeting nursing needs in the state, nationally, and even globally, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, delivered her 2019 State of the School address on April 11, in Baltimore, with a repeat performance at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) on April 23. Read More 

Egan, a bedside nurse for seven years who is pursuing her doctorate in nursing practice, said she applied for the fellowship as a way of trying to address the impacts of violence she sees as a working nurse in the city. “I find gun violence particularly upsetting because it brings about a lot of human suffering that I feel should be avoidable,” she said. “I joined this project to try to put steps in place to make sure that we are actively addressing gun violence and the suffering that comes along with it.” Read More      

Piscotty inducted into inaugural class of Fellows for his achievements in applied informatics.  Baltimore, Md. – Ronald J. Piscotty Jr., PhD, RN-BC, FAMIA, assistant professor, University of Maryland School or Nursing (UMSON), has been selected as a member of the inaugural class of Fellows of American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA) in recognition of his accomplishments in the application of informatics. Piscotty joins the class of 130 fellows, who will be inducted at the American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) 2019 Clinical Informatics Conference in Atlanta, April 30-May 2, 2019. The field of informatics began as a science dedicated to evaluating the use of information and communications systems in clinical settings and has grown to include an array of professions that leverage information technology and data systems. Informaticians facilitate discovery and translate research findings; deliver insights that improve patient outcomes; enable better management and prevention of disease; reduce clinician and researcher burdens; and increase value associated with research and health care delivery. “The implementation of complex health care information technology into our nation’s health care system continues at an unprecedented pace,” said Piscotty. “While this is a sign of progress in providing health care to our nation’s citizens, it also brings enormous risks that must be managed by a highly educated workforce practicing with evidence-based solutions. As a clinical informatics leader, educator, and researcher, I am honored to be an inaugural fellow of our nation’s premier health care informatics association.”  FAMIA recognizes the contributions and professional accomplishments of AMIA members who apply informatics skills and knowledge to their practice in a clinical setting, in a public or population health capacity, or as a clinical researcher. Piscotty, whose expertise is in clinical informatics, teaches UMSON master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice students. His research is focused on how health information technology impacts clinical practice, specifically how health care information technology can be leveraged to reduce health care errors such as errors of omission. His research has been funded by several organizations and has been disseminated via numerous peer-reviewed presentations and journal articles. He is involved in several nursing and health care informatics organizations, including AMIA, the Alliance for Nursing Informatics, Sigma, and the Midwest Nursing Research Society. Piscotty currently serves as a steering committee member for the Alliance for Nursing Informatics. “We congratulate Dr. Piscotty on his selection as a member of the inaugural class of Fellows of the American Medical Informatics Association,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This recognition is indeed a tremendous honor. Dr. Piscotty’s work on designing health care information systems that enhance provider practice and reduce errors is important to the ongoing improvement of patient care and health system outcomes. His study of errors of omission and the potential role of appropriately designed care reminders holds real promise for addressing preventable adverse events and thereby reducing the human costs and the enormous expense of such errors.” AMIA is the leading professional association for informatics professionals. As the voice of the nation’s top biomedical and health informatics professionals, AMIA and its members play a leading role in assessing the effect of health innovations on health policy and in advancing the field of informatics. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Associate professor joins institution aimed at addressing fundamental ethical and social issues Baltimore, Md. – Anita J. Tarzian, PhD ’98, MS ’95, RN, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named a Hastings Center Fellow. The Hastings Center is a nonpartisan bioethics research institution founded in 1969, the oldest of its kind.  Tarzian joins a worldwide network of nearly 300 elected Fellows whose work has informed scholarship and public understanding of complex ethical issues in health, health care, life sciences research, and the environment. Hastings Center Fellows are academic bioethicists, scholars from other disciplines, scientists, journalists, lawyers, novelists, artists, and people highly accomplished in other spheres. Their common distinguishing feature is uncommon insight and impact in areas of critical concern to the Center — how best to understand and manage the inevitable values questions, moral uncertainties, and societal effects that arise as a consequence of advances in the life sciences, the need to improve health and health care for people of all ages, and the mitigation of human impact on the natural world. “In these times when the best we can be is threatened by increasingly contentious public discourse, it’s an honor to be associated with an institution that seeks to safeguard ethics as a cornerstone of global progress,” said Tarzian.  In addition to her role at UMSON, Tarzian serves as the program coordinator for the Maryland Healthcare Ethics Committee Network at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and she serves as a lay member of the Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee. She has worked as a research and ethics consultant since 1998, providing guidance and consulting services in clinical ethics, research ethics, and research methods. Her scholarship, teaching, and mentorship center on clinical ethics, including standards for health care ethics consultation, palliative care, end-of-life care, disability rights, and evidence-based practice in these areas. “We congratulate Dr. Tarzian on this distinctive honor,” said Dean of the School of Nursing, Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “Dr. Tarzian’s many contributions to clinical ethics, including standards for health care ethics consultations, have far-reaching. In addition, her service to the Maryland Healthcare Ethics Committee Network and to the Maryland Judicial Ethics Committee have added an important and leading voice to the discussion of a broad array of ethical topics. In her role as a Hastings Center Fellow, I am certain she will continue to bring her substantial scholarship to bear on important issues facing our health care system.” Hasting Center Fellows are elected by The Fellows Council, which consists of eight Fellows, and the center’s president. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Center for IPE director Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of UMSON, led a debriefing in which students were asked to comment on how they had been able “to learn with, from, and about one another.” She also helped field a question about acronyms, or “mumbo-jumbo,” which a good team member is urged to avoid. “ADLs are activities of daily living,” said Kirschling, giving examples such as showering in the morning and fixing lunch. And a CNL, she explained later, is a student with a university degree in a non-nursing field who is earning a Master of Science in Nursing in UMSON’s Clinical Nurse Leader program. Read more

Training service dogs for fellow veterans may be rehabilitative for those with PTSD. Baltimore, Md. – Erika Friedmann, PhD, associate dean for research, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been awarded nearly half a million dollars by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the research project Evaluating the Efficacy of a Service Dog Training Program for Military Veterans with PTSD. The Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant that Friedmann was awarded with co-principal investigator Cheryl Krause-Parello, PhD, will provide $438,787 in funding over two years.  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects approximately 20% of the United States’ 18.5 million U.S. veterans and places them at higher risk for impaired biopsychosocial functioning and comorbidities including major depression, mania, panic attacks, social phobia, and alcohol/drug dependence. In addition, suicide rates are surging among this population, with approximately 7,300 veterans taking their lives each year, more than those who die in combat. Alarming veteran PTSD rates and the disorder’s effects create a critical demand for empirically validated treatment programs. Through a randomized clinical trial, Friedmann and Krause-Parello will examine how training service dogs may be rehabilitative for veterans with PTSD. The research will explore how veterans with PTSD who train service dogs for fellow veterans show a reduction in PTSD symptom severity (PTSDSS) and decreases in stress-related biological and psychosocial outcomes. “It’s so important to develop strategies to help veterans with PTSD integrate into civilian life,” said Friedmann. “We’re really excited to have the opportunity to research whether training service dogs really helps the veterans who are training the dogs.” If the service dog training program is successful in reducing PTSDSS in veterans with PTSD, it may prove to be a cost-effective rehabilitative opportunity for other at-risk populations. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Students can apply and begin earning credits towards their BSN at UMSON while earning ADN. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) campuses in both Essex and Catonsville, Maryland, have launched an agreement of dual admission that will enable a smooth transition from CCBC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. As part of UMSON’s continued effort to increase the number of collaborative pathways to earning a BSN in Maryland, CCBC becomes the 13th community college in the state where students can apply to, be admitted to, and begin taking classes in UMSON’s BSN program while still working toward their ADN, saving them time in completing both degrees. CCBC students will also receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at the community college. In addition, UMSON is currently covering the cost of its BSN courses for students participating in the dual-admission partnership while they are still enrolled in the ADN program, an opportunity made possible with funds from a gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation.  CCBC is one of the largest community college in Maryland, serving a wide geographic area, and has an established ADN program on both the Essex and Catonsville campuses. The dual-admission agreement with UMSON provides CCBC ADN students the opportunity to begin their BSN coursework without having to take courses toward both degrees concurrently from their first day in college, allowing them to ease into their nursing coursework. Aimed at increasing qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to transform health care through nursing. The campaign, based on the goals set forth by the Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report, aims to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020.  “As UMSON continues to expand the available opportunities for nursing academic progression, we are proud to launch an agreement with CCBC. This partnership allows for additional ways ADN students in Maryland can prepare for and complete their BSN,” said Linda Murray, DNP ’16, MS ’84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN program, UMSON.  To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from CCBC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.    

University of Maryland School of Nursing student Chika Okusogu, a UM Scholar, shared with expo visitors his excitement of working with Associate Professor Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, MS, in what’s become known as the “Colloca Lab,” as she explores the role of the placebo in pain management. “While we may have this perception that it (opioid addiction) is an issue of morale or character, it really is an issue of we don't understand how pain works as well as we should,” Okusogu said. “Pain is a universal experience that is incredibly subjective. For some reason, even though each and every one of us in this room will feel pain at some point in our lives, we tolerate it differently. I feel like the work I’ve done in the Colloca Lab, whether it is through using virtual reality to help modulate pain or using placebo effect to also treat pain, that is also not only cost-effective, but also doesn't have major side effects or potential toxicities, are all attempts to help make a universal common issue more approachable and manageable for each and every one of us in this room.” READ MORE  

UMSON Nursing Informatics specialty remains No.1 in the nation for fifth straight year. Baltimore, Md. — In the newly released 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has climbed in the rankings for its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and master’s programs. The School’s master’s-level Nursing Informatics program remains No. 1 in the nation for the fifth year in a row.   For the rankings, U.S. News & World Report surveyed 584 accredited nursing schools with master’s or doctoral programs. UMSON’s overall DNP program ranked No. 6, and its top-ranked DNP specialties include Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (No. 7), Nurse Anesthesia (No. 10), Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (No. 11), and Family Nurse Practitioner (No. 11). The Nurse Anesthesia specialty rankings were released in the 2017 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” and will remain in effect until 2021. Two of UMSON’s master’s programs— the Clinical Nurse Leader option (No. 2) and Nursing Administration (No. 5), which represents UMSON’s Health Services Leadership and Management specialty — joined Nursing Informatics in the top five. At the forefront of responding to the need to increase the number of nurses with a doctoral degree, UMSON’s DNP program launched in 2006 with fewer than 10 students and was one of only 20 such programs in the nation at the time. Today, there are more than 330 DNP programs nationwide, and UMSON enrolls 570 DNP students. “It is gratifying to continue to be recognized in the top ranks nationally for our master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This is truly a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni to excellence in nursing education, research, and practice. We are committed to continuing to increase the number of nurses with advanced degrees and ensure that they are well prepared to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse communities and address the challenges of our complex health care system.” Rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including student selectivity and program size, faculty resources, and research activity, and on survey data from deans of schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,000 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.    

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has welcomed eight new faculty members as of the spring 2019 semester. The additional hires bring UMSON’s total number of faculty members to 148 and total number of clinical instructors to 24. UMSON offers a top-ranked educational experience, developing nursing professionals who are in high demand by health systems, universities, government agencies, and other organizations. New to UMSON are: Oluchi Ayichi, DNP ’17, MS ’11, BSN ’01, RN, CRNP, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health Jacqueline Bateman, DNP, BSN ’89, RN, CHPN, assistant professor, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health Rachel Breman, PhD ’18, MPH, RN, assistant professor, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health Judith Coombs-Haylett, MSN, RN, clinical instructor, Department of Family and Community Health Charlotte Nwogwugwu, DrPH, BSN, CPH-BC, assistant professor, Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice Rachel Reid, DNP, RN, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health Amanda Roesch, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health Tarleen K. Weston, BSN, RN, clinical instructor, Department of Family and Community Health UMSON proudly extends a warm welcome to these faculty. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Grant assists with educational and professional expenses. Baltimore, Md. – Three faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) have been awarded a Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research. Clinical instructors Hannah Murphy Buc, MSN, RN, CNE; Anjana Solaiman, MS, RNC, IBCLC; and Nicole Smith, MS ’14, RN, CNE, CHSE, all received the maximum award amount of $30,000. Two of the three, Solaiman and Smith, teach in UMSON’s program at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland. This competitive grant program is designed to assist PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates by helping to cover costs associated with graduate education expenses; professional development; course release time; research-related administrative support; and project-related expenses for supplies, travel, and document creation. Its goals are to increase the number of doctorally prepared nursing faculty in Maryland, to strengthen faculty development for optimal capacity at schools of nursing, and to recruit and retain a diverse nursing faculty.  “We are extremely grateful for this important support to faculty pursuing doctoral degrees,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The NEDG Program addresses the critical need to increase the number of faculty with advanced degrees and ensure a highly educated and well-prepared nursing workforce ready to meet the diverse needs of our communities. We congratulate this year’s three recipients and look forward to their continuing contributions to teaching and research at UMSON.” NEDG is part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. It helps increase Maryland’s nursing capacity by supporting initiatives that advance the recommendations outlined in the Institute of Medicine’s report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. (Left to right) Hannah Murphy Buc, MSN, RN, CNE; Anjana Solaiman, MS, RNC, IBCLC; and Nicole Smith, MS ’14, RN, CNE, CHSE # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

RN from UMMC’s Midtown Campus begins RN-to-BSN program on full scholarship. Baltimore, Md. – Corey Duggan, RN, Clinical Nurse II, Emergency Department, University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Midtown Campus, this semester becomes the first student to enroll in the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) through its new Hospital Partnership Program, which awards participants a full Conway Scholarship. Funds for the Conway Scholarship Hospital Partnership Program, which aims to facilitate baccalaureate-level education for registered nurses at the UMMC Midtown Campus and at the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center, come from a transformational $10 million gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation. The Conway Scholarship covers in-state tuition, fees, books, and the cost of community college prerequisites required for admission to UMSON’s RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The gift will fund Conway Scholarships for 42 registered nurses to earn their BSN degrees through the Hospital Partnership Program.   “I am truly honored to have been selected for the Conway Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship is such a blessing,” Duggan said. “This means I will be able to continue my education and continue to make a change for myself, my hospital, and my community. I am so thankful for the opportunities that the University of Maryland School of Nursing has given me.”  “We are excited to welcome Corey Duggan as the first Conway Scholar under this significant new Hospital Partnership Program,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “As a clinical nurse at UMMC Midtown, Mr. Duggan exemplifies the level of dedication and commitment to excellent patient care that this program seeks to support and foster. We are grateful to the Conways for the visionary philanthropy which will allow him to further advance his career and continue to serve the needs of our community.” The Conway Scholarship Hospital Partnership Program is helping to fulfill one of the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine’s landmark 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which aims to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. The Conways have pledged more than $15 million to UMSON since 2015. Their most recent gift is one of the largest outright scholarship gifts to any school of nursing in the country. In addition to funding the Hospital Partnership Program, the Conways’ latest gift will fund 341 scholarships, bringing the total number of students benefiting from Conway Scholarships to more than 470. The Conways decided several years ago that their philanthropy should help people who have demonstrated financial need to receive the education necessary to obtain jobs. Bill Conway is co-founder and co-executive chairman of the Carlyle Group, in Washington, D.C. The Conways are trustees of the couple’s Bedford Falls Foundation, which has bestowed significant nursing scholarships in the Mid-Atlantic region. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Study seeks to apply global idea to address social determinants of health in local community. Baltimore, Md. – Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS '05, BSN '04, CRNP-Neonatal, FAAN, assistant professor and director of the Office of Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a three-year, $683,000 Global Ideas for U.S. Solutions grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) to study disadvantaged communities in West Baltimore to understand the impact of social isolation on health. Ogbolu’s study is one of six funded through RWJF’s fall 2017 call for ideas from around the world to address social isolation and promote positive, healthy social connections and well-being. Social isolation is a growing, global epidemic affecting individuals in all phases of life and resulting in dire physical, behavioral, psychological, mental and emotional consequences. “As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, global learning models offer opportunities to address America’s deepest challenges, including social isolation.  Adaptations of programs from abroad must be guided by community input to make sure they are culturally appropriate,” Ogbolu said. “We are grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, as this grant will allow us to learn about social isolation from the community, understand how the physical and social infrastructure in West Baltimore positively or negatively impacts residents’ ability to have meaningful social networks, and examine the impact of a social inclusion program on families of young children.” Seeking to identify global programs that could be adapted locally, Ogbolu learned about Saude Criança (SC), a program aimed at addressing the social determinants of health and promoting social inclusion. In 2017, Ogbolu and UMSON Global Health Certificate students spent nearly two weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, visiting the Saude Criança Association, exploring the possibility of designing a cultural adaptation study for Baltimore. Ogbolu seeks to implement SC in Baltimore’s most challenged communities, working with families who have poor social networks and may be cut off from opportunities that could positively impact their health and well-being. The program aims to connect them with resources and with each other. The study in West Baltimore builds on the work in Brazil and brings together several community and interprofessional partners, including the Black Mental Health Alliance; the University of Maryland School of Social Work’s Promise Heights and B’More for Healthy Babies programs; the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s PATIENTS Program; a social network expert from Johns Hopkins University; and the Saude Criança Association in Brazil. Ogbolu will focus the first phase of her study on community learning through group discussions and interviews to better understand West Baltimore residents’ perspectives on individual, community, and family social connectedness or isolation. In Phase 2, Ogbolu will implement a culturally adapted SC program based on lessons learned from community members. She plans to recruit families with children ages 0-3 years old; the families will develop a family action plan addressing SC’s five categories (health, housing, income generation, education, and global citizenship), and Ogbolu will monitor the families over 24 months to empower them and support their efforts to address the social determinants of health, reduce stress, and build social networks. RWJF specifically sought grant proposals for studies that include pilot or demonstration trials in the United States of interventions developed internationally to address social isolation, learning exchanges between U.S.-based and global investigators and/or communities to explore approaches to social isolation that may be implemented in the future, and evaluation of promising approaches to social isolation developed abroad to learn how it might be adapted and implemented in the United States. “We are extremely grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for its support of Dr. Ogbolu’s project in West Baltimore. Her work holds great promise for addressing social isolation in a way that is truly grounded in the wisdom and insight of the community,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “RWJF, through its initiative on building a Culture of Health, is changing how we think about fostering health and well-being. I am confident that Dr. Ogbolu’s work will add to our understanding while contributing to our community.” For more than 40 years, RWJF has worked to improve the health and health care of all Americans. The organization is striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Pathway to BSN streamlined for community college students in Southeastern Maryland Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Wor-Wic Community College in Salisbury, Maryland, have launched an agreement of dual admission that will enable seamless academic progression from Wor-Wic’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Wor-Wic becomes the 12th community college in the state where students can apply to, be admitted to, and begin taking classes in UMSON’s BSN program while still completing their ADN, saving them time in completing both degrees. In addition, UMSON is currently covering the cost of its BSN courses for students participating in the dual-admission partnership while they are still enrolled in the ADN program, an opportunity made possible with funds from a gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation.  The partnership further expands opportunities for nurse academic progression in Southeastern Maryland, a predominantly rural/agricultural area. Nurses play a prominent role in delivering care in these communities, where access to health care professionals and institutions may be limited. “Supporting nurses within these communities to progress academically is crucial to the health of these rural areas,” said Linda Murray, DNP ’16, MS ’84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN program, UMSON. “Many of these future BSN-prepared nurses will choose to continue on to an advanced practice role serving their home communities and providing people there with the services of a trusted professional.” The dual-admission agreement gives Wor-Wic students the opportunity to be immersed in upper-level coursework, preparing them for a smooth transition into the UMSON BSN program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at Wor-Wic. “The collaborative partnership between Wor-Wic and UMSON is such a grand opportunity. It will enable our students to pursue their educational goals toward earning their BSN and to advance their nursing careers while improving the overall health of the community,” said Brenda J. Mister, EdD, MD, RN, department head and professor of nursing, Wor-Wic.   Aimed at increasing the number of qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to transform health care through nursing. The campaign, based on the goals set forth by the Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health report, aims to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020.  To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from Wor-Wic and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been awarded a $15,000 mini-grant from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) in support of the All of Us Research Program. This precision health initiative led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is aimed at gathering health data from one million or more U.S. participants so that researchers can gain a better understanding of the multiple environmental, lifestyle, and biological factors that can impact health and develop the next great breakthroughs in health care. UMSON is one of nine nursing schools nationwide to be awarded this funding. Read More

Award honors doctoral students for advancing ground-breaking research and practice innovations. Baltimore, Md. – Marik Moen, PhD ’18, MPH, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named the 2018-19 recipient of the Excellence in Advancing Nursing Science Award by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Moen will be honored at AACN’s 2019 Doctoral Education Conference in San Diego, held Jan. 17-19, where she will present her award-winning study, “Social Stability as a Consistent Measure of Social Context in a Low-Income Population.” The award recognizes an outstanding dissertation, by a student in a PhD in nursing or Doctor of Nursing Science (DNS) program, that has the potential to advance science, education, practice and/or policy and adds to the scientific basis for nursing practice. Moen’s dissertation found that social stability (stability in housing, residence, legal relationships, income, and employment over a defined period of time) should be considered in diverse populations to support its associations with health outcomes. Moen’s research findings revealed that social stability adequately captured the diversity of social contexts of a low-income population in Baltimore and consistently predicted exposure to sexual risk behaviors, substance use, and violence, especially combinations of these exposures. “I am honored to have been nominated and received this award. It certainly validates my extensive efforts,” Moen said. “As it becomes more expected that health research, practice, and policy account for the influence of social conditions, consistency in the measurement of social context is critical. Social stability (SS) is one such measure. We found that social stability matters, both in quantity — small increases in SS reduced odds of substance use, sexual risk, and violence exposures — and in quality — moving/residential instability was associated with increased risks. Addressing SS can reduce the conditions that favor sex, drug, and violence exposures toward improved individual and population health.” A member of the UMSON faculty since 2007, Moen earned her PhD from UMSON in May and teaches in the Community/Public Health Nursing master’s specialty. This program prepares students to assume a leadership role in addressing large-scale health challenges that impact entire communities, with a strong focus on population health, social justice, and evidence-based programs. She also coordinates a program with the JACQUES Initiative at the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Institute of Human Virology to transition hospitalized individuals living with HIV, who are not engaged in outpatient care, back to the community by providing intensive home/community case management and care coordination. “We congratulate Dr. Moen on being selected for this prestigious national honor. Her research is helping to pave the way for a better understanding of how to assess social determinants of health at the individual level,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This award further affirms the rigor and importance of Dr. Moen’s work. We applaud her commitment to addressing the health disparities in our society and know that she will continue to contribute to creating a true culture of health for all individuals.” AACN is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 810 schools of nursing nationwide. It establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice. AACN’s vision is to create a health care system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

The seed grant symposium began with opening remarks from Perman, who gave credit to Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, director, Center for Interprofessional Education, and dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). “She’s the person who keeps this alive, this onward and upward march that we insist on here at UMB in developing the right way to teach interprofessional health care delivery and the right way to deliver interprofessional health care delivery,” Perman said. Eight members of the UMSON faculty are serving on interprofessional teams awarded seed funding for five projects.   Read More

"Although we continue to build on our legacy, we certainly cannot and do not rest on it," UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN said to an audience of faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and other guests who gathered at the School Dec. 6 for the Debra L. Spunt Clinical Simulation Labs 20th Anniversary Celebration. “Our clinical simulation program and its place in our curriculum is continually evolving and we are always responding to new opportunities to demonstrate national leadership.” Read More

From assisting as a newborn takes that first breath to helping a family prepare a loved one for hospice, few professions can lay claim to witness — and impact — life’s critical events the way nursing can. That was the message Sherry B. Perkins, PhD, RN, FAAN, president and chief executive officer of University of Maryland Capital Region Health, relayed Dec. 14 to summer and fall graduates of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Maryland, where Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, executive vice president, provost, and dean of the Graduate School, conferred 82 nursing degrees in the Class of 2018. At UMSON’s sister ceremony at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre on Dec. 17, 221 degrees were conferred by University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD. Read More

Because of their outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, the School of Nursing and the School of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) have won the 2018 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Read More

Community college students can take UMSON courses while completing their associate degree. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Howard Community College (HCC) in Columbia, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure a smooth transition from HCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s BSN program while in HCC’s ADN program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at HCC and will be granted special student status to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree. "The dual admission partnership is a tremendous value to Howard Community College students, allowing them to progress toward their associate degree and begin the process of attaining their baccalaureate degree in nursing," said Georgene Butler, PhD ’05, MS ’91, BSN ’78, CNE, professor and dean of health sciences at HCC. "This new educational option will make the path to a bachelor’s degree more affordable for students and their families." An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to advance comprehensive health care change. The campaign uses as its framework the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Additionally, the partnership program specifically addresses one of the eight goals set forth in the report: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. "We are looking forward to beginning this new partnership with Howard Community College. Nursing students living and working in Howard County will be able to seamlessly transition to the program at UMSON to complete their BSN," said Linda Murray, DNP ’16, MS ’84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN program, UMSON. HCC is the 11th community college in Maryland to partner with UMSON in a dual-admission agreement. To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from Howard and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Awards given to new faculty members to offset educational and professional development costs. Baltimore, Md. – Six University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have received $20,000 New Nurse Faculty Awards, funded through the Nurse Support Program II (NSP II), for Fiscal Years 2019-21. The following faculty members received New Nurse Faculty Fellowship Awards: Oluchi Ayichi, DNP ’17, MS ’11, BSN ’01, RN, CRNP, assistant professorKimberly Callender, DNP, CRNP, APRN-BC, assistant professorSeon-Yoon Chung, PhD ’16, RN, assistant professorElizabeth Johnson, MSN, CPNP-PC, clinical instructorAmanda Roesch, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, assistant professorDoris Titus-Glover, PhD, MSN, RN, assistant professor Maryland institutions with nursing degree programs are eligible to nominate newly hired, full-time, tenured or tenure-track, and clinical-track faculty members for the fellowship. The maximum amount of the three-year fellowship is $20,000. Recipients receive $10,000 during year one, and then $5,000 annually for the remaining two years. Funds can be used to supplement a fellow’s salary, to pay for graduate education expenses, and to cover professional development and associated costs. NSP II, funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, is a statewide initiative designed to address the nurse shortage in Maryland by increasing the number of nurses prepared to serve as nursing faculty. Since 2013, UMSON has increased enrollment by 26 percent in its traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN programs in response to the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which calls for increasing the proportion of nurses with a bachelor’s degree to 80 percent by 2020. Currently, approximately 55 percent of nurses nationwide are educated at the baccalaureate level. The report further called for doubling the number of nurses with a doctoral degree, and UMSON’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program has grown by nearly 500 percent since 2013.          Ayichi, in the Department of Family and Community Health (FCH), is a Family Nurse Practitioner with expertise in clinical care and nursing education; Callender, at UMSON at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), has expertise in emergency nursing, pediatrics, and case management; Chung, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, has expertise in adult health, simulation education, and culturally competent care; Johnson, FCH, is a pediatric nursing expert; Roesch, FCH, is an expert in community health, particularly as related to underserved populations, including adolescent, reproductive, and sexual health, and in caring for gender and sexual minorities; and Titus-Glover, UMSON at USG, has clinical expertise in pediatrics, maternal and child health, and community/public health as well as experience in clinical research. “We are truly grateful for the generous support provided to our faculty members through the New Nursing Faculty Fellowship Program,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This initiative is instrumental in helping us to recruit and retain a diverse array of highly talented and dedicated individuals, who will help to ensure that were educating a nursing workforce fully prepared to meet the complex health care needs of Maryland’s residents, both now and in the future.” (top row, left to right) Oluchi Ayichi, DNP ’17, MS ’11, BSN ’01, RN, CRNP, assistant professor; Kimberly Callender, DNP, CRNP, APRN-BC, assistant professor; Seon-Yoon Chung, PhD ’16, RN, assistant professor(bottom row, left to right) Elizabeth Johnson, MSN, CPNP-PC, clinical instructor; Amanda Roesch, DNP, MPH, FNP-C, assistant professor; Doris Titus-Glover, PhD, MSN, RN, assistant professor # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Annual award issued by INSIGHT Into Diversity names top colleges for diversity nationwide. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been selected to receive the annual Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only honor recognizing U.S. and Canadian health schools and centers that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across their campuses. INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education, received a record number of nearly 175 applications this year and selected only 35 institutions for the award. Forty-six percent of UMSON students identify as racially and ethnically diverse, and 12 percent of our student body is male — both figures that are above average for schools of nursing nationwide. Diversity and inclusion are key priorities for the School and are among the seven core values of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). UMSON works to integrate these values fully and authentically into all aspects of its work and community. “As we prepare our students to be the next generation of nursing leaders, to be ready to contribute to a diverse and complex health care system, the School of Nursing must model the benefits of diversity and inclusion every day,” said Jeffrey Ash, EdD, assistant professor and associate dean for diversity and inclusion. “We believe every interaction matters and encourages and grows a sense of community that values empathy and civility.” The School of Nursing was the first school on the UMB campus to devote a full-time associate dean position to diversity and inclusion. Ash serves on the School's leadership team and on UMB's Diversity Advisory Council and consults with other schools on campus that do not have a chief diversity officer. He also heads the UMSON Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the School’s hub for collaborative and innovative thinking about diversity and inclusion. The office offers individual and departmental support with a focus on relationship and community building and advocacy, efforts aimed at ensuring fairness in policies and practices at all levels. It has developed activities, events, and affinity groups to engage faculty, staff, and students in thinking more broadly about diversity and in working toward a more inclusive community. For example, it offers biannual professional development opportunities for all faculty and staff that focus specifically on enhancing understanding of the multiple aspects of diversity and inclusion. “We are honored to be recognized with this prestigious award. The application process touched upon every aspect of our institutional life and provided an important opportunity for us to assess our progress,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Although our work is far from done, I sincerely thank our faculty, staff, and students for their deep commitment to ensuring that we live the values of diversity and inclusion every day in everything that we do.” The magazine said it measures an institution’s level of achievement and intensity of commitment in regard to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff. The honorees will be featured in the December 2018 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. UMB was recognized with a HEED Award in 2015, and UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, was awarded the 2016 Giving Back Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Patricia Brennan, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, a pioneer in the development of information systems for patients and director of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) delivered a keynote lecture Oct. 11 at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) titled, “Precision Health and the National Library of Medicine: From Accelerating Discovery to Improving Health and Well-Being.” Read More

Three UMSON community members named Living Legends, Academy's highest honor. Baltimore, Md. – Cynthia L. Renn, PhD, MS '97, RN, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), and four UMSON alumnae were inducted into the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) as fellows during the academy's annual policy conference, held this past weekend in Washington, D.C. They join a community of more than 2,500 AAN Fellows nationwide. Renn's research focuses on understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying the development and persistence of neuropathic pain. Through her research, she aims to identify new therapeutic targets that could lead to developing treatment strategies to prevent and/or manage chronic pain and improve patients' quality of life. She also  mentors the next generation of nurse researchers — students and post-doctoral fellows — in all aspects of research, including the difficult technique of in vivo electrophysiological recording of spinal cord neurons in mice; Renn is one of only a handful of scientists nationwide who conducts such research. The following alumnae were also among the 195 distinguished nurse leaders who compose this year's cohort of AAN fellows: Kathleen M. Hunter, PhD '89, BSN '76, RN-BC, CNE Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, MAS, BSN '80, RN, an UMSON inaugural Visionary Pioneer Valerie K. Sabol, PhD '09, ACNP-BC, GNP-BC, CNE, ANEF, FAANP Brigit VanGraafeiland, DNP '08, CRNP Criteria for selection as a fellow include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current AAN Fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee's nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and well-being of all. Fellows include nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research, including hospital and government administrators, college deans, and renowned scientific researchers. The Academy fellows, with the addition of this newest class, represent all 50 states; Washington, D.C.; and 29 countries. Additionally, the following UMSON community members were named 2018 AAN Living Legends, the Academy's highest honor; they represent slightly less than half of this year's seven Living Legend designees. AAN recognizes a small number of fellows each year as Living Legends, who have been AAN fellows for at least 15 years and have demonstrated extraordinary, sustained contributions to nursing and health care. Ada K. Jacox, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor emerita, well known as a pain researcher and fierce advocate for nursing and women's rights Beatrice J. Kalisch, PhD, MS '67, RN, FAAN, alumna, an internationally known nursing scholar who has made numerous contributions, particularly in the areas of the image of the nurse and patient safety Ruth McCorkle, PhD, BSN '68, RN, FAPOS, FAAN, alumna, a pioneer in oncology nursing, symptom science, hospice, and palliative care "We congratulate our faculty member and alumna Dr. Cynthia Renn on her election as a fellow and are extremely proud of all of our alumni who have been recognized with this singular honor," said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. "We particularly salute the three members of our School of Nursing community who have been recognized as Living Legends and are truly grateful for their exceptional and longstanding service to nursing practice, research, and scholarship." The American Academy of Nursing serves the public and the nursing profession by advancing health policy, practice, and science through organizational excellence and effective nursing leadership. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been selected to serve on the National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC). Her term began Oct. 31. The NCCC is composed of 23 voting members, including 11 federal members and 12 non-federal members, and presents recommendations to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to Congress. The NCCC evaluates and provides recommendations on the coordination and leveraging of federal programs related to complex metabolic or autoimmune diseases that result from insulin-related issues and that represent a significant disease burden in the United States, including complications due to such diseases.   As a member of the NCCC, Idzik will also help make recommendations regarding activities and gaps in federal efforts to support clinicians in providing integrated, high-quality care to individuals with these diseases and related complications. Additionally, she will speak to improvement in coordination of federal education and awareness activities related to the prevention and treatment of the diseases and complications, including the utilization of new and existing technologies.   "Diabetes is truly at epidemic levels across our nation. As a nurse practitioner, I have significant insight into disease prevention and the impact of this disease on individuals and our society as a whole," Idzik said. "I am honored to represent nursing and the University of Maryland, Baltimore as a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Clinical Care Commission as we work on solutions to overcome complex metabolic and autoimmune diseases related to insulin." The 12 non-federal members are appointed as special government employees by the HHS secretary and have expertise in prevention, care, and epidemiology of the diseases on which the NCCC focuses. "We congratulate Dr. Idzik on her appointment to the National Clinical Care Commission and know that she will bring her tremendous experience in the clinical, educational, research, and policy realms to bear on issues before the Commission and will be a strong voice for nursing," said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. "The Institute of Medicine Report on The Future of Nursing was a true call to action for the nursing profession and a reminder of the importance of nurses serving as full partners with other health professionals in ensuring that our health care system delivers access to high-quality, patient-centered care that promotes health and well-being. I have no doubt that Dr. Idzik will be a highly effective contributor to the Commission’s work, and we salute her for serving in this important role." # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Annual scholarship awarded to seasoned and diverse nurses committed to careers in academic nursing education Baltimore, Md. – Benjamin Canha, MS ’96, RN, clinical instructor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) at the Universities at Shady Grove, has received a National League for Nursing (NLN) Foundation for Nursing Education Scholarship Award. He is one of seven nurse educators nationwide to receive the award, which was presented at the 2018 NLN Education Summit in Chicago, Sept. 12-14. The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education offers scholarships of up to $8,000 each year to nurses pursuing advanced degrees in accredited programs who have completed at least half of their program requirements. Through the scholarship, the NLN Foundation aims to encourage more experienced and diverse nurses to pursue advanced degrees to prepare for full-time positions as nurse educators. Having joined the UMSON faculty in 2011 and now completing his PhD at the School, Canha serves as a nurse educator and nurse researcher role model in a field where men consistently compose just slightly more than 10 percent of the workforce. For his dissertation, Canha is researching the effects of humor in supporting those recovering from opioid use disorder to engage, assimilate, and maintain involvement with behavioral treatments and continue their recovery. “Recognition of my research efforts by the NLN validates the importance of this research in finding effective new treatments to combat the opioid epidemic and support recovery,” Canha said. “Earning a PhD and the research involved has positioned me, as a teacher and course director for psychiatric mental health nursing, to better serve undergraduates to understand the processes involved in addictive disorders and recovery. Students gain firsthand knowledge and experiences shared in my contributions to evidence-based practice.” During his tenure as a clinical research nurse at the National Institutes of Health National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Canha began drawing 12-step-related cartoons and eventually published two educational books of cartoons to emphasize important recovery information in a more accessible format for a complex population. His examination of the impact of humor on recovery efforts could inform the national response to the current opioid epidemic and is an example of the application of nursing research to clinical practice. “We congratulate Ben Canha on receiving this prestigious award and express our deep appreciation to the National League of Nursing for its support of nurse educators pursuing advanced degrees,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Mr. Canha brings outstanding prior clinical experiences to his teaching and is able to translate them into the classroom. Through his insights, our students gain a solid understanding of disease processes and an empathy for and understanding of the humanity of those who suffer from substance use disorders. They also understand the impact of these disorders on individuals, families, and our communities. We are proud that he has been recognized by the NLN.” Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the NLN is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. It offers professional development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 40,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members. NLN members represent nursing education programs across the spectrum of higher education in addition to health care organizations and agencies. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Louise S. Jenkins, PhD ’85, MS ’81, RN, FAHA, ANEF, a professor and the co-founder and director of the Institute for Educators at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a 2018-19 Wilson H. Elkins Professorship from the University System of Maryland (USM) for her work in developing a comprehensive blueprint for preparing the next generation of nursing faculty in the state. Read More

Renn and team studying chronic pain in trauma patients who have lower-extremity fractures. Baltimore, Md.  – Cynthia L. Renn, PhD, MS '97, RN, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a five-year, $3,073, 811 grant from the National Institutes of Health to investigate chronic pain in trauma patients suffering from lower-leg fractures. Renn will serve as principal investigator for the study, and she will be joined on the research team by co-principal investigators Susan G. Dorsey, PhD '01, MS '98, RN, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, and UMSON alumna Mari Griffioen, PhD '15, MS '07, BSN '04. Chronic pain is a significant problem for trauma patients, and lower-extremity fractures have the highest incidence rate of chronic pain; the consequences are substantial. According to Renn, individuals with these types of fractures who go on to develop chronic pain at the fracture site miss more days of work and seek medical care more frequently than trauma patients who do not develop chronic pain. They also report experiencing high levels of pain intensity, anxiety, and depression. "This project is enormously important," Renn said. "Not only as it relates to improving the quality of life for trauma patients, but this study may also shed light on factors that play a role in other chronic pain conditions." While many patients develop chronic pain at the site of the fracture, there is variability in the number, type, and severity of symptoms, suggesting that genetic or genomic mechanisms may be key contributors. The research team will create a profile of the genes that can be used to identify differences in trauma patients who develop chronic pain as opposed to those who recover from injuries without chronic pain. Additionally, the team will  determine if there are physiological or psychological differences in the gene profile that may account for the symptom variability in lower-extremity fracture patients who develop chronic pain versus those who do not. This study will rigorously characterize a group of 240 trauma patients with a tibia and/or fibula fracture and a cohort of 40 healthy controls. Through the study, Renn, Dorsey, and Griffioen seek to examine if psychological, clinical, and sociodemographic factors are predictive of chronic pain characteristics in patients during the year following a lower-extremity fracture. The team will then construct a database of altered gene profiles — those genes that are different between patients with chronic pain and those without — as well as novel therapeutic targets and pathways for better pain management. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master's and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Project will help make workforce data readily available.  Baltimore, Md. – Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove, was recently awarded a $265,467 Nurse Support Program II (NSP II) grant to establish the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the grant will fund the project over two years. Through the project, Wiseman will ensure the state of Maryland is meeting the recommendation in the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2010 Future of Nursing report calling for improving collection methods of workforce data. To plan for future workforce needs and to measure the success of programs and initiatives related to the report’s recommendations, an accurate and comprehensive data set is essential. The Maryland Nursing Workforce Center will be responsible for compiling and reporting this data. "It is difficult to secure accurate and adequate data on workforce-related issues and to measure the state’s progress on the IOM Future of Nursing recommendations when we do not have baseline data. In Maryland, there are pockets of data, but this data is not readily available to all constituents," Wiseman said. "The Maryland Nursing Workforce Center will provide a centralized repository of data to use for projections of future nursing resource needs, understanding diversity of the workforce, planning for educational programs to meet current and future requirements, identifying geographical distribution of nursing resources, and grant writing." The Nursing Workforce Center will enable the state to gather critical data in three key areas: faculty, pipeline, and practice. Faculty data focus on statistics related to the number of faculty positions available, projected faculty needs, areas with the most faculty vacancies, and educational background of faculty members. Relevant data for the pipeline include the number of nursing students currently in nursing programs, graduation rates, NCLEX pass rates, projected need for new nurses, recruitment and retention initiatives, number of qualified nursing school candidates denied admission, student diversity, and clinical placements. The practice data detail projected nursing demands, current workforce numbers, nursing shortage locations, and diversity within the workforce. "We are grateful to the Nurse Support Program II for funding this project to establish a Maryland Nursing Workforce Center and thank Dr. Wiseman for her significant leadership on this undertaking," said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, who also serves as co-chair of the Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC), established in 2011 to address the Future of Nursing’s recommendations. "This center is an important outgrowth of the ongoing work of MDAC and its commitment to advancing the recommendations of the IOM report. Along with my MDAC co-chair, Dr. Patricia Travis, we applaud this important step in providing a much-needed source of statewide nursing workforce data. The center’s work will support long-range planning on the need for nurses and nurse faculty and will allow for coordination of nursing workforce development throughout Maryland. We are confident it will provide an important resource for nursing leaders, policymakers, and regulatory bodies in our state. And it is a critical step in ensuring that in the years ahead, all Maryland residents have access to high-quality care that fosters better health and well-being." NSP II grants aid in increasing the capacity of nurses in Maryland by implementing statewide initiatives to grow the number of nurses prepared to serve effectively in faculty roles. MHEC offers a number of educational grant programs, funded by state general funds, special funds, and federal funds, designed to address Maryland’s economic and workforce development needs, campus reform initiatives, student preparation for post-secondary education, faculty and student diversity goals, and teacher professional development objectives. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Grant will help tackle the nation’s most pressing health care issues through support of high-potential doctoral nursing scholars. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been awarded a new $20,000 grant from Jonas Philanthropies, a leading national philanthropic funder of graduate nursing education. Matched by $20,000 from UMSON, the grant will provide $20,000 in academic funding each for UMSON PhD students Amy Nelson, MS ’17, BSN, and Rhea Williams, MSN, BSN, CNM, for 2018-20. As a grant recipient, UMSON joins Jonas Philanthropies in its efforts to improve the quality of health care by investing in nursing scholars whose research and clinical foci specifically address our nation’s most urgent needs. The grant will empower and support nursing students with financial assistance, leadership development, and networking to expand the pipeline of future nursing faculty, researchers, and advanced practice nurses and to improve the health of veterans. “We are extremely grateful to Jonas Philanthropies for their ongoing support of doctoral nursing students and congratulate Amy Nelson and Rhea Williams on their selection for designation as Jonas Scholars,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, “I know that they will benefit tremendously from the financial support and professional development opportunities that this program provides, and we look forward to their continued development as researchers, clinicians, and future nurse leaders.” Nelson and Williams are part of the new two-year cohort of more than 200 Scholars pursuing PhD, DNP, or EdD degrees at 95 universities across the country. The Scholars’ doctoral work will focus on critical priorities such as chronic health and preventative health. They join more than 1,000 Jonas Scholar alumni representing 157 universities across all 50 states. “As we welcome another impressive group of nurse leaders into the Jonas Scholar community, Barbara and I are honored to celebrate all that the program has achieved in the past decade,” said Donald Jonas, president of Jonas Philanthropies. “Nurses play a pivotal role in advancing our nation’s health care, and as we look to the future, we are thrilled to continue our work with our partner nursing schools and expand our impact to help the country’s most vulnerable citizens.” With 10,000 Baby Boomers turning 65 each day,an entire generation of the health care workforce is preparing to retire. Coupled with the responsibility to care for 22.2 million veterans living across the country, thismeans the United States is facing a dire need for a new era of highly educated nursing professionals. Together, UMSON and Jonas Philanthropies believe the investment in the education of nurse leaders is critically important to improve the health care system. Jonas Philanthropies seeks to improve health care by investing where it matters most. It addresses high-need issues and audiences with high-impact solutions: promoting leadership in nursing and veterans health care, preventing and treating low vision and blindness, and protecting children’s environmental health. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Project will help increase number of CNL students from underrepresented backgrounds. ‌‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌Vanessa P. Fahie, PhD ’94, BSN ’76, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently awarded a three-year, $2 million U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration grant to fund the project Increasing Diversity in the Clinical Nurse Leader Option. Through the project, Fahie and UMSON colleagues Lynn Chen, PhD, assistant professor, and Gail Schoen Lemaire, PhD ’96, PMHCNS, BC, CNL, associate professor and associate dean for the Master of Science program, aim to increase the number of master’s-level Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) graduates from underrepresented backgrounds. Qualified students will receive academic, financial, and social support to aid in their successful completion of the CNL program. In addition, UMSON staff from its Student Success Center will provide academic advising and tutoring, and members from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care will mentor, serve as role models, and assist with preparing students to present at local and national meetings and to be published in professional journals. “This important grant is consistent with the School of Nursing’s ongoing efforts to support development of a racially and ethnically diverse nursing workforce that meets the needs of our increasingly diverse society,” said Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and professor. “Our Clinical Nurse Leader students will benefit from a new pre-entry immersion program as well as academic support and mentoring. We also look forward to collaborating with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to expand the use of holistic assessments and cultural diversity training.” The goal of the project is to retain 85 percent of CNL students enrolled in the program each year; place 85 percent of CNL graduates from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds into practice within underserved communities; and distribute scholarships to eligible students each semester. Scholarships cover tuition and fees for the students’ first two semesters and include a book voucher for their first three semesters. Additionally, project leaders aim to establish an academic environment that supports cultural diversity and inclusion and the development of financial management skills. “We are using evidence-based strategies to recruit, enroll, retain, empower, and graduate nursing students from disadvantaged backgrounds,” Fahie said. “Through our commitment to include ethnic and racial minority populations who are underrepresented in the nursing workforce, we seek to improve health equity within their communities through professional nursing practice.” HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care by strengthening its workforce, building healthy communities, and achieving health equity. Its programs provide health care to people who are geographically isolated or economically or medically vulnerable. ‌ # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON teaming with Edmondson-Westside and Frederick Douglass high school students and families.  ‌‌‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌Vanessa P. Fahie, PhD, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently awarded another College Preparation Intervention Program (CPIP) grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The $125,000 state award provides funding to institutions participating in the Maryland Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program, funded through a U.S. Department of Education competitive grant designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. Through the CPIP-funded Exploring Health Profession Careers project, in collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS), Fahie and UMSON provide services to Edmondson-Westside and Frederick Douglass high school students and their families; both schools are in West Baltimore. The project fosters career awareness and exploration, college readiness, financial literacy, and increased parental involvement. Students and their families are exposed to diverse options within the health care field in an effort to help overcome the disparity in educational attainment and awareness of health professions career opportunities among low-income students.  “The Exploring Health Profession Careers project leverages resources from public K-12, higher education, and nonprofit entities to address a triple threat — achievement gap, opportunity gap, and learning gap — for students attending low-performing high schools,” Fahie said. “It gives students the opportunity to engage in interactive college readiness activities that motivate them to aim higher, study harder, and take the courses required for college admission and success.” Additionally, this partnership allows the organizations to pool resources to develop a creative model to reduce the obstacles that might prevent high school students, particularly African-Americans interested in health professions, from graduating from high school and enrolling in college. The partnership will also increase communication among parents, teachers, and administrators to identify career and educational goals. “We congratulate Dr. Fahie on receiving further support for her important work fostering awareness of health professions careers among high school students,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It is essential that we continue to increase the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of our future health care workforce. Dr. Fahie’s efforts to introduce students at an early and impressionable age to the opportunities afforded by a health professions career is a valuable contribution and helps ensure that we will have the nurses and other health professionals needed to care for Maryland’s residents in the years ahead.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON awarded nearly $2 million in NSP II grant funding. ‌‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌Four University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been awarded Nurse Support Program II (NSP II) grants funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). UMSON’S grant awards total nearly $2 million. NSP II grants aid in increasing the capacity of nurses in Maryland by implementing statewide initiatives to grow the number of nurses prepared to serve effectively in faculty roles. MHEC offers a number of educational grant programs, funded by state general funds, special funds, and federal funds, designed to address Maryland’s economic and workforce development needs, campus reform initiatives, student preparation for post-secondary education, faculty and student diversity goals, and teacher professional development objectives. “We are thrilled that UMSON has received NSP II grant support for four significant and quite varied projects, each of which will help address Maryland’s need for a well-educated and well-prepared nursing workforce. These projects expand opportunities for seamless progression of Maryland high school students into nursing careers, increase the number of highly qualified clinical preceptors, build further expertise in quality improvement and evidence-based practices, and create a Maryland Nursing Workforce Center to ensure appropriate data for future decision-making,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are grateful to the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission for its generous support of nursing research and the Maryland Higher Education Commission for its leadership in administering the NSP II initiative. Together we are ensuring that Maryland’s residents have access to excellent health care now and in the years ahead." The NSP II grants awarded to UMSON beginning in Fiscal Year 2019 include: Debra Bingham, DrPH, RN, FAAN, associate professor – Advancing Implementation Science Education Project ($698,995, 3 years): The Advancing Implementation Science Education (AdvISE) project will expand statewide capacity in improvement science and quality improvement (QI) expertise. Implementation science expertise is a necessary foundation in expanding the effectiveness and impact of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) students’ quality improvement projects. Implementation science and QI expertise is needed to increase evidence-based practices, which will improve the quality and safety of health care delivery and reduce moral distress and burnout among registered nurses. Through this project, Bingham and the AdvISE Steering Committee seek to advance faculty implementation science and QI knowledge and skills. This project will also aid faculty in effectively guiding and educating DNP students on how to develop, implement, and evaluate QI initiatives. Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program – Continuation of Statewide Preceptor Modules for APRNs ($359,211, 3 years): Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) programs across Maryland struggle to identify enough preceptors to meet the growing needs of the program. Additionally, many active preceptors feel challenged in acquiring the skills needed to adequately mentor APRN students in a positive way. During the first cycle of funding, Idzik and colleagues created online learning modules and an in-person simulation to educate preceptors around the state. Through this continuation grant, Idzik seeks to recruit and educate more than 300 preceptors, who receive 11 Continuing Education Units upon completion of the program requirements. Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, associate professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program – PTECH at Dunbar High School for Health Professions with Baltimore City Community College ($629,919, 3 years): Through the NSP II grant, Trocky and UMSON aim to improve opportunities to develop a diverse and competent professional nursing workforce to care for patients in Maryland. UMSON plans to extend the Pathways in Technology Early College High (PTECH) program at East Baltimore’s Dunbar High School and use it as a pipeline to prepare and send students to earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from Baltimore City Community College (BCCC). After graduating from BCCC with an ADN, students can enroll at UMSON to earn their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The mentoring program will offer students academic support, an overview of the nursing field, and financial aid options and is designed to improve career options and employment prospects for students. Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove – Establishing the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center ($265,467, 2 years): The Institute of Medicine’s 2010 Future of Nursing report recommended improving collection methods of workforce data. Currently, data about the nursing workforce in Maryland available to nursing agencies and organizations is lacking. In planning for future workforce needs and to measure the success of programs and initiatives, it is essential to have an accurate and comprehensive data set. Through this project, Wiseman seeks to establish the Maryland Nursing Workforce Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, to be responsible for compiling and reporting relevant data. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Earlier this month, 17 visitors to the University of Maryland School of Nursing's 28th Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics, held July 17-20, spent a full day in a hands-on workshop learning about using mobile apps in health care to benefit both patients and nurses and how to go about building apps themselves.  Read more.

Program designed to provide concepts and tools needed to enhance leadership capacity. ‌‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been selected as a Fellow in the 2018 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)-Wharton Executive Leadership Program, Aug. 6-9 at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Participants come from 19 states and represent an array of institution types, including small, private, public, and large academic health centers. The program will be taught by faculty from Wharton, the University of Pennsylvania’s business school, who will present relevant and timely content designed to advance academic administrators to a higher level of leadership. It is open to deans/directors and associate deans/directors from AACN member schools who currently serve as the chief or associate chief nursing academic officer. Fellows must also demonstrate that they have progressive experience in academic administrative roles and positions and that their professional goals are congruent with the aims of the program. “I am honored to join this impressive cohort of academic nursing leaders. Leadership development is a lifelong journey for all of us, and today, more than ever, we need a diverse set of skills,” Idzik said. “Building strategic relationships and leading change, innovation, entrepreneurship, and negotiation are all in a day’s work.” Wharton is recognized globally for intellectual leadership and ongoing innovation across every major discipline of business education. With a broad global community and one of the most published business school faculties, Wharton creates economic and social value around the world, and has more than 9,000 participants in executive education programs annually. The AACN-Wharton Executive Leadership Program’s curriculum is designed to provide the concepts and tools needed to enhance leadership capacity and hone the skills that are essential to thrive and move forward strategically. Additionally, the content addresses issues around managing and leading change, influencing and galvanizing a diverse set of stakeholders, and building enterprising relationships in highly volatile environments. Fellows will leave the program equipped with an advanced set of negotiation, leadership, and influencing skills, as well as the confidence and ability to serve on or lead high-powered boards. “We congratulate Dr. Idzik on being selected for this significant opportunity and applaud AACN and Wharton for their ongoing commitment to fostering leadership in academic nursing,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, who participated in the Executive Leadership Program in 2013. “Dr. Idzik has successfully led the significant growth and development of the School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program and has been an active and influential participant in public policy issues related to advanced practice nursing at the state and national levels. I am certain that she will both benefit from and contribute to the leadership program and that it will prove invaluable to her ongoing development as an academic leader within the School of Nursing and the profession.” AACN is the national voice for academic nursing representing 810 schools of nursing nationwide. It establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Funding will aid anesthesia students with cost of tuition, books, and fees.  ‌‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌‌Joseph E. Pellegrini, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, associate professor and director of the Nurse Anesthesia specialty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded additional funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to continue the School’s nurse anesthetist traineeship program. HRSA has increased the amount of the grant award to $78,111. The trainee program aims to produce a more culturally competent and sensitive Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist workforce through proper education. Recipients of the grant are full-time nurse anesthesia students who have pledged to serve the medically underserved upon graduation, and the grant covers the cost of their tuition, books, and fees. Approximately 30 percent of all nurse anesthesia programs nationwide receive funding through this grant.   “This grant, which we’ve received for the past 11 years, is important because it helps offset the significant financial burden undertaken by full-time students who are completing a three-year doctoral plan of study,” Pellegrini said. “The grant is important not only to our students, but also to the School because it recognizes the Nurse Anesthesia program as one that promotes diversity and trains nurse anesthetists to work in areas that support the mission of HRSA. This includes meeting the needs of geographically isolated and economically or medically underserved populations.”  HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care by strengthening the workforce, building healthy communities, and achieving health equity. Its programs provide health care to people who are geographically isolated or economically or medically vulnerable. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program includes mix of on-campus and online format.‌  Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will launch a 12-credit, post-baccalaureate Care Coordination Certificate program, which will prepare students for the Commission for Case Manager Certification Exam, this fall. Through the new certificate program, students will be trained to meet the growing demand for highly skilled nurse case managers and care coordinators to improve patient care and health outcomes through the design and implementation of care coordination systems.  “Hospitals, insurers, and health systems recognize care coordination as a key strategy in improving patient care outcomes and satisfaction and containing health care costs. It is important for nurses, in concert with other professionals, to adopt reconceptualized roles as care coordinators, health coaches, and system innovators,” said Patricia Zimberg, JD, MS, RN, assistant professor, UMSON. “Achieving this requires that nurses receive greater education in care management, quality improvement, and care coordination processes.” Students will have access to public health experts and industry leaders who will educate them on how to implement case management processes to coordinate care for clients with complex needs; use state-of-the-art technologies, information systems, and communications to support safe nursing practice; and evaluate the effects of care coordination on patient health outcomes. A growing demand for registered nurses with advanced training and skill in care coordination exists in acute and long-term care facilities, human services agencies, managed care organizations, and community-based settings. “Registered nurses with advanced didactic and clinical skills in care coordination can play a substantial role in developing, implementing, and leading interprofessional care coordination teams,” Zimberg said. “UMSON’s Certificate in Care Coordination will prepare the registered nurse to coordinate and evaluate care for clients with complex needs across the entire continuum of care, using state-of-the-art technologies, care coordination models, and information systems.” To complete the program, which will be offered through a mix of on-campus and online formats, students will be required to complete a 45-hour practicum experience in a community-based case management setting. Students can apply up to two of the four certificate classes toward an UMSON master’s degree in Community/Public Health Nursing. Applicants must be a registered nurse and have a bachelor's degree or be enrolled in a graduate program at UMSON. Graduate students can complete the certificate concurrently with their other graduate studies. Applications are currently being accepted. For more information, call the Office of Admissions at 410-706-0501 (option 2). # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Community college students can take UMSON courses while completing associate degree.  Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from Chesapeake’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Chesapeake becomes the 10th community college in Maryland to sign such an agreement with UMSON. Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s BSN program while in Chesapeake’s ADN program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at Chesapeake and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. “This is a tremendous opportunity for students in our nursing program to continue their education in nursing, said Judith Stetson, PhD, RN, director, Chesapeake College/MGW Nursing Program. “Creating a highly educated nursing workforce significantly benefits the individuals, the nursing profession, and the local and global communities we serve.” An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to advance comprehensive health care change. The campaign uses as its framework the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Additionally, the partnership program specifically addresses one of the eight goals set forth in the report: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “We are excited to begin this new partnership with Chesapeake College.  It will provide the opportunity for those nurses and nursing students living on the Eastern Shore to seamlessly transition to the program at UMSON to complete their BSN,” said Linda Murray, DNP '16, MS '84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN Program, UMSON. To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from Chesapeake and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Assistant professor also serving on board of Bon Secours Hospital ‌Baltimore, Md.– ‌Lori Edwards, DrPH, MPH, BSN ’80, RN, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor, University of Maryland‌ School of Nursing, has been named president-elect of the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators (ACHNE). Edwards, who served as ACHNE’s vice president and program committee chair from 2016-18, will become president in 2020. As president-elect, Edwards, who has been a member of ACHNE since 2008, collaborates with the president while serving as a liaison and ex-officio member of all ACHNE committees. Edwards will also serve as a leading member of the Quad Council Coalition of Public Health Nursing Organizations (QCC). QCC provides voice and visibility for public health nurses; sets a national policy agenda on issues related to public health nursing; and advocates for excellence in public health nursing education, practice, leadership, and research.   "I am thrilled to continue to serve in a leadership capacity for ACHNE. I’m looking forward to this new role and to following in the footsteps of national leaders who have significant legacies,” Edwards said. “As I progress, ACHNE is also moving forward as it has a new health policy committee that aims to empower public health nurses to take the lead in population health and culture of health initiatives. The next few years promise to be very exciting, and we as an association will continue to support our members as we educate future community health nursing leaders."   ACHNE seeks to be recognized as the premier leader in community/public health nursing (C/PH) education and to impact positively local to global population health. It advances population health through quality C/PH nursing education, research, and service.  Additionally, Edwards is currently serving as a member of the board of directors for Bon Secours Baltimore Health System, which includes the acute care hospital in West Baltimore. As a board member, Edwards works closely with the hospital’s president, chief operating officer, chief financial officers, and other hospital leaders.   “We applaud Dr. Edwards for her leadership role in the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators and with the board of the Bon Secours Baltimore Health System,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her ongoing efforts on behalf of these two significant, and very different, organizations speaks volumes about her deep commitment to community and public health education, research, and service. It also serves as an outstanding example of how an individual nurse leader can advance the public good and make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities at the global, national, and local levels.”   As a member of the board, Edwards contributed to assisting hospital leadership assess finances; assist with hiring physicians; evaluate quality and safety data; and review operational procedures. The board also oversees the expansion and implementation of community programs. Edwards’ term on the board ends in 2021.  "It is an honor to be a part of this faith-based, ministry-driven health system that in addition to providing health care has numerous programs that address the social determinants of health in its surrounding communities,” Edwards said. “I am inspired by Bon Secours’ focus on social justice and its commitment to its mission, which is to help those in need. By serving on the board, I have been afforded an excellent opportunity to guide this work and to collaborate with colleagues across multiple disciplines."  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program is tailored to aspiring and new deans. ‌Baltimore, Md.– Jana Goodwin, PhD, RN, CNE, assistant professor and director of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, has been selected to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Leadership for Academic Nursing Program (LANP). Goodwin is preparing to attend a five-day workshop in which she will participate in intensive classes and exercises related to effective academic leadership, July 29-Aug. 2 in Chaska, Minnesota. The AACN-sponsored LANP is an executive leadership fellowship tailored specifically for new and emerging executive administrators who aspire to move into senior administrative or executive positions within the nursing academic unit. The yearlong program is designed to prepare a more diverse, younger pool of leaders to shepherd nursing programs across the globe. This professional development experience encompasses an assessment and evaluation of leadership skills, opportunities for strategic networking and case development, consultation for achieving long-term goals, and identification of key partnerships. Fellows also have mentoring opportunities with an experienced dean. Goodwin is currently responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for the BSN program. She also collaborates with UMSON’s department chairs, faculty, and the Office of Student and Academic Services for curriculum development; faculty mentorship; quality assurance and improvement; program coordination, planning, and evaluation; and student recruitment, retention, and academic progress. “We congratulate Dr. Goodwin on this honor. She is highly regarded as an emerging leader and has demonstrated significant expertise on issues of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence with respect to both learning and practice,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She is committed to preparing the next generation of nursing professionals to deliver care in a culturally appropriate manner and is a true asset to our program. I look forward to her future contributions as a nurse educator and administrative leader.” This year, 49 fellows were selected from across 25 states through a competitive application process to participate in the program. “This is such a great opportunity to be able to participate in a program that focuses on enhancing the leadership skills of nurse educators,” Goodwin said. “The ability to share ideas and to network with other nurse leaders will be an invaluable experience. I believe that the skills and mentorship gained will be essential to my role as the BSN director at the School of Nursing.” AACN is a unique asset for the nation that serves the public interest by setting standards, providing resources, and developing the leadership capacity of member schools to advance nursing education, research, and practice. By 2020, as a driving force for quality health care, AACN will leverage member schools in meeting the demand for innovation and leadership in nursing education, research, and practice. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Chair seeks to build collaborative relationships inside and outside of department. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently appointed Assistant Professor Susan Wozenski, JD, MPH, as chair of the Department of Family and Community Health (FCH). The department’s faculty specialize in community/public health, family, pediatrics, and psychiatric mental health. Wozenski had been serving as interim chair since November 2017. In this role, Wozenski is responsible for hiring and developing quality personnel for faculty and staff roles in the department and for mentoring them and fostering their ongoing success. “I am humbled by the range of expertise and depth of experience of the department’s diverse faculty; their teamwork; and the passion they bring to teaching the next generation, research/scholarship, and practice. I look forward to working with the faculty to further their professional development and strengthening the School of Nursing community,” Wozenski said.  Wozenski was recruited to the University of Maryland, Baltimore as UMSON’s assistant dean for student affairs (1993-2002); since 2003, she has served as FCH’s vice chair. She also holds an appointment as primary faculty for the Master of Public Health (MPH) program, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In 2015, she received the program’s Teaching and Mentoring Award. She also serves as affiliate faculty in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health, School of Public Health, at the University of Maryland, College Park. This year, she received the Dean Jane M. Kirschling Excellence in Leadership Award. Wozenski earned a JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law, an MPH with a concentration in epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, and an AB in Biological Sciences from Mount Holyoke College. “Dr. Wozenski has been an exceptional citizen of the School and University. An excellent teacher, she is a strong advocate for faculty, staff, and student success. I am confident that FCH will continue to thrive under Dr. Wozenski’s leadership as everyone works to meet the School’s and University’s multiple missions,” Kirschling said. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Proulx served at UMSON for more than 40 years. Baltimore, Md. – Joseph R. Proulx, EdD, RN, has been appointed professor emeritus by University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD. Proulx served as a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) for 44 years, 37 at the rank of full professor with tenure. He retired in December 2015. A professor emeritus is a retired faculty member who has demonstrated an exemplary record of service to the School and to the profession. The faculty member must also express a desire to continue to support the School’s mission. “After working for the School of Nursing for over 40 years, I never expected such an honor. To say I was shocked is an understatement. I appreciate Dean Kirschling and all others who made this honor possible,” Proulx said. “There is an old saying from an educator: ‘By your students you shall be taught,’ and indeed, I have learned a lot. I will always treasure the fond memories of my classroom interactions with all of the wonderful students who have crossed my path.” During his tenure at UMSON, Proulx developed and taught graduate core courses for the Health Services Leadership and Management master’s program. He served on the Committee on Appointments, Promotions, and Tenure; Graduate Admissions Committee; Graduate Curriculum Committee; Master’s Program Committee; Specialty Coordinators Committee; and Faculty Council. He was instrumental in designing and implementing the dual-degree offerings for the MS/MBA and the former PhD/MBA from UMSON and the University of Baltimore’s Merrick School of Business, serving as a co-principal. Proulx was also a member of the UMB planning group for an interdisciplinary course on conflict management offered by UMSON and the schools of Medicine, Law, and Social Work. “We congratulate Dr. Proulx on this well-deserved honor. Throughout his career at the School of Nursing, he gave generously of his time through teaching, mentoring students, and service to the School and University,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are very fortunate that Dr. Proulx chose to share his 44-year career with us and that he also shared his considerable expertise with such a wide array of community programs, educational institutions, and professional organizations. It is no surprise that he continues to be much loved by his former students and mentees and highly esteemed by his faculty colleagues.” Regionally, Proulx has shared his expertise as a consultant to other nursing programs, including those at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, MedStar Montgomery Medical Center, the Maryland Institute of Emergency Medical Services Systems, George Mason University, Salisbury University, Georgetown University, and the University of Southeastern Louisiana. He also received the Award for Distinguished Achievement in Nursing Service from Columbia University’s Nursing Education Alumni Association of the Teachers College in 1985, and in 1989, he was named an Honorable Mention for the Outstanding Educator Award from the Maryland Association for Higher Education. Since his retirement, Proulx continues to lecture at UMSON, teaching one class per semester as needed. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Assistant professor to oversee development, implementation, and evaluation of HSLM program. Baltimore, Md. – Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has appointed Assistant Professor Linda Diaconis, PhD, MS ’95, BSN ’92, RN, specialty director of the Health Services Leadership and Management (HSLM) master’s program, effective June 1. “It is an honor to have been appointed, and as an alumna of the program, I know how important it is to build upon the strong foundation of nursing education in preparing our future health care leaders,” Diaconis said. “I am really looking forward to collaborating with colleagues and our partner institutions to foster a teaching and learning environment that inspires students to excel in scholarship and the practice of nursing.” Since her arrival in 2013, Diaconis has been engaged in teaching, research initiatives, and service activities in the HSLM Master of Science specialty, ranked No. 4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. In her new role, Diaconis will maintain the integrity of the HSLM program by providing curricular leadership and guidance. She will also continue to recruit, advise, teach, and mentor students.   “Dr. Diaconis is fully engaged in the mission of our School and is very familiar with the workings of the HSLM specialty,” said Kathleen Michael, PhD, RN, CRRN, associate professor and chair of the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, in which the HSLM program resides. “Over the years, Dr. Diaconis has demonstrated that she is a committed teacher, research co-investigator, committee member, and professional association leader who exercises mature, authentic leadership. She is conscientious by nature, and with her strong attention to detail and ability to work with many personalities to achieve positive results, I am confident that she will be an asset in this important role.” The HSLM master’s specialty prepares students to lead in today’s complex health care environment or to become a nurse educator. Students choose a Leadership and Management, Business, or Education focus and take advantage of practica placements with leaders at hospitals and health care systems, universities and community colleges, national and state agencies, and more. Diaconis earned a PhD in education from the University of Maryland, College Park and Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees from UMSON. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The University of Maryland School of Nursing recently hosted its annual Convocation ceremony at Royal Farms Arena to celebrate the 409 graduates who completed their degrees. UMSON’s Class of 2018 included 201 Bachelor of Science in Nursing, 84 Doctor of Nursing Practice, 104 Master of Science, eight PhDs, and 12 certificate graduates. Read more.

Community college students can take UMSON courses while completing associate degree.  Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Baltimore City Community College (BCCC) recently signed an agreement of dual admission. BCCC becomes the ninth community college in Maryland to sign such an agreement with UMSON. Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program while in BCCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at BCCC and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. “This partnership with UMSON creates a smooth transition for BCCC students who are enrolled in our ADN program to obtain their BSN degree,” said Scott Olden, MS, RN, dean, School of Nursing and Health Professions, BCCC. An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to advance comprehensive health care change. The campaign uses as its framework the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The partnership program specifically addresses one of the eight goals set forth in the report: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “UMSON faculty and staff welcome the opportunity to work with the BCCC community to provide an avenue for its ADN students to earn their BSN degrees,” said Linda Murray, DNP '16, MS '84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN Program, UMSON. “We are looking forward to working together to advise the nursing students at BCCC on how to successfully enhance their skills as they progress through the program.” To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from BCCC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

A gift of $10 million from Bill and Joanne Conway, through their Bedford Falls Foundation, will enable the University of Maryland School of Nursing to provide scholarships to nearly 350 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees and aid in addressing the state’s nursing workforce needs. Maryland is one of four states in the nation anticipated to experience a shortage of 10,000 or more registered nurses by 2025. Read more.

State representatives advocate for the interests of AANP. Baltimore, Md. – Veronica Gutchell, DNP ’13, CNS, CRNP, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been elected as the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) representative for the state of Maryland. Her term begins July 1 at the close of AANP’s national conference in Denver. ‌In this role, Gutchell will represent the interests of AANP, its members, and the community at large. She will also function as the key state contact person for the AANP regional director, Board of Directors, committees, and executive staff. “It is an honor to have been elected as a Maryland state representative. I’m excited to act as a liaison between Maryland nurse practitioners and AANP,” Gutchell said. “I will collaborate with state organizations on issues affecting nurse practitioners and offer solutions by connecting them with the available resources provided by the national organization. In turn, I will share with AANP the outstanding work being done by Maryland nurse practitioners who are committed to delivering high-quality health care to Maryland residents.” AANP is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of more than 248,000 licensed NPs in the United States. It also provides legislative leadership at the local, state, and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education, and research; and establishing standards that best serve NP patients and other health care consumers. Serving as the voice of the NP, AANP represents the interests of NPs as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered health care. “We congratulate Dr. Gutchell on being elected the AANP representative for Maryland,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She has demonstrated her deep commitment to advanced practice nursing and will do an outstanding job as a liaison between our state and the national organization. Dr. Gutchell represents nurse leadership at its finest, and I know that in her new role, we will all benefit from her ability to translate the experiences and interests of Maryland’s nurse practitioners to leaders at the regional and national level.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Annual award is given to nurse practitioner for participation in health care policy development. Baltimore, Md. – Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named the recipient of the 2018 Loretta C. Ford Award for Advancement of the Nurse Practitioner Role in Health Care. She will be honored at the Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Induction Ceremony on June 28 during the organization’s national conference in Denver. ‌The Loretta C. Ford Award is presented annually to a nurse practitioner who demonstrates participation in health care policy development internationally, nationally, or locally. Additionally, the award winner has shown a sustained and specific contribution to clarification of the role and scope of practice of nurse practitioners and/or creative and effective action to turn a challenge to the nurse practitioner role into an effective opportunity to advance practice and improve patient outcomes. “We congratulate Dr. Resnick on her receipt of this prestigious award,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her innovative and rigorously conducted research has significantly enhanced our understanding of how to optimize function in older adults. Dr. Resnick is an outstanding example of leadership in nursing research and practice, and it is wonderful to see her recognized by AANP for her impact on the care of countless individuals and on policy.” AANP honors Resnick, a gerontological nurse practitioner, nurse researcher/scientist, and educator, for influencing the role and scope of practice of gerontological nurse practitioners and other nurse practitioners through her leadership at local, national, and international levels. As a scientist, Resnick has focused her research on optimizing function and physical activity among older adults and facilitating healthy behaviors in this population across care settings. Her work has global significance to stakeholders across disciplines. Additionally, Resnick has been instrumental in helping nurse practitioners gain the ability to bill Medicare for services provided across all settings. “It is an honor to receive this award, and I am particularly touched to have been nominated by a group of my colleagues,” Resnick said. “This award reflects on my work as a nurse practitioner and my work in interdisciplinary care and geriatrics. The work I’ve been involved with is particularly important as it has laid the foundation for the role of the advanced practice nurse among other members of the health care team.” AANP is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners of all specialties. It represents the interests of the more than 248,000 licensed nurse practitioners in the United States. AANP provides legislative leadership at the local, state, and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve nurse practitioner patients and other health care consumers. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD, received the Commitment to Community Award from Paul’s Place, the Southwest Baltimore community outreach center that has transformed lives for more than three decades. Read more.

UMSON Nursing Informatics specialty still No. 1 in the nation. Baltimore, Md. – In the newly released 2019 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is included in the top 10 nationally for all ranked master’s and DNP specialties. The School’s master’s-level Nursing Informatics specialty remains No. 1 in the nation. UMSON’s overall Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is ranked at No. 8 with the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty ascending to No. 3. Its Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner – Family, Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia round out its top-10 DNP specialty rankings. The Nurse Anesthesia specialty rankings were released in the 2017 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” and will be in effect until 2021.  In addition, two master’s specialties — the Clinical Nurse Leader option and Nursing Administration, which represents UMSON’s Health Services Leadership and Management specialty — join Nursing Informatics in the top five. In 2010, the Institute of Medicine’s report on The Future of Nursing called on schools of nursing nationwide to double the number of nurses with a doctoral degree. UMSON’s DNP program, launched in 2006, has grown significantly over the past five years, currently enrolling 473 students, which is up from 89 students in 2013. Nurse practitioners are answering the call to provide more of the nation’s primary care services, especially in rural and underserved areas, and UMSON’s DNP program prepares nurses to deliver complex care across the lifespan and to improve patient outcomes through the translation of research into practice. “It is gratifying to continue to be recognized nationally for our master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs and to have our numerous specialty areas receive recognition in the top 10,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “These rankings are a testament to the commitment of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni to excellence in nursing education, research, and practice. The School of Nursing continues to play an important role in state and national efforts to increase the number of nurses with advanced degrees; we believe this is essential to ensuring that nurses are well prepared to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse communities within a rapidly changing health care environment.” Rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including student selectivity and program size, faculty resources, and research activity, and on survey data from deans of schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the United States and is in the top 10 nationally for all of its ranked master’s and DNP specialties. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

By Kevin Nash As the nation’s Baby Boomers continue to age, there is a critical need for nurses. Maryland is one of four states in the country predicted to experience a shortage of 10,000 registered nurses or more by 2025.    In response, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) is working with WorkSource Montgomery (WSM) and the Healthcare Initiative Foundation (HIF) to combat the projected nursing shortage in Montgomery County, home to USG’s Rockville location. WSM, a public-private partnership that convenes key stakeholders to create an innovative workforce system approach for sustainable, industry-driven talent solutions in Montgomery County, Maryland, was awarded a two-year, $200,000 extension of the Rx for Employability grant from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation to fund the Employment Advancement Right Now (EARN) grant. The grant aims to accelerate the pipeline of Montgomery County residents earning their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree while addressing the critical nursing shortage in the county.  “BSN nurses are now preferred by the majority of hospitals and health care agencies, and most of our graduates seek employment within the region. These monies are an excellent investment in the area’s workforce,” said Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of UMSON at USG. “We are very appreciative of the efforts of WorkSource Montgomery and the Healthcare Initiative Foundation in providing scholarship funding for our students. These funds can make the difference as to whether a student can attend our program on a full-time versus part-time basis.” HIF supports organizations that offer solutions to improve the quality and delivery of health care for Montgomery County residents while providing a high-quality, comprehensive, cost-effective, and sustainable health care system. In 2011, HIF and UMSON began working together, forming an RN-to-BSN workforce pipeline scholarship program. Now, WSM has joined the team, providing funds through the EARN scholarship to supplement tuition support for more than 60 UMSON BSN students at USG. “We are excited about the opportunity to further expand our BSN pipeline with USG in collaboration with WorkSource Montgomery though the Maryland EARN grant,” said Crystal Townsend, president of HIF. “One of HIF’s investment priorities is to develop a highly skilled health care workforce to meet the health and wellness needs for all Montgomery County residents. The nursing workforce pipeline supported through this collaborative partnership helps us meet this vision for our community.” Since 2013, UMSON has increased enrollment by 27 percent in its traditional BSN and its RN-to-BSN programs at its Baltimore and USG locations in response to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which calls for increasing the proportion of nurses with a bachelor’s degree to 80 percent by 2020. Currently, approximately 55 percent of nurses nationwide are educated at the baccalaureate level or higher. Funding from the EARN Scholarship is one of many ways UMSON nursing students are being supported in their efforts to complete their baccalaureate education.   “As we work to expand the number of nursing graduates at all levels, we need to increase the number of nurses educated at the baccalaureate level or higher,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Supporting new students or practicing nurses in obtaining their BSN degrees is critical to ensuring that we will have a nursing workforce that can meet the needs of our patients, their families, and our communities in the years ahead. This scholarship support is an important component of addressing that need, and we are deeply appreciative.” Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to rise 15 percent nationwide over the next decade.

Community college students can take UMSON courses while completing associate degree.  Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Harford Community College (HCC) in Bel Air, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from HCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. HCC becomes the eighth community college in Maryland to sign such an agreement with UMSON. ‌Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s BSN program while in HCC’s ADN program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at HCC and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. “We encourage all of our nursing students to determine their career goals early in their nursing education and develop an academic progression plan,” said Laura Cianelli Preston, dean, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, HCC. “This partnership adds to our students’ options in taking the next step in advancing their nursing degree.” An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to advance comprehensive health care change. The campaign uses as its framework the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The partnership program specifically addresses one of the eight goals set forth in the report: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “We are excited to begin this partnership with Harford Community College. It will provide ADN students at Harford Community College with a flexible BSN degree option for continuing their education,” said Linda Murray, DNP '16, MS '84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director, RN-to-BSN Program, UMSON. “This option provides them with a seamless transition to the BSN, as it enables them to work on prerequisites or take UMSON courses while enrolled in their prelicensure program.” To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from HCC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling nearly 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

By Kevin Nash Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS; Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN; E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA; Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, CENP, FAAN; Jay A. Perman, MD; and Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, cut the ribbon for the new Standardized Patient Program facility housed in the School of Nursing.   Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, and leaders of the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the University of Maryland Medical Center on March 1 officially opened a new and expanded Standardized Patient Program (SPP) facility — a collaboration of the University of Maryland Schools of Medicine and Nursing — that prepares students to provide the highest quality patient care and fosters interprofessional education. Kirschling was joined by UMB President Jay A. Perman, MD; E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, executive vice president for medical affairs, University of Maryland, Baltimore, and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and dean, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM); and Mohan Suntha, MD, MBA, president and chief executive officer, University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), University and Midtown Campuses, in discussing the history and benefits of the facility during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place just outside of the facility’s entrance on the second floor of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). UMSON alumna Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, CENP, FAAN, chief nurse executive, University of Maryland Medical System, and senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer, UMMC, and Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, executive vice president, provost, and dean of the Graduate School, University of Maryland, Baltimore, joined the others as they cut the ribbon on the expanded and enhanced facilities where learners from the University and across the region can refine their clinical and communication skills with professional standardized patients (SP). SPs are “trained patients” who offer learners an opportunity to practice history and physical exam skills or who present patient/client case scenarios in a clinical setting. Through SP encounters, learners gain essential experiences that are critical to preparing them for clinical practice and for building a skilled workforce and improving health care outcomes. The encounters are controlled, making them safe for both the student and the SP, and can be reproduced consistently for ongoing standardized assessment and instruction. “Today, we are celebrating our new and expanded state-of-the-art facilities for the Standardized Patient Program in large measure because of the exceptional partnership that the schools of Medicine and Nursing have with the University of Maryland Medical Center,” Kirschling said. “The Medical Center’s generosity and shared vision for educating the next generation of health professionals will ensure that our students receive top-notch training to deliver the highest quality of care to the residents of Maryland and our region.” In 2016, UMMC opened a new urgent care center on UMSON’s first floor, using the space that the SPP — at that time known as the Clinical Education and Evaluation Laboratory — previously occupied. As a result, the laboratory needed a new home. Through funding from UMMC, the lab was upgraded and relocated to the second floor. “These partnerships are foundational to how we accomplish our vision. We are ecstatic to be able to support such an important initiative,” Suntha said. “I love the fact that the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the University of Maryland Medical Center are leading what should be the national approach to how we think about innovation in education.”  The new facility boasts an environment that looks like a real clinic or hospital setting with eight outpatient exam rooms, four dedicated inpatient spaces, and two counseling rooms. It also offers enhanced realism for SP encounters through a conscious approach to organizational design so that learners and SPs do not cross paths before their encounters. “We know with certainty how important standardized patient programs are to high-quality education in health professions, and I’ve seen the power of standardized patients again and again,” Perman said. “I not only see how standardized patients make our students better, but also how they make the education that we provide our students better. Facilities like these are how we prepare competent, compassionate professionals.” Additionally, the facility features improved audio/visual capabilities with high-definition cameras, contemporary clinical equipment in the exam rooms, a small-group learning space with equipment for recording, and an SP training room with equipment to record trainings. UMB’s Standardized Patient Program provides clinical education to medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, genetics counseling, physical therapy, and other health program students. The University also makes its facilities available for training of other health care personnel, such as paramedics and physician assistants, and to other colleges and universities in the region. “We often talk about collaboration — this epitomizes effective teamwork, which will be to the benefit of our patients,” Reece said. “The Standardized Patient Program led by the schools of Nursing and Medicine represents that level of collaboration.” The program employs more than 120 SPs, of which 65 percent are trained actors. In 2017, the SPP facilitated more than 13,000 learner contacts and hosted more than 500 SP events.

By Kevin Nash As part of their coursework in preparation for graduating from the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, students submit poster presentation abstracts on various health topics to national nursing organizations. Eight UMSON DNP students — Kelly Allen, BSN, RN, CCRN; Sharon Ballinger, BSN, RN, CCRN; Eugena Bergvall, BSN, RN, CCRN, CNRN; George Bigalbal, BSN, RN, CEN; Jamie Bowman, BSN '12, RN; Ajibola Ibironke, BSN '11, RN, CCRN; Megan Lucciola, BSN, RN, CMSRN; and Theresa Nowak, BSN, RN, CCRN — had their abstracts accepted to several upcoming national nursing organization conferences. In developing their abstracts, DNP students in Diagnosis and Management 5: Advanced Practice/Clinical Nurse Specialist Roles in Health Care Delivery Systems were asked to select a national nursing organization to which to submit a poster presentation abstract, review the organization’s abstract submission guidelines, and describe how and why they identified the health care need or topic they focused on. Assistant Professors Maranda Jackson-Parkin, PhD, CRNP-BC, ACNP, CCNS, CCRN-K, and Alicia Williams, DNP, RN, MBA, ACNP-BC, CCNS, served as mentors. Some students’ presentations were accepted to multiple conferences. “Having so many of our students have their abstracts accepted at national conferences demonstrates the dedication of our students and their faculty mentors to advancing the practice of nursing and is the reason UMSON is a top-10 DNP program,” said Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP program. “Much like any of the other skills our advanced practice registered nurse students learn, dissemination takes practice. Presenting at these conferences will set the stage for lifelong scholarship.” Allen will be presenting “Using Clinical Data to Design Nurse Education for Expansion of Oncology Services” at the Oncology Nursing Society’s 43rd Annual Congress, May 17-20, in Washington, D.C. The abstract will also be published in an online issue of Oncology Nursing Forum. In addition, Allen had a second abstract, “Translation of a Vascular Specific Cardiac Risk Stratification Tool into Practice for Patients Undergoing Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair,” accepted for display, this time at the Society for Vascular Nursing 36th Annual Conference, June 20-21, in Boston. Ibironke also had two abstracts accepted. She will present “Effectiveness of Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (QSOFA) as Sepsis Screening Tool in the Emergency Department (ED)” as a podium presentation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s 3rd Annual Nursing Evidence-Based Practice and Research Conference on March 8 in Washington, D.C. The same abstract was also accepted to the 6th International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Disease, May 21-22 in New York City. Additionally, Ballinger, Bergvall, Bigalbal, Bowman,Lucciola, and Nowak all will present their posters at the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists’ annual conference, Feb. 28-March 3 in Austin, Texas.

MEDIA ADVISORY  WHAT:    Standardized Patient Program Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony The University of Maryland Schools of Nursing and Medicine opened an expanded and enhanced facility where learners from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and across the region refine their clinical and communication skills with professional standardized patients (SP).  Since its original launch in 2000, the Schools have collaborated on the standardized patient program. SPs are “trained patients” who offer learners an opportunity to practice history and physical exam skills or who present patient/client case scenarios in a clinical setting. The program uses more than 120 SPs – 65 percent are trained actors. UMB’s new interprofessional facility offers enhanced realism of SP encounters through a conscious approach to organizational design so that learners and SPs do not cross paths before their encounters and an environment that looks like a real clinic or hospital setting. The facility also features improved audio/visual capabilities with high-definition cameras, contemporary clinical equipment in the exam rooms, a small-group learning space with equipment for recording, and an SP training room with equipment to record trainings. Through SP encounters, learners gain essential experiences that are critical to preparing them for clinical practice and for building a skilled workforce and improving health care outcomes. The encounters are controlled, making them safe for both the student and the SP, and can be reproduced consistently for ongoing standardized assessment and instruction. UMB’s Standardized Patient Program provides clinical education to medicine, nursing, pharmacy, social work, genetics counseling, physical therapy, and other health program students. In addition, UMB makes its facilities available for the training of other health personnel such as paramedics and physician assistants and to other colleges and universities in the region. Following the ceremony, SPs and students will offer tours of the facility. WHEN:                           3:30 p.m., Thursday, March 1                                                            WHERE:                          University of Maryland School of Nursing Museum Lobby, Second Floor                                           655 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201 # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program facilitates global health opportunities for students. Baltimore, Md. – Four University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) students have been awarded grants to participate in the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Center for Global Education Initiatives (CGEI) grant program, which supports students traveling abroad this summer to various destinations to participate in global health initiative projects. Clinical Nurse Leader master’s student Elyse DeLaittre; Bachelor of Science in Nursing students Julie Factor and Sarah Litts; and PhD student Amy Nelson received grants to participate in various projects. CGEI is also providing guidance to the students regarding travel planning, cultural preparation, funding resources, and safety and security. “We are very excited for Amy, Sarah, Elyse, and Julie. Traveling to another country to address critical global health challenges forces our students to shift their cultural stances and opens their eyes to other ways of providing health care,” said Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, CRNP-Neonatal, assistant professor and director, UMSON Office of Global Health. “Global health service-learning experiences are important pathways for bi-directional learning and are often transformational experiences. Nelson and Litts will travel to Costa Rica with four other UMB students and three faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Law to participate in the project “A comparative analysis of emerging infectious disease outbreak preparedness and response in Costa Rica and the U.S.” The team will examine how the U.S. and Costa Rican governments responded to the 2016 Zika outbreak from clinical, pharmaceutical, health care, and community perspectives; compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of the two different approaches; and assist in conceptualizing how to implement in the United States successful practices used abroad, while overcoming potential barriers. Additionally, students will learn how to engage the community during infectious disease outbreaks. DeLaittre, three other UMB students, and two faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) will travel to The Gambia to participate in the project “Health system strengthening in The Gambia: A continuation of prior work.” This project will build upon the foundational work laid in previous UMB visits in 2014 and 2016, with the aim of providing local Gambian health leaders with the knowledge and resources to fortify the country’s health system. Previously, UMB has served as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health in support of WHO’s Global Plan of Action on Worker’s Health. The team will provide technical expertise and content knowledge focused on the health care environment to assist low-to-middle income countries in implementing practices to ensure basic worker protections. Additionally, the group will work to prioritize and implement health care worker protections as one pillar of health system strengthening and sustainability. Factor, two other UMB students, and an UMSOM faculty member will go to Rwanda to participate in the project “First assessment of injection drug use practices and associated HIV risks in Kigali, Rwanda.” Students will partner with a team of Rwandan medical and nursing students to develop a survey to implement a pilot study at a clinical site in Kigali. The team will seek to ascertain the prevalence and associated behaviors for injection drug use in addition to processing data and presenting the results at an international infectious disease conference. UMSON’s Office of Global Health predominantly focuses on nursing students, while CGEI is a campuswide academic resource center for UMB faculty and students who are interested in global education opportunities. CGEI promotes and supports interprofessional global education, identifies global themes that can be contextualized locally, and facilitates academic work related to global education. “The summer grants program spearheaded by the Center for Global Education Initiatives provides an extraordinary opportunity for our nursing students to join other UMB students and faculty in interprofessional learning opportunities within a global context,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Our students will participate in what will undoubtedly be an incredible learning and service experience that reflects our commitment to interprofessional education and to diversity and inclusion.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON demonstrating commitment to sustainable practices. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been accepted to the Maryland Green Registry, a free, voluntary program that offers tips and resources to help businesses and other organizations set and meet their own goals on the path to sustainability. Members are required to demonstrate that they have shared information about a minimum of five environmental practices at their facility and must provide a measurable result for at least one of the practices. For example, in fall 2006, UMSON instituted a pay-for-print system in student computer labs and dropped the number of student computer labs from four to one, decreasing the School’s monthly use of printing paper from 1.5 cases per week to three reams per week. And in 2017, UMSON adopted a desktop printer policy for faculty and staff, which has reduced toner cartridge use from 500 per year to 35. Also in 2017, the School implemented a climate change elective, an online, interdisciplinary elective course on climate change, thanks to a grant from the MADE CLEAR organization. Additionally, UMSON implemented water bottle-filling stations about four years ago. “At our institution, we are doing what we can to improve the environment and create sustainability, both through education and action,” said Robyn Gilden, PhD ’10, MS ’01, RN, assistant professor and chair of UMSON’s Climate Change Committee. “We are focused on reducing UMSON’s negative impact on the environment, and it is important to show that the nursing profession is leading the way towards safer and healthier communities and workplaces.” As a registry member, UMSON has the opportunity to increase the visibility of its environmental efforts through the registry’s website; to have access to free information and technical assistance for implementing new environmental best practices; and to receive information about webinars and conferences to help continue its greening efforts. Additionally, UMSON is eligible for the annual Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has welcomed four new faculty for the spring 2018 semester. Three of the four join the growing faculty at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Maryland, where UMSON offers its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and RN-to-BSN programs and its Doctor of Nursing Practice Family Nurse Practitioner specialty, supporting nursing workforce development in the Washington, D.C., capital region. New to UMSON are: Kimberly Callender, DNP, APRN-BC, assistant professor, Universities at Shady Grove Tolvalyn Dennison, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, clinical instructor, Universities at Shady Grove Chinyere Obasi, BSN, RN, nursing simulation training specialist, Universities at Shady Grove Tonya Schneidereith, PhD, CRNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNE, CHSE, associate professor, Partnerships, Professional Education, & Practice UMSON proudly extends a warm welcome to these faculty. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Pamela V. Hammond, RN, PhD, ScD (hon), MS '78, FAAN, ANEF, one of UMSON's 25 inaugural visionary pioneers, entertained and enlightened a crowd at the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Black History Month celebration Feb. 1 with her presentation “Would Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Take a Knee?" And she didn’t mention the National Football League once. Read more.

Grant assists with educational and professional expenses. Baltimore, Md. – Michelle Moulton, MS ’09, RN, PCCN-K, CHSE, clinical instructor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a $20,000 Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant for Practice and Dissertation Research. This competitive grant program is designed to assist PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates by helping to cover costs associated with graduate education expenses; professional development; course release time; research-related administrative support; and project-related expenses for supplies, travel, and document creation. Its goals are to increase the number of doctorally prepared nursing faculty in Maryland, to strengthen faculty development for optimal capacity at schools of nursing, and to recruit and retain a diverse nursing faculty.  “The Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Nurse Support Program II funding has been a wonderful resource to facilitate the achievement of my academic goals. I am honored and grateful to have received the Nursing Education Doctoral Grant,” Moulton said. “Primarily, the award will assist in relieving student loan debt and, in addition, will provide funding to support the completion of my Doctor of Nursing Practice project.” NEDG is part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. It helps increase Maryland’s nursing capacity by supporting initiatives that advance the recommendations outlined in the Institute of Medicine’s report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. “We are extremely grateful for this important support to faculty pursuing doctoral degrees. The NEDG program responds to the critical need to increase the number of faculty with advanced degrees and to ensure a highly educated nursing workforce for the future,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We congratulate Ms. Moulton on her award and look forward to her ongoing contributions to teaching and research at UMSON, in particular through her work in the areas of clinical simulation and interprofessional education and practice.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Specialty director to oversee academic trajectory of DNP students. Baltimore, Md. – Susan L. Bindon, DNP ’11, MS ’95, RN-BC, CNE, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been appointed specialty director of UMSON’s Post-Master's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) option. Bindon has been a member of UMSON’s faculty since 2011. In her new role, Bindon is responsible for providing curricular leadership for DNP core coursework and overseeing the academic trajectory of approximately100 post-master’s DNP students. She will also provide leadership in program coordination; curriculum planning; and student recruitment, retention, and advisement. “I’m happy to begin this new role working with the post-master’s DNP students and faculty,” Bindon said. “Our DNP graduates have made remarkable impacts on patient outcomes, systems leadership, policy, and education. I look forward to seeing their influence continue to grow." The new specialty director maintains a faculty practice at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Center for Professional Practice and Development. She is certified as both an academic and hospital-based educator. “Dr. Bindon has an extensive clinical, professional development, and academic background, including teaching in clinical, classroom, and online environments, which makes her an excellent fit for this position,” said Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP program. “She has a passion for developing others and an amazing ability to think creatively. Her leadership skills make me confident that she will excel in her new role.” Bindon earned a DNP, master’s degree, and post-graduate teaching certificate from UMSON and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Pittsburgh. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation announces fifth and final cohort for innovative program. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is one of 31 schools of nursing nationwide selected to receive a grant aimed to increase the number of nurses holding PhDs. The selected schools compose the fifth cohort of grantees of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Future of Nursing Scholars program, which provides financial support, mentoring, and leadership development to nurses who commit to earning their PhDs in three years. UMSON has received a $150,000 grant to award two nursing students with this prestigious scholarship. “Our fifth cohort of scholars will join an impressive group of nurse researchers who are already making significant contributions to the field. This program is designed to empower nurse leaders to progress efficiently. The selected scholars will complete their PhDs in an expedited, three-year time frame,” said Julie Fairman, PhD, RN, FAAN, Future of Nursing Scholars program co-director and Nightingale Professor of Nursing and chair of the Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. In its landmark nursing report, the Institute of Medicine recommended doubling the number of nurses with doctorates. While enrollment in Doctor of Nursing Practice programs has increased exponentially, PhD program enrollment has seen less growth. Increasing the number of nurses with PhDs can help ensure that more nurses are conducting vital research and will also help address the nurse faculty shortage. “When this program concludes, we will have graduated more than 200 PhD-prepared nurses. RWJF is thrilled to see the program succeed so well, and we are very thankful for the other funders who have joined us in support of this work,” said Susan Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, co-director of the program and RWJF’s senior adviser for nursing. In addition to the $75,000 per scholar that UMSON has received from RWJF, the School of Nursing will provide matching funds of $50,000 per scholar from an endowed fund for educational assistance. UMSON will select its two scholars this spring, and the students will attend a boot camp with the Future of Nursing Scholars program this summer and begin their PhD studies this fall. “We are thrilled to be able to have two PhD students participate in this cohort of the Future of Nursing Scholars program and are grateful to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the other funders for establishing such a robust program of financial support, interdisciplinary mentoring, and networking,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “There is a critical need for additional PhD-prepared nurses to lead in the spheres of research, education, practice, and policy and address the challenges of our health care system to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of our patients and society at large in the years ahead.” For more than 40 years, RWJF has worked to improve the health and health care of all Americans.The organization is striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Family and friends packed the Hippodrome Theater on Dec. 18 to celebrate UMSON's summer and fall 2017 graduates, including 197 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 11 Doctor of Nursing Practice, 40 Master of Science, 55 Clinical Nurse Leader, and eight certificate graduates. Keynote speaker Marla Oros, MS, BSN ’84, RN, president, Mosaic Group, told graduates and their guests that despite the changing, challenging, and even chaotic times we live in, she is optimistic about the future of health care. Oros implored the graduating nurses to believe that their time is now. Fifty-eight of the BSN degrees were conferred to students at the Universities at Shady Grove, where keynote speaker Joan Vincent, MSN, MS, RN, NEA-BC, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, addressed graduates in a similar ceremony on Dec. 15. Read more.

Articulation agreement revision received unanimous support. Baltimore, Md. – Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), served as project coordinator for the recently revised Maryland Nursing Articulation Plan. The original Maryland Nursing Articulation Plan, which dates back to 1985, set the stage for several other articulation plans in the state of Maryland. “The articulation model serves as a roadmap for colleges and universities as they plan and provide academic progression models for registered nurses. It allows us to adequately address the barriers encountered by registered nurses as they continue their education, which is crucial as we strive to adhere to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing recommended goal of 80 percent of registered nurses prepared at the Bachelor of Science level by 2020,” Wiseman said. “The revision to the Maryland articulation plan reflects the current practices in transfer of credits, prerequisite requirements, and dual admission/dual enrollment programs.” Maryland is one of four states predicted to experience a shortage of 10,000 registered nurses or more by 2025. Through the Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC), formed in 2011 in response to the IOM report, the state has been promoting seamless academic progression to baccalaureate programs as a solution and top priority. In response, the dual-admission articulation model was created, allowing students to apply and be admitted to a Bachelor of Science (BSN) program while in an Associate Degree in Nursing program at a community college. These new approaches and commitments to academic progression models needed to be reflected in the articulation plan to assure consistency across colleges and universities. In 2015, Wiseman solicited the Maryland Council of Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs (MCDDNP), currently chaired by Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program at UMSON, to form a work group to review the articulation plan. Wiseman led the six-member group in discussing and revising the plan. “Dr. Wiseman was instrumental in coordinating the Maryland Council of Deans and Directors of Nursing Programs to develop an articulation document that more accurately supports nursing education and, specifically, the attainment of the BSN,” Trocky said. “MCDDNP is committed to developing a competent nursing workforce who provides high-quality care to the citizens of Maryland. This revision minimizes barriers to academic progression, thereby supporting this goal.” The work group presented a final draft of the revised articulation agreement to the MCDDNP in December 2016, and after review, a subgroup submitted recommendations to MCDDNP in February 2017. In May 2017, MCDDNP members voted on the revision, resulting in 100-percent acceptance. The Maryland Higher Education Commission endorsed the articulation agreement in November. “Drs. Wiseman and Trocky are to be commended for their forward thinking and tireless efforts in actualizing the 2017 Maryland Nursing Education Articulation Agreement for the Maryland Higher Education Commission. MDAC has focused on ensuring that the state has a well-educated nursing workforce,” said MDAC co-lead Patricia Travis, PhD ’99, MS ’76, BSN ’69, RN, CCRP, senior associate director, clinical research, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.“ Although the newly released HRSA report for 2014-30 projects that Maryland is no longer in danger of experiencing a shortage of registered nurses, the future is still uncertain. Promoting seamless academic progression is one strategy to meet Maryland’s upcoming nursing demands.” The effort to revise the Maryland Nursing Articulation Plan was funded through grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP’s Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action State Implementation Plan IV and the Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Nurse Support Program II. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is currently incurable. Baltimore, Md. – Chris Ward, PhD, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a five-year, $2,589,060 grant from the National Institutes of Health for the research project “Microtubule Regulated Mechanotransduction in Skeletal Muscle.” This research project builds upon Ward and his team’s previous work investigating Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). DMD is a devastating, degenerative muscle disease caused by a mutation in the dystrophin gene, resulting in the absence or reduction of the dystrophin protein. Through this disease, muscle becomes fragile and easily damaged, which predisposes the patient to muscle loss and respiratory and cardiac dysfunction, leading to premature death. “Currently there is no genetic cure for DMD. Until effective genetic therapies become available, we are focusing on identifying dysregulated pathways responsible for disease progression,” Ward said. “Our ultimate goal is to design pharmacological interventions to halt or slow the progression of DMD.” Through examining DMD heart and skeletal muscle, Ward and his team have discovered that alterations in microtubules lead to an excess of calcium and reactive oxygen signals that are responsible for disease pathology. The NIH grant will enable the team to define the mechanisms that alter the microtubules in DMD muscle and determine if pharmacological ‌strategies targeting microtubules are effective in treating this devastating disease. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Faculty and students from the University of Maryland School of Nursing have spread their reach beyond Baltimore as participants in programs offered through University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Office of Global Health. They recently shared their experiences from around the world during the ninth annual “Global Health on the Ground: Students & Faculty Reflections from the Field.” The event featured student and faculty accomplishments from field placements in Brazil, Liberia, Nigeria, and Rwanda. Read more.

A University of Maryland, Baltimore-led clinic has begun helping patients who are discharged from the University of Maryland Prince George’s County Hospital Center to succeed in their transitions from hospital or the emergency department to home by addressing circumstances that could harm their health and lead to readmissions. The new Interprofessional Care Transitions Clinic (ICTC) in Cheverly, Maryland, is designed to expand access and continuity of care for Medicare, Medicaid, and newly insured patients who lack access to a primary care provider by addressing that gap after their discharge. To facilitate patients’ linkages to providers within the community, the ICTC combines the clinic and two UMB-managed resources: the Governor’s Wellmobile operated by the UM School of Nursing and the e-Health Center operated by the UM School of Pharmacy. The clinic is an interprofessional, team-based program that includes pharmacists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and lawyers. Read more.

Community college students can take UMSON courses while completing associate degree. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Prince George’s Community College (PGCC) in Largo, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from PGCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s BSN program while in PGCC’s ADN program. Students will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at PGCC and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. “This dual admission agreement offers a remarkable opportunity for our nursing students to begin the pursuit of their BSN while simultaneously completing their ADN program,” said Angela D. Anderson, dean of Health, Business, and Public Service at PGCC. “We value our partnership and look forward to working with UMSON on this and future initiatives.” An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to advance comprehensive health care change. The campaign uses as its framework the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The partnership program specifically addresses one of the eight goals set forth in the report: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “Our partnership with Prince George’s Community College is exciting for the University of Maryland School of Nursing. It provides ADN students at the community college with a flexible option for obtaining their BSN degree as they work on prerequisites or take UMSON courses while still enrolled in their prelicensure program,” said Linda Murray, DNP '16, MS '84, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director of the RN-to-BSN program at UMSON. “The partnership will assist with increasing the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in Maryland.” To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from PGCC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore has placed a high priority on interprofessional education (IPE), and its importance is recognized in the University's 2017-2021 Strategic Plan. Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing, and a professor from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, are in Year 2 of a three-year project, “Interprofessional Care in Geriatrics Program: Applying Evidence to Clinical Practice.” The project focuses on meeting the needs of elderly residents in the Mount Clare senior housing facility in West Baltimore. Read more.

UMSON’s Anesthesia Specialty is in 100 percent compliance with COA’s standards. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia specialty has been granted continued accreditation for 10 years from the Council on Accreditation (COA). “I am thrilled, but am not at all surprised, that the COA awarded UMSON’s Nurse Anesthesia program full accreditation. It is not often that the COA awards a program full, 10-year accreditation with no progress report required,” said Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, FAANP, FAAN, associate professor and associate dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program. “It is something to be proud of and speaks to the quality, integrity, and performance of our program, faculty, and students. Our faculty are extremely dedicated to our Nurse Anesthesia program and students, and with support from our many health care partners, we graduate some of the best nurse anesthetists in the world.” UMSON’s Nurse Anesthesia specialty, which was found to be in 100 percent compliance with the standards, was granted accreditation with no annual progress report required, which is rarely granted. Even fewer programs achieve the maximum accreditation of 10 years. Although UMSON is not required to submit an annual progress report, it does need to submit faculty and student online evaluations in spring 2022. The Nurse Anesthesia specialty is next scheduled for consideration for continued accreditation in fall 2027. “I am extremely proud of the fact that our program was in 100 percent compliance with the standards,” said Joseph E. Pellegrini, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, director of the Nurse Anesthesia specialty. “This is a testament to the outstanding faculty, students, and staff who support and facilitate this program.” COA is an accrediting agency that grants public recognition to nurse anesthesia programs and institutions in the United States that award post-master’s certificates and master’s and doctoral degrees that meet nationally established standards of academic quality. It also assists programs and institutions in improving educational quality. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON provides pipeline of nurses for Shady Grove Medical Center. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) in Rockville, Maryland, was presented with the Adventist HealthCare Spirit of Partnership Award at the organization’s gala on Nov. 18. Through the award, Adventist HealthCare recognizes individuals and organizations who have led the way in furthering its mission through their commitment to health care and improving lives. UMSON at USG was honored for the strong partnership it has formed with Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center and Washington Adventist Hospital over the years. The School of Nursing has provided Adventist HealthCare with the most nursing residents of any nursing school which has helped to build a pipeline to the medical center of nurses who deliver high-quality, compassionate care. Adventist and UMSON at USG work in tandem to ensure nursing students gain hands-on experience while completing their senior practicum, including 180 hours at the bedside with a nurse who guides the student’s clinical practice. On average, eight School of Nursing students complete their practicum at Shady Grove Medical Center each semester. Additionally, students finishing their junior year at UMSON at USG serve as externs in Adventist’s externship program, which prepares students to succeed in the residency program in the future. “Adventist HealthCare is a very strong supporter and partner of the nursing school program at USG. Our students have been welcomed in all areas of the enterprise, and in turn, many of our graduates have chosen to begin their nursing careers at the various Adventist Health entities,” said Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s program at USG. “It is a pleasure to work with a quality-driven organization that continually strives for excellence in meeting the health care needs of Montgomery County.” Shady Grove Medical Center, a not-for-profit, 305-bed, acute-care facility in Rockville is a part of Adventist HealthCare’s system of health care services. It is nationally recognized for cancer care, cardiac and vascular services, orthopedics, and joint replacement. Adventist HealthCare, based in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization of dedicated professionals who work together each day to provide excellent wellness, disease management, and health care services to the community. “We are thrilled that the School of Nursing program at the Universities at Shady Grove has been recognized by this distinguished award from Adventist HealthCare,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We have a longstanding and shared commitment to bringing excellent nursing care to individuals and families throughout Montgomery County and the region. We are deeply appreciative of our partnership with Adventist HealthCare; it is essential to ensuring that the next generation of nursing professionals is well prepared to meet the needs of our diverse and growing population.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Warren to become chair for 2019. Baltimore, Md. – Joan Warren, PhD '04, MS '88, RN-BC, NEA-BC, FAAN, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been selected to serve as co-chair of the American Nurses Foundation’s (ANF) Nursing Research Grants program for 2018. Warren is serving a one-year term. As co-chair, Warren will work closely with the current chair to guide the grant review process. She will then become chair for 2019. Warren has been recognized for advancing the professionalism of nurses and improving hospital environments through research. Additionally, Warren has been instrumental in building structures and developing processes for infusing evidence-based practice and research into the Association for Nursing Professional Development. “I am extremely honored to be selected as co-chair and future chair of ANF’s Nursing Research Grants program. The program has supported beginner and experienced nurse scientists in conducting scientific research across the health care continuum for almost 60 years, and as a former recipient of the grant, I know how meaningful the award is to aspiring nurse scientists for their career growth,” Warren said. “I look forward to working with the reviewers and ANF staff in achieving its mission for improving the health of the nation through the power of nursing research.” Each year, through the Nursing Research Grants program, ANF provides funds to nurse researchers to conduct studies that contribute to advancing nursing science and enhancing patient care. The program continues to grow with contributions for nursing research from organizations and individuals. These donations support scientific research for advancing the practice of nursing, promoting health, and preventing disease. “We want to congratulate Dr. Warren on the honor of being selected as co-chair of the ANF’s Nursing Research Grants program,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her longstanding commitment to engaging nurses in research and the translation of evidence into practice coupled with her leadership in professional development for nurses make her ideally suited to contribute to this important national program.” ANF is dedicated to transforming the nation’s health through the power of nursing. It is the only philanthropic organization with a mission to improve health care and support the 3.6 million nurses across the United States. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Recipients recognized for efforts in technology, media, chapter excellence, research, education, practice, and leadership. Baltimore, Md.  – Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON); a faculty member; four alumnae; and the School’s local Pi Chapter were honored at Sigma’s (also known as Sigma Theta Tau International, the Honor Society for Nursing) 44th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. The awards recognized health care professionals for their contributions to professional excellence. Kirschling received Sigma’s Melanie C. Dreher Outstanding Dean Award for Excellence in Chapter Support, which honors a dean who is an active participant in the chapter and is engaged in supporting Sigma chapter activities. The awardee also provides significant support from the school to the chapter while championing faculty and student involvement in chapter activities and encouraging faculty and student participation in local, regional, and/or global Sigma activities. Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor and associate dean of research, was named an honorary member of Sigma. The organization bestows honorary membership upon individuals of national or global influence who are not eligible for regular membership but have furthered the course of health care and demonstrate sustained superior achievements that have contributed to the advancement of nursing and health care at the national or global levels. The four alumnae who received awards at Sigma’s convention were: Janice Hoffman, PhD ’06, RN, ANEF Robin P. Newhouse, PhD ’00, MS ’99, BSN ’87, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN Elizabeth Sloand, PhD, MS ’86, CPNP, FAAN Nancy Sullivan, DNP, MS ’92, BSN ’75, RN Sloand earned the Audrey Hepburn Award for Contributions to the Health and Welfare of Children, presented each biennium to a nurse who has made significant contributions to the health and wellbeing of children, and Newhouse earned the Dorothy Garrigus Adams Award for Excellence in Fostering Professional Standards, which recognizes leadership in encouraging the use and promotion of growth of professional standards. Hoffmanand Sullivan received The Capstone International Nursing Book Award for their publication, Medical-Surgical Nursing: Making Connections to Practice. “We are thrilled that Dr. Friedmann has been named an Honorary Member of STTI in recognition of her international standing as a researcher and scientist. We also warmly congratulate our alumnae on their prestigious awards,” Kirschling said.  “It is truly a privilege to be a part of the School of Nursing’s Pi Chapter, which fosters nursing excellence not only among our own students, faculty, and alumni, but also among nurses throughout the region; being recognized for chapter support is indeed an honor and quite humbling.” Additionally, UMSON’s local Pi Chapter was recognized through the Showcase of Regional Excellence for its efforts to fulfill Sigma’s Presidential Call to Action, which asks chapters to demonstrate influence through advocacy, policy, philanthropy, and/or lifelong learning. Pi Chapter was recognized at the regional level in the lifelong learning category for its partnership with the School’s Office of Professional Development to co-sponsor and support the Ann Ottney Cain Lecture in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing and the Virginia Lee Franklin Lecture, both part of the annual Dean’s Lecture Series, and the Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics. Sigma seeks to advance world health and celebrate nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. Membership is offered to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who have demonstrated excellence by scholarship. Nurses who exhibit exceptional achievements in nursing can also be invited to join via the Nurse Leadership option. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Leana S. Wen, MD, MSc, FAAEM, was en route to speak at an endowed lecture at the University of Maryland School of Nursing Oct. 26 when President Trump declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency, leaving Baltimore City’s health commissioner with many questions. Wen’s remarks about Trump’s declaration were at the forefront of her address in the Millicent Geare Edmunds Lecture, part of the 2017-2018 Dean’s Lecture Series. Read more.

By Kevin Nash A 6-year old is experiencing a medical issue that doctors are unable to properly diagnose without ordering an MRI. On average, an MRI lasts 30 minutes to an hour and requires patients to lie completely still in a narrow, enclosed space — a tall task for a young child. In cases like these, and for other medical or dental procedures, sedation is often used to allow providers to treat children, especially those younger than 7-10 years old. While sedating a child may allow for successful diagnosis and/or treatment, there are risks. According to a 2015 report in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, approximately 5 percent of children suffer life-threatening, adverse events while sedated during a procedure. When colleagues at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) approached Dawn Mueller-Burke, PhD '01, MS '98, CRNP, NNP-BC, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), to investigate how children undergoing procedures are being monitored for safe and adequate sedation, it was a well-matched collaboration, as Mueller-Burke had previously worked on an NIH-funded grant regarding sedation in UMMC’s pediatric ICU. Now, Mueller-Burke is teaming with fellow UMSON faculty member Shari Simone, DNP '11, MS '96, CRNP-AC, PPCNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP, assistant professor; and UMMC colleagues Peggy Dorr, DNP, CPNP, pediatric nurse practitioner, Pediatric Sedation Service, and Karen Kaiser, PhD, RN, clinical practice coordinator, Oncology, Pain, & Palliative Care, on a $14,800 UMNursing Collaborative Grant for the joint research project, Testing Reliability, Validity and Clinical Utility of the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale in Spontaneously Breathing Children Undergoing a Procedure, which they hope will prevent future sedation/agitation complications in a young population.   The Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS) can accurately assess mechanically ventilated, sedated, pediatric critically ill patients. Mueller-Burke and the UMMC team will determine the validity, reliability, and clinical utility of RASS when used by nurses in the largest pediatric population of spontaneously breathing children to be assessed to date. Using a single tool across an institution’s care settings may reduce the risk of communication errors due to misinterpretation by providers and staff in different settings. Mueller-Burke expects the team’s findings to be applicable to a large procedural sedation population and allow description of procedural sedation patterns, both priorities of a national pediatric sedation professional organization. “It’s great to see UMSON and UMMC nurses collaborating on a nursing project that has clear nursing outcomes. It’s really important to determine if the tools nurses use to assess children are good for the task. If they’re not, we need to adjust them or develop others,” said Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor and associate dean of research, UMSON. “This research will make a meaningful contribution to nursing practice and quality of care for vulnerable children as they undergo procedures required to diagnose and treat their health conditions.” In addition to being exposed to sedatives during procedures more frequently than are adults, children are at risk for adverse events while receiving sedative or analgesic medications because they require a deeper level of sedation and their physiology places them at higher risk for respiratory depression and hypoxia (Cravero, et al., 2006). Although clinical judgment is important, the use of a reliable, valid, clinically useful sedation/agitation tool is critical  in determining a young patient’s sedation needs. This routine assessment should minimize adverse effects associated with the sedation medications used. “As a faculty member of the School of Nursing, I’m embracing the opportunity to work with an incredible cadre of nurse scientists and clinicians from UMMC where this idea was born. I look forward to this special opportunity as a joint collaboration between the School of Nursing and UMMC to enable multiple educational opportunities for our doctoral students,” Mueller-Burke said. “Linking arms with our fellow DNP and PhD colleagues and the bridging of academic and UMMC resources and expertise exemplifies the goal of true translation of best evidence to practice.” ‌‌From left to right: Shari Simone, Karen Kaiser, Peggy Dorr, and Dawn Mueller-Burke

Antol is the third UMSON faculty member to be named Public Servant of the Year. Baltimore, Md. – Susan Antol, PhD, MS ’79, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was named the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) 2017 Public Servant of the Year during its annual Founders Week. Antol is the ninth UMSON faculty member to receive a Founders Week Award since the celebration was initiated in 1996. Antol joined UMSON in 1998 as director of clinical operations for an array of the School’s nurse-managed clinics, including the Governor’s Wellmobile Program, a mobile health clinic; Open Gates, a nurse-managed primary care clinic affiliated with University Care; and school-based health centers. She also served as a clinical instructor in community health nursing, bringing with her more than two decades of experience in community and home health care nursing. Since 2009, Antol has served as director of the Wellmobile, established in 1994, which provides health care services in underserved areas ranging from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to Prince George’s and Montgomery counties and Western Maryland. Despite the thousands of patients it treats annually, Wellmobile state funding was cut in half in 2009. Antol diligently pursued grants and partnerships, acquiring three years of funding from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and $1.04 million from the Health Resources and Services Administration; she also collaborated with the School of Pharmacy on a $1.2 million Maryland Community Health Resources Commission Grant, all of which has kept the Wellmobile running. “One of the many things that sets Dr. Antol’s work apart is the breadth and reach of her activities — both programmatically and geographically,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Applying her understanding of community health nursing, her organizational and leadership skills, and her personal attributes of perseverance and tenacity, she has brought health care services to vulnerable individuals in all parts of the state, including at-risk children and youth, the homeless, migrant workers, veterans, and victims of human trafficking, as well as to those living in unserved or underserved areas. She is someone with enormous resilience in the face of setbacks and with strength of character and will to not give up.” Each year, UMB celebrates the achievements and successes of its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and philanthropic support and pays tribute to its 200-plus-year history. As part of the celebration, awards are presented in four categories: Researcher of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year.  Nominees for Public Servant of the Year must have engaged in service that addresses the unmet needs of underserved health, school, and social service populations of Maryland, particularly among the disadvantaged, and must be worthy of recognition relative to peers in their chosen field. “It is truly an honor to be selected as the recipient of this award because it highlights the impact that innovative models of care can have on population health,” Antol said. “UMSON’s leadership, the Partnership, Professional Education and Practice department, and the Wellmobile team have provided me with the opportunity to lead and to oversee the transition of the Wellmobile Program to a new interprofessional primary care delivery and educational model aligned with the current health systems transformation.” Past UMSON Founders Week Award winners include Karen L. Soeken, PhD, Teacher of the Year 1998; Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, Researcher of the Year 2003; Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, Public Servant of the Year 2006; Carol Romano, PhD ’93, MS ’85, BSN ’77, RN, BC, CNAA, FAAN, Illustrious Alumni 2006; Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAAN, Researcher of the Year 2008; Robin Newhouse, PhD ’00, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Researcher of the Year 2014; Karen Kauffman, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, Public Servant of the Year 2014; and Louise S. Jenkins, PhD ’85, MS ’81, RN, FAHA, ANEF, Teacher of the Year 2016. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Scholarship removes financial barriers to completing associate and bachelor’s degrees. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is covering the cost of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) courses for community college students participating in its Dual-Admission Partnership with seven community colleges statewide. Funds from a gift from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation make possible this opportunity for students to begin taking courses toward their BSN degree at no cost while completing their Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). The funds will be available for the spring, summer, and fall 2018 semesters. Maryland is one of four states predicted to experience a shortage of 10,000 registered nurses or more by 2025. As a result, the Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC) is focusing on ensuring the state has a well-educated nursing workforce as it promotes several pathways to academic progression, one of which is the dual-admission articulation model that allows students to apply and be admitted to a BSN program while in an ADN program at a community college. “Financial aid is a key barrier for students. Unfortunately, students receiving financial aid for their associate degree program are unable to receive the financial aid required for the BSN courses,” said Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “These scholarship monies remove that barrier and facilitate seamless academic progression.” In response to MDAC’s plan, UMSON began its current Dual-Admission Partnership program in 2015. UMSON has agreements with Anne Arundel Community College, Carroll Community College, Cecil Community College, College of Southern Maryland, Frederick Community College, Montgomery College, and Prince George’s Community College. Through these partnerships, students enrolled in an ADN program receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at the community college. Students are then granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree in nursing, thereby saving them time and money while completing their BSN degree. To matriculate into UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from one of the community colleges and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. “Through the generosity of the Conways, we are able to provide financial assistance to students who wish to begin taking BSN courses as they complete their Associate Degree in Nursing,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, who serves as co-chair of MDAC. “This will significantly expand opportunities for students and support our efforts to increase the number of baccalaureate-educated nurses throughout Maryland.” An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the Dual-Admission Partnership is helping further the mission of the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AARP to advance comprehensive health care change. The campaign launched action coalitions, of which MDAC is one, in all 50 states and the District of Columbia and uses as its framework the landmark 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The partnership program specifically addresses one of the eight goals set forth in the report: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Typically focused on raising breast cancer awareness, October has a new focus on women’s health as a researcher at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) seeks to study how vaginal health plays a key role in preventing disease that can lead to infertility and cancer. Read More

Awards given to new faculty members to offset educational and professional development costs. Baltimore, Md. – Nine University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have received $20,000 New Nurse Faculty Fellowship Awards, funded through the Nurse Support Program II (NSP II), for Fiscal Years 2018-20. The following faculty members received New Nurse Faculty Fellowship Awards: Ashley Brown, MS '16, RN, clinical instructorRichard Paul Conley Jr., MS, CRNA, clinical instructorMegan Doede, MS '13, RN, clinical instructorJoseph Haymore, DNP '16, RN, ACNP-BC, assistant professorMichelle Kirwan, MSN, RN, CRNP, clinical instructorKim Mooney-Doyle, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, assistant professorVeronica Quattrini, DNP, MS '99, BSN '85, FNP-BC, assistant professorHannah Tolley, MS '16, RNC-OB, CNL, clinical instructorBarbara Wise, PhD '99, MS '82, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, assistant professor Maryland institutions with nursing degree programs are eligible to nominate newly hired, full-time, tenured or tenure-track, and clinical-track faculty members for the fellowship. The maximum amount of the three-year fellowship is $20,000. Recipients receive $10,000 during year one, and then $5,000 annually for the remaining two years. Funds can be used to supplement a fellow’s salary, to pay for graduate education expenses, and to cover professional development and associated costs. NSP II, funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, is a statewide initiative designed to address the nurse shortage in Maryland by increasing the number of nurses prepared to serve as nursing faculty. Since 2013, UMSON has increased enrollment by 27 percent in its traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN programs in response to the Institute of Medicine’s 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which calls for increasing the proportion of nurses with a bachelor’s degree to 80 percent by 2020. Currently, approximately 53 percent of nurses nationwide are educated at the baccalaureate level. The report further called for doubling the number of nurses with a doctoral degree and UMSON’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program has grown by 431 percent since 2013. Brown and Tolley, both from the Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice, are experts in simulation education; Conley, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health (OSAH), is an expert in nurse anesthesia; Doede, Department Family and Community Health (FCH), is an expert in hospital-built environments; and Haymore, OSAH, is an expert in implementation science and neurocritical care. Additionally, Kirwan, OSAH, is an expert in adult health/critical care; Mooney-Doyle, FCH, is an expert in palliative care and pediatric oncology; Quattrini, FCH, is an expert in emergency medicine; and Wise, FCH, is an expert in pediatrics. “We are truly grateful for the generous support provided to our faculty members through the Nurse Support Program II,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It is instrumental in helping us to recruit and retain highly talented and experienced individuals, who in turn make it possible for us to educate a nursing workforce that is well prepared to meet the increasingly complex health care needs of Maryland’s residents now and in the future.” ‌ # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Psychiatric nurse co-developed undergraduate addictions course. Baltimore, Md. – Charon Burda, DNP '16, MS '03, PMHCNS, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP, assistant professor and director, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been elected director at large of the board of the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA). Burda has been a member of IntNSA since 2010, and will serve a two-year term. She joins UMSON colleague Katherine Fornili, DNP ’16, MPH, RN, CARN, assistant professor, who is currently IntNSA’s president-elect. IntNSA is a professional specialty organization for nurses committed to the prevention, intervention, treatment, and management of addictive disorders, including alcohol and other drug dependencies, nicotine dependencies, eating disorders, dual and multiple diagnoses, and process addictions. Its goal is to help nurses provide comprehensive, high-quality nursing care for addicted patients and their families. As director at large, Burda is tasked with supporting the society’s mission by assisting with its leadership and general promotion. She is responsible for advising, governing, and overseeing IntNSA’s direction and policies. Burda will also regularly attend board meetings, participate in committee work, volunteer for assignments, and help evaluate management staff. Additionally, she will engage in financial management and participate in the board’s annual evaluation and planning efforts. “I am thrilled to be on the board and am excited to be part of the leadership that IntNSA represents locally, nationally, and globally. This role will inform my professional leadership goals as well as my teaching, mentorship, and service in academia,” Burda said. “I am deeply committed to upholding the values of IntNSA, and I will work hard to represent all of its members as well as those we serve.” Burda, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, has worked with patients with co-occurring diagnoses, involving psychiatric and addiction diagnoses, for more than 15 years. She also co-developed an undergraduate elective course, Addictions, Society, and the Role of the Nurse, and has been published in the Journal of Addictions Nursing. With Fornili, Burda is preparing students to communicate with patients in all decision-making and treatment goals, focusing on the known risks and realistic benefits of opioid therapy. “We congratulate Dr. Burda on her election to the IntNSA Board. Given her longstanding commitment as an educator and clinician to enhancing understanding of the issues surrounding addictive disorders, she is ideally suited to contribute her substantial expertise to the work of the society,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her service to the board comes at an important time as nurses strive to respond nationally and locally to the impact of addiction on our communities.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Denise Chop, MSW, LCSW-C, clinical instructor and coordinator for field education at the University of Maryland School of Social Work (SSW), was one of dozens of volunteers from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), assisting people experiencing homelessness or poverty at Project Homeless Connect. In its sixth year, Project Homeless Connect provides on-site, direct services such as medical and dental care as well as links to service providers such as legal professionals and recovery programs. Volunteers from all UMB schools provided services throughout the two-day event. Read more.

Nursing chair instrumental in providing Maryland with more highly educated nurses. Baltimore, Md. – Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ’93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s program at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), was awarded the Maryland Nurses Association’s (MNA) Outstanding Pathfinder Award at the association’s 114th Annual Convention last week. MNA’s Outstanding Pathfinder Award is presented to an MNA member who has demonstrated excellence and creative leadership that fosters the development of the nursing profession. Award recipients have pioneered in nursing innovation or have developed creative approaches to further nursing’s agenda. Wiseman has been instrumental in helping Maryland answer the call of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2010 Future of Nursing report that nurses should achieve higher education through seamless academic progression. In collaboration with work groups from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Maryland Action Coalition, and the Nurse Support Program II, funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by Maryland Higher Education Commission, Wiseman spearheaded a review of the state’s RN articulation model, which creates a pathway to facilitate Maryland nurses’ ability to advance their education from community college-granted associate degree to baccalaureate nursing program. “I am extremely honored to receive this award. In order to realize the goal of 80 percent of nurses being prepared at the baccalaureate or higher level of education, we need to develop opportunities for seamless academic progression,” Wiseman said. “The revision of the Maryland Articulation Model is one important step in advancing creative and thoughtful approaches to help students move through various avenues in their pursuit of their baccalaureate degree.  Research has demonstrated time and time again that patient outcomes are better when baccalaureate prepared nurses are providing care.” Wiseman worked to revise the Maryland Education Articulation Plan, which provides guidelines for colleges and universities as they develop continuous academic progression programs for associate degree nurses. Through these efforts, Wiseman has been a trailblazer in aiming to achieve the IOM recommendation that 80 percent of the nurse workforce be educated at the baccalaureate level or higher by 2020. “We congratulate Dr. Wiseman on this significant honor and are thrilled that she has been recognized by the MNA for her efforts to create a streamlined process by which nurses can continue their education,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This award is a testament to her ability to create a sense of collegiality, collaboration, and shared purpose to bring institutions together to ensure opportunities for nurses throughout the state to advance their knowledge and skills.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,900 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellows have made significant contributions to nursing and health care.  Baltimore, Md.–  Four University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members, five alumnae, and a student were inducted into the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) as fellows during the academy’s annual meeting and conference held this past weekend in Washington, D.C. They join a community of 2,400 AAN Fellows nationwide. The following faculty were inducted into AAN’s 2017 class of fellows: Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, FAANP, associate professor and associate dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, CRNP-Neonatal, assistant professor and director, Office of Global Health Charlotte Seckman, PhD ’08, RN-BC, associate professor  Shari Simone, DNP ’11, MS ’96, CPNP-AC, PPCNP-BC, FCCM, FAANP, assistant professor Additionally, DNP student MiKaela Olsen, MS, APRN-CNS, AOCNS, and UMSON alumnae Ladan Eshkevari, PhD, BSN ’90, CRNA, LAc; Anita Hufft, PhD, BSN ’70, RN; Kathleen Hunter, PhD ’89, MS ’81, BSN ’76, RN-BC, CNE; Karen Swisher Kesten, DNP ’09, APRN, CCNS, CNE, CCRN-K; and Susan Renda, DNP,  MS ’89, ANP-BC, CDE, FNAP, are also among the 173 highly distinguished nurse leaders who compose this year’s cohort.              “We are extremely proud of our newly elected fellows, and congratulate our faculty, alumnae, and student on achieving this significant honor,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “As educators, clinicians, and researchers, they are making significant contributions within their chosen specialties and in their communities.” Criteria for selection as a fellow include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current AAN Fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel of elected and appointed fellows, and selection is based, in part, on the extent the nominee's nursing career has influenced health policies and the health and well-being of all. Fellows include nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research, including hospital and government administrators, college deans, and renowned scientific researchers. The 2017 class represents all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and 29 countries. ### The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Award is given to MNA member who significantly contributed to the legislative arena. Baltimore, Md. – Patricia McLaine, DrPH, MPH, RN, assistant professor and director, Community/Public Health Nursing master’s specialty, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently received the 2017 Maryland Nurses Association’s (MNA) Rosalie Silber Abrams Legislative Award. McLaine was honored at the MNA’s 114th Annual Convention on Oct. 5. The award is given to an MNA member who has made a significant contribution on behalf of nursing in the legislative arena on the federal, state, or local levels. These activities can encompass a broad range of activities but must demonstrate a favorable reflection of nursing's interests, especially those of MNA. McLaine has been a member of MNA since 1992 and a public health nurse and advocate for those with health disparities for more than 20 years. The award recognizes McLaine’s efforts during the 2017 Maryland General Assembly session, when she tirelessly lobbied for the passage of SB422/HB 602, the Keep Antibiotics Effective Act of 2017, which restricts the regular use of antibiotics in livestock in an effort to curb the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. Maryland became the second state in the United States to pass such a law. McLaine has also worked to prevent childhood lead poisoning and to combat health disparities in Baltimore. As chair of the Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission, McLaine has maintained a steady focus on improving prevention strategies and evaluating data to reduce the risks of lead poisoning facing Maryland’s youngest residents and their families. Additionally, her work with the Reducing Asthma Disparities Program has helped shape Baltimore’s home visit program for children with asthma. “We are thrilled that Dr. McLaine’s work has been recognized by the Maryland Nurses Association through this prestigious award. She has been a staunch advocate for public health, working nationally and locally to prevent lead-based paint poisoning, mitigate asthma disparities, and ensure healthy environments for children and their families,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She is an outstanding leader and a role model for what expertise and persistence can accomplish on behalf of vulnerable populations.” McLaine also received an official citation from Maryland state Sen. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, BSN ’80, RN, District 44. The citation recognized McLaine for being honored with the Rosalie Silver Abrams Legislative Award for her work on the Keep Antibiotics Effective campaign and for her dedicated work on lead poison prevention. “I am deeply honored to be nominated by my colleagues from MNA to receive the Rosalie Silver Abrams Legislative Award. Health is so much more than health care, and our interests as nurses go well beyond our practice concerns as a profession,” McLaine said. “In a larger sense, this work is part of what we do every day as nurses to build a culture of health. The food we eat, the air we breathe, the neighborhoods and homes where we live, and the places where we work are all part of the environment where good health begins and is maintained. I am proud as a community/public health nurse to have the opportunity to support the health of the people of Maryland and our communities at this policy level.” In recognition of her efforts, McLaine also received a Baltimore City Health Equity Award last spring. Additionally, in fall 2016, McLaine and her faculty colleagues also received two American Association of Colleges of Nursing awards for their forward-thinking initiatives: the Innovation in Professional Nursing Education Award and the Innovations in Baccalaureate Population Health Award. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Study is important for monitoring patient response to painkillers. Baltimore, Md. – To provide the public with a better understanding of recent ground-breaking research on the nocebo effect, Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has written a Perspectives article, “Nocebo Effects Can Make You Feel Pain,” published in the Science magazine issue released today. The nocebo effect occurs when a person has a negative expectation of a treatment outcome, leading to adverse effects that otherwise might not occur. Although patient response can often be influenced by expectations, Colloca and her research team have discovered that negative reactions to treatments go beyond psychological responses and actually involve neurobiological mechanisms. Building on Colloca’s work and other lab research, a recent study by Tinnermann and colleagues at the University of Hamburg, Germany, showed that when a patient expects to experience more pain, there is an activation of the spinal cord leading to actual increased pain perception. “If a patient believes the pain is getting worse, even while going through treatment, there may be an increase of the activation of pain facilitatory pathways involving the spinal cord. Tinnermann’s study is the first neurobiological demonstration that shows expectations can change brain nociception processing and make people feel more pain,” Colloca said. “This and other nocebo studies are important because they suggest that the nocebo phenomenon can change the patient response to pain sensations and painkillers.” Often, successfully overcoming an ailment can depend on past experiences with treatment. Additionally, information provided during the consent process and in the context of patient-clinician communication may trigger nocebo responses. Nocebo effects can contribute to perceived adverse effects and influence clinical outcomes and whether or not a patient adheres to prescribed medication. Nocebo effects should be avoided during clinical trials and practices, according to Colloca. Instead of concealing information related to side effects, a better approach is to minimize nocebo response by tailoring patient-clinician communication to balance truthful information about adverse events with expectations of outcome improvement, exploring patient treatment beliefs and negative therapeutic history, and paying attention to treatment descriptions. Read Colloca’s “Nocebo Effects Can Make You Feel Pain” article in Science. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md.– The University of Maryland School of Nursing has welcomed seven new faculty this fall. New to UMSON are: Malissa da Graca, MSN, RNC, FNP-C, clinical instructor, Department of Family and Community Health Megan Doede, MS, RN, clinical instructor, Department of Family and Community Health Elizabeth “Betsy” Johnson, MS '08, CPNP, clinical instructor, Department of Family and Community Health Michelle Kirwan, PhD, MSN, RN, CRNP, clinical instructor, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health Kim Mooney-Doyle, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health Veronica Quattrini, DNP, FNP-BC, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health Barbara Wise, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, assistant professor, Department of Family and Community Health UMSON proudly extends a warm welcome to these faculty. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

School of Nursing students at the Universities at Shady Grove are enjoying major upgrades to the clinical simulation labs.  The new and improved labs are allowing more students to gain critically important experience. Read more.

‌Families caring for premature infants or children with pediatric cancer face many challenges. While they strive to help their children achieve optimal health outcomes, families from economically disadvantaged neighborhoods face additional social obstacles. This story is the same whether they reside in Brazil or in Baltimore. Reduced access to maternal education, unemployment, lack of transportation, food insecurity, poor access to health care, and inadequate and unstable housing all increase the risk of adverse outcomes for mothers and their children. However, access to critical social resources can help families overcome these challenges and significantly improve health and quality of life for ill children and their families. Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ’11, MS ’05, BSN ’04, CRNP-Neonatal, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) assistant professor and director, Office of Global Health, and three students in UMSON’s Global Health Certificate program spent time in Rio de Janeiro this summer, attempting to better understand these issues. Students Trish Milburn, DNP, CRNP; Oriyomi Dawodo, MS; and Martine Kirwin, BSN, accompanied Ogbolu to Brazil to assess the Saúde Criança Association (ASC), which aims to improve quality of life for impoverished families by addressing the social determinants of health. Ogbolu and the students sought to strengthen the partnership between UMSON and ASC and to explore the possibility of designing a cultural adaptation study model for Baltimore. Saúde Criança, which means “Healthy Children,” is a 25-year-old program replicated across 31 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America; it empowers families to address the social determinants of health for children with chronic diseases. It also builds family capacity by developing a family action plan that leverages family strengths in five key areas: education; global citizenship (psychosocial and legal factors); health (food, medicine, and nutrition); housing; and income generation. “This program truly addresses the social needs of families with sick children,” Ogbolu says. “Many families of critically ill children in Baltimore and Brazil suffer from similar challenges and could benefit from a culturally adapted model that leverages the strengths of the family to address their social challenges while at the same time providing direct assistance with transportation, housing, education, professional training, and legal issues over an extended period of time. Empowering families for the long term and allowing them to have sustainable transformations that can strengthen their families and brighten their futures is the ultimate outcome.”   The certificate students spent 10 days learning how ASC helps families improve health outcomes by addressing social factors including breaking away from poverty through professionalism training to develop skills that will allow them to secure a job, legal support, and access to nutrition and medications. The students collected qualitative and quantitative data for a baseline analysis of the program, listened to first-hand accounts from families about how the program helped them overcome challenges, interacted with interprofessional health and public health staff, and used the data that was collected to make recommendations to improve Brazil’s program. “Since nursing’s inception with Florence Nightingale, who identified the correlation between living conditions and disease, nurses have been striving to provide comprehensive care to the infirmed through evaluating social, political, and economic factors that contribute to or affect health outcomes,” student Milburn says. “These factors not only impact health and care delivery in the United States but on a global level. We anticipated that health care providers in Rio de Janeiro face similar challenges as do practitioners in Baltimore. The successful comprehensive approach that Saúde Criança developed helped inform us on how to develop a similar program and modify it to fit our health care challenges.” The students will give presentations about their experiences in Brazil on Tuesday, Oct. 17, from 4-6 p.m. at the School of Nursing in Room 730.  

Two undergraduate students from the University of Maryland, College Park learned about lab research and presentation techniques this summer as they took part in the UM Scholars Program under the guidance of faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Nursing. Read more.

Assistant professors earn departmental promotions. Baltimore, Md. – Assistant Professors Margaret Hammersla, PhD ’17, MS ’05, BSN ’95, CRNP, and Brenda Windemuth, DNP ’11, RN, CRNP, have been appointed to new leadership roles within the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. Hammersla, who most recently served as co-specialty director for the Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) specialty, has been named senior director of the School’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, and Windemuth takes over Hammersla’s old post as co-specialty director for the AGPCNP specialty. Hammersla has been an UMSON faculty member since 2007, serving as co-specialty director for the AGPCNP specialty since 2011. She is responsible for the daily operations of the DNP program at UMSON, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of the DNP program’s policies and procedures. “I am thrilled to take on the role of senior director of the DNP program. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a team that delivers high-quality, advanced nursing education,” Hammersla said. “I look forward to working with our faculty as we educate doctorally prepared nursing leaders to improve patient care at the local, state, and national levels.” Hammersla also provides leadership in program coordination; curriculum planning; student recruitment, retention, and advisement; and general support to the DNP specialty directors. She earned a doctorate degree in nursing research, master’s degree in adult primary care, and Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree from UMSON. “Dr. Hammersla brings more than 10 years of experience teaching at UMSON and a wealth of leadership and operational experience in advanced practice education,” said Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS ’03, CRNP, FAANP, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP program, UMSON. “She was a key leader during the development of the BSN-DNP program and is vested in its success. I am confident that she will continue to lead and support the mission of the School.” Windemuth has been on the faculty since 2009. Her new duties include working with Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, to co-direct the development, implementation, and evaluation of DNP-level didactic and clinical courses related to the AGPCNP specialty. She also recruits, advises, teaches, and mentors students. “I’m very excited to take on this leadership role in the AGPCNP program, and to continue the success the program has had previously.  I look forward to helping guide our students to be successful in the program and our graduates contributing to our profession as doctorally prepared nurse practitioner leaders,” Windemuth said. “I want to continue moving our program forward in providing new educational experiences and learning opportunities to enrich our students’ education. Additionally, Windemuth is working with faculty members to foster professional development. She earned a DNP in nursing from UMSON, and a master’s degree in Family Nurse Practitioner and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree both from Wilmington University. “I am delighted that Dr. Windemuth will be taking on this new leadership role in the AGPCNP Specialty.  As an experienced educator and active clinician, she is committed to providing the best opportunities for student success,” said Kathleen Michael, PhD, RN, CRRN, associate professor and chair of the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. “She is a valued colleague and trusted collaborator who approaches her work with dedication and vision.  Her leadership will guide the specialty toward a bright future indeed.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Learning opportunities in a lab are just part of the UM Scholars Program, which provides University of Maryland, College Park math, science, and engineering students with exposure to graduate-level research while they spend the summer with University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) physicians and University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty on mentored research projects that advance disease and diagnosis treatment. Read More

Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Kathryn Montgomery, PhD ‘97, RN, NEA-BC, associate professor, and chair, Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice, joined other health care leaders for a “Fireside Chat on Leadership Realities” on Aug. 1.  The panel discussed the importance of keeping a positive handle on work-life balance. Read more.

Mitchell has diligently advocated for rural clinical practice. Baltimore, Md. – Jacqueline C. Mitchell, MS, CRNA, director of clinical education, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently recognized by the Western Maryland Area Health Education Center (AHEC West) with the John M. Dennis Award for her leadership and advocacy for rural practice opportunities. Mitchell also received special recognition from several members of U.S. Congressfor her efforts. Recipients of the John M. Dennis Award are usually university representatives who have made noteworthy contributions to off-campus health professional education in Western Maryland through outstanding leadership, ingenuity, advocacy, and education. Mitchell has been a strong supporter of rural clinical education and nurse anesthetist students and a dedicated partner with AHEC West for clinical placements. Several UMSON nurse anesthetist graduates are now practicing in Western Maryland. “My heart is overwhelmed with joy because I am being formally recognized for my work. I am very thankful for this distinguished award and I am empowered to do even greater work for the students and the community,” Mitchell said. “What is great about this partnership with AHEC West is, although the majority of our students are from the Baltimore area, they are being afforded the opportunity to train in Western Maryland, allowing them to be exposed to different care settings and job opportunities.” The award is in honor of John M. Dennis, MD, who served as vice chancellor for health and academic affairs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore from 1977 to 1988. Dennis was a dedicated visionary whose support made it possible for the development of the AHEC Westprogram and center. “We congratulate Ms. Mitchell on her receipt of this prestigious award. Her exemplary efforts to create practice experiences for nurse anesthesia students in the rural counties of Western Maryland have introduced countless students to the opportunities and rewards of living and serving in the region,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Through her efforts, she is helping to ensure that we meet the needs of residents throughout Maryland.” AHEC seeks to improve the health status of Marylanders through community educational partnerships that foster a commitment to enhancing health care access in the rural and urban underserved areas of the state. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

 UMSON and UMMC have forged fruitful partnership during Rowen’s tenure.   ‌‌‌ Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) has endowed a scholarship in honor of UMSON alumna Lisa Rowen, DNSc, MS ’86, RN, CENP, FAAN. Rowen, chief nurse executive for UMMS and senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), is being honored for her leadership and dedication to nursing practice, education, and research. “When we were approached by Dean Kirschling and the School of Nursing about endowing a scholarship, we agreed it was a wonderful way to honor Dr. Rowen and to inspire future nurses pursuing their education at one of the country’s best nursing schools,” said Robert A. Chrencik, UMMS president and chief executive officer. “Across our health enterprise, we are fortunate to have nurses and nurse leaders who ensure that compassionate, high-quality patient care is at the core of all we do.” Beginning in fall 2018, the Dr. Lisa Rowen Endowed Scholarship will be available annually to UMSON undergraduate students who exhibit great leadership potential. Since Rowen became UMMC’s chief nurse officer in 2007, UMSON and the hospital have enjoyed an expanded partnership. Many UMSON nursing students complete their clinical rotations on UMMC units, and the medical center is also the largest employer of UMSON graduates. “We are thrilled that UMMS has chosen to honor Dr. Rowen through this scholarship,” said Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “In addition to her extraordinary 10 years of leadership at UMMC, she has played a central role in developing UMNursing, an innovative academic-practice partnership between the medical center and UMSON that promotes professional development for nurses through opportunities for education, research, and practice focused on optimizing health outcomes.” Additionally, Rowen is one of UMSON’s visionary pioneers. UMSON Visionary Pioneers are expert clinicians, educators, and leaders in Maryland, the nation, and around the world. They have made a significant impact on and contributions to the nursing profession based on their leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship. Rowen oversees nursing at the 12-hospital UMMS, setting the standard for nursing practice, standards of care, and issues related to and of importance to nurses. She has also played a major role in UMSON’s statewide Nurse Leadership Institute, which builds leadership capacity in nursing faculty and clinicians, thereby improving health care delivery throughout Maryland. “The endowed scholarship was such a wonderful surprise,” Rowen said. “I am humbled and delighted by the University of Maryland Medical System's recognition of both the nursing profession and me. I can't think of a more gratifying honor than one that supports the education of future nurses, especially for the students who are learning at UMSON, an institution that has played such an integral role in my education and professional career.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

  Program is tailored to aspiring and new deans. ‌‌‌ Baltimore, Md. – Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), is one of 40 fellows nationwide selected to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Leadership for Academic Nursing Program (LANP). Trocky is preparing to attend LANP’s five-day workshop to participate in intensive classes and exercises related to effective academic leadership, July 16-20 in Chaska, Minnesota. “We congratulate Dr. Trocky on being selected as a 2017 fellow,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This outstanding program will provide her with the opportunity to build upon her considerable strengths while acquiring new skills and fresh insights that will benefit her as she leads our baccalaureate nursing program. We are especially grateful to AACN for its ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of leaders in academic nursing.” LANP is a yearlong executive leadership fellowship program tailored specifically for new and aspiring deans and designed to prepare a more diverse, younger pool of leaders to shepherd nursing programs across the globe. This professional development experience encompasses assessment and evaluation of leadership skills, opportunities for strategic networking and case development, consultation for achieving long-term goals, and identification of key partnerships. Fellows are vetted through a competitive application process before selection. “I am honored to be accepted as a LANP Fellow and am appreciative of Dean Kirschling’s nomination. This program offers a tremendous opportunity to work with a faculty mentor to develop a customized professional development plan,” Trocky said. “I look forward to challenging my current perceptions about leadership, improving my ability to inspire others, and fine-tuning actions that add value while embracing excellence and inclusion within UMSON.” AACN serves the public interest by setting standards, providing resources, and developing the leadership capacity of member schools to advance nursing education, research, and practice. By 2020, as a driving force for quality health care, AACN will leverage member schools in meeting the demand for innovation and leadership in nursing education, research, and practice. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

  Director is responsible for developing and implementing program’s policies and procedures. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently named Jana Goodwin, PhD, RN, CNE, assistant professor, director of UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. As a faculty member at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) since 2001, Goodwin participated in course assessment, expansion, and revision. In her new role, Goodwin will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the BSN program’s policies and procedures. She will also provide leadership in program coordination; curriculum planning; student recruitment, retention and advisement; and didactic instruction at both the Baltimore and USG locations. "It is exciting for me to step into this new role as the director,” Goodwin said. “I am looking forward to collaborating with the associate dean for the baccalaureate program, the Office of Student and Academic Services, the department chairs, and the faculty as we work as a team to deliver and provide a high-quality education to our students." Goodwin earned a PhD in nursing education from Villanova University and Master of Science in Nursing and BSN degrees from Temple University. “Dr. Goodwin has more than 16 years of experience teaching students and coordinating courses within the BSN program. She is also noted for her contributions to diversity, inclusivity, and cultural competence in academia,” said Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program, UMSON. “I am very excited about Dr. Goodwin serving as our BSN program director and am very confident that she will continue to advance the mission of the School.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

  Training program team recently won a NIOSH Bullard-Sherwood Research to Practice Intervention Award. Baltimore, Md. – Alison M. Trinkoff, ScD, MPH, BSN, RN, FAAN, professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), is a co-author on an online evidence-based training program that recently won the 2017Bullard-Sherwood Research to Practice Intervention Award from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). UMSON alumna and former faculty member Jeanne Geiger-Brown, PhD ’01, RN, FAAN, dean, School of Health, Stevenson University, also served as co-author. The team won the award for their NIOSH Training for Nurses on Shift Work and Long Work Hours, which aims to minimize the health and safety risks associated with shift work, long work hours, and related workplace fatigue issues in nurses. Launched in 2015, the training program was developed, managed, and disseminated through the joint efforts of several key partners, including Trinkoff and UMSON colleagues, who conducted pilot testing at the School with the help of student volunteers; Claire Caruso, NIOSH; Masaya Takahashi, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Kawasaki, Japan; and Akinori Nakata, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan. The training program offers nursing continuing education credits through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Training and Continuing Education Online. Its goal is to suggest proven interventions to improve sleep and fatigue. The program summarizes research evidence regarding the origin of sleep problems and their relationship to shift work and health issues. After reviewing the summary, nurses are advised on how to overcome their sleep issues. According to the American Nurses Association, 74 percent of nurses who responded to a 2011 survey reported the acute or chronic effects of stress and being overworked as their top health and safety concern. Additionally, 55 percent of respondents reported working 41-60 hours per week, 56 percent reported their usual shift was 10 or more hours, and 53 percent reported working some mandatory or unplanned overtime each month. These demanding hours and work requirements often lead to difficulties with sleep. Several studies have found that when those who do shift work or work long hours do not get sufficient sleep, cognitive performance declines, increasing the risk for personal injury to the nurse and for patient care errors. “It is very rewarding to be recognized for this innovative nurse fatigue training,” Trinkoff said. “I’m happy to say that it has already helped thousands of nurses, and the training program will continue to support the nursing profession by empowering nurses to improve their sleep and fatigue problems.”  “We are thrilled to have this important training program recognized with a prestigious Bullard-Sherwood Award,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This work represents the very best type of collaborative effort, engaging faculty from the School of Nursing, numerous experts from other institutions, Fellows of the American Academy of Nursing, and staff from the American Nurses Association, among many others. The resulting product fills an important need for a free, comprehensive, online training program that helps to address the significant health and safety risks linked to shift work and long hours for nurses. We applaud the entire team for their contribution to improving nursing practice.” NIOSH Scientific Awards are presented annually to recognize significant accomplishments in research, partnership, research translation, career achievements, and service. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellows are charged with impacting national and global health. Baltimore, Md. – University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) assistant professors Catherine Haut, DNP ’10, MS ’93, RN, CRNP, PNP, and Roseann Velez, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC, were recently inducted as 2017 Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) at its national conference in Philadelphia. UMSON alumna Pamela Bolton, MS '92, RN, ACNP, CCNS, PCCN, was also inducted. The association selects fellows based on outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research, education, or policy. “We are extremely proud of our newly elected fellows and congratulate them on this honor. It is gratifying that they have been selected by their peers for their contributions,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It is a testament to their sustained efforts to promote the role of nurse practitioners and advance the delivery of excellent health care.” Fellows are charged with supporting the vision and mission of AANP. The FAANP program impacts national and global health by engaging recognized nurse practitioner leaders, the fellows, who make outstanding contributions to clinical practice, research, education, or policy to enhance the association’s mission. “I’m extremely honored to have be chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. It has been a privilege to work with many national nursing leaders, including those at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, over the years,” Haut said. “I am very excited to be joining this elite group of nurse practitioners and appreciate the mentorship and support I have received through the years from my colleagues.” Established in 2000, the FAANP program is dedicated to the global advancement of nurse practitioners and the delivery of high-quality health care. The program not only enhances the association’s mission, but also develops nurse practitioner leaders of the future while furthering the field. “Becoming a fellow is an honor and a privilege that would not have been possible without the support of my mentors,” Velez said. “I’ve been able to influence the nurse practitioner profession through publications, research, education, and policy, which has been integral to my growth as a professional. Membership in FAANP has enabled me to continue this work by mentoring students striving for FAANP membership and collaborating with colleagues to make an impact locally, nationally, and globally.” (left to right) Catherine Haut, DNP ’10, MS ’93, RN, CRNP, PNP, and Roseann Velez, DNP, CRNP, FNP-BC Haut with her award at the induction ceremony. ‌Velez with her award at the induction ceremony. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

  ‌ McLaine has served as a tireless health advocate for Baltimore families. Baltimore, Md. – Pat McLaine, DrPH, MPH, RN, assistant professor and director, Community/Public Health Nursing master’s specialty, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently received a Baltimore City Health Equity Award at the Healthy Baltimore 2020 Community Conversation. Health Equity Award recipients have made a significant impact on the health and welfare of Baltimore residents through outstanding dedication, exceptional performance, and excellent service. McLaine, whose efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning prevention are nationally respected, was recognized for her tireless advocacy and her commitment and dedication to combating health disparities in Baltimore. She has been diligent in stressing the importance of healthy environments for families and for improving quality of life for the city’s children. “We are extremely proud that Dr. McLaine’s longstanding efforts on behalf of children in our community have been recognized by this Baltimore City Health Equity Award,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. McLaine’s many contributions demonstrate the role that nurses in community/public health play in addressing fundamental issues of population health. She is an outstanding leader and role model for what expertise and persistence can accomplish on behalf of vulnerable populations. We congratulate her on this well-deserved honor.” As chair of the Maryland Lead Poisoning Prevention Commission, McLaine has maintained a steady focus on improving prevention strategies and evaluating data to reduce the risks of lead poisoning facing Maryland’s youngest residents and their families.  Additionally, her work with the Reducing Asthma Disparities Program has helped shape Baltimore’s home visit program for children with asthma. “It is truly an honor to be nominated for the Baltimore City Health Equity Leadership Award and to have the opportunity to work in partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department to protect young children from exposure to lead hazards in their homes and communities,” McLaine said.  “Although we have made progress, lead exposure continues to adversely impact the health and promise of too many young children in Baltimore. More needs to be done to address the disparities associated with poverty and deteriorated, vacant, abandoned housing.” Healthy Baltimore 2020 is a strategic blueprint that aims to significantly reduce health disparities in Baltimore. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

  ANCC accreditation is valid for four years. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been awarded Accreditation with Distinction as a Provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Accreditation Program. Accreditation with Distinction is the highest recognition that ANCC awards. ANCC’s Accreditation Program is a voluntary review process intended to strengthen and sustain the quality and integrity of continuing nursing education (CNE). It identifies organizations worldwide that demonstrate excellence in CNE, providing nurses with the knowledge and skills to help improve care and patient outcomes. Accredited organizations use evidenced-based ANCC criteria to plan, implement, and evaluate CNE activities. Applicants for accreditation must pass a systematic, comprehensive peer review and meet specific standards. “This award recognizes UMSON’s commitment to excellence and innovation in continuing the education of nurses,” said Patricia Franklin, PhD, RN, assistant professor and director, Professional Education, UMSON. “We adopted a culture of continuous evaluation to ensure that these learning activities are relevant and responsive to the rapidly changing realities of health care.” The School also received an Exemplary Finding by demonstrating how it measures change in the audience’s knowledge, skills, and/or practice as a result of participating in the educational activity. “We congratulate Dr. Franklin and her colleagues in professional education on this significant recognition,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It underscores the School of Nursing’s commitment to fostering lifelong learning for members of the nursing profession and serves as a reminder of the importance of the application of evidence-based criteria in all aspects of continuing nursing education.”  A subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, ANCC provides individuals and organizations throughout the nursing profession with the resources they need to achieve practice excellence. ANCC’s internationally renowned credentialing programs certify nurses in specialty practice areas; recognize health care organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments; and accredit providers and approvers of CNE. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

‌  Resnick celebrated for her mentorship and contributions to geriatrics. ‌ ‌Baltimore, Md.– Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), received the American Geriatrics Society’s (AGS) David H. Solomon Public Service Award, in recognition of her career accomplishments, at the Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting in San Antonio. The award celebrates the legacy of David H. Solomon, MD, AGSF, a renowned geriatrician committed to community service and advancing knowledge about the care of older individuals. Resnick, who is internationally renowned for her research on exercise and mobility for the elderly, has served as a mentor to countless students, faculty members, researchers, and clinicians who serve older adults. Throughout her career in higher education, which has spanned more than two decades, Resnick has focused on clinical work as a geriatric nurse practitioner. “We congratulate Dr. Resnick on this tremendous honor. Her work on treatment fidelity and function-focused care exemplifies how innovative and rigorously conducted research can change the delivery of care for countless individuals,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. Resnick continues to shape our understanding of the dynamics of healthy aging and to translate her findings and insights into the clinical practice and policy arenas. Each one of us either is or will be a beneficiary of her work as a researcher and as an educator and a mentor to the next generation of geriatric care providers and scientists.” Resnick has also provided primary care to older adults across all long-term care settings and facilitated healthy aging in senior housing complexes. Additionally, Resnick serves as editor of Geriatric Nursing and Geriatric Nursing Review Syllabus and as associate editor of numerous other journals related to research on aging. “I am honored to be recognized by AGS for work that I love doing—developing and implementing evidenced approaches to providing optimal care for older adults and mentoring others to do likewise,” Resnick said. “I continue to be appreciative of the interdisciplinary approach AGS has established over the past decade in recognizing my peers and me for our roles within the interdisciplinary team.” AGS is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics health care professionals that has worked for 75 years to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. It provides leadership to health care professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy.    # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Leaders in nursing education from throughout Maryland gathered at the University of Maryland School of Nursing on May 22 for the 2017 Maryland Action Coalition summit. The coalition strives to improve health care by implementing recommendations set forth in the landmark report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, released in 2010 by the Institute of Medicine and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Read more.

The University of Maryland School of Nursing recognized the generosity of its largest donors amid the festivities of the school’s convocation ceremony with the awarding of an inaugural medal. William “Bill” and Joanne Conway were the inaugural recipients of the Dean’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Read more.

  ‌‌School of Nursing graduates celebrated the successful completion of their degrees at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena on Friday, May 19. The Class of 2017 included 202 Bachelor of Science, 97 Master of Science, 36 Doctor of Nursing Practice, and six PhD graduates. Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, delivered welcoming remarks, and Lisa Rowen, DNSc, MS ’86, RN, CENP, FAAN, chief nurse executive, University of Maryland Medical System, and senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, University of Maryland Medical Center, offered the Convocation address. In her remarks, Rowen spoke to the graduates about taking advantage of the many opportunities the nursing profession offers. “There are endless opportunities for joy in nursing,” Rowen said. “You have the opportunity to turn health care upside-down for the better, increasing access to care for the underserved and offering aggressive follow-up care to the most vulnerable. Opportunity lays at your feet; you are at a favorable juncture of circumstances. The question becomes: what will you do with this opportunity and how will you nurture it and grow it into fulfillment?” Additionally, Kirschling recognized the School of Nursing’s largest donors, William “Bill” and Joanne Conway, for their philanthropy; the couple has given more than $7 million to the School. The Conways were awarded the inaugural Dean’s Medal for Distinguished Service, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to advancing the School of Nursing and its mission. The 2017 Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to Joan Davenport, PhD ’00, RN, assistant professor, for excellence in undergraduate education and Bridgitte Gourley, DNP ’08, CRNP, assistant professor, for excellence in graduate education. Jeffrey Johnson, PhD, professor emeritus, carried the School of Nursing mace, leading the processional and recessional. Later in the day, School of Nursing graduates joined graduates from all seven UMB schools for a Party in the Park at University Square. They enjoyed food, music, and games before participating in the UMB Commencement ceremony, also at Royal Farms Arena. View photos from the 2017 Convocation.  

The University of Maryland School of Nursing recognized the generosity of its largest donors amid the festivities of the school’s convocation ceremony with the awarding of an inaugural medal. William “Bill” and Joanne Conway were the inaugural recipients of the Dean’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Read more

Students will be granted special status allowing them to take UMSON courses. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Carroll Community College (CCC) in Westminster, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from CCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program will be available to nursing students this fall. Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s BSN program while in CCC’s ADN program. Students enrolled in the program will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at CCC and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. “We are very excited to begin this partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing. As part of academic progression, the BSN degree is the next step for associate degree graduates. All nurses should continue their education to their fullest capacity,” said Nancy Perry, chief academic officer, CCC. “This agreement will encourage nursing students at Carroll Community College to move seamlessly toward their BSN degree.” An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement will also help further the mission of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing Campaign for Action to advance comprehensive health care change. Specifically, it will address one of the eight goals set forth in the IOM report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “Our partnership with Carroll Community College is exciting for the University of Maryland School of Nursing. It provides ADN students at Carroll Community College with a flexible option for obtaining their BSN degree as they work on prerequisites or take UMSON courses while still enrolled in their pre-licensure program,” said Linda Murray, DNP, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director of the RN-to-BSN program at UMSON. “This partnership provides students with the comfort of knowing that they have been provisionally admitted to a BSN program with anticipated matriculation upon graduation from the ADN program.” To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from CCC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.    

Students will be granted special status, allowing them to take UMSON courses. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Frederick Community College (FCC) in Frederick, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from FCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program will be available to nursing students this fall. Through the agreement, students can apply and be admitted to UMSON’s BSN program while in FCC’s ADN program. Students enrolled in the program will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at FCC and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. “Our partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing is an important opportunity for our nursing students,” said Vanessa Lovato, director, nursing education, FCC. “Students will be able to complete their ADN and BSN all while remaining in their home community, which will encourage degree completion, thereby increasing the number of baccalaureate nurses.” An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement will also help further the mission of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing Campaign for Action to advance comprehensive health care change. Specifically, it will address one of the eight goals set forth in the IOM report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “The University of Maryland School of Nursing is excited about the dual-admission partnership with Frederick Community College,” said Linda Murray, DNP, CPNP-Ped, assistant professor and director of the RN-to-BSN program at UMSON. “Through this partnership, UMSON is doing its part to adhere to recommendations set forth by IOM and is providing convenience and choice to FCC students.”  To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from FCC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON faculty members were among the thousands of people who filled the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on April 22 to raise awareness about the importance of science. Read more.

  UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, (center) and Stephanie White, office manager, (left) recently accepted the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) 2017 Advocate of the Year Award, on behalf of the School, at AACN’s annual spring meeting in Washington, D.C. AACN Government Affairs Committee Chair Anita Hufft, PhD, BSN ’70, RN, dean and professor of nursing, Texas Woman’s University, (right) presented the award.     School recognized for extraordinary advocacy over the past year.   Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) recently received the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) 2017 Advocate of the Year Award. UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Stephanie White, office manager, recently accepted the award on the School’s behalf at AACN’s annual spring meeting in Washington, D.C. “It is a wonderful honor to receive the AACN Advocate of the Year award and to do so on behalf of all the individuals at the School of Nursing who so vigorously work on behalf of nursing education, research, and practice,” Kirschling said. “My special thanks go to Stephanie White, who has provided so much of the staff support for our efforts as the Maryland Grassroots Liaison for AACN. Collaboration and teamwork are critical for effective advocacy, and Stephanie has helped ensure that we keep the nursing community informed and galvanized.” The Advocate of the Year Award, established in 2010, recognizes a member dean and/or school whose extraordinary advocacy over the past year has advanced academic nursing priorities in the federal sphere. The top advocate is determined through a review of messages sent to Congress, responses to Action Alerts, and Capitol Hill visits. “UMSON’s advocacy is not limited to the federal level, so I’m also very grateful to the many individuals who work on important state-level issues. One of the great joys is also to see the participation of our students, whether during an AACN Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C., or advocating in Annapolis,” Kirschling said. “It is heartening to see their leadership emerge and know that the next generation will continue to speak out on behalf of nursing and the individuals that we care for.” AACN serves as the catalyst for excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, and practice. It has a long tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the nursing profession. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), has been awarded more than $1.5M in two grants from the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (MCHRC) to expand access to health care to underserved residents and address health disparities in Prince George’s and Cecil counties. The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON)-managed Governor’s Wellmobile will provide its mobile nurse-managed interprofessional services. Read more

University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD, along with the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM) Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (SON) Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, announced today that an alumni couple, Richard Sherman, MD, SOM ’72, and Jane Sherman, PhD, SON ’85, have made a $1.5 million gift to the University to establish a health care innovation center to be located in the Health Sciences & Human Services Library. Read more.

  Top-10 School has seven master’s/DNP specialties/options ranked in the top 10. Baltimore, Md. — In the recently released 2018 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools,” the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) remains ranked No. 1 for two of its master’s specialties/options and has an additional master’s specialty ranked in the top five. The School’s master’s-level Clinical Nurse Leader option and Nursing Informatics specialty are ranked No. 1, and the Health Services Leadership and Management master’s specialty rose to No. 3 in the Administration category. Its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is ranked 10th in the nation. UMSON continues to be ranked in the top 10 among all accredited graduate nursing programs, and it has eight master’s and DNP specialties, options, or programs ranked in the top 10, including Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Family Nurse Practitioner, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Nurse Anesthesia. The Nurse Anesthesia specialty rankings were released in last year's edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” and will be in effect until 2021. “It is gratifying to continue to be recognized within the top 10 overall nursing programs nationally and to have numerous specialty areas also singled out,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “These rankings are a testament to the commitment of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni to excellence in nursing education, research, and practice. The School of Nursing continues to play an important role in state and national efforts to increase the number of nurses with advanced degrees; we believe this is essential to ensuring that nurses are well prepared to meet the needs of our diverse communities within a rapidly changing health care environment.” The U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including student selectivity and program size, faculty resources, and research activity, and on survey data from deans of schools of nursing and that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. See all of UMSON's U.S. News rankings. # # #The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

‌  Lemaire has guided UMSON’s CNL option since its inception. Baltimore, Md. – Gail Schoen Lemaire, PhD ’96, PMHCNS, BC, CNL, associate professor and associate dean for the Master of Science program, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was awarded honorable mention for the 2017 Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Educator Vanguard Award by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Commission on Nurse Certification (CNC) at the recent 2017 CNL Summit in Atlanta. The CNL Educator Vanguard Award recognizes a CNL faculty member or program director for innovative and outstanding preparation of and advocacy for CNLs. The award also promotes the contributions of the CNL faculty member in transforming nursing education and encouraging innovation in both academia and practice. Lemaire has been instrumental in shaping UMSON’s CNL option, currently ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report, since its inception in 2005. She was the program’s co-director from 2005-08 and its director from 2011-15. From 2013-14, Lemaire oversaw the revision of the CNL curriculum. Additionally, she has secured $630,000 in scholarships for 63 CNL students through six rounds of funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s New Careers in Nursing Program during a seven-year period. In her current role, Lemaire oversees the CNL option, teaches CNL classes, and has an active practice as a nurse psychotherapist, providing treatment for patients diagnosed with cancer and psychiatric disorders.                                                  “Dr. Lemaire’s recognition is a tribute to her exceptional and pioneering work as an academic administrator establishing and overseeing the CNL program and as a faculty member developing an innovative pedagogy utilizing an array of teaching strategies and learning experiences,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It takes a special set of talents to forge new ground and create a highly successful program; it is easy to forget that the CNL option, in particular the idea of a second-degree, entry-level program, is just over a decade old. It is a testament to Dr. Lemaire that our graduates model the skills and abilities envisioned when the CNL concept was developed. They are creative problem-solvers, innovators, and change agents and are able to leverage their prior education, work, and life experiences to improve health care delivery.” A CNL is a master’s-educated nurse who is prepared to practice across the continuum of care within any health care setting. AACN developed the CNL role in collaboration with leaders from both health care practice and education to address the need to improve patient care outcomes. These master’s-prepared clinicians use evidence-based practice to focus on care coordination, risk assessment, quality improvement, and team leadership.   “For more than a decade, it has been a pleasure and my privilege to teach, mentor, and advocate for CNL students at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. CNL students bring enthusiasm, broad perspectives and valuable experiences to the learning environment and ultimately to the practice setting,” Lemaire said. “I believe they represent our greatest strength for transforming practice to reduce health disparities and ensure quality health care.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Students will be able to apply to both schools simultaneously and satisfy the requirements of both schools. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) in Arnold, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from AACC’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program will be available to nursing students this fall. Through the agreement, students will be simultaneously admitted into AACC’s ADN program and UMSON’s BSN program while satisfying the requirements of both schools. Students enrolled in the program will receive transfer credits from UMSON for completed coursework at AACC and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree, thereby saving them time and money in completing their BSN degree. "The goal of the dual enrollment is to increase the number of baccalaureate-prepared nurses in the community," said Beth Batturs Martin, MS, RN, director, Nursing and Health Initiatives, AACC. "Through the partnership between the University of Maryland School of Nursing and Anne Arundel Community College, students can begin their journey early in their academic career, which encourages degree completion."An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement will also help further the mission of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing Campaign for Action to advance comprehensive health care change. Specifically, it will address one of the eight goals set forth in the IOM report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. "This agreement is the result of a joint commitment between both schools to offer choices to students who wish to take RN-to-BSN courses while in their ADN program," said Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. "The deans and directors within the state of Maryland understand the need to partner with many institutions, thus allowing students in their respective programs to select the best pathway to take to achieve their BSN."To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from AACC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria.AACC is an award-winning, fully accredited public two-year institution serving approximately 50,000 students each year through classes offered at more than 100 sites in Anne Arundel County or online. It offers national and regional studies leading to a degree, certificate, industry credential, transfer to a four-year institution or career enhancement, personal enrichment and lifelong learning. For more information, visit www.aacc.edu. # # #The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

  Retired professor instrumental in UMSON’s participation in Clinton Health Initiative program. Baltimore, Md. – Jeffrey Johnson, PhD, has been appointed professor emeritus by University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Jay A. Perman, MD. Johnson served as a professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) for 12 years and was the founding director of its Office of Global Health while also holding joint appointments as a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. He retired in July 2015. An emeritus faculty member is a retired professor who has demonstrated an exemplary record of service to the School and to the profession. The faculty member must also express a desire to continue to support the School’s mission. While at UMSON, Johnson co-led the School’s first research center, the Center for Excellence in Work and Health, and developed the global health certificate, serving as its director. The 12-credit certificate, which is available to all UMB students, affords students the opportunity for field placement experiences in low-income countries such as Haiti, Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, Liberia, and Rwanda. Additionally, in 2012, Johnson was instrumental in arranging UMSON’s participation in the Rwandan Ministry of Health’s Human Resources for Health program, which is supported by the Clinton Health Initiative. The groundbreaking, seven-year, interprofessional collaboration brings together expertise from dentistry, medical, nursing, and health management academic programs at 13 top U.S. institutions of higher learning to address Rwanda’s critical shortage of medical, nursing, and dental workers; poor quality of health professions education; poor infrastructure; and inadequate management of health facilities, according to the program’s website. “We are very fortunate that Dr. Johnson chose to finish his illustrious academic career at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. He is held in the highest esteem and remains greatly beloved by our faculty, staff, and students for his compassion, integrity, intellect, and commitment to mentorship,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Many students across the UMB campus have committed to working on issues surrounding social justice and improved working conditions because of Dr. Johnson’s impactful teaching style and guidance.” During his 30-year career, Johnson dedicated himself to the science of social epidemiology and theory. His research and scholarship contributed to national and international attempts to ameliorate the impact of adverse work and social environments on the health and well-being of populations in the United States, Europe, and the developing world. Johnson’s work has been documented in more than 75 publications, 65 abstracts, 54 national and international presentations, 16 technical reports and monographs, and five books.     Since his retirement, Johnson has continued to lecture at the University and elsewhere on community health, ethics, global health, and social justice and health. Additionally, Johnson continues to mentor UMB faculty and former students and to advocate for racial justice in the community. “At the University of Maryland School of Nursing, professor emeritus is not just a title. I know how much it means at the School, so I’m thrilled that I have been named professor emeritus,” Johnson said. “This honor isn’t just about the work that I did while at the School but is more of a testament to the work that was accomplished by the teams I was a part of. I enjoy being able to mentor and return to lecture on topics that I have expertise in. It keeps me engaged and abreast of changes within the field.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

  The scholarship is in honor of the UMSON alumna. ‌Baltimore, Md.– The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been awarded $25,000 from the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare to endow the Darlene J. Curley Scholarship. This latest grant contributes to the $255,000 that UMSON has received from the center since 2012 to support UMSON nursing students financially. The Jonas Center’s gift honors Curley, MS ’82, BSN ’80, RN, FAAN, the center’s executive director. The scholarship will support doctoral students who have demonstrated a focus on and commitment to community/public health and/or leadership and administration; it will be awarded annually and will be based on academic achievement. “I am thankful to the Jonas Center and the University of Maryland School of Nursing for this wonderful honor,” Curley said. “Nursing leadership in practice, research, and policy is more important than ever to improve the health of our nation.” Curley, who was honored by UMSON as a visionary pioneer in 2015, has transformed the Jonas Center’s profile and impact from a local New York funder to a national thought leader and grant maker for all 50 states. She has forged partnerships with leading philanthropic, academic, and health care organizations, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, John A. Hartford Foundation, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Hearst Publishing Foundation, and the Veterans Administration. Curley has doubled grant dollars available through leveraged funds, matching funds, and innovative fundraising. She is currently leading an effort to support 1,000 doctoral students in all 50 states to address the critical shortage of nurses and nursing faculty. “We are thrilled to receive this generous gift from the Jonas Center honoring Darlene Curley,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Through its visionary philanthropy and the leadership of Ms. Curley, the Jonas Center is supporting the development of nurse leaders who will be well equipped to address the current and future challenges of our health care system. The Darlene J. Curley Scholarship will provide important additional resources for nurses pursuing doctoral degrees.” Established in 2006, the Jonas Center deploys philanthropy to advance the nursing profession through grants and programs designed to develop outstanding faculty, advance scholarship, and spark innovative practice.   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Recipients will receive a grant to assist with educational and professional expenses. ‌Baltimore, Md. – Three faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) have been awarded a Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research. Clinical instructors Ameera Chakravarthy, MS, BSN ’02, CRNP, interim specialty director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist; Ernest ‌Opoku-Agyemang, MA, MS, RN; and Mary Pat Ulicny, MS ’11, MHA, RN, CNE, clinical simulation lab director for UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Universities at Shady Grove,  all received the maximum award amount of $30,000. This competitive grant program is designed to assist PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates by helping to cover costs associated with graduate education expenses; professional development; course release time; research-related administrative support; and project-related expenses for supplies, travel, and document creation. Its goals are to increase the number of doctorally prepared nursing faculty in Maryland, to strengthen faculty development for optimal capacity at schools of nursing, and to recruit and retain a diverse nursing faculty.  “We are extremely grateful for this support to faculty members pursuing doctoral degrees,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The NEDG program responds to the critical need to increase the number of faculty with advanced degrees and in turn ensures a highly educated nursing workforce for the future. We look forward to the continuing contributions of each award recipient to teaching and research at the School of Nursing.” NEDG is part of the Nurse Support Program II, a statewide initiative funded by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. It helps increase Maryland’s nursing capacity by supporting initiatives that advance the recommendations outlined in the Institute of Medicine’s report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. (left to right) Ameera Chakravarthy, MS, BSN ’02, CRNP; Ernest ‌Opoku-Agyemang, MA, MS, RN; and Mary Pat Ulicny, MS ’11, MHA, RN, CNE‌ # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

 Students will be able to apply to both schools simultaneously and satisfy the requirements of both schools. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Cecil College in North East, Maryland, recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will ensure students’ seamless transition from Cecil’s Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. The program will be available to nursing students this fall. Through the agreement, students will be simultaneously admitted into Cecil’s ADN program and UMSON’s BSN program while satisfying the requirements of both schools. Students enrolled in the program will receive transfer credits for completed coursework and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree. “Cecil College is committed to fostering seamless academic progression for associate degree nursing students,” said Laura Schenk, MS, RN, academic progression coordinator, Cecil College. “In an effort to enhance academic progression and promote lifelong learning, the dual-admission program offers students a head start on attaining a BSN and decreasing completion time. An effort to increase qualified nursing candidates, the agreement will also help further the mission of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing Campaign for Action to advance comprehensive health care change. Specifically, it will address one of the eight goals set forth in the IOM report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health: to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “The faculty and staff at Cecil College have been exceptionally forward thinking on developing and implementing the dual-admission option,” said Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “This agreement allows us to honor a commitment we’ve made to our students who are pursuing a career in nursing.” To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN program, students must graduate with an ADN from Cecil and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON students will receive a $10,000 scholarship and other benefits. Baltimore, Md.– The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been approved to launch a Paul D. Coverdell Fellows expansion program through the Peace Corps. After serving in countries around the world, two Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) each year will be offered an opportunity to bring their expertise to communities and neighborhoods in Baltimore while pursuing their studies at UMSON with the help of a $10,000 scholarship that can be applied to tuition and fees. RPCVs often find careers in health care to be a natural fit, as many have been involved in the field while serving at their posts worldwide. They are known for being highly adept at integrating international and global perspectives into all they do and have learned to work collaboratively across cultures, communities, and countries. This expertise aligns with the increasingly global and cross-cultural focus of nursing and will afford Coverdell Fellows a wide variety of future career options. “This program will bring more students with global, community-based experience to the School of Nursing and into the profession of nursing, which will expose Baltimore communities to a worldwide view,” said UMSON’s Coverdell Fellows Program coordinator Lori Edwards, DrPH, MPH, BSN ’80, RN, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor. “It will enhance our shared programs with the University of Maryland School of Social Work, which has had an exemplary Coverdell Program for many years. This interprofessional collaboration will be of great value to incoming Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and will strengthen both programs.” At UMSON, fellows can earn either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree or a Clinical Nurse Leader master’s degree. As part of their studies, they will enroll in elective courses, offered through the University of Maryland, Baltimore Graduate School, focused on service learning and population health in Baltimore and will have opportunities to become involved in and serve communities during clinical experiences throughout the metropolitan area. In addition to receiving the scholarship, fellows selected for the program can take advantage of specialized career mentoring from Edwards and from other UMSON faculty who have served in the Peace Corps, as well as networking opportunities with fellows from the School of Social Work. Since the Coverdell Fellows program’s inception in 1985 at the Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City, more than 5,000 RPCVs have participated. The program now includes more than 90 university partners across the country. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

A gift of $2 million from Bill and Joanne Conway, through their Bedford Falls Foundation, to the University of Maryland School of Nursing  (UMSON) will be used to provide scholarships to students in advanced degree programs. Read More

UMSON gerontology chair has been in the field nearly 40 years. ‌Baltimore, Md. – Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently began a one-year term as president of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Resnick, who served as president-elect in 2016, has been a member of GSA since 1995.GSA officers are responsible for overseeing the governance and strategic planning of the organization while representing the society’s four membership sections and its Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization. Resnick has previously served as GSA’s health section chair and was on the finance and publication committees. “Dr. Resnick's outstanding accomplishments as a researcher and clinician dedicated to ensuring the best possible quality of life for older individuals speak volumes. As a highly regarded scholar and mentor, she has contributed significantly to how we think about the aging process,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her deep commitment to working across disciplines to improve the science and practice of care for the elderly makes her ideally suited for the role of president of the Gerontological Society of America. We congratulate her on this singular honor and know that the society, and all of us, will benefit from her creative and dynamic leadership, her energy and drive, and her dedication to improving care for older adults.”Founded in 1945, GSA is a multidisciplinary organization devoted to research and education in all aspects of gerontology, which include medical, biological, psychological, and social. It is the driving force behind the advancement of gerontology, both domestically and internationally. “I am greatly honored to have been selected to serve as GSA’s president for 2017. Aging is of interest to all, given the increasing number of older adults nationally and internationally, and we are constantly developing innovative and exciting ways to optimize the aging experience in the world around us,” Resnick said. “It’s exciting to guide GSA in carrying out its ultimate mission of advancing the study of aging and disseminating information among scientists, decision-makers, and the general public.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Allan will lend expertise in community health, primary health care, and NP education and practice to board. Baltimore, Md. – Dean Emerita Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, FAAN, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been selected to the American Health Council (AHC) Education Board, an advisory council comprising nationally respected educators and health care industry leaders. Active in health care for more than 50 years, Allan is an expert in community health, primary health care and research (regarding women and weight management), and nurse practitioner education and practice. As a member of the board, she will help promote ideas that contribute to the health care industry’s growth and that foster relationship-building though networking.  “I am honored to be appointed to the education board of the American Health Care Council. Improving the health of populations through the education of future health professionals requires innovative interprofessional approaches,” Allan said. “I hope to utilize my clinical and academic nursing knowledge and skills to work with other health care professionals to improve the well-being of the U.S. and global populations.” Allan, who served as UMSON’s dean from 2002-12, made a major impact on the School during her decade-long tenure. The School’s U.S. News & World Report ranking reached an all-time high of seventh, and UMSON achieved a top-20 ranking among schools of nursing receiving federal research funding. Enrollment rose, making UMSON one of the nation’s largest nursing schools. During her career, Allan has held leadership positions including vice chair of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, board member and treasurer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, and president of the Southern Nursing Research Society and of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty. She also has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maryland Nurses Association, the Researcher of the Year Award from the Southern Nursing Research Society, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, and the Award for Care of People with AIDS/HIV Infection from the U.S. Secretary of Health, and she is a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. AHC is composed of leaders across the health care industry who share their ideas, challenges, and experiences with fellow members to improve our nation’s health care system. By connecting participants in patient treatment, educators, researchers, and those in the public and private sectors, AHC works to advance the health care industry. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The career advice Rear Adm. Sylvia Trent-Adams’ grandfather imparted to her as a young girl was brief: for job security, become either a nurse or an undertaker because sickness and death are guaranteed in life. “Mortuary science is not my thing, so nursing is where I landed,” said Trent-Adams, PhD, MS ’99, RN, FAAN, the guest speaker at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) commencement ceremony held Dec. 12 at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore for summer and fall graduates. “I never thought that when I graduated from nursing school that I would end up becoming the deputy surgeon general. If you probably had said that to me at that point in time I would have said, ‘Yeah, right. What have you been smoking?’ ” Read More

Friedmann and team will use data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.  Baltimore, Md. – Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor and associate dean of research, and Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), were recently awarded a three-year, $340,000 grant from WALTHAM and Mars Petcare to examine the role of pet ownership in maintaining both physical and mental function in healthy older adults. Through the study, the team will seek to determine if pet ownership is associated with improved maintenance of physical and psychological health-related outcomes in older adults compared to older non-pet owners.   Friedmann, who will serve as principal investigator, is also teaming with National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program colleagues Eleanor Simonsick, PhD, epidemiologist, Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), and Stephanie Studenski, MD, MPH, chief, Longitudinal Studies Section Translational Gerontology and director, BLSA, and with Nancy R. Gee, PhD, professor, SUNY Fredonia, and human-animal interaction research manager, WALTHAM. The researchers will look at extensive longitudinal data collected over the past decade from BLSA and at pet ownership statistics to determine if there is a link between multiple measures of pet ownership and changes in healthy aging over time.  “I am very grateful for the chance to collaborate with BLSA; it is an exceptional opportunity. BLSA provides rich data that we can leverage to address our questions and we can do so in a very cost-effective manner,” Friedmann said.  “This grant is instrumental in moving my research and the field of human-animal interaction forward to evaluate the contribution of pets to healthy aging.”   WALTHAM is a leading scientific authority in pet nutrition and well-being and has been advancing the frontiers of research into nutrition and the health of pets for more than 50 years. It contributes to understanding the relationships between pets and their owners and has published studies examining the benefits of human-animal interaction. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellow is highest status within GSA. Baltimore, Md. – Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ’03, RN, FAAN, professor and specialty director, Nursing Informatics, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently named a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) during its annual scientific meeting in New Orleans. Nahm was amongst 94 fellows inducted into this year’s class. The status of fellow, the highest class of membership within the society, is an acknowledgment of Nahm’s continued outstanding work in gerontology. Inductees have contributed to research, teaching, administration, public service, practice, and notable participation within the organization. Fellows are chosen from each of the GSA’s four membership sections: behavioral and social sciences, biological sciences, health sciences, and social research policy and practice. Her membership is in the health sciences section. Nahm, who has had several studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, specializes in developing and utilizing health IT programs to deliver more efficient, safer care to patients. Advancements in health IT have revolutionized health care by allowing patients to access their own electronic health records and offering enabling health tools; however, some patients, particularly older ones, have had problems transitioning to this technology. Nahm’s research examines the challenges of acclimating older adults to technological innovations that allow them to participate actively in their care. “We congratulate Dr. Nahm on her selection as a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.  It is a tremendous honor and speaks to her contributions to research, education, and practice,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “Dr. Nahm’s ongoing application of nursing informatics to developing interventions that promote and manage the health of older adults is an outstanding example of collaborative and interdisciplinary work.  It holds great promise for improving the lives of older adults, their families, and our communities.”  Founded in 1945, the GSA is a multidisciplinary organization devoted to research and education in all aspects of gerontology, including medical, biological, psychological and social, and is the driving force behind the advancement of gerontology both domestically and internationally. “I am honored to be inducted as a fellow of the GSA, an organization that is devoted to research, education, and practice in the field of aging,” Nahm said.  “I have learned so much from many excellent GSA members, and I hope that I can do the same for others.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON’s collaboration with a local community outreach center and its baccalaureate curriculum recognized. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that its Community and Public Health (CPH) master’s specialty, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, received two American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) awards for its forward-thinking initiatives: the Innovation in Professional Nursing Education Award in the Academic Health Center category and the Innovations in Baccalaureate Population Health Award. This is the second time that UMSON has received the Innovation in Professional Nursing Education Award in the Academic Health Center category, and it is the only school to have received the award more than once. AACN’s Innovation in Professional Nursing Education Award recognizes the work of member schools that re-envision traditional models for nursing education and that lead programmatic change. Over the past six years, UMSON has radically changed its model for working with Paul’s Place, a community outreach center in Southwest Baltimore. Under a formal service agreement, Paul’s Place pays for 20 percent of one doctorally prepared CPH faculty member’s time to serve as director of health and wellness for the center, ensuring there is a director to coordinate and supervise community health and wellness services year round. Through this model, Paul’s Place has been able to double the services it provides, including a community-based, nurse-led clinic and faculty practice and a full array of interdisciplinary services through collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s five other professional schools. The Innovations in Baccalaureate Population Health Award was established to recognize a curriculum that demonstrates an innovative strategy that enhances population health in a baccalaureate nursing program. Beginning in 2014, UMSON significantly revised its baccalaureate curriculum to strategically integrate CPH/population health during the four-semester program. UMSON students are now introduced to population health in their first term, and they build upon this knowledge throughout the course of study from classroom, learning labs, and community field placements in the Baltimore and greater Washington, D.C., metro area. In addition to integrating population health early in its undergraduate curriculum, UMSON has implemented four other innovations that set it apart in its commitment to and embrace of population health in baccalaureate nursing education, including: 1) an emphasis on home visit simulation and principles of asthma management; 2) hands-on, interprofessional education and outreach to ensure basic competencies to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the area; 3) a focus on understanding social justice and social determinants; and 4) exposure to a broad array of community-based clinical experiences. The School’s extensive network of community field placements ensures 200 students engage in more than 75 individual and group preceptor experiences every semester. In a single semester, UMSON students have close to 1,800 encounters with community members through a variety of venues. “We are thrilled and deeply honored to receive these two prestigious awards. Recognition by AACN is a wonderful testament to our community/public health faculty and the innovative curriculum and experiential learning opportunities that they create,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are especially grateful to Paul’s Place; through our longstanding partnership, we have developed new approaches to addressing the health needs of significantly underserved members of our community. Collectively, our community partners are an important part of what makes it possible for us to educate well prepared nurses to serve a diverse population in a wide variety of settings. It is particularly meaningful to have our work recognized during the 50th anniversary of the School of Nursing’s Community/Public Health master’s specialty as we look ahead to the future innovations that will keep us on the cutting edge of nursing education.” AACN serves as the catalyst for excellence and innovation in nursing education, research, and practice. It has a long tradition of recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding achievements in support of the nursing profession.  # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

 Board informs membership of legislation at state and federal level affecting nursing education. Baltimore, Md.  – Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program, has been elected to the 2017 Governing Board of the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing. Trocky prepared and presented the Maryland Legislative Report for 2015-16 at the council’s annual meeting recently held in Atlanta. The governing board informs its member states of legislation at the state and federal levels that may affect nursing education.  Additionally, it encourages nonpartisan advocacy in support of nursing education, and provides necessary information to help legislators and other officials make informed decisions regarding policies affecting nursing education. “We congratulate Dr. Trocky on the honor of her election to the council’s governing board and are pleased that she will be a part of this important collaboration among nursing programs throughout the southern region. Promoting excellence in nursing education, addressing the shortage of nurse educators, and ensuring appropriate training of the next generation of nurses are critical tasks,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I am confident that Dr. Trocky will contribute to this work and that the School of Nursing will also benefit from the efforts of the council.” SREB is a nonprofit organization representing more than 65 academic nursing programs in the Southern region of the United States, including Maryland and Washington, D.C. The council’s mission is to strengthen college-based nursing programs at all levels—associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral—preparing registered nurses for entry-level and advanced practice positions. “I am proud to serve as a board member of the SREB Council on Collegiate Education in Nursing and to represent the state of Maryland,” Trocky said. “Nurse educators play a very important role in advocating for patients, students, and nursing practice when involved in the legislative process. For all of the schools located within the Southern region, it is vitally important to stay abreast of the pending legislation and bills that are most relevant to nursing practice.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

University System of Maryland Chancellor Robert L. Caret, PhD, reaffirms the system's commitment to undocumented students on all campuses. It is the intent of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, to act in accordance with his guidance. Read his letter.

Jenkins is just second UMSON faculty member to be named Teacher of the Year in history of the award.  Baltimore, Md. – Louise S. Jenkins, PhD ’85, MS ’81, RN, FAHA, ANEF, professor and director of the Institute for Educators, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently was named the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) 2016 Teacher of the Year during its annual Founders Week. Jenkins is the seventh UMSON faculty member to receive a Founders Week Award since the celebration was initiated in 1996. In 2004, Jenkins co-founded the Institute for Educators to address the urgent statewide nursing faculty shortage. Under Jenkins’ leadership, the institute has contributed to a 63 percent increase in the number of new Maryland nursing school graduates sitting for boards and becoming licensed in the state; its effectiveness has been recognized through the awarding of multiple grants, totaling nearly $7 million, over the past 12 years. Jenkins also co-developed and leads the Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate program, which has equipped nearly 800 graduate and undergraduate students with the essential skills for teaching current and future nurses. “Dr. Jenkins occupies a unique niche,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She is a highly accomplished and much lauded teacher, advisor, and mentor to individual students. She is a visionary and innovative educational leader who perceives how the art and science of teaching must evolve and is then able to move the enterprise.” Each year, UMB celebrates the achievements and successes of its students, faculty, staff, alumni, and philanthropic support and pays tribute to its 200-plus-year history. As part of the celebration, awards are presented in four categories: Researcher of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year.  Nominees for the Teacher of the Year award must have contributed to course development; created innovative teaching methods; developed student-initiated applications, evaluations, and student endorsements; and received past national and/or local teaching awards. “There were so many emotions when [UMB President] Dr. [Jay] Perman told me I had been selected as Teacher of the Year,” Jenkins said. “I was surprised, thrilled, and very humbled by the honor of this award from my colleagues.” Past UMSON Founders Week Award winners include Karen L. Soeken, PhD, Teacher of the Year 1998; Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, Researcher of the Year 2003; Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, Public Servant of the Year 2006; Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAAN, Researcher of the Year 2008; Robin Newhouse, PhD ’00, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Researcher of the Year 2014; and Karen Kauffman, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, Public Servant of the Year 2014. Read more and watch the official Founders Week video about Jenkins. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

When Yvette Rooks, MD, CAQ, FAAFP, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, was growing up in the Bronx, N.Y., she had very few role models and even as the daughter of two police officers, had a penchant for getting into trouble. “Many years ago, I was in your seat,” Rooks told a group of about 100 freshman students from Edmondson-Westside High School, gathered in the auditorium of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). “So as I speak with you today, I speak with you from my heart. Because you kind of see this middle-aged woman, she's a doctor now, how can she relate?” Read More

Chakravarthy directs development, implementation, and evaluation of graduate-level courses for specialty. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently named Ameera Chakravarthy, MS, BSN ’02, CRNP, clinical instructor, the interim specialty director for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program’s Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Nurse Specialist specialty in the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. Chakravarthy has been on the faculty since 2011.  In her new role, Chakravarthy directs the development, implementation, and evaluation of graduate-level didactic and clinical courses related to the specialty; recruits, advises, teaches, and mentors students; and fosters faculty professional development. Chakravarthy also collaborates with colleagues in nursing and from other disciplines; makes scholarly contributions to nursing science; and maintains a faculty practice in the University of Maryland Medical System’s surgical intermediate care unit. “Ameera brings a wealth of solid advanced practice experience to the role of specialty director, including familiarity and engagement with the courses and clinical opportunities for student learning,” said Kathleen Michael, PhD, RN, CRRN, associate professor and chair of the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. “Her strong communication, teamwork, and planning skills will be especially valuable in overseeing the specialty and assuring the success of the team.” Chakravarthy, who is pursuing a PhD at UMSON, earned a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from UMSON. “I am honored to serve as interim specialty director for the Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical Nurse Specialist Doctor of Nursing Practice specialty,” Chakravarthy said. “I plan to continue supporting our faculty team as they employ innovative teaching strategies to develop the next generation of practice experts. I hope to be instrumental in the rigorous academic and outstanding clinical work of our students, faculty, and graduates while simultaneously managing the care of acutely ill patients locally, nationally, and abroad.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top 10 nursing schools in the United States. Enrolling more than 1,800 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

Students and faculty of the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (UMSOP) and University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will offer free vaccinations against influenza at a clinic to be set up in Montgomery County near a State Board of Elections poll site on the campus of Universities at Shady Grove (USG). The clinic will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016, from 3 to 7 p.m. The location is USG Building 1, First Floor, 9640 Gudelsky Dr., Rockville, Md. Read More

Fellows have made significant contributions to nursing and health care.  Baltimore, Md.  – Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members, eight alumnae, and a former adjunct assistant professor were honored at the American Academy of Nursing’s (AAN) annual meeting and conference recently held in Washington, D.C. Associate Professors Elizabeth Galik, PhD ’07, CRNP, FAANP, and Joseph E. Pellegrini, PhD, CRNA, director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Anesthesia specialty, were inducted into AAN’s 2016 class of fellows, and alumna Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc, MS '59, RNCS, FAAN, professor, Boston College William F. Connell School of Nursing, was designated a Living Legend, an AAN Fellow of at least 15 years who has demonstrated extraordinary, sustained contributions to nursing and to health care. “The induction of Drs. Galik and Pellegrini speaks to their dedication to nursing education, research, and practice, and to their many scholarly achievements. We are extremely proud of both of them and grateful for their ongoing contributions to the School of Nursing,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess’ recognition as an AAN ‘Living Legend’ is a wonderful acknowledgment of her profound and lasting contributions to understanding and addressing the impact of sexual violence and trauma at the individual and societal levels. We salute her on achieving the highest of all AAN honors.” Additionally, UMSON alumnae Murielle Beene, DNP, MBA, MPH, MS ’01, RN-BC, PMP;  Kristy Duffey, MS ’98, APRN, GNP-BC;  Patricia Sengstack, DNP, MS ’88, BSN ’82, RN-BC;  JoAnne Silbert-Flagg, DNP, MS ’83, BSN ’79, CRNP; Laura A. Taylor, PhD, MS ’90, BSN ’86, RN, ANEF; Ting-Ting Lee, PhD ’98, MS ’93, RN; and Cara J. Krulewitch, PhD ’92, CNM, FACNM; and former Adjunct Assistant Professor Sherry B. Perkins, PhD, RN, were also among 164 highly distinguished nurse leaders who composed this year’s cohort. “We are thrilled that eight alumnae were recognized, and we congratulate each one on achieving this significant national honor. It is a testament to the contributions that each one is making within their chosen specialties and in their communities,” Kirschling said. “We also congratulate Dr. Sherry Perkins, our esteemed colleague, on this well-deserved honor. She has contributed so much to nursing practice and health care delivery regionally and nationally through her executive leadership and operational roles.” Criteria for selection as a fellow include evidence of significant contributions to nursing and health care and sponsorship by two current AAN Fellows. Applicants are reviewed by a panel of elected and appointed fellows. Galik has been internationally recognized for her work in improving care practices for older adults with dementia. She has served as principal investigator or co-investigator for 11 research studies and has been an advisor to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Additionally, Galik has been named a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Scholar. Pellegrini has made significant contributions to research, education, and leadership in the nurse anesthesia field and has been published in 68 peer-reviewed journals. He also serves as the sole representative for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists on the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology Patient Safety Council. Burgess has been internationally lauded as a pioneer in the assessment and treatment of victims of sexual violence and trauma. Her transformative work as co-founder of one of the first hospital-based crisis counseling programs introduced Rape Trauma Syndrome into scientific literature. She has worked with the FBI to study links between child abuse, juvenile delinquency, and subsequent perpetration.  AAN consists of more than 2,400 nurse leaders in education, management, practice, policy, and research, including hospital and government administrators, college deans, and renowned scientific researchers. The 2016 class represents all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and 28 countries.   # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Awards given to new faculty members to offset educational and professional development costs.  Baltimore, Md. – Two University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have received New Nurse Faculty Fellowship Awards, grants funded through the Nurse Support Program II (NSP II) for FY ’17-’19. Assistant Professors Kathleen McElroy, PhD, MS ’10, BSN ’97, and Ronald Piscotty, PhD, RN-BC, both received awards.  Maryland institutions with nursing degree programs are eligible to nominate newly hired, full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty members and clinical-track faculty for the fellowship. The maximum amount of the three-year fellowship is $20,000. Recipients receive $10,000 during year one, and then $5,000 annually for the remaining two years. Funds can be used to supplement a fellow’s salary, to pay for graduate education expenses, and to cover professional development and associated dues.  NSP II is a statewide initiative designed to address the nurse shortage in Maryland by increasing the number of nurses prepared to serve as nursing faculty. Since 2013, UMSON has increased enrollment by 26 percent in its traditional BSN and RN-to-BSN programs in response to the Institute of Medicine’s report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which calls for increasing the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. Currently, approximately 51 percent of nurses are educated at the baccalaureate level.  McElroy teaches required didactic and clinical community health courses to BSN and RN-to-BSN students. Her research and clinical practice focuses on pregnant/postpartum women and infants impacted by clinical and environmental factors. Piscotty, whose area of expertise is information systems and technology and its impact on clinical practice, teaches core courses to BSN and RN-to-BSN students. In spring 2016, Piscotty, who also teaches informatics courses at the graduate level, taught approximately 200 undergraduate students.  “We are truly grateful for the generous support provided to our faculty members through the Nurse Support Program II,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This initiative is instrumental in helping us recruit and retain highly talented and dedicated individuals, who in turn ensure that we are educating a nursing workforce fully prepared to meet the increasingly complex health care needs of Maryland’s residents now and in the future. Drs. McElroy and Piscotty are already making significant contributions to the School of Nursing through their teaching and research, and we congratulate them on their selection as fellows.”   # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Retired professor remains instrumental in SINI. Baltimore, Md. – Judy G. Ozbolt, PhD, RN, FAAN, has been has been appointed professor emerita by University of Maryland, Baltimore President Jay A. Perman, MD. Ozbolt served as professor and specialty director of nursing informatics at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) beginning in 2006 and retired in 2010.  An emeritus faculty member is a retired professor who has demonstrated an exemplary record of service to the School and to the profession. Additionally, the faculty member must express a desire to continue to support the mission of the School. While at UMSON, Ozbolt, with the help of a Health Resources and Services Administration grant, tripled student enrollment in the Nursing Informatics program while maintaining the diversity of the student body. Ozbolt has also chaired the program committee for the School’s renowned Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics (SINI) Conference and has continued to serve in leadership roles with the SINI program committee since her retirement.  “Dr. Ozbolt’s contributions to the field of nursing informatics over a 46-year career are unparalleled. She joined the School of Nursing having already had a celebrated career, and we are truly grateful for her dedication, service, and ongoing support of SINI,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her appointment as professor emerita is a testament to her pioneering work, unflagging leadership in the field, and commitment to developing the next generation of nurse leaders in informatics. It also reflects the deep affection and respect of her colleagues.”  During her career, Ozbolt held several significant national and international academic, clinical, and administrative appointments. In 1972, Ozbolt began a research program in nursing informatics during the early days of the field. She also served as a scholar at the Institute of Medicine, where she led planning initiatives in biomedical and health informatics across all components of the National Academy of Sciences for five years.  Since her retirement, Ozbolt continues to contribute to the health informatics field. She serves on federal committees and is involved in policy work, continuing to share her knowledge and experience with the UMSON nursing informatics community.  “During my time at UMSON, and as chair of the planning committee for SINI, students, faculty, and staff were very gracious to me. They showed in many ways how much they appreciated my efforts,” Ozbolt said. “I’m filled with gratitude that after a thorough review by the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the highest levels of administration, and faculty, I have been accorded emeritus status. It is validation of a job well done and a career well spent.”   # # #    The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

‌The award recognizes UMSON faculty member as a highly-skilled, innovative, and creative teacher. Baltimore, Md. –Susan L. Bindon, DNP '11, RN-BC, CNE, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award. The award recognizes excellence and innovation in the teaching of nursing at AACN member schools by faculty with more than five years of teaching experience. Bindon has taught for 25 years, and has been on UMSON’s faculty for five. “I’m tremendously honored to receive this year’s AACN Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award. Helping others to become good teachers is both a professional privilege and a personal joy,” Bindon said. “Good teaching requires thought, intentional practice, and openness to new ideas, but it also entails listening carefully to understand the learner’s needs, expectations, and readiness to learn, which creates fertile ground for innovation. Effective teaching attracts great students who will become tomorrow’s excellent nurses.” Awardees must demonstrate significant innovation in teaching/learning approaches to promote learner outcomes; lead the promotion and implementation of innovative teaching/learning approaches in nursing education; and act as a role model for creating and sustaining a culture in nursing education that integrates theory and practice. Additionally, the award winner is required to have mentored faculty in evidence-based teaching/learning approaches and shared innovation outside of their home institution. Bindon is known for working with peers to address instructional challenges and helping them determine the best teaching strategies for their particular classroom, online, or clinical setting. She encourages her students and advisees to use her large "thinking-wall" strategy through which they sketch their ideas and projects as they think aloud. She also connects with students in her online courses via personalized video feedback during  the semester. Additionally, Bindon has helped develop and deliver an adjunct clinical faculty workshop for new clinical instructors that has been offered four times in the past year, reaching approximately 70 clinical faculty throughout Maryland. The course includes interactive exercises and utilizes standardized students who model the concept of standardized patients to simulate clinical encounters. “We are enormously proud of Dr. Bindon. She has distinguished herself as a highly skilled, innovative,  creative teacher. As a mentor to her students, she models innovative techniques that engage them in their own learning, while expanding their sense of what teaching looks like,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “Dr. Bindon’s enthusiasm for the teaching enterprise, and her willingness to extend herself to assist veteran and novice teachers and clinical faculty members, makes her an outstanding colleague. Her influence is felt throughout the School of Nursing, as well as regionally and nationally. We congratulate her on this prestigious recognition of her contributions to teaching.” AACN is the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education. AACN works to establish quality standards for nursing education; assists schools in implementing those standards; influences the nursing profession to improve health care; and promotes public support for professional nursing education, research, and practice.   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

University of Maryland Urgent Care (UM Urgent Care) has now opened at 105 Penn Street in an effort to meet patient needs and improve access to world-class medical care in Baltimore. Located just around the corner from the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Emergency Department in the UM School of Nursing, the facility will provide care to patients who have timely medical needs but do not require emergency care – therefore expediting treatment and easing Emergency Department wait times. The UMMC Emergency Department averages nearly 170 patients each day; it is estimated that about 50 of those patients could benefit from the services of UM Urgent Care. Read More

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) will extend its community-based interdisciplinary learning activities to new locations with a new $100,000, two-year grant from the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education and the UMB Center for Interprofessional Education. The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education awarded grants to 16 academic institutions nationwide – including $50,000 to the University of Maryland, Baltimore – to boost community-based interprofessional education (IPE) and practice. The University’s Center for Interprofessional Education provided $50,000 in matching funds to facilitate the project. “We are striving to produce generations of health professionals who are educated to work harmoniously together, ensuring the best outcomes for the patients and communities they serve,” says Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing and director of the Center for Interprofessional Education at UMB. “This expansion of our community-based IPE initiative is a significant step toward that goal.” Read More

Many cancer survivors suffer from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.  Baltimore, Md.  – Kathleen Griffith, PhD ’06, MPH, CRNP, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The $439,436 grant will fund the research project Exercise Effect on Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain, Peripheral Nerve Fibers.  According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 14 million cancer survivors in the United States. Many suffer from chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is caused by a number of chemotherapy drugs. CIPN is associated with numbness and tingling in the hands and feet and often includes neuropathic pain. CIPN-related neuropathic pain (CIPN-NP) may cause long-term suffering, disability, and decreased quality of life. There are no agents available to prevent the development of CIPN, and pharmacologic treatment is suboptimal at best. Aerobic exercise and resistive training interventions in hospitalized hematologic cancer patients have demonstrated delayed onset and reduced severity of CIPN, and improvement in nerve-fiber density has been observed in diabetic neuropathy patients following exercise.  “So many individuals with a history of cancer chemotherapy experience persistent peripheral neuropathy that lasts well beyond treatment completion,” Griffith said. It is very important to identify ways in which to manage their symptoms and improve function, and this study aims to accomplish this through the implementation of a supervised exercise trial. We will also be examining peripheral nerve fibers in the laboratory to understand from a mechanistic standpoint how exercise influences this disabling condition.” Through this randomized controlled trial, Griffith and her team seek to examine the effects of aerobic exercise and resistive training on pain perception and function in subjects with CIPN-NP who have completed chemotherapy treatment for at least six months. The team will also test the hypothesis that exercise improves nerve-fiber density in this population.   # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Emphasis will be placed on developing nurses with essential public health skills. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and the Laurel College Center (LCC) were awarded a University System of Maryland Non-USM Regional Higher Education Centers Incentive Funding Request to support the expansion of educational opportunities for the RN-to-BSN students at LCC. LCC’s expansion will be supported by a $203,046 grant during fiscal years 2016-18. This grant will fund expansion and implementation of an enhanced practicum learning experience at LCC using low- and moderate-fidelity simulation for RN-to-BSN students enrolled in the Public Health Nursing Essentials for the Registered Nurse (NURS 467) course. Student group clusters will augment practicum hours with simulated learning exercises, directed by the Family and Community Health faculty at LCC. This initiative will enable nurse educators to emphasize developing the essential public health skills necessary to prepare nurses to meet the health care needs of various patient populations.  “Students are less knowledgeable about population health concepts or on how to consider health outcomes from the perspective of a group of individuals. As a result, they sometimes find it difficult to relate public health concepts learned in the classroom to nursing practice,” said Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, assistant professor and associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “Combining low- and mid-fidelity simulation with clustered group experiences will allow students to practice new skills within a safe and supportive learning environment. We feel that the faculty-developed case scenarios will improve our ability to assist students to attain the recommended public health baccalaureate core competencies.”  In achieving the Institute of Medicine’s goal of 80 percent of nurses holding a BSN degree by 2020, UMSON revised its RN-to-BSN curriculum in 2014. UMSON’s aim is to ensure its graduates become competent nursing professionals capable of providing safe and effective care regardless of the health care setting. This initiative also will build upon the education offered though LCC’s Associate Degree in Nursing program, addressing the competencies required for RNs in the increasingly complex health care environment, and includes the essential content required by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.  Maryland’s statewide education articulation agreement aims to minimize potential barriers to educational advancement while encouraging nurses to achieve the highest level of education possible. The RN-to-BSN option, which requires 31 academic credits for completion, is already being offered at UMSON in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove.   # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked 11th nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Celebration to include lecture and alumni event. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Community/Public Health (CPH) Nursing master’s specialty with two events—a lecture on Friday, Sept. 16, and an alumni event on Saturday, Sept. 17. CPH’s 50th anniversary lecture will feature Patricia Butterfield, dean emerita and professor, Washington State University School of Nursing, who will speak on Thinking Upstream: Nurses Working to Address Climate Change in Public Health. The lecture, which is open to the public and free of charge, begins at 4 p.m. at UMSON, located at 655 W. Lombard Street, Baltimore. A reception will follow. On Saturday, CPH will host a celebration for all alumni, faculty, and current students of the specialty. Saturday’s event will feature a panel of CPH alumni leaders from every decade, including Marlene Cianci, PhD, MS ‘66, BSN ‘65, a member of UMSON’s first cohort of CPH graduates in 1966. Carolyn Nganga-Good, MS ‘07, BSN ‘05, RN, a 2007 graduate of the specialty; health programs administrator, Baltimore City Health Department; and Maryland’s Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Public Health Nurse Leader, will speak about Creating a Culture of Health during the program on Saturday. In addition to the celebrations, UMSON is encouraging donations to endow a CPH scholarship for future students in honor of long-time faculty member Claudia Smith, PhD, MPH, BSN ’65, RN-BC. UMSON’s master’s specialty program prepares students for advanced practice in community/public health nursing. With a strong focus on population health, social justice, and evidence-based programs, the curriculum provides students the opportunity to explore a range of topics.  For more information, visit www.nursing.umaryland.edu/news-events/events/.      # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

‌Chronic pain is a major public health epidemic that affects more than 116 million Americans. Baltimore, Md.  –Three University of Maryland School of Nursing faculty members have been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Omics Associated with Self-management Interventions for Symptoms (OASIS) Center.  Susan G. Dorsey, PhD ‘01, MS ’98, RN, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science; Cynthia L. Renn, PhD, RN, associate professor; and Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, will receive more than $2.7 million over five years.    ‌ According to the Institute of Medicine’s report on Relieving Pain in America, chronic pain is a public health epidemic that affects more than 116 million Americans, costing more than $600 billion each year in health care expenses and lost work productivity. Despite advances in conventional pharmacological treatments, that are informed by the current understanding of basic biological mechanisms of chronic pain, most people do not obtain adequate pain relief.  Various types of self-management interventions have been tested, including cognitive behavioral therapy, non-pharmacologic treatments, and exercise/physical activity.  OASIS will conduct studies in both rodent models and patients in chronic pain. They will carefully characterize pain and related co-morbid symptoms with cutting-edge omics methods (e.g., transcriptomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics) to advance the understanding of how individual differences influence one's resilience, motivation, and capability to engage in physical activity and exercise as self-management tools to manage chronic pain. “We are pleased that the new OASIS center has been funded. The center is highly interdisciplinary,  and both clinical and pre-clinical animal model studies will be conducted,” Dorsey said. “This award is timely with the recently released National Pain Strategy and Centers for Disease Control’s guidance on opioid use.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

NPAM seeks to ensure a sound policy and regulatory foundation that enables NPs to provide accessible, high-quality care.  Baltimore, Md. – Three University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members and an alumna were recently elected to the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland’s (NPAM) Board of Directors for the 2016-17 term. (l.to r.) Faculty members Roseann Velez, DNP, FNP-BC, assistant professor; Veronica Gutchell, DNP ‘13, CNS, CRNP, assistant professor; and Ameera Chakravarthy, MS, BSN ’02, CRNP, clinical instructor; and alumna Sonia P. Brown, DNP ‘15, MS ’99, ACNP-BC, were selected to the board.  Gutchell, NPAM’s president, serves as chief executive officer, NPAM’s principle representative and spokesperson, and chairperson of the board of directors and the executive committee. She also presides over all NPAM meetings, with the exception of district meetings; appoints members, with the approval of the board; serves on committees, special assignments, and task forces; and fills vacant positions within NPAM’s leadership. Additionally, Gutchell establishes ad hoc committees/task forces, serves as an ex-officio member of all committees and task forces, except for the nominations committee, and delegates appropriate duties to the executive director.   Brown, who is serving as president-elect, assumes the duties of the president during absences or when the president is unable to perform the duties of office, serves on the finance committee, and performs other duties as assigned by the president. Velez, who is NPAM’s secretary, records the proceedings of all meetings for the board of directors, executive committee, membership, or president; provides meeting minutes; and with the assistance of the editorial board and the association manager, oversees the publication of The Oracle.  As treasurer, Chakravarthy presides over the finance committee; assumes responsibility and accountability for NPAM’s fiscal affairs; presents a budget annually to the board; provides budgetary reports to the board and executive committee; and oversees disbursement of funds with approval from the board of directors. "We are extremely proud that three alumnae from the School of Nursing—three of whom are also faculty members—have been elected to serve as officers of the Nurse Practitioner Association of Maryland,”  said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “Through their volunteer service to NPAM as president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer respectively, Dr. Gutchell, Dr. Brown, Dr. Velez, and Ms. Chakravarthy are emblematic of the national focus on nurses assuming leadership positions in organizations that are advancing health.  I know that they will do an outstanding job in supporting the important work that NPAM is doing to ensure the highest quality of health care for Maryland residents and advance the role of nurse practitioners in meeting the needs of our communities."   # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Research team will explore treatment using two well-explicated mouse models.   Baltimore, Md.  – Sherrie Lessans, PhD ‘10, RN, assistant professor and director, Clinical Nurse Leader option, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Nursing Research to fund the project  Modeling Post-Menopausal Chemotherapy-Associated Weight Gain. Lessans’ award is for $460,817.  Research suggests that weight may play a critical role in contributing to increased incidences of breast cancer and reduced survival outcomes among women after menopause. Lessans and her research team will explore treatment-associated weight and metabolic profiles using a clinically relevant chemotherapy triplet across two well-explicated mouse models of reproductive senescence. The study will be used to generate testable hypotheses to explore mechanisms underlying treatment-associated weight gain and to support intervention studies to complement ongoing human symptom science studies. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 50 percent of all women, and 70 percent of post-menopausal women, newly diagnosed with breast cancer, are overweight.  As a result, women in these categories are at an increased risk for larger, more aggressive tumors containing markers of high proliferation and more recurrence-prone hormone receptor positive tumors, which leads to a death rate nearly twice as high as women at a healthier weight who suffer from breast cancer. “Inexplicably, many post-menopausal women who undergo chemotherapy will gain even more weight; on average between two to 10 kilograms. Very little is understood about this weight gain and there is no animal model to help us understand underlying biology,” Lessans said. “This grant will fund the critical animal modeling of post-menopausal weight gain, which holds great potential to understand this increasingly serious clinical issue in oncology care.” In addition, this project will broadly expose UMSON’s entry-level and doctoral students to symptom science research as well as create compensated opportunities for student engagement in specific research endeavors.   # # #   The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

‌Baltimore, Md. - Lori Edwards, DrPh, MPH, BSN '80, RN, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor and associate director for global occupational health, Office of Global Health, was recognized as a Birdland Community Hero at an Orioles game held on Sunday, July 24, against the Cleveland Indians. The Orioles Birdland Community Heroes program honors and recognizes community heroes who inspire us through their spirited commitment to extend a hand in charity, service, hope, and harmony. This recognition honors the heroism of members of the extended Orioles community from all walks of life, occupations, and diverse backgrounds who have distinguished themselves by selflessly working or volunteering in fields that care for, serve, teach, protect, and improve the lives of others, around the corner or around the globe, who are most in need.‌ Click here to watch the video. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Patient portal use is low nationally. Baltimore, Md.  –The Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has awarded Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ’03, RN, FAAN, professor and specialty director, Nursing Informatics,  University of Maryland School of Nursing, a two-year, $299,960, research grant. Nahm will serve as principal investigator for the research project, A Theory-Based Patient Portal eLearning Program for Older Adults with Chronic Illnesses. Chronic illnesses are a serious health problem in the U.S. According to AARP, more than 70 million adults age 50 and older suffer from at least one chronic illness.  Managing chronic conditions can require long-term, complex treatment plans that can cause unintended errors, leading to detrimental health consequences. Patient portals can assist patients with managing their care. A federally supported form of health information technology, patient portals allow patients to access their health records and directly communicate with their health care provider. Unfortunately, research shows that overall patient portal use is low at 26.8 percent nationally, especially among older adults. “Patient portals have a great potential to engage and empower patients to better manage their health. While this technology can be especially beneficial for older adults to manage multiple chronic illnesses, most are not using it because they aren’t familiar with the technology,” Nahm said. “Our prior research findings suggest that older adults are willing and can use patient portals when we teach them in an older-adult, friendly manner.” Nahm’s research team aims to develop a theory-based patient portal e-learning program that is user-friendly for older adults and to assess its impact on the use of patient portals and selected health outcomes. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Specialty will provide Western Maryland and Montgomery County residents with convenient option. Baltimore, Md.  – Beginning fall 2017, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will offer its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program’s Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Specialty at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG).*  UMSON is launching the specialty at USG in response to the need to progress the education of underrepresented and geographically diverse students to advanced degree programs. Currently, the specialty is only offered at the Baltimore location. However, the FNP specialty is in high demand, and the Baltimore location cannot accommodate all qualified students. As a result, the specialty is expanding to USG, a move that is expected to enhance the recruitment of students from Western Maryland and Montgomery County and provide a convenient, cost-effective option for a diverse population of nurses to pursue advanced practice degrees. “Montgomery County and the surrounding areas have a documented need for advanced care providers. We are excited to bring UMSON’s nationally recognized program to the Universities at Shady Grove,” said Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, chair of the UMSON program at USG. “Primary care is essential to improving the health and quality of life for the region's citizens. The graduates of this program will make a substantial contribution to the wellbeing of our communities. We look forward to working with our vast network of partners and future clients.” UMSON’s expansion of the specialty is a result of a Nurse Support Program II grant awarded to Bridgitte Gourley, DNP ’08, FNP-BC, assistant professor and specialty director, FNP. Gourley, who was awarded a five-year, $1.587 million grant, will lead efforts at both locations. Gina Rowe, PhD, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, CNE, assistant professor and coordinator, FNP, will manage the program at USG, and other experienced FNP faculty members will be identified to teach didactic and clinical content. “I am excited to have this specialty launch at USG, which will provide a critical access point for nurses in Western Maryland and the Montgomery County region,” Gourley said. “Prospective students can now take advantage of this new opportunity to pursue their educational goals and become FNPs.” The FNP curriculum is designed to meet the essential elements of doctoral-level education for advanced practice registered nurses as called for by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. It is 80 credit hours divided between 56 didactic credits and 24 clinical credit degree. The 24 clinical credits require, by national standards, 1,080 clock hours of practicum/clinical instruction.  Students are able to apply now for fall 2017. *Pending approval by the Maryland Higher Education Commission # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Award given for published distinguished HAI research. Baltimore, Md. – Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor and associate dean of research, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently awarded the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations’ (IAHAIO) Johannes Odendaal Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Distinguished Researcher Award at its triennial conference held in Paris. The award is in honor of the late Johannes Odendaal of South Africa for his significant contributions to the HAI field. This inaugural honor is given to an individual who has produced distinguished HAI research that has been published or accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or as chapters in a book.  The published work must have received high reviews in appropriate journals. Additionally, the research is required to be either descriptive or hypothesis-driven and must involve data collection.  "I'm very honored to have received the first Odendaal award.  There are so many other researchers who have done important work to move the HAI field forward,” Friedmann said.  “It's a real validation of my work."  Friedmann was honored for authoring the paper, Pets, Depression and Long-Term Survival in Community Living Patients Following Myocardial Infarction.  The paper examined the relationship between pet ownership and improved survival of patients after heart attacks and the benefits of pet ownership for patients who are depressed. Friedmann’s research is a follow up to her seminal paper, Animal Companions and One Year Survival After Discharge from a Coronary Care Unit. That paper was the first to use original data to document the long-term contribution of pet ownership to physical health. It stimulated Friedmann and other researchers to examine the role of companion animals in helping their owners reduce stress and anxiety, decrease depression and loneliness, and encourage exercise. The benefits of companion animals have served as the blueprint for a large amount of HAI research that has been conducted over the past 35 years.  "We are extremely proud of Dr. Friedmann's selection as the inaugural recipient of the Johannes Odendaal HAI Distinguished Researcher Award. Dr. Friedmann has been at the forefront of investigating how animals impact human health for decades and has also served tirelessly as a leader in promoting academic, scientific, and scholarly research into HAI at a time when it was a relatively new area of interdisciplinary research,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “She is an embodiment of the pioneering spirit that is so much a part of the School of Nursing, and we all congratulate her on this highly prestigious international honor."   IAHAIO seeks to provide international leadership in advancing HAI through research, education, and collaboration among members, policymakers, clinical practitioners, HAI organizations and the general public. It promotes a forum for collaborating, sharing ideas and information, and educating policy and decision makers at the national and international levels. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fillian will provide strategic direction and innovative solutions to challenges. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently appointed Larry Fillian, Jr. as associate dean for student and academic services. In his new role, Fillian will provide strategic direction and innovative solutions to challenges, monitor trends in higher education, and make recommendations about the direction of the Office of Student and Academic Services. Fillian joins UMSON from The New School where he served as the university registrar. Prior to his position at The New School, Fillian was director of student academic services at the University of Kansas, and has held a variety of positions at The George Washington University, including director of undergraduate advising and assessment and associate registrar. “I am confident that Mr. Fillian will provide significant leadership in his new role at UMSON.  He brings a strong history of collaboration and creativity that will enable him to work across the School of Nursing, both in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove,” Kirschling said. “Mr. Fillian will elevate our activities related to student and academic services to an even higher level.” Fillian earned a Master of Education degree in higher education administration from the University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Mary Washington. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON was awarded more than $7.2 million.  Baltimore, Md. – Twelve University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been awarded Nurse Support Program II (NSP II) grants funded through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).  UMSON received nine of 19 NSP II grants awarded for fiscal year 2017, totaling more than $7.2 million. NSP II grants aid in increasing the capacity of nurses in Maryland by implementing statewide initiatives to grow the number of nurses prepared to function effectively in faculty roles. MHEC offers a number of educational grant programs funded by state general funds, special funds, and federal funds. The programs are designed to address Maryland’s economic and workforce development needs, campus reform initiatives, student preparation for post-secondary education, faculty and student diversity goals, and teacher professional development objectives. "We are thrilled that UMSON received NSP II grant support for nine very significant projects that address Maryland's nursing workforce shortage. Our work will help expand the capacity and caliber of Maryland's nursing program on a statewide basis, increasing the number of well-equipped faculty and fostering greater collaboration between academic nurse faculty and clinical practice nurses,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are grateful to the Maryland Health Services Commission for its generous support of nursing research and the Maryland Higher Education Commission for its leadership in administering the NSP II initiative. Together we are ensuring that Maryland's residents have access to excellent health care now and in the years ahead." NSP II grants awarded to UMSON for FY 2017: Bimbola Akintade, PhD ‘11, MS ’05, BSN ’03, MBA, MHA, ACNP-BC, CCRN, assistant professor and specialty director, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist; and Shannon Idzik, DNP, CRNP, FAANP, associate professor and associate dean for the DNP Program – Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Clinical Training ($945,866) Bridget Gourley, DNP ‘08, CRNP, assistant professor and specialty director, Family Nurse Practitioner – FNP Expansion to Shady Grove ($1,586,781) Louise S. Jenkins, PhD ’85, MS ‘81, RN, FAHA, ANEF, professor and director of the Institute for Educators – Faculty Mentorship Program II ($350,031) Meg Johantgen, PhD, RN,associate professor and associate dean for the PhD Program – Project Rush ($595,210)  Mary Etta C. Mills, ScD, MS ’73, BSN ’71, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor, and Linda Hickman, PhD, MBA, RN, FACHE, assistant professor – RN-BSN or MSN Clinical Faculty ($3,120,506) Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ’03, RN, FAAN, professor and specialty director, Nursing Informatics; and Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, CCRA, assistant professor and associate dean for the Baccalaureate Program – Care Coordination Specialty ($255,198) Carol O’Neil, PhD, RN, CNE, associate professor – Developing Nurse Educators to Teach Online ($80,970) Debra A. Scrandis, PhD, CRNP, BC, associate professor – Psychiatric Mental Health FNP ($168,924) Patricia Zimberg, JD, MS ’00, RN, assistant professor – Care Coordination and Case Management ($113,701)  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Leaders in nursing education from throughout Maryland gathered at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) on June 27 for the 2016 Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC) summit. The summit drew more than 100 individuals representing a broad cross section of health professions, educational institutions, and health care entities. (View a photo gallery.) They met to share progress and to continue to guide implementation of recommendations in the landmark report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).  Read More

Professional nursing and veterans' organizations held a news conference on June 28 to demonstrate support and highlight the need for a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide veterans with direct access to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) practicing to the top of their education and training in VA facilities. 
 Representatives of the groups appeared at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., at the midpoint of the public comment period. As of June 28 at 9 a.m., more than 44,000 people had submitted comments on the proposed rule, which is by far the highest number of comments for a VA rule since online comment submission was instituted in 2006 – more than six times the total number of comments previously submitted. Over the last 10 years, a combined total of 6,030 comments have been posted during more than 150 VA comment opportunities.The public comment period on the proposed rule is currently underway and expires July 25.  Read More

UMSON teaming up with Edmondson-Westside and Frederick Douglass High School students and families. Baltimore, Md. –Vanessa P. Fahie, PhD, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has received a College Preparation Intervention Program grant from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The $149,000 award is in support of the Maryland Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program. In collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools, UMSON will provide services to Edmondson-Westside and Frederick Douglass High School students and their families. The Exploring Health Profession Careers project will foster career awareness and exploration, college readiness, financial literacy, and increased parental involvement. Students and their families will also be exposed to diverse collegiate experiences on a health professions campus to help overcome the disparity in educational attainment and awareness of health professions career opportunities among low-income students.  “The achievement gap between students from high-income and low-income families has grown in recent years. This project addresses academic preparation, one of the strongest determinants of postsecondary success for students traditionally underrepresented in higher education,” Fahie said. “The rising inequality in K–12 achievement based on family income parallels growing disparities in college enrollment and completion between students from high-income and low-income families.” Through this partnership resources will be pooled to creatively develop a model program to reduce the obstacles that would prevent high school students, particularly African Americans interested in health professions, from graduating from high school and enrolling in college. The partnership will also increase communication between parents, teachers, and administrators to identify career and educational goals. “I want to applaud Dr. Fahie for her ongoing dedication to strengthening the School of Nursing’s collaboration with the Baltimore City Public Schools and for this latest program grant,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Improving access for Baltimore City students to health profession careers is vital to the future of health care delivery in Maryland and to the health and well-being of our communities.  Dr. Fahie brings tremendous creativity, energy, and wisdom to the task of dismantling barriers to high school graduation and entry into the health professions.”     # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Trocky served as interim associate dean for past eight months. Baltimore, Md.  –  Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently named Assistant Professor Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNE, the associate dean for the baccalaureate program. Trocky had been serving as the interim since October 2015. In her new role, Trocky is tasked with staying abreast of and advising on a wide array of academic issues and policies impacting the baccalaureate program.  Trocky will facilitate innovative program development and the integration of technology to shape the educational experiences of entry-level students. She will also develop partnerships with other academic institutions and health care organizations to assist with the transition of transfer students and students who are graduates of associate degree nursing programs. “I am honored to serve as associate dean for the baccalaureate program for one of the finest nursing schools in our state. We have a group of stellar faculty members who are committed to maintaining the academic rigor of our entry-level curriculum, meeting the unique needs of our diverse student body, and contributing to the broader educational experiences of our future bachelor-prepared nurses,” Trocky said. “I look forward to supporting the faculty and staff and enabling them to develop competent, compassionate, caring nursing professionals who can effectively deliver safe, high-quality care.” Early in her career, Trocky served for a decade in a variety of staff nurse positions and was a study coordinator at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Additionally, she worked as a research nurse and multi-center project coordinator for an NCI grant at the Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center. Since joining UMSON’s faculty in 2006, Trocky has served as co-program director for the Komen Maryland Affiliate Nursing Partnership, program director for the Clinical Research Management graduate specialty, program director for UMSON’s RN-to-BSN option, and as a member of the Health Services Leadership and Management faculty. “Dr. Trocky has consistently proven her abilities as a faculty member and leader at the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” Kirschling said. “She has exhibited strong day-to-day management skills and a deep knowledge of the baccalaureate program during her time as interim. I have every confidence that she will do an outstanding job as the associate dean for the baccalaureate program.” Trocky earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Waynesburg University, post-master’s Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions certificate from UMSON, Master of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Temple University. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Shelia Pierre-Louis ‘16, School of Nursing, will attend the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL) at the University of Maryland, College Park, on June 2-4.This annual leadership conference has a 30-year history and is being sponsored by the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the UMBrella Group. Pierre-Louis is one of two students who earned a scholarship to the conference. 

There were bright blue skies over Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena as School of Nursing graduates celebrated the successful completion of their degrees on Friday, May 20. The Class of 2016 consisted of 176 Bachelor of Science, 129 Master of Science, two PhD, and 12 Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) graduates. Dean Jane Kirschling delivered welcoming remarks, and Jennifer Baldwin, MPH, BSN, senior vice president, CareFirst Patient-Centered Medical Home Program, delivered the Convocation address. In her address, Baldwin encouraged the graduates to persevere when pursuing a goal and to surround themselves with people who would encourage them along the way. The 2016 Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to Rachel Onello, PhD ‘15, MS ’07, RN, CHSE, CNE, CNL, assistant professor, for excellence in graduate education and to Nicole Smith, MS ‘14, RN, clinical instructor, for excellence in undergraduate education. Carolyn Waltz, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, carried the School of Nursing mace, leading the processional and recessional. In the spirit of true collaboration between disciplines, a mother and son both graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) in May. Renee Franquiz was hooded as a graduate of the School of Nursing’s DNP program ahead of the rest of the DNP cohort. Her son Miguel graduated from the School of Pharmacy that morning as well; however, Renee wanted to attend both ceremonies, which were being held at nearly the same time. Renee decided to be hooded on stage by her scholarly project chair at the beginning of the ceremony so she and her family could attend the pharmacy convocation. Miguel graduated summa cum laude, and is a member of Rho Chi and Phi Lambda Sigma. Additionally, he received the School of Pharmacy’s Andrew G. DuMez Award for Superior Proficiency in Pharmacy. An addition to the 2016 ceremony was the presentation of the DAISY in Training Award. The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 by the family of Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. The Barnes family felt that Patrick had received excellent nursing care during his illness, so they created the DAISY Foundation to honor nurses. The DAISY in Training Award recipients were Hannah Jean Cacopardo and Rachel Heeter Smith. Later in the day, School of Nursing graduates joined graduates from all seven UMB schools for a Party in the Park at University Square. They enjoyed food, music, and games before participating in the UMB Commencement ceremony at Royal Farms Arena.  Renee Franquiz (above left) is hooded ahead of the rest of her DNP cohort so she can attend her son Miquel's graduation (above right) from the School of Pharmacy. See more photos from graduation.

In a joint venture, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP) are teaming up to combat human trafficking in Maryland.  The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), through its Governor’s Wellmobile Program, will join in UMB’s efforts, as the two campuses have combined resources to open the University of Maryland Support, Advocacy, Freedom and Empowerment (SAFE) Center for Human Trafficking Survivors, located near the UMCP campus. This initiative is a product of the University of Maryland: MPowering the State, a formal collaborative program for innovation. UMB and UMCP will help address human trafficking through the SAFE Center by providing in-house services to U.S. and foreign-born adult and child survivors of sex and labor trafficking.  In addition, UMSON is collaborating with the University of Maryland Schools of Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Social Work, to work in tandem with UMCP on this interprofessional initiative. The Wellmobile Program, a nurse-managed, mobile-health clinic that provides primary care to thousands of the state’s most vulnerable residents, will play an instrumental role in this effort. Members of the Wellmobile population are often foreign-born, Latino, non-English speaking, and/or uninsured. “The synergy of our mutual goals in serving vulnerable populations can be achieved through this partnership by providing comprehensive services and care for people in need,” said Kathryn Montgomery, PhD ‘97, RN, NEA-BC, associate professor, and chair, Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice. The Wellmobile has an agreement with the SAFE Center to share referrals and resources. Its established community presence and referral networks, and its proximity to the SAFE Center, provide easy access to primary care services. Patients of the SAFE Center will receive services from the center and then will be referred to the Wellmobile to address their health care needs. Conversely, victims of human trafficking who seek health care services from the Wellmobile, but haven’t received assistance from a victim’s center, will be referred to the SAFE Center. “The SAFE Center is an extraordinary example of what can be accomplished through collaboration and the provision of services with an interdisciplinary approach.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with our colleagues at the University of Maryland, College Park on this important work that addresses the needs of survivors of sex and labor trafficking,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “It is gratifying to be able to harness the resources of the professional schools at UMB in an interdisciplinary effort to help survivors heal, reclaim their lives, and look forward to a better future.” According to the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force, human trafficking is the second highest grossing criminal enterprise, as the worldwide industry earns $150.2 billion annually. The center aims to provide survivor-centered and trauma-informed services that empower trafficking survivors to heal and reclaim their lives. Additionally, the center works to help prevent trafficking and better serve survivors through research and policy advocacy. 

Members serve as advisors to health care policy makers. Baltimore, Md.  – Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ‘11, MS ‘05, BSN ’04, CRNP-Neonatal, assistant professor, and director, Office of Global Health at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently inducted as a Distinguished Practitioner and Fellow of the National Academies of Practice  (NAP).  Distinguished practitioners and scholars represent 14 different health professions and are elected by their peers. Dedicated to supporting affordable, accessible, coordinated health care for all, NAP is an interdisciplinary, non-profit organization that advises governmental bodies on the U.S. health care system. The 14 academies of practice within the NAP include audiology, dentistry, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatric medicine, psychology, social work, speech-language pathology, and veterinary medicine. Members of these 14 health care professions are willing to serve as advisors to health care policy makers in Congress and other venues. “I am honored to be inducted as a distinguished practitioner in the National Academies of Practice.  NAP’s commitment to focusing on improving our national health through policy, advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration is well-aligned with my professional and personal goals,” Ogbolu said. “Being elected will increase my ability to collaborate with distinguished members to advance the provision of affordable, accessible, and equitable care for all of America’s diverse communities.” NAP membership is an honor given to health care professionals who have excelled in their field and are dedicated to furthering practice, scholarship, and policy in support of interprofessional care. “Dr. Ogbolu has been instrumental in advancing UMSON’s global health agenda. She is dedicated to researching newborn health disparities and identifying methods of improving culturally competent care, both of which address pressing health care needs in our society,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Her efforts are a testament to her commitment to improving population health, and her induction speaks volumes about the impact she has made with organizing and delivering health services to vulnerable populations around the globe.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Commitment is effort to combat prescription drug and opioid abuse in U.S. Baltimore, Md.  – As part of  academic nursing’s ongoing efforts to combat prescription drug and opioid abuse across the United States, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that it has committed to educating its advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) students on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. The commitment was featured in a White House fact sheet as part of the White House Champions of Change event on Advancing Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery.  Katherine Fornili, MPH, RN, CARN, assistant professor, represented the School at the event held on Friday, April 29. “As a faculty member of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and a certified addictions registered nurse, I am proud of our school for taking the pledge to educate all of our students about opioid use, abuse, and overdose,” Fornili said. “I am also pleased that we will be teaching our advanced practice nurses about safer opioid prescribing that is consistent with the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.” The Obama Administration asked the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) member schools with APRN programs to partner on this initiative. UMSON recognizes that opioid abuse is a pressing public health crisis, and it is critical that APRN students receive education on current standards. "It is vitally important that we prepare our students to deal with emerging public health issues. Clearly, opioid abuse has become an epidemic in our country and threatens the health and well-being of thousands of individuals, their families, and our communities,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “In response to this, we have joined with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to ensure that our advanced practice registered nursing students are educated and can do their part in combating the inappropriate use of prescription drugs and opioids." AACN’s president and CEO Deborah Trautman, PhD, RN, FAAN, offered remarks at the White House to recognize the 191 AACN member nursing schools that have taken this pledge. “AACN is proud of the rapid response by our membership when the Administration called to help ensure future generations of providers who prescribe opioids for chronic pain are prepared for the critical work ahead,” said Dr. Trautman. “We commend academic nursing’s dedication to ensuring our nation’s future providers are prepared to address opioid abuse and overdose using best practices.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Six percent of the population is affected by TMD, a complex chronic pain disorder. Baltimore, Md. – Luana Colloca, MD, PhD, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been awarded a four-year, $2,132,372, grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, for the research project Chronic Orofacial Pain: Genetics, Cognitive-Emotional Factors, and Endogenous Modulatory Systems.  Colloca will serve as the principal investigator. Approximately 100 million people suffer from chronic pain, costing the U.S. more than $600 billion annually. Recent studies suggest that genetics plays a major role in pain sensitivity, pain modulation, and the susceptibility to the development of chronic pain and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).  TMD, a complex chronic pain condition that is influenced by biological, psychological, environmental, and social factors, affects approximately six percent of the population. However, individual responses to chronic pain vary, as some are mildly affected while others suffer from debilitating dysfunction. In response to this international problem, Colloca’s research team has developed a comprehensive genetic, behavioral, and imaging approach. Through this project, researchers will examine the role of genetic variations on behavioral, psychological, and neuronal mechanisms of expectancy-induced analgesia in patients with TMD. Colloca’s team aims to determine if the variants in candidate genes are associated with expectancy-induced analgesia, predicting chronic orofacial pain endophenotypes. Additionally, the team will examine if variations in specific identified genes predict expectancy-induced analgesia and related neuronal changes in the prefrontal and limbic areas. The team will also research if individual psychological traits are unique modulators of the complex genetic moderation of expectancy-induced analgesia, regardless of the severity of the disease. “Chronic pain represents an economic and public health burden in the U.S. and worldwide.  The genetic modulation of the endogenous pain inhibitory system partially accounts for inter-individual variability in pain phenotypes,” Colloca said. “This project investigates the role of genetic influences on a newly described model, namely expectancy-induced analgesia in patients suffering from orofacial pain. Our team will investigate genetic and brain inhibitory pain mechanisms to identify biological predictors of the variability in clinical human pain phenotypes. We ultimately hope to contribute to a new and successful therapeutic approach.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Treasurer oversees NONPF fiscal matters and provides disbursement oversight. Baltimore, Md. – Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, FAANP, associate professor and associate dean of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been elected treasurer of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). Idzik will serve a two-year term. As treasurer, Idzik serves on NONPF’s board, is responsible for all NONPF fiscal matters, and provides oversight for the disbursement of funds. NONPF seeks to provide timely and critical resources for nurse practitioner (NP) educators and to advance innovative models that support NP educational programs to meet the highest quality standards. “We are at a critical time where nurse practitioners have a unique opportunity to redefine health care from a disease-based approach to a wellness approach. NONPF is the leader in  quality nurse practitioner education,” Idzik said. “I am thrilled to represent nurse practitioner educators and the School of Nursing in national discussions that not only influence nurse practitioner education, but also inform policy, certification, licensure, and accreditation." NONPF’s board works to promote continuous and collaborative quality improvement and evidence-based approaches to national and global nurse practitioner education, influence policy to advance NP education, foster diversity across NP education, promote scholarship opportunities for NP educators, and strengthen resources to sustain the NONPF membership. “We are very proud of Dr. Idzik for being elected treasurer of NONPF and for her ongoing role in the organization. Her service to NONPF is emblematic of her commitment to ensuring that nurse practitioner education is of the highest caliber,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. Idzik has clearly demonstrated her leadership abilities on behalf of nurse practitioner education, research, practice, and service, and has made a lasting contribution to the profession and delivery of health care services in the state. Her contributions now extend to the nation.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Dean Jane M. Kirschling , PhD, RN, FAAN, recently delivered her 2016 State of the School address to University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) leadership, School of Nursing faculty and staff, and other special guests. During her address, Transforming Nursing: Living Our Core Values, Dean Kirschling informed attendees about how the School is responding to some of the significant challenges facing nursing, while maintaining the core values of UMB and the School of Nursing. In her address, the Dean outlined the School’s response to the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2010 landmark report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which called on colleges of nursing to increase the percentage of nurses with baccalaureate degrees from 50 to 80 percent by 2020; double the number of nurses with doctoral degrees; implement early and continuous interprofessional collaboration; and provide opportunities for continuous learning across the spectrum of a nurse’s career. Additionally, Kirschling highlighted the accomplishments of the School, faculty and staff. Click here to watch the State of the School presentation.  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Assistant living residents functional decline often a result of how care is provided. Baltimore, Md. – Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been awarded a five-year, $1,602,489 grant from the National Institutes of Health for the research project, Dissemination and Implementation of Focused Care for Assisted Living. Resnick is the principal investigator for the project. Currently, more than 31,000 assisted living (AL) settings nationwide serve approximately 750,000 older adults. Almost 50 percent of AL residents require assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and walking. In addition, the majority of AL residents require help with meal preparation and medication management. According to Resnick, AL residents typically become sedentary after moving in and continue to experience functional decline beyond what is expected from disease progression. This decline is caused by many factors including the way that care is provided. Caregivers tend to complete all activities of daily living for residents, which decreases the opportunities for these individuals to engage in range-of-motion and physical activities, leading to decline in function. Function Focused Care is an intervention that helps caregivers change how care is provided and teaches them how to engage residents in functional tasks and physical activity. Research has shown that residents who have been exposed to Function Focused Care demonstrate maintained or improved function, and are less likely to be transferred to the hospital for non-fall related events.  In implementing Function Focused Care in AL settings, Resnick’s team developed a theory-based, four-step approach, Function Focused Care for Assisted Living, based on the social-ecological model, social cognitive theory, and the Evidence Integration Triangle (FFC-AL-EIT). This study will test the implementation of FFC-AL-EIT across 96 assisted living facilities in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.  “Our research has shown that function-focused care approaches can help maintain function, increase time spent in physical activity, and decrease transfers to the acute-care settings,” Resnick said. “It is time to demonstrate how to implement a function-focused care approach in these settings and ensure that this becomes the norm when providing care to those who reside in assisted living facilities.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Two master’s specialties are rated No. 1. Baltimore, Md. — The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program is ranked No. 5 in the U.S. News & World Report’s inaugural DNP rankings. UMSON's DNP program is tied with the schools of nursing at Case Western Reserve University and Rush University. Additionally, UMSON is ranked No. 8 among all accredited graduate nursing programs, tied with the schools of nursing at Case Western Reserve University, Columbia University, and Emory University in U.S. News & World Report‘s 2017 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” Three UMSON master’s specialties/options are ranked in the top five in the 2017 listing. The Clinical Nurse Leader option and Nursing Informatics specialty remain at No. 1 and the Administration specialty remained at No. 5. Other UMSON specialties ranked in the top 10 include the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Nurse Specialist, Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, and Family Nurse Practitioner specialties which are each ranked at No. 8; the Nurse Anesthesia specialty is No. 10. “It is gratifying to continue to be recognized within the top 10 nursing programs nationwide and a particular honor to debut at the No. 5 ranking for our DNP program in the first year for this ranking. These accomplishments are a testament to the extraordinary hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni,” said School of Nursing Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “At a time when the nation’s nursing schools are being called upon to increase the number of nurses holding advanced degrees, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of nursing education, research, and practice to ensure that nurses are well-prepared to meet the diverse needs of our society within a complex and rapidly changing health care environment.” The U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools” rankings are compiled through the gathering of survey data from deans of schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

New equipment will enhance learning using simulated technology. Baltimore, Md. –The University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) has received a 2016 Maryland Clinical Simulation Resource Consortium (MCSRC) Equipment and Materials Award. USG’s award is $108,436.42. Through the award, USG will receive a new model birthing bed, wound care models, portable two-way mirror panels, mobile medication station, programmable thermometers, and programmable stethoscopes and auscultation trainers to assess heart, lung, and bowel sounds. These items will be used to enhance learning through simulated technology at the USG location. Mary Pat Ulicny, MS ‘11, MHA, RN, CNE, clinical instructor and clinical simulation lab director for UMSON’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at USG, and Nicole E. Smith, MS ‘14, RN, clinical instructor and clinical simulation lab coordinator at USG, submitted the request to MCSRC. “This generous grant from MCSRC has provided the Universities at Shady Grove with a valuable opportunity to expand simulation encounters, with endless learning possibilities for students across our undergraduate curriculum,” Ulicny said. "The new equipment and manikins will not only enhance realism and fidelity, but will also help improve our faculty’s ability to instruct in the lab and the classroom. These items will provide students with the tools needed to reach their full potential as future nurses, ensuring that they are better prepared to care for patients in a complex, rapidly-changing, health care environment."  Each year, MCSRC awards $250,000 to qualifying colleges for simulation equipment and materials. Before awarding a grant, MCSRC reviews the necessity of the simulation equipment and its goal and/or purpose. MCSRC also looks at the impact that the simulation equipment and materials are expected to have on the curricula and student enrollment. Additionally, MCSRC must be satisfied with the manner in which the equipment will be sustained and the projected number of student users per semester. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Board serves as voice for hospice and palliative nurses. Baltimore, Md. – Debra Wiegand, PhD, RN, CCRN, CHPN, FAHA, FPCN, FAAN, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been elected to the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) Board of Directors.  She will serve a three-year term.  HPNA, a national non-profit organization of nursing professionals representing the specialty of palliative nursing, has more than 11,000 members.  The Board manages the business and affairs of HPNA while serving as the voice for hospice and palliative nurses. Board members are actively involved in strategic planning, assessing, evaluating and carrying out the fiduciary responsibilities of the Association. “It is an honor to be elected to HPNA’s board. With a mission to advance expert care of serious illnesses, it is the only nursing organization of its kind. I am looking forward to joining the leaders of the Association,” Wiegand said. “Together we will develop initiatives to help nurses as they provide care to patients and their families in need of palliative and hospice care.”  Wiegand’s research focuses on improving end-of-life care for families of dying patients in the acute care setting. She has conducted studies featuring families of patients with both acute and chronic life-limiting illnesses and injuries that have died after life-sustaining therapies have been withdrawn. The long-term goal of Wiegand’s research is to understand how nurses and other providers can best help and support vulnerable, grieving, and bereaved families. Currently, Wiegand is principal investigator of a bereavement outcomes study determining how families adapt physically and psychologically after participating in the end-of-life decision-making process. “We are very proud of Dr. Wiegand for her selection as a member of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association’s Board of Directors. Dr. Wiegand’s commitment to cutting-edge research within the field of palliative nursing makes her a great fit,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “I am confident that she will contribute significantly to the organization’s goal of promoting excellence in palliative nursing care through leadership development, education and research.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

School pairing with Maryland Family Network to improve health oversight of Head Start programs. Baltimore, Md. –The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has received a $750,000 gift from Baltimore benefactor Mary Catherine Bunting, MS ’72, CRNP, RN. Through this gift, UMSON, in collaboration with the Maryland Family Network, will support the development and implementation of a new, three-year community public health initiative. This partnership will focus on improving overall health and environmental health within Early Head Start (EHS) and Head Start (HS) Centers in Baltimore City. EHS and HS programs support the mental, social, and emotional development of children from birth until age 5. Educational services are offered to children and their families, in addition to health, nutrition, and social resources. The initiative will deliver health services to eight EHS centers serving 390 children up to three years of age, beginning in fall 2016. Needs assessments for four HS grantees serving 2,680 children will begin in the second year of the program. Additionally, this program will assist the EHS centers with becoming certified as Eco Healthy Child Care® Centers, which will ensure that centers meet the evidence-based recommendations to protect children from known environmental hazards.  Approximately 600 child care facilities in the United States are currently certified as Eco-Healthy; however, only 22 facilities are certified in Maryland, none of which are EHS or HS.  “Low-income families are at particularly high risk for multiple health disparities. This is an opportunity to identify and prevent those risks in very young children before it’s too late,” said Margaret E. Williams, executive director, Maryland Family Network. “We are very pleased to partner on this life-saving and life-changing initiative.”   Students from UMSON’s RN-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing option and Master of Science programs will staff the initiative as part of the School’s on-going service learning commitment. They will help coordinate health care services for children and families enrolled in EHS, including record reviews, regular health screenings, and follow-up home visits for children with chronic conditions, such as asthma, and home visits for pregnant women and new mothers. Students will also provide training on emergency preparedness, basic principles to keep families healthy, and other topics of interest to EHS staff and parents. “The University of Maryland School of Nursing is a strong supporter of providing children with quality early learning environments and helping to build solid families,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are very grateful to Ms. Bunting for affording us the opportunity to team with the Maryland Family Network on this high-impact public health initiative that will reach thousands of children. This will serve as a significant opportunity to improve our local communities.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Award recognizes individuals who have enhanced geriatric nursing in the Southern region. Baltimore, Md. – Elizabeth Galik, PhD ‘07, RN, CRNP, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), received the Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS)/John A. Hartford Foundation Research Award at the Society’s 30th annual conference on Feb. 26. The award, which has been given since 2001, recognizes the contributions of individuals whose established program of research has enhanced the science and practice of geriatric nursing in the Southern region. “It is a great honor to be recognized by the Southern Nursing Research Society and the John A. Hartford Foundation for my contributions to geriatric research.  I am looking forward to continuing to study the most successful ways to optimize physical activity and function and minimize behavioral symptoms among older adults with dementia,” Galik said. Recipients must be a member of the SNRS demonstrate outstanding scholarly contributions to the science of geriatric nursing, and prove active participation in an ongoing geriatric research program. Award winners must also show evidence of influencing a geriatric health care practice or research program. “I am very pleased that Dr. Galik’s work as a researcher is being recognized with this prestigious award.  Dr. Galik is not only an accomplished scholar, but she is also a highly-engaged advocate for the needs of vulnerable older adults, especially those with cognitive impairment,” said Kathleen Michael, PhD, RN, CRRN, associate professor and chair of UMSON’s Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health. “Her work exemplifies an extraordinary commitment to improving function and the quality of life for individuals at greatest risk.” SNRS seeks to advance nursing research through the dissemination and utilization of research findings, facilitation of career development of nurses and nursing students as researchers, promotion of nursing as a scientific discipline, and enhanced communication among its members. The Society is made up of 14 states and includes the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Latin America. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Recipients will receive a grant to assist with educational and professional expenses. Baltimore, Md. – Five faculty members and a PhD student from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) have been awarded the Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research. Clinical Instructors Amy Daniels, MS ‘12, BSN ’89, RN; and Crystal DeVance-Wilson, MS ‘06, MBA, BSN ‘00, PHCNS-BC; Assistant Professors  Marik Moen, MPH, MS, RN; Kristen Rawlett, PhD ‘14; and Alicia Williams, DNP, MBA; and PhD student Vera Kuffour-Manu, MS ‘10; all received awards. This competitive grant program is designed to assist PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates while pursuing their advanced degrees. Its goals are to increase the number of doctoral-prepared nursing faculty in the state of Maryland, strengthen faculty development for optimal capacity at schools of nursing, and recruit and retain a diverse nursing faculty. “We are very thankful for the availability of the NEDG awards as it places the University of Maryland School of Nursing in a prime position to answer the Institute of Medicine’s call for a more highly-educated nursing workforce and an improved nursing education system,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I fully expect this program will help us further build and strengthen our faculty infrastructure, which in turn will ensure greater educational capacity for the preparation of future nurses.” Grant recipients can use the funds for professional development; course release time; wages for research-related administrative support; or project-related expenses for supplies, travel, and document creation. NEDG is a statewide funding initiative supported by the Nurse Support Program II and is jointly approved by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and Maryland Higher Education Commission. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

MdAIR is for state institutional research and assessment professionals working in higher education. Baltimore, Md. – Lynn Chen, PhD, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been elected membership chair of the Maryland Association for Institutional Research (MdAIR). Chen has been a member of MdAIR since 2012. MdAIR is a Maryland-based organization comprised of institutional research and assessment professionals who work at public or private two- and four-year institutions of higher education. The Association seeks to provide valuable and value-added events for members; grow membership to include a wider array of constituent groups; and standardize functions and processes of the organization to improve efficiency and sustainability. As membership chair, Chen ensures the official status of all MdAIR contacts are accurate and up-to-date; maintains the membership roster and listserv; coordinates with the webmaster to make sure members have access to all web resources; distributes notices, minutes, proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation and/or Bylaws Amendments, and other items of interest to membership; and announces results of referenda(s) on proposed amendments to members. Additionally, Chen plans and conducts outreach and recruitment activities for the purpose of increasing MdAIR membership and assists the awards committee with determining the eligibility of recipients for emeritus membership status. “I am truly grateful for this opportunity and am happy that I am being recognized and supported by my colleagues,” Chen said. “Serving as membership chair will give me a chance to network with other professionals who are doing similar work at other institutes of higher education in Maryland. I am looking forward to planning and conducting outreach and recruitment activities to increase MdAIR’s membership.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Chair ensures officers of CareFirst act in accordance of its mission. Baltimore, Md. – Ann B. Mech, JD, RN, assistant professor and legal affairs coordinator, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been appointed chair of the Maryland CareFirst Board of Directors. Mech, the only nurse on the Board, has been a member of the Board since September 2013. CareFirst is a nonprofit health care company independently licensed by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The health care company offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.4 million individuals and groups in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Northern Virginia through its affiliates and subsidiaries. The Board of Directors approves modifications to state benefit plans, provider networks, provider reimbursement levels, product underwriting guidelines, rating plans, marketing goals, and availability or affordability of health care in Maryland. As chair, Mech is tasked with presiding over Board meetings and overseeing the implementation of policies approved by the Board. Mech, who is also an ex-officio member of all the committees of the Board, will work closely with CareFirst’s chief executive officer and senior administrators.  “My background in nursing has taught me how important access to health care services is to overall health, and keeping health insurance affordable is an important goal for CareFirst,” Mech said. “My vision is to expand the participation of both patients and providers in the patient-centered medical home model of care in order to manage and coordinate high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective health care services for CareFirst subscribers.” Mech is a long-time community volunteer having served on several local health-related boards, including Howard County's Board of Health and Howard County General Hospital’s Board of Trustees. In addition to the Maryland CareFirst Board of Directors, she is currently a member of the Vantage House Board of Trustees and the Nursing Advisory Board of Howard Community College. “We are very proud of Ms. Mech for being elected chair of the Maryland CareFirst Board of Directors. She epitomizes the term ‘nurse leader,’ and CareFirst has served as a staunch supporter of nurses,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I am confident that under her leadership, CareFirst will continue to champion the critical role nurses play in the transformation of health care.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Ash will serve as primary advisor on operational and strategic goals related to diversity. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently appointed Jeffrey Ash, EdD, as UMSON’s first associate dean for diversity and inclusion. Ash joins UMSON from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he was a clinical associate professor and director of internships in the Erickson School of Management and Aging Studies. In his new role, Ash will serve as the primary advisor to UMSON’s senior academic leadership, senior administrative team, and Diversity and Inclusion Council on operational and strategic goals related to diversity. Additionally, Ash will oversee all of UMSON’s diversity and inclusion initiatives and will partner with colleagues across the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus to promote and execute UMB efforts related to diversity and inclusion. Ash will also serve as an assistant professor in UMSON’s Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice. “Dr. Ash is a facilitation expert in the area of diversity and inclusion. He has extensive experience teaching and working with multicultural and diverse populations at all levels and in a variety of formats in higher education,” Kirschling said. “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Ash leading our efforts as he plans, implements, and assesses goals related to diversity and inclusion within academic nursing at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.”   Ash earned a Doctor of Education degree in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University; a Master’s degree in Human Resources Management Organizational Development from the University of Maryland University College; and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Towson University. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1, 700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment

Chair seeks to build collaborative relationships inside and outside of department. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently appointed Associate Professor Kathleen Michael, PhD, RN, CRRN, as chair of the Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health (OSAH). Michael had been serving as interim chair since July 2015. Additionally, Michael is responsible for hiring and developing quality personnel for faculty and staff roles in the department and mentoring, advocating, and fostering their ongoing success. “I consider it a great privilege to serve the OSAH faculty and staff, and I look forward to sharing a very bright future,” Michael said. “While our department consists of a group of individuals with very specific areas of expertise, we will work in synchrony to achieve our goals. Each person has a vital role in preparing students to launch long and successful careers.”  Michael’s research has focused on gerontology. Additionally, she is knowledgeable in health services leadership and management. She earned a PhD from the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing; a master’s degree in nursing leadership from Seattle Pacific University; and Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Washington. “Dr. Michael has embraced this position with an open-door policy and a listening ear. She has truly demonstrated an unwavering desire to support OSAH faculty and staff members in accomplishing their goals across the University’s multiple missions,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “With her extensive experience in nursing as a staff nurse, manager, researcher, and educator − and her increasing scope and complexity of duties across a range of specialty areas − I’m confident she will be successful in leading the department.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Membership is offered for excellence in nursing and scholarship. Baltimore, Md. –The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) recently held its first fall Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing, Pi Chapter, induction ceremonies in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG). A class of 102, consisting of students and community leaders, was inducted. STTI seeks to advance world health and celebrate nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. Membership is offered to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who have demonstrated excellence by scholarship. Nurses who exhibit exceptional achievements in nursing can also be invited to join via the Nurse Leadership option. “Pi Chapter is one of the oldest and largest chapters of Sigma Theta Tau in the world. We have members who are recognized globally for their accomplishments and service to nursing,” said Pi Chapter President Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, chair of the UMSON program at USG. “We are proud of our new inductees and wish them success in their ongoing scholarship, leadership, and service to the nursing profession.” Awarding membership encourages, fosters, and actively supports further professional development, thus promoting nursing scholarship, leadership, creativity, and commitment to nursing, fulfilling the purposes of STTI. Membership is conferred solely on the basis of specified eligibility. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

"You begin your careers at a time when nursing offers unparalleled possibilities,” University of Maryland School of Nursing Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, told the school’s December 2015 graduates at a Dec. 14 ceremony at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre. “This afternoon is a moment in time when we are celebrating the accomplishments of our BSN, Masters, DNP, and PhD students who have completed their degree requirements,” she said. “In addition, we must take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate one of our Baccalaureate graduates, Terri Goodman, who died unexpectedly on November 24, 2015.” Read the full story on the UMB website.    Photos from the University of Maryland School of Nursing December 2015 graduation ceremony in Baltimore may be viewed here.

The meeting in the University of Maryland BioPark showcased talks by two leading chronic pain researchers: Jeffrey Mogil, PhD, professor and Canada Research Chair in Genetics of Pain and E.P. Taylor Chair in Pain Studies at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec; and Maixner, the Mary Lily Flagler Bingham Distinguished Professor and director of the Regional Center for Neurosensory Disorders at the School of Dentistry of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Claire Fraser, PhD, professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and director of its Institute for Genome Sciences spoke on her research on the human microbiome. The CACPR is co-directed by distinguished pain scientists Susan Dorsey, PhD, RN, FAAN, associate professor and chair of the Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, and Joel Greenspan, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Neural and Pain Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. CACPR was founded as a Universitywide organized research center to unite the robust research projects UMB scientists are conducting to examine chronic pain, across the University’s schools. Chronic pain affects at least 100 million American adults and costs as much as $560 billion to $635 billion annually in lost productivity and costs in America, according to the Institute of Medicine’s landmark 2011 report “Relieving Pain in America.” At the symposium, Maixner discussed his research into temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) as an example of chronic pain. The key to the future of chronic pain diagnosis and treatment, he said, is to enable clinicians to tailor treatments specifically to their patients’ needs. “Personalized pain medicine is the holy grail,” he said. “We find it is a very difficult task, but we are moving in that direction.” Chronic pain is an extremely dynamic condition that varies in each patient, and scientists should expect that diagnostic and therapeutic tools will have to vary as well, Maixner explained. “The kaleidoscope of signs and symptoms change as a consequence of gene and environmental interaction,” he said. Patients’ genes interact with environmental factors such as their life history, past trauma, and exposure to chemicals in a relationship that makes chronic pain patients unique from each other. Maixner discussed his research, conducted with colleagues at UMB, that is identifying innovative ways to identify chronic pain patients and sort them into predictive groups by degree of severity. One of his important findings is that a patient’s sensitivity to pressure pain seems to correlate with the onset of TMD in many patients. He and his colleagues also have identified a number of genes that could help determine what type of illness a patient has and what treatments might work best. Finding new genetic or environmental measures that could help identify patients early and predict the onset and severity of their condition paves the way for treatments uniquely designed for each type of patient, he noted.  “I think we’re really on the verge,” he said. Mogil spoke about the sex-based difference in pain and pain research. He discussed the fundamental question of the sexes in pain treatment and research – which gender is more sensitive to pain? Research has found that women report more pain than men, but there might be other reasons for that – maybe women are more aware of their own bodies, or develop pain conditions at higher rates. “This debate is misguided,” Mogil said. The true issue in studying pain and the genders is the extreme prevalence of male animals and humans in pain research, Mogil explained. Seventy-nine percent of basic science studies in pain use male rodents, according to a 2005 paper Mogil and colleagues published in the journal Pain. “I think this is a scandal,” Mogil said. “It is an ethical problem of very high degree.” Scientists still persist in using male mice, even since the 2005 study, Mogil said. Most researchers explain “they are afraid if they switch over to female rodents their research will be bedeviled by … fluctuating gonadal hormone levels,” Mogil explained. In fact, Mogil’s Pain study found that there is more hormonal fluctuation in male mice than in female. The explanation is that male mice have hormonal changes as they fight for dominance in the laboratory cages. “What everyone is afraid of is empirically false,” he said. The failure to switch to both genders of mice “is a matter of pure inertia, and that, of course, is what’s unethical,” Mogil explained. The implications of using only one gender of animal model in pain research are alarming, he said. Research that Mogil and colleagues published in 2004 found that a drug combining morphine and dextromethorphan in pain control – a drug that had shown promise in male-only studies – was completely ineffective in female mice. Another of Mogil’s studies found that both humans and mice are more sensitive to pain in the laboratory setting if their experimenter is male. This sex-based difference seems to be a response to the chemical signals that indicate the presence of testosterone in both humans and mice. Further study has found that human women, but not men, are stressed by the compound, 3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid, that indicate testosterone in sweat. These differences between the genders indicate that many other significant difference may exist, still undiscovered, Mogil said. This potential highlights the need for research on both genders, not just one. “One of these days we will be able to find drugs that work in one sex and not the other,” he said. Fraser explained the basics of the study of the human microbiome, the microbes that live on and in the human body, interacting with the human genome to produce results that science doesn’t entirely understand. About 90 percent of the cells that human beings carry are microbial cells – just 10 percent are human. Ninety-nine percent of those microbial cells exist in the gastrointestinal tract, the area that Fraser studies. Fraser was part of the 2006 meetings at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that established the Human Microbiome Project, a multimillion-dollar, five-year NIH initiative that began in 2008 and involved many researchers from the Institute for Genome Sciences. The project formed the foundation for the current understanding of the complicated, intricate relationship between human genes and the microbes in our bodies. “We and our microbial partners represent a co-evolved ecosystem that exists for the benefit of both of us,” she said. Microbes perform critical roles such as aiding in digestion, fueling metabolism, producing vitamins, maintaining the immune system, defending against pathogens, and influencing behavior. Fraser and her colleagues have been examining probiotics and their potential to make changes in the gut microbiome, and what those changes would mean for overall health. The field of research has potential in many areas of medicine, including chronic pain, she said. “This field is still very much in its infancy,” Fraser explained. The days of examining only the host genome – that of the human body – are over. Now science must consider environmental factors and the microbiome as well. “It is important to take a more holistic view of human health,” she said. 

Program recognizes professionally accomplished women 40 and younger in Maryland. ‌‌Baltimore, Md. – Robyn Gilden, PhD ‘10, MS ‘01, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named one of The Daily Record’s 2015 Leading Women. Fifty women were chosen by a panel of judges from nearly 200 nominees. The Daily Record launched the Leading Women awards program in 2010, in recognition of women in the state of Maryland, age 40 or younger, who have had tremendous accomplishments in their careers. Recipients must have demonstrated that they are professionally accomplished and have a commitment to community service and inspiring change. "I feel so blessed to be honored by The Daily Record, but I know that I didn’t accomplish this all on my own,” Gilden said.  “If it were not for all of the hard work and dedication of my colleagues and mentors, I would not be where I am today. They deserve to be part of this award as well."  At UMSON, Gilden teaches environmental health to both undergraduate and graduate students, with a focus on raising their awareness about important, insidious issues, and encouraging them to take action. She also mentors with the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environment’s Steering Committee and Research Work Group. In addition, Gilden volunteers with the American Public Health Association’s Environment and Public Health Nursing sections and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments. “Dr. Gilden has devoted her career to inspiring change, both within the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the community, through education, research, and advocacy.  Through her efforts, she has made a sustained impact on the state of Maryland,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “We are very proud of Dr. Gilden for being recognized as one of The Daily Record’s Leading Women and as a leader in the health care field.”  # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Professional development program focuses on state’s social, economic, and environmental issues. Baltimore, Md. –Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing, recently completed Leadership Maryland’s professional development program, dedicated to building a better Maryland by harnessing the strength of its local business and community leaders. Leadership Maryland honored Kirschling and the rest of the Class of 2015 at its 23rd annual graduation ceremony held Dec. 8 at the Lord Baltimore Hotel.  The Lutherville resident was one of 47 applicants chosen by a selection committee to complete Leadership Maryland’s eight-month, hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic, and environmental issues. The Class of 2015 reflects a cross-section of the state, including diversity of geographic location, profession, ethnicity, and gender. “We are honored to welcome the Class of 2015 to our alumni family,” said Renée M. Winsky, president and chief executive officer, Leadership Maryland. “These exceptional individuals have dedicated more than 130 hours of their time over the past eight months to learning about the key issues, people and places that make up each region of our state. Now that they’ve graduated, we challenge these leaders to use this knowledge and experience to become forces for meaningful change in their communities, both professionally and personally.”  Leadership Maryland is open to senior-level executives with significant achievements in their careers and/or their communities. Members of the program have demonstrated a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and have a personal commitment to promoting a positive change in their organizations, communities, and the state. “I am thankful for being selected to Leadership Maryland to participate in a program that centers on improving the quality of life for the residents of Maryland,” Kirschling said. “It was a very rewarding experience to meet with some of Maryland’s top decision makers and explore real solutions to better our communities economically, environmentally, and socially.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Dean pledges School will train future health professionals to address health issues tied to climate change. Baltimore, Md. – Today, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) announced that it has joined the Global Health Educators Climate Commitment, joining 117 other schools from across the world to ensure their students, the next generation of health professionals, are prepared through education to effectively address the health impacts of climate change and to ensure that the world has a cadre of climate change and health experts. UMSON was one of the original schools to sign on earlier this year. Climate change is no longer a problem for future generations – we are already feeling its effects in every corner of our nation and across the globe, which threatens our economic and national security and our health. No country is immune, and therefore all countries must act together, and that is what the Paris climate negotiations are all about. Today’s commitments reinforce how vast the impacts of climate change are and how great the opportunity to join together and address this problem together is.  Deans who signed the Global Health Educators Climate Commitment have pledged to educate the health professionals of tomorrow, ensuring that they are fully prepared to address all health risks, including those resulting from the impacts of climate change. Future health professionals must have the competencies needed to address the health needs of various communities and its patients, both now and into the foreseeable future. “The University of Maryland School of Nursing is fully committed to ensuring that its faculty effectively educates the next generation of nursing professionals to address the health impacts of climate change,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We welcome the opportunity to be a part of this global initiative and are committed to strengthening the knowledge base in the area of climate and health from a position of the best science and academic rigor.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Assistant professor recognized for contributions to cardiovascular and stroke nursing and health. Baltimore, Md. –N. Jennifer Klinedinst, PhD, MPH, RN, assistant professor, was inducted as an international fellow of the American Heart Association (AHA) during the annual Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing (CVSN) Awards dinner held in Orlando, Nov. 10.  Klinedinst, a member of CVSN, and other fellows, were recognized for their outstanding contributions to cardiovascular and stroke nursing and health, and volunteer leadership and service to AHA and/or the American Stroke Association.  Kliendinst has worked tirelessly to engage at-risk, older adults about long-term, heart-healthy behaviors, including physical activity, improved diet, and adherence to lipid-lowering medications that decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Her research has focused on the recognition and treatment of post-stroke depressive symptoms. Klinedinst has examined the importance of assessing and discussing post-stroke depressive symptoms with both stroke survivors and their families, as families and stroke survivors are not always congruent in their assessment and interpretation of the depressive symptoms. “It is an honor to be elected as a fellow,  as I am committed to building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease and stroke,” Klinedinst said. “I'm grateful that my work is being recognized, and I am looking forward to continuing to move the science forward by exploring  ways to reduce post-stroke depression and serving with my dedicated stroke nursing colleagues at AHA.” CVSN seeks to accelerate the discovery, translation and application of knowledge to promote and improve overall cardiovascular health. Its efforts focus on contributing nursing’s biopsychosocial expertise to AHA’s global agenda to promote ideal cardiovascular health, quality of life, and heart-healthy lifestyles and environments. “Dr. Klinedinst is a well-respected cardiovascular researcher, educator, and clinician who has made a major impact on cardiovascular nursing practice and in the classroom. We are very fortunate to have her on the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” said Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing. “It is wonderful to see Dr. Klinedinst being recognized by the Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing for her many years of service and contributions to improved cardiovascular health.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Associate dean is responsible for operational, financial, and administrative leadership. Baltimore, Md. – William Gardiner has been named associate dean for administration and finance for the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and School of Dentistry. Gardiner has worked for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) since 1999. As associate dean for administration and finance, Gardiner is serving in a senior-level role as he provides operational, financial and administrative leadership for both schools. Previously, Gardiner worked in several clinical departments within the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). He most recently worked in UMSOM’s pediatrics department. “Mr. Gardiner has built an impressive track record during his 16 years at UMB. We are very excited to have him on our team and look forward to his leadership as the chief administrative and financial officer of the Schools of Dentistry and Nursing,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “With his strong background in finance and administration, I am confident that the financial futures of both schools are in great hands.” Gardiner earned his master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Baltimore; and his bachelor’s degree in accounting from DeSales University. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Registration for dual admission in the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) Associate of Science in Nursing to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program is open through Dec. 1 for the spring semester. Graduates of CSM’s nursing degree program, as well as current nursing students, can apply for the program and register for Web hybrid courses scheduled for the spring 2016 semester. CSM and UMSON, with financial support from the Chesapeake-Potomac Healthcare Alliance, teamed up to provide a seamless transition from the Associate of Science in Nursing to a BSN degree. This pathway to a higher level of education for nurses will help hospitals to meet the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing goals. “The 2010 Institute of Medicine report [on the future of nursing] said that by 2020, 80 percent of our nurses need to hold a baccalaureate degree or higher. Baccalaureate programs in this country can’t meet that target; we can only meet it when we embrace and welcome these opportunities to partner together between associate degree and baccalaureate education,” said Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of UMSON. Read More

Interim director to manage daily operations of clinical education and evaluation laboratory. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently named Nancy Budd Culpepper interim director of the Clinical Education and Evaluation Lab (CEEL). Culpepper has been a faculty member since 2001. In her new role, Culpepper is responsible for managing the daily operations of the clinical education laboratory; and developing and implementing standardized participant (SP) training, research projects, and presentations. Additionally, Culpepper collaborates and establishes effective partnerships with the faculty in managing and evaluating student standardized participant encounters. “Ms. Culpepper’s contribution to supporting the training of health professionals is significant and her management of all aspects of the functioning of the SP program is invaluable in this time of transition,” said Kathryn Montgomery, PhD ‘97, RN, NEA-BC, associate professor, and chair, Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice. The CEEL, a joint venture between UMSON and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, seeks to provide an innovative setting for students to enhance clinical skills or participate in a formative or summative evaluation process. It is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the evaluation, assessment, and teaching of clinical skills. Services provided in the lab include clinical skills evaluation, communication skills assessment, and clinical teaching programs for nursing, medicine, and other health professions.   “Over the years, I have seen SP methodology develop into a credible and valid tool for learning and assessment,” Culpepper said. “Under Kathy Schaivone’s leadership, we built and grew the Clinical Education and Evaluation Laboratory into a center that provides more than 7,000 student contact hours each year.  I would like to continue this growth by fully realizing the goal of creating a human simulation learning and assessment resource center for the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) campus and the surrounding community. I look forward to directing this mission and working with the UMB community to integrate SP experiences into a wider variety of education and training settings.”  # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Research team to examine regulations and training for long-term care facilities.  Baltimore, Md. – Alison M. Trinkoff, ScD, MPH, BSN, RN, FAAN, professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a grant from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). The award is a two-year, $296,700 grant for the research project Long-Term Care Training and Provider Regulations for Optimal Resident Outcomes. Trinkoff, who is serving as the project’s principal investigator, is also teaming with UMSON faculty members Nancy B. Lerner, DNP, RN, CDONA, assistant professor, and Carla Storr, ScD, MPH, professor; Kihye Han, PhD ‘11, RN, assistant professor, Chung-Ang Red Cross University College of Nursing, Seoul; UMSON doctoral candidate Bo Kyum Yang MSN, RN; and consultant Ayse P. Gurses, PhD, MS, associate professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. As the U.S. experiences a sharp increase in elderly citizens, the demand for residential long-term care services will continue to rise. Currently, residential long-term care is a $357-billion industry that houses more than 2-million residents. The two major sectors providing care are nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALF).  However, nursing homes are no longer the only residential long-term care (LTC) option for the elderly. With the volume and complexity of care needed for the elderly, the demand for alternative residential models has increased; with many older adults now opting to reside in ALFs. Many states have minimal training and education requirements for assisted living personnel, and there is no nationwide program for facility inspections or data to evaluate the quality of care. In contrast, nursing homes are federally regulated and are required to report outcomes. The research team aims to identify areas where nursing homes and ALFs (e.g., populations and needs, and facility characteristics) provide evidence to support regulatory recommendations and ultimately improve care for all LTC residents. "I am very grateful to NCBSN for awarding us this funding to continue our team's important work on the relationship of long-term care regulations and resident outcomes,” Trinkoff said. “Many states have minimal training and education requirements for assisted living personnel. We plan to shed more light on what is happening in assisted living facilities.” NCBSN is a non-profit organization that provides education, service, and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Grant supports implementation of IOM recommendations. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been awarded a $150,000 State Implementation Program (SIP) grant through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP. UMSON’s grant is in effect from November 2015 through January 2017. SIP grants were created to support the implementation of the state Campaign for Action Coalitions of the Institute of Medicine’s recommendations outlined in its 2010 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Through this award, UMSON seeks to streamline academic progression in Maryland by increasing the percentage of nurses who are Bachelor of Science in Nursing-prepared, and enhancing diversity and inclusiveness in nursing. Associate and baccalaureate degree programs in the state will work in tandem to review the Maryland RN-to-BSN articulation agreement and revise and refine the document to reflect the exciting work currently occurring around academic progression. This project will continue the work of UMSON’s previous SIP “Dual Enrollment Model” grant from 2013-15. There will also be a focus on developing a Maryland Action Coalition Diversity and Inclusivity Strategic Plan.  In implementing this plan, a taskforce of key stakeholders will convene to examine best practices within Maryland, craft a mission and vision statement, and develop an outcomes-based strategic plan to guide Maryland Action Coalition initiatives.  “This is an important work that will ensure a smoother path for academic progression and the development of a diverse, inclusive, and representative workforce.  It is a work that needs the support of the entire nursing community,” said UMSON’s SIP Program Director Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ‘93, RN, associate professor and chair of UMSON’s program at the Universities at Shady Grove.  “It is all about guaranteeing that people who interact with the health care system have the best care from the best nurses.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.  

‌‌‌Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently named Barbara Dobish, MSN, RN, assistant professor, as interim director of the RN-to-BSN option and Nina Trocky, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CCRA, assistant professor, as interim associate dean for the baccalaureate program. “Dr. Trocky and Ms. Dobish are both well-respected members of the UMSON faculty and have made invaluable contributions to our nursing program,” Kirschling said. “Ms. Dobish has a deep understanding of the needs of the RN-to-BSN program and is a proven leader. Dr. Trocky has been instrumental in developing partnerships with local nursing programs and in helping to set UMSON’s entry-level curriculum. I am confident that both of them will continue to help advance the mission of the School.” In her new role, Dobish oversees curriculum development, student progression, didactic instruction, and academic advising. Dobish, who has been on the faculty since 1991, will also be heavily involved in student recruitment, selection, and advisement. “My goal is to step in and continue the work that has already been underway and to help move the program forward,” Dobish said. “I am excited to be working to expand the RN-to-BSN option, along with some of the new and exciting opportunities for enrollment into our program. I enjoy working with the students and am looking forward to helping them continue to thrive.” Trocky, who most recently served as the director of the RN-to-BSN program, has been a faculty member since 2006. In her new role, Trocky stays abreast of and advises on a wide array of academic issues and policies impacting the baccalaureate program. “I am proud to serve as interim associate dean of the baccalaureate program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. I look forward to maintaining the academic rigor of our revised curriculum, supporting our faculty in teaching our diverse student body, and contributing to the broader educational experiences our future nurses,” Trocky said. “Our BSN graduates have become leaders within the health care system and I want to contribute to our program’s continued success.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Council members seek to serve the professional needs of graduate nursing students. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has selected doctoral student Stacey Iobst, BSN ‘07, RNC-OB, C-EFM, to the Graduate Nursing Student Academy (GNSA) Leadership Council. Iobst will serve a two-year term. Members of the Council will help develop future strategic goals by providing advice on services and programming for the GNSA. It will also help serve the professional development needs of graduate nursing students as they prepare for careers in the field. The Council, which consists of four PhD students, three Doctor of Nursing Practice students, and three master’s students, are from across the country.   “It is an honor to represent my fellow nursing students as a member of GNSA’s inaugural Leadership Council,” Iobst said. “In this role I would like to bolster efforts to recruit nurses with strong leadership skills to graduate nursing programs around the country. I would also like to explore opportunities for nurses to conduct interdisciplinary education within the graduate school setting.” The GNSA provides high value programs, services, and resources to nursing students enrolled in master's and doctoral programs. Formed by AACN in 2012, the GNSA continues to experience significant growth. It helps meet the professional development needs of graduate nursing students as they prepare for careers as faculty members, researchers, advanced practice registered nurses, policy experts, health care administrators, and other roles in nursing leadership. Membership in the GNSA is open to graduate students enrolled in AACN-affiliated schools. “We are excited that Stacey has been selected to be a part of a group of outstanding emerging leaders,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I’m looking forward to seeing the work that the Leadership Council does in helping to develop programs and resources that serve the expressed needs of the more than 110,000 nursing students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs in the U.S.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Ogbolu will ensure the Office of Global Health’s activities are aligned with UMSON’s strategic plan.  Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently announced the appointment of Assistant Professor Yolanda Ogbolu, PhD ‘11, MS ‘05, BSN ’04, CRNP-Neonatal, as director of the Office of Global Health (OGH). She previously served as deputy director of OGH. During her tenure at UMSON, Ogbolu has led the School’s efforts in West Africa and has been instrumental in its global health efforts with local and international stakeholders. She routinely engages with international regulatory agencies, universities, and ministries of health. In her new role, Ogbolu is responsible for expanding established relationships, programs and partnerships, and ensuring that the OGH’s activities are aligned with UMSON’s strategic goals.  “Developing global health nurses, leaders, and interprofessional teams who are well-prepared to address critical health challenges that transcend national boundaries is one of the most important priorities for this generation because of the world’s increasing interconnectedness,” Ogbolu said.  “It is an honor to serve as director of the School’s global health initiatives and to continue collaborations with local, national, and international colleagues who are committed to advancing health equity and population health locally and globally.” Ogbolu’s research focuses on newborn health disparities across the globe, cultural competencies for health professionals and organizations, and building nursing capacities through partnerships with schools of nursing. Additionally, she has led the development of partnerships with multiple universities in Africa through collective engagement, and has served as an expert reviewer for the World Health Organization in developing a curriculum for implementing science research for health professionals in developing countries. Ogbolu was a 2014 recipient of the Minority Nurses Association of Maryland’s Harriet Tubman Legacy in Maternal Child Health Nursing Award. In addition, she was named a University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Champion of Excellence in 2013, and received UMB’s Outstanding Faculty Award, a MLK Diversity Award, in 2014. “As the nurse leader of the Office of Global Health’s interprofessional team, Dr. Ogbolu has been instrumental in helping advance UMSON’s global health agenda,” Kirschling said.  “She is well-regarded by her colleagues locally, nationally and internationally, for her collaborative nature and passion for improving health care in underserved nations. I’m looking forward to her leadership of the Office of Global Health.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

New director is overseeing the simulation program, curricula, and expansion of faculty.  Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently announced that Amy Daniels, MS ‘12, BSN ’89, RN, has been named director of UMSON’s Debra L. Spunt Clinical Simulation Laboratories. Daniels, a certified health care simulation educator, had served as assistant director of the labs since 2012. In her new role, Daniels oversees UMSON’s simulation program and is responsible for its curricula; expansion of interprofessional faculty development and simulation and debriefing; and increasing opportunities for interprofessional simulation experiences at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. “I consider it a privilege and honor to be appointed to this position. I am reminded daily of the wealth of resources in these labs and I realize what an amazing opportunity this is to provide our students and community with rich learning experiences,” Daniels said. Daniels received her formal training in simulation and debriefing at the instructor and advanced instructor levels from the Center for Medical Simulation, Harvard University. Her research focuses on psychologically safe learning environments within the context of debriefing and its impact on nursing students’ abilities to critically reflect on practice. She has also been named a National League for Nursing LEAD Scholar and a New Nurse Faculty Fellow. “Amy brings valuable experience and preparation as a simulation educator to this position. While serving as assistant director, she gained extensive working knowledge of the labs that will serve her well in providing leadership for the clinical simulation labs in her new role as director,” said Kathryn Montgomery, PhD ‘97, RN, NEA-BC, associate professor, and chair, Department of Partnerships, Professional Education, and Practice. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Inductees have made significant research contributions to the profession and the people it serves. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that Susan G. Dorsey, PhD ‘01, MS ’98, RN, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, and Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology, were recently inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. They were among 19 nurse researchers inducted at the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing’s 26th International Nursing Research Congress held recently in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Created in 2010, the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame is one of STTI’s International Awards for Nursing Excellence. The award recognizes nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained broad national or international recognition for their work, and whose research has impacted the profession and the people it serves.   ‌Dorsey’s research examines the molecular, cellular, and genetic factors associated with the development and persistence of chronic pain. More people suffer from chronic pain than cancer, heart disease, and diabetes combined, making this a research study of great importance.  Although people who suffer from chronic pain cost the U.S. more than $600 billion annually, there are few effective treatments that can reduce or eliminate chronic pain without significantly disrupting a person’s quality of life. Dorsey’s team seeks to remedy this problem. ‌Resnick’s research has exclusively focused on caring for older adults. She examines methods of optimizing function and physical activity among older adults and their caregivers in long-term care settings.  Additionally, Resnick and her team have been investigating techniques to motivate older adults in their recovery from acute medical events. Resnick’s Function Focused Care approach has been disseminated nationally through publications and presentations.  “We are very proud of our colleagues, Dr. Dorsey and Dr. Resnick, for receiving this distinguished honor,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. Dorsey’s groundbreaking work in pain research and Dr. Resnick’s seminal studies in gerontology have had a major impact on the nursing profession, which aligns with STTI’s mission of advancing world health.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Initiative seeks to boost number of nurses holding PhDs. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that students Alisha Hackney, BSN ‘13, RN, and Stacey Iobst, BSN ‘07, RNC-OB, C-EFM, are among 46 nurses to receive the prestigious Future of Nursing Scholars program award to support their PhD study. Their scholarships are being funded by Johnson & Johnson and were awarded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). A multi-funder leadership program spearheaded by RWJF, the Future of Nursing Scholars program aims to increase the number of nurses holding PhDs in Maryland and around the country. The Institute of Medicine has recommended that there be more PhD-prepared nurses, resulting in an increase in the number of nurse leaders, nurse-led science and discovery, and high-quality educators preparing the next generation of nurses. Less than one percent of the nation’s more than 3 million nurses have PhDs in nursing or a related field.  In addition, the average age at which nurses get their PhDs in the United States is 46, which is 13 years older than PhD earners in other fields. This program will provide an incentive for nurses to start PhD programs earlier so that they can have long leadership careers after earning their degrees. Hackney intends to focus her research on the pathophysiology of labor and delivery, an interest that she developed during her senior year in the UMSON’s BSN program. Prior to beginning the PhD program, Hackney was a clinical nurse in the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Adult Emergency Department. Iobst intends to focus her research on improving maternity care through strategies such as quality measurement, patient education, and provider education. Iobst was a nurse on the Labor and Delivery Unit at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, MD, prior to beginning the PhD program. The Future of Nursing Scholars program provides grants to schools of nursing, so they can provide scholarships to PhD candidates who will commit to completing the program in three years. Hackney and Iobst will receive an award of $75,000, as well as mentoring and leadership development over the course of the PhD program. “We are excited that two of our students will be a part of this prestigious program. The funding support from Johnson & Johnson for the RWJF Future of Nursing Scholar program offers much-needed assistance for our goal of educating the next generation of nursing leaders, and we thank the organization for its continued generosity,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. In addition to RWJF and Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, and the Rhode Island Foundation are supporting the Future of Nursing Scholars grants to schools of nursing this year. The Future of Nursing Scholars program was launched in 2014 with an inaugural cohort of 16 scholars.  This new cohort brings the number of nurses it is supporting to 62. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Friedmann to serve third stint as the Society’s chief executive officer. Baltimore, Md. – Erika Friedmann, PhD, professor and associate dean of research, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been elected president of the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ).  She served as the Society’s inaugural president from 1991-1995 and again from 2007-2011. As ISAZ’s president, Friedmann functions as the organization’s chief executive officer.  She is responsible for the general management of ISAZ, which includes convening all meetings, signing contracts and checks, and ensuring all orders and resolutions of its board are carried out. “I just returned from our annual meeting and continue to be impressed with the number of new researchers, the diversity of topics, and the high quality of research in human-animal interactions (HAI),” Friedmann said.  “I’m excited to have the opportunity to expand the activities of the Society and to mentor junior scholars to become HAI leaders of the future.”   Friedmann is a founding member of ISAZ and is a member of the editorial board of Anthrozoos, the Society’s research journal.  She has contributed more than 150 papers to scientific journals, and collaborates and consults with researchers worldwide on anthrozoological research. ISAZ is a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization with a worldwide, multi-disciplinary membership of students, scholars, and interested professionals. It promotes academic, scientific, and scholarly research into all aspects of HAI, and fosters interaction between HAI researchers on an international basis.  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Project focuses on establishing interprofessional collaborative primary care practice that serves an ethnically diverse population. Baltimore, Md. – Susan M. Antol, MS ’79, RN, assistant professor and director, Governor’s Wellmobile and School-based Wellness Programs, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a $1,007,076 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The three-year grant will fund the project, Bridging Interprofessional Collaborative Practice and Education with Integrated Care through a Medical Neighborhood.   In collaboration with the University of Maryland (UM) Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Social Work, Antol and her UMSON team will implement an interprofessional collaborative practice  that will serve as a clinical education site for students in the UM health professional schools and examine improved methods for providing care to residents served by the Governor’s Wellmobile Program. The Wellmobile is a nurse-managed, mobile-health clinic that provides primary care to thousands of the state’s most vulnerable residents. It delivers mobile nurse-managed, primary care services to the medically underserved and ethnically diverse populations in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties. Members of this population are often foreign-born, Latino, non-English speaking, and/or uninsured. Approximately 60 percent of these patients suffer from one or more chronic illnesses, which include hypertension, Type II diabetes, or obesity.  Antol’s team aims to better serve these patients by establishing an advanced primary care, interprofessional, collaborative practice in the Wellmobile clinic that integrates a family medicine physician, clinical pharmacist, and bilingual outreach worker into the existing nurse-managed faculty practice. “Implementing a nurse-managed interprofessional collaborative practice team on the Governor’s Wellmobile enables us to travel to our patients to meet their needs, in conjunction with community-collaborative partnerships,” Antol said. “This great opportunity focuses on a team effort that will allow the Wellmobile Program to accomplish what we’ve needed and wanted to do for a long time. Our long-range goal is to positively impact health care experiences, improve health outcomes, and reduce costs, which is consistent with the Affordable Care Act’s Triple Aim. We now stand ready to deliver this promise.” HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care by strengthening its workforce, building healthy communities, and achieving health equity.   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program is tailored to aspiring and new deans. Baltimore, Md. –Joan Davenport, PhD ‘00, RN, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been selected to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Leadership for Academic Nursing Program (LANP). The program will be held July 26-30 in Albuquerque, NM. LANP is an executive leadership fellowship sponsored by AACN and tailored specifically for new and aspiring deans. The program is designed to prepare a more diverse, younger pool of leaders to shepherd nursing programs across the globe. This professional development experience encompasses an assessment and evaluation of leadership skills, opportunities for strategic networking and case development, consultation for achieving long-term goals, and identification of key partnerships. “I am very excited about participating in AACN's Leadership for Academic Nursing program. This premier academic leadership intensive brings together an amazing group of diverse leaders from the nursing community, which will make for an invaluable experience,” Davenport said. “I am looking forward to networking with faculty members from across the country, exploring lessons learned by these colleagues, and sharing best practices, which will help grow my leadership skills and bring a refined perspective back to my work at the School of Nursing.” Each year since 2002, 40 fellows have been selected to participate in the program. During the program, fellows have their current leadership style and skills critiqued, are presented with mentoring opportunities with an experienced dean, and work to accomplish identified goals. Fellows are vetted through a competitive application process before selection. AACN is a unique asset for the nation that serves the public interest by setting standards, providing resources, and developing the leadership capacity of member schools to advance nursing education, research, and practice. By 2020, as a driving force for quality health care, AACN will leverage member schools in meeting the demand for innovation and leadership in nursing education, research, and practice. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Grants will help increase number of well-prepared nurses in Maryland. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that five faculty members have been awarded Nurse Support Program II (NSP II) grants through the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC). Vanessa Fahie, PhD ’94, BSN ’76, RN, assistant professor ($101,000); Patricia Franklin, PhD, RN, assistant professor and director of professional education ($2,500,000); Janice Hoffman, PhD ’06, RN, ANEF, associate professor and assistant dean for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program ($412,682); Shannon Idzik, DNP ’10, MS, ’03, CRNP, CCRN, associate professor and assistant dean for the Doctor of Nursing Practice program ($470,659); and Louise S. Jenkins, PhD ’85, MS ‘81, RN, FAHA, ANEF, professor and director of the Institute for Educators in Nursing and Health Professions ($1,579,097), all received grants to assist with the funding of various programs. NSP II grants aid in increasing the capacity of nurses in Maryland by implementing statewide initiatives to grow the number of nurses prepared to function effectively in faculty roles. MHEC offers a number of educational grant programs funded by state general funds, special funds, and federal funds. The programs are designed to address Maryland’s economic and workforce development needs, campus reform initiatives, student preparation for post-secondary education, faculty and student diversity goals, and teacher professional development objectives. “The NSP II grants will provide our School with the necessary resources to increase the number of nurse educators in Maryland who are tasked with successfully preparing the nursing workforce of the future,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “Thanks to the generosity of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, which funds these awards, we can continue to attract high-quality nurse educators who encourage innovative approaches in addressing the challenges and demands that face nurses in the workforce.” MHEC seeks to ensure that the people of Maryland have access to a high-quality, diverse, adequately funded, effectively managed, and capably led system of post-secondary education. It accomplishes this mission through the provision of statewide planning, leadership, coordination, and advocacy for the state's post-secondary educational institutions and through the administration of state financial aid programs. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

‌The summer '15 edition of the University of Maryland School of Nursing Magazine, nursing for|um, is now available online. Click here to read it!

Funding will aid anesthesia students with cost of tuition, books, and fees. ‌Baltimore, Md. – Joseph E. Pellegrini, PhD, CRNA, associate professor and director of the Nurse Anesthesia specialty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for a nurse anesthetist traineeship program. HRSA provides UMSON with the grant annually in the amount of $39, 741. The purpose of the trainee program is to produce a more culturally competent and sensitive Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) workforce through proper education. The grant supports the education of nurse anesthesia students who have pledged to serve the medically underserved upon graduation. Approximately 30 percent of all nurse anesthesia programs receive funding through this grant. Through the program, full-time students enrolled in UMSON’s CRNA specialty will have the cost of their tuition, books, and fees covered. Graduates of the program will be eligible for the nurse anesthesia certification examination.  “The School of Nursing has received this grant for the past eight years, which has helped generate approximately $230,000 in support for our students,” Pellegrini said.  “This grant is important because it helps offset the significant financial burden undertaken by our students since they cannot work while they are matriculating in the program. It also helps produce CRNAs that are well-prepared to work in a variety of medically underserved areas across the country.”  HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care by strengthening its workforce, building healthy communities, and achieving health equity.  Its programs provide health care to people who are geographically isolated, or economically or medically vulnerable. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Resnick will assume presidency for 2016-17. Baltimore, Md. – Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), was recently voted president-elect of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). She will take on the new role beginning in November. Resnick will serve as president-elect in 2015-2016, and then become president for the 2016-2017 term. GSA officers are responsible for overseeing the governance and strategic planning of the organization while representing the Society’s four membership sections and its Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization. “Dr. Resnick is a prolific researcher, scholar, and mentor who has received numerous awards for her work in gerontology,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She is an excellent and deserving choice for this leadership role, as it will allow her the opportunity to shape national health policy in this critical area. We are very pleased that Dr. Resnick will be continuing our School’s strong tradition of producing faculty members and graduates who are committed to providing professional service and leadership at the highest levels.” Founded in 1945, GSA is a multidisciplinary organization devoted to research and education in all aspects of gerontology, which include medical, biological, psychological and social. It is the driving force behind the advancement of gerontology, both domestically and internationally. The Society believes that the intersection of research from diverse areas is the best way to achieve the greatest impact and promote healthy aging. “I am honored to serve in the role of GSA’s president-elect, and in the future, as its president.  GSA has the opportunity to be a leader in interdisciplinary work in the areas of gerontology and geriatrics, including educational aspects, research, practice and policy,” Resnick said. “I believe GSA can serve as a strong leader in bench to bedside translation, and can be an example of how this can be accomplished. GSA has the opportunity to expand in the area of dissemination research while leading our members to disseminate and help appropriate individuals in settings of care to implement evidence-based interventions nationally and internationally.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Friedmann will lead the development, implementation, and evaluation of research and scholarship goals.  Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently announced the appointment of Professor Erika Friedmann, PhD, as associate dean of research. In her new role, Friedmann will provide leadership in the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies for achieving research and scholarship goals. Friedmann, a professor in UMSON’s Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, teaches research methods and statistics to PhD students. Her research focuses on the contributions of social, psychological, and physiological contributors to cardiovascular health. Her research provided the first link between pet ownership and cardiovascular health. Through her research, Friedmann found that pet owners are more likely to survive one year after being hospitalized for heart disease than those who do not own pets.  “Dr. Friedmann has been serving as the interim associate dean since November and has done a wonderful job sustaining the excellence of our research efforts,” Kirschling said. “With her depth of knowledge and experience, I am confident that the research program is in great hands under her leadership as she continues to collaborate with faculty members at the School of Nursing, and inter-professionally across the University, to further advance our research agenda.”  Friedmann was a founding member of the International Society for Anthrozoology, served as the Society’s first president, and is a member of its editorial board. She has contributed more than 150 papers to scientific journals, and collaborates and consults with researchers worldwide on anthrozoological research. Friedmann earned her PhD and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. “I am overwhelmed by the support I have received as I entered this position.  I look forward to working with the School’s administration, faculty, staff, and students to enhance our research and scholarship,” Friedmann said. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON was compliant on all standards reviewed. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that its baccalaureate, master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-graduate advanced practice registered nurse certificate programs have been granted a 10-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). During the accreditation process, CCNE visitors examined the quality and integrity of the nursing programs at UMSON.  Throughout its evaluation, CCNE focused on four standards of program quality and effectiveness: mission and governance, resources, curriculum, and program outcomes. CCNE found UMSON to be compliant on all standards reviewed. Highlights from CCNE’s findings include extensive representation and participation of faculty, students and staff in program governance; exemplary resources available to faculty and students; the use of a variety of teaching-learning practices with an environment to support the needs of diverse learners in an educational learning environment; and a comprehensive evaluation plan consistent with the mission, identified standards of practice, and program goals and expected program outcomes. “CCNE’s accreditation is an important method of validating the School’s ongoing quality of education and shows its commitment to faculty and student success,” said Kathleen M. Buckley, PhD, MS ’76, BSN ’73, RN, IBCLC, associate professor, who served as UMSON’s lead coordinator of the CCNE review. “This evaluation also confirms that there is oversight over the nursing program, which shows our students, alumni, and community partners that the School has accountability and integrity.” Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, CCNE is exclusively committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and master's degree programs in nursing. UMSON’s accreditation is effective through June 30, 2025. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellows are recognized for distinguished contributions to the field of gerontology. Baltimore, Md. – Elizabeth Galik, PhD ‘07, RN, CRNP, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been elected as a 2015 Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). Fellows are elected in recognition of distinguished contributions to the field of gerontology.   Galik’s work focuses on helping the elderly with moderate to severe cognitive impairment to optimize their functionality while decreasing behavioral symptoms. She tests the impact of interventions designed to optimize function, physical activity, mood, and behavior of long-term care residents. The Function and Behavior Focused Care approach is geared toward changing how staff members in long-term care facilities provide care to residents with dementia by teaching them how to evaluate and optimize the residents' underlying physical capabilities. This approach also trains staff on how to safely and effectively engage residents in personal care and physical activity. “Dr. Galik has demonstrated a commitment to the advancement of gerontology through practice, research, and education. She is passionate about teaching and is an advocate of helping all students succeed and achieve at their highest potential,” said Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology at UMSON. “Dr. Galik is a true leader in interdisciplinary education in geriatrics and exemplifies the high standards associated with the GSA Fellowship.”  Founded in 1945, GSA is the driving force behind the advancement of gerontology, both domestically and internationally.  GSA fosters collaboration between biologists, health professionals, policymakers, and behavioral and social scientists. The Society believes that the intersection of research from diverse areas is the best way to achieve the greatest impact and promote healthy aging. "I am honored to be inducted as a Fellow of GSA. I have benefitted from my membership with GSA ever since I was a doctoral student in 2003,” Galik said. “I look forward to collaborating with my interdisciplinary colleagues to advance gerontological research."  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Award recognizes outstanding critical-care nurses. Baltimore, Md. – Kathryn T. Von Rueden, MS, RN, CNS-BC, FCCM, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and clinical nurse specialist at the University of Maryland Medical Center’s R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, was one of 25 nursing professionals recently honored with the 2015 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Circle of Excellence Award. AACN recognized the award winners at its National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, held May 18-21 in San Diego. The award is given annually to up to 25 outstanding nurses nationwide for achieving excellent outcomes in the care of acutely and critically-ill patients and their families. Circle of Excellence recipients have demonstrated a relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence; communication skills; true collaboration; effective decision making; and meaningful recognition of others.  “Kathryn Von Rueden is a highly-respected critical-care nurse who has demonstrated the ability to transform thinking, structures, and processes in addressing challenges within her field,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. "We are so proud to see her receive this national recognition, which is an acknowledgment of her sustained leadership and excellence in this important area of nursing practice." Established in 1969, AACN is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. It joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical-care nurses and includes more than 240 chapters worldwide. The Circle of Excellence Award aligns with the Association’s mission of creating a health care system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical-care nurses make their optimal contribution. “My passion has always been in motivating, challenging, and mentoring others to excel professionally and at the bedside,” Von Rueden said. “I am very honored to have received this award and to be a part of a community of nursing professionals who are dedicated to shaping best practices and influencing the quality of care for critically ill patients.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON houses one of two simulation labs that are accredited in the Mid Atlantic. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that the Debra L. Spunt Simulation Laboratories have received accreditation in teaching and education from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). UMSON is one of only two simulation laboratories that are accredited in the Mid-Atlantic region. SSH seeks to improve performance and reduce errors in patient care through the use of simulation.  In March 2015, SSH conducted a one-day, onsite, structured review of UMSON’s simulation lab program, which entailed a survey team vetting criteria unique to UMSON’s program, with the goal of supporting efforts to improve operations and overall outcomes.  After the site visit, the survey team presented its findings to SSH’s Accreditation Board of Review. Highlights from SSH’s findings include the Board being impressed with UMSON’s debriefing workshops held for faculty 10 times each year; dedication to scholastic improvements to courses; collaboration between UMSON’s standardized patient and clinical simulation lab programs, which strengthens the learning environment; and the student-peer tutoring program. A program seeking SSH accreditation must have a minimum of two years experience in the functional area in which accreditation is sought. Additionally, programs must demonstrate compliance with core standards and fulfillment of standards applied to assessment, research, or teaching and education. Programs that have been accredited through SSH have demonstrated that they have improved health care education through the identification of best practices and recognition of practice; improved health care simulation through providing standardization and a pool of knowledge of best practices; supported education and consultation on good practices and benchmarks to improve business operations; and encouraged the sharing of best practices through education and consultation. “Simulation represents a paradigm shift in health care education. I am pleased that we are able to provide our students with unique learning opportunities in our labs through improved simulation technology, educational methods, practitioner assessment, and patient safety,” said Amy Daniels, MS ‘12, BSN ‘89, RN, CHSE, clinical instructor and interim director of UMSON’s clinical simulation laboratories. “We pride ourselves on preparing our students to provide excellent patient care, which leads to improved patient outcomes.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Hugs and tears, smiles and cheers reflected the emotions of the day as School of Nursing graduates celebrated the successful completion of their nursing degrees at Royal Farms Arena on Friday, May 15. The Class of 2015 consisted of 154 Bachelor of Science, 175 Master of Science, six PhD, and nine Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates. Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, delivered welcoming remarks, and Maureen P. McCausland, DNSc, RN, FAAN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at MedStar Health, delivered the Convocation address. “Our society and our profession need clinical nursing leaders, from the patients’ side to the board room,” McCausland said. “Leaders must have intelligence, cognitive complexity, and a spirit of inquiry.” She urged graduates to “never lose touch with your inner nurse.” In closing she stated, “Life is only as good as you decide to make it. So stand up, be bold, and don’t let anyone else define it.” The 2015 Excellence in Teaching Awards were presented to Assistant Professor Karen Scheu, DNP ’12, FNP-BC, for excellence in graduate education, and Assistant Professor Pamela Shumate, DNP ’12, RN, CCRN, CMC, for excellence in undergraduate education. Scheu and Shumate were co-carriers of the School of Nursing mace, leading the processional and recessional. Later in the day, School of Nursing graduates participated in the University of Maryland, Baltimore Commencement ceremony at Royal Farms Arena, where Esther McCready, MM, DIN ’53, the first African-American student admitted to the School of Nursing, received an honorary doctor of public service degree. McCready gained admittance to the School after the Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in her favor in April 1950. She was represented by Thurgood Marshall, who had already gained prominence for his work with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Click here to see more photos from graduation. 

An estimated 80 percent of nurses acknowledge they do not feel safe in the workplace. Baltimore, Md. – Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, and Matt London, MS, adjunct professor, have written a book on workplace violence. Not Part of the Job: How to Take a Stand Against Violence in the Work Setting, which was recently published by the American Nurses Association (ANA), addresses workplace violence for front line nurses and health care workers. According to the ANA, 80 percent of nurses do not feel safe in the workplace. Workplace violence, a dangerous and complex occupational hazard in the modern health care work environment, presents challenges for nurses, other health care employees, management, labor unions, and regulators. However, violence from patients, visitors, and coworkers is often tolerated and explained as part of the job in the fast-paced, stressful health care delivery workplace. This book offers guidance to practicing nurses on how they can better protect themselves against a wide range of unacceptable behaviors. “This topic is personal for me because a close childhood friend, who also happened to be a nurse, was killed while at work,” Lipscomb said. “During this time period, I met with health care workers who were seriously injured by patient violence. I was determined that I wanted to do something to prevent other workers from being assaulted.” Lipscomb says the problem of workplace violence in health care and social assistance workplaces is widespread, and continues in part because of a strong reluctance to fully acknowledge and address the problem. Addressing violence in health care requires very purposeful organizational processes conducted by very specific organizational structures. Nurses who are knowledgeable about this ongoing problem often provide key leadership for organizations undertaking the development of workplace violence prevention programs, but must do so using local evidence generated at the facility level. In some cases, tools such as state regulations and federal workplace safety policies provide important impetus and support for nurses and hospitals undertaking these transformational programs. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Awardees have demonstrated exemplary achievement in one of four categories. Baltimore, Md. – Barbara Resnick, PhD ’96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, professor and Sonia Ziporkin Gershowitz Chair in Gerontology at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named a 2015 University System of Maryland (USM) Faculty Award recipient. Resnick was one of 16 award winners selected by the institutions and the USM Foundation. One of the highest honors bestowed by the Board of Regents, the Regents Faculty Awards recognize exemplary faculty achievement in public service; teaching; mentoring; or research, scholarship, and creative activity.  Awardees are selected by the Council of University System Faculty and submitted to the Board for approval. Resnick, who has been a faculty member at UMSON for more than 20 years, received the mentoring award. “During Dr. Resnick’s tenure at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, she has mentored and helped prepare countless students for the nursing workforce. She has gone above and beyond in providing her students with invaluable learning experiences through scholarship and hands-on clinical opportunities,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Dr. Resnick’s passion for fostering student development and achievement is remarkable and should be celebrated.” During her tenure at UMSON, Resnick, has served as a primary mentor to 19 funded pre-doctoral and post-doctoral students in nursing, social work, pharmacy, and medicine. All of them have gone on to academic careers. She also organizes workshops and dissemination programs, funded by the Hartford Foundation, to teach junior faculty members and students how to write articles and publish their work. Since 2010, she has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed papers, most of which are published or co-authored with mentees.  Additionally, Resnick maintains a clinical faculty practice at a continuing care retirement community in Baltimore, where she actively involves students and junior faculty members, applying theoretical principles to actual cases. “I have a philosophy that you never lose anything by giving it away and mentoring is consistent with that thought,” Resnick said. “Mentoring is a passion of mine whether it is a student or a faculty member.  I feel like a success when I’m able to watch each mentee go off on their own. It is an honor to be considered for this award among the many amazing faculty in the University’s system.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program provides financial support, mentoring, and leadership development to nurses seeking PhD. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that it has been selected for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) Future of Nursing Scholars program. UMSON is one of 25 schools of nursing nationwide to receive a grant to increase the number of nurses holding PhDs. RWJF’s program provides financial support, mentoring, and leadership development to nurses who commit to earning their PhDs in three years. UMSON is receiving its grant from Johnson and Johnson. It will select two scholars in May who will begin the Future of Nursing Scholars program this summer and their PhD studies this fall. In its landmark nursing report, the Institute of Medicine recommended that the nation double the number of nurses with doctorates by 2020; doing so will support more nurse leaders, promote nurse-led science and discovery, and put more educators in place to prepare the next generation of nurses. The Future of Nursing Scholars program is intended to help address that recommendation. “With this nation’s health care system facing significant challenges, it will take a new generation of highly-educated, bold leaders who are skilled at the bedside and in the boardroom to bring about real transformational change,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Nurses are critical to safeguarding the health of the nation and ensuring that health care is high quality, safe, and accessible. PhD-prepared nurse scientists and researchers are in an optimal position to seek and identify the solutions that will make a difference in the lives of patients and families.” Less than one percent of the nation’s 3-million-plus nurses have PhDs in nursing or a related field.  In addition, the average age at which nurses get their PhDs in the United States is 46, which is 13 years older than PhD earners in other fields. This program is seen as an incentive for nurses to start PhD programs earlier, so that they can have long leadership careers after earning their PhDs. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) chapter of the Nursing Student Government Association (NSGA), in collaboration with CulinArt Café at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), showed their appreciation to Maryland State Troopers and members of the National Guard on Wednesday, April 29. The group provided 13 complimentary boxed lunches in UMSON lunch bags to officers and guardsmen patrolling the area around UMSON during the time of unrest in Baltimore. In addition, CulinArt Café offered free coffee to all guardsmen and officers on the UMB campus during business hours. NSGA is a student organization that encourages fellowship among students, faculty, and staff by creating an atmosphere of collaboration and understanding at UMSON. It inspires professional growth by providing programs representative of fundamental and emerging trends in the field of nursing, and promotes a dynamic and diverse student body dedicated to the highest quality of health care. 

Inaugural Visionary Pioneers honored. Baltimore, Md. – A spectacular gala, held April 18 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel, concluded a year of special events celebrating the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) 125th anniversary. Nearly 500 people attended the celebration, which honored the School of Nursing’s 25 inaugural Visionary Pioneers. The Visionary Pioneer Award winners are alumni who have made a significant impact on—and contribution to—the field of nursing based on leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship. During her welcome remarks, UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, thanked everyone for attending and acknowledged the event sponsors. “We gather here to celebrate this significant anniversary in the School of Nursing’s history and to give it special meaning by honoring the School’s 25 inaugural Visionary Pioneers,” said Kirschling. “I am delighted to announce that gala sponsorships and gifts, combined with the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation’s generous match of 50 cents on the dollar, have resulted in more than $274,000 raised for the 125th Anniversary Endowed Scholarship Fund.” At the end of the program, Kirschling made another major announcement – the School received the largest gift in its history, $5.2 million, from Bill and Joanne Conway through their Bedford Falls Foundation. The gift will enable the School to expand enrollment in its traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, increase opportunities for registered nurses to obtain their BSN degrees, and provide full scholarships to the 157 new Conway Scholars. Photos from the gala can be viewed and downloaded at https://www.flickr.com/photos/maryland-nursing/sets/72157649886176634. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Awards were given for 18 different categories. Baltimore, Md. – Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, and nine University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) alumnae were among the 50 nurses honored with Baltimore Magazine’s inaugural Excellence in Nursing Awards. The awards recognize registered nurses (RN) in the greater Baltimore area who go beyond the call of duty in their workplace or area of research. Nurses were nominated in 18 different categories — acute care/family practice/general medicine; cardiovascular; community care/ambulatory care; nurse educator; emergency department; hospice/home health/palliative care; intensive care; management/nurse executives; medical-surgical nursing; neurology/psychology/behavioral health; oncology; orthopedics; pediatrics: non-neonatal; pediatrics: neonatal; research; school health; senior services; and women's health. Kirschling was honored as a nurse educator. Additionally, UMSON alumnae Cynthia Arnold, MS ’95 (pediatrics: non-neonatal); Cathy Chapman, MS ’95 (acute care/family practice/general medicine); Gloria Clark, MS ’87, BSN ’82 (women's health); Mary Jo Huber, BSN ’77 (community care/ambulatory care); Megan Jendrossek, BSN ’13 (medical-surgical nursing); Vicky Kent, PhD ’96, MS ’87 (educator); Calvert Moore, MS ’11 (school health); Lisa Rowen, MS ’86 (management/nurse executives); and Joan Warren, PhD ’04, MS ’88 (research) were also recipients of the award. Baltimore Magazine’s nominations process began in May 2014, as it opened an online survey where anybody could nominate outstanding nursing professionals. Hundreds of nursing professionals were vetted by an expert panel comprised of seven RNs from the Maryland Nurses Association before the 50 awardees were selected.   “The Baltimore metropolitan region is fortunate to have an abundance of talented and remarkable nurse educators, so I am very flattered to have been selected for this distinction by Baltimore Magazine,” Kirschling said. “It is very gratifying to celebrate receiving this award with nine University of Maryland School of Nursing alumnae who were also honored for their contributions to health care.  This recognition is a wonderful reflection on our institution and speaks to our legacy of producing nurse leaders in education, research and practice.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Students will be able to apply to both schools simultaneously and satisfy the requirements of both schools. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and Montgomery College (MC) recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will bring a seamless transition from the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. UMSON partnered with MC to design a dual admission program that will be available to nursing students this fall. “This dual admission program is an amazing opportunity for MC’s nursing students. As a community college, the student population is more diverse and is less likely to leave the community to attend a university,” said Barbara Nubile, MSN, RN, associate dean and director of nursing at Montgomery College. “This seamless articulation pathway provides an option that allows Montgomery County residents to complete their associate degree in nursing and then complete their baccalaureate degree, all while staying in the county.” Through the agreement, nursing students will have simultaneous admission into MC’s ADN program and UMSON’s BSN program while satisfying the requirements of both schools. Students enrolled in the program will receive transfer credits for completed coursework, and will be granted special student status, allowing them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate degree. Representatives from UMSON and MC worked diligently for two years to design this pact, which has laid the foundation for similar dual admission arrangements such as the one signed by the College of Southern Maryland earlier this month. “The work that our two institutions accomplished is indeed historic, and it is great to see that our work has paved the way for similar agreements within the state,” said Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ‘93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing at the Universities at Shady Grove.  “There is  work to be done, but we are excited and encouraged by the spirit of cooperation and commitment to seamless academic progression for nursing students.” Believed to be a step in the right direction for increasing qualified nursing candidates, the agreement will also help further the mission of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing Campaign for Action to advance comprehensive health care change. Specifically, it will address one of the eight goals set forth in the IOM report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. To matriculate to UMSON’s BSN Program, a student must graduate with an ADN from MC and satisfy UMSON’s progression criteria. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – A gift of $5.24 million from William “Bill” and Joanne Conway, through their Bedford Falls Foundation, will enable the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) to expand enrollment in its traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and increase opportunities for registered nurses to obtain their BSN degrees. The gift, which is the largest in UMSON’s history, will provide full scholarship support for 157 new UMSON students. This transformational gift will be disbursed over a five-year period. Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of UMSON, announced the Conways’ gift during UMSON’s 125th Anniversary Gala, held April 18 in Baltimore, Md. “This unprecedented gift in our School’s history comes at a time when the case for a well-educated nurse workforce has never been more evident,” says Kirschling. “We are truly appreciative of this extraordinary gift from Mr. and Mrs. Conway, which will help educate nurses at the baccalaureate level for Maryland and beyond.” Of the 157 new students, 32 will matriculate at UMSON’s entry-level BSN program at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, Md., starting with a cohort of eight students in fall 2016. The gift will also support 125 students in the RN-to-BSN option, beginning with a cohort in spring 2016. In addition to full scholarships, Conway Scholars will receive valuable coaching and mentoring services through UMSON’s Student Success Center. Many of those seeking the RN-to-BSN option are expected to be associate degree graduates who are the first in their families to pursue a baccalaureate degree. “This incredibly generous gift will help meet the acute demand for nurses in the state and the region and will allow students to receive their education through one of the country’s very best nursing schools—a school that ranks sixth in the nation,” says Jay A. Perman, MD, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore. A 2010 Institute of Medicine report on the future of nursing recommends that 80 percent of the nurse workforce be educated at the baccalaureate level by 2020. Many hospitals prefer to hire nurses with BSN degrees and, as a result, some nurses who hold associate degrees have difficulty securing positions. “Joanne and I are proud to support scholarships for nurses at the University of Maryland School of Nursing.  The School has an outstanding reputation for the development of compassionate, competent nurses,” said Bill Conway.  “With this gift, we will have granted scholarships to more than 600 future nurses.” Bill Conway is co-chief executive officer and co-founder of the Carlyle Group, Washington, D.C.  The Conways are trustees of the couple’s Bedford Falls Foundation, which has bestowed significant nursing scholarships previously in the Mid-Atlantic region. The Conways decided several years ago that their philanthropy should help people who have demonstrated financial need receive the education necessary to obtain jobs.                   #  #  # The University of Maryland is home to the schools of law, medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, and social work and the graduate school. It is the founding campus of the University System of Maryland.

Director is responsible for developing and implementing program’s policies and procedures. ‌Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently announced the appointment of Assistant Professor Sherrie Lessans, PhD ‘10, RN, as director of the School’s Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) option. Lessans has been a faculty member at UMSON since 2008. “Dr. Lessans is a well-respected member of our faculty who has made invaluable contributions to the nursing program at the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” Kirschling said. “She played a major role in the revision of the CNL curriculum and works closely with our CNL students. Dr. Lessans exudes the attributes that we are looking for in the leader of our program, and I am confident that she will continue to help advance the mission of the School.” Lessans, currently an assistant professor in the Department of Pain and Translational Symptom Science, has an active program of research that focuses on the mechanism underlying the development and persistence of neuropathic pain. In her new role, Lessans will be responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of the CNL option’s policies, and procedures. She will also provide leadership in program coordination; curriculum planning; student recruitment, retention and advisement; and didactic instruction. “This is such an exciting time to assume this important role. I have a strong passion for entry-level education and the Clinical Nurse Leader option,” Lessans said.  “It is a privilege to work with this amazing faculty and staff, diligently working to prepare future nurses to shape a culture of safety and best outcomes for patients.” Lessans earned a PhD from UMSON; a Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University.   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Robin P. Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN a University of Maryland School of Nursing faculty member known nationally for her research of innovative methods to improve the quality of care delivered to patients, has been named dean of the Indiana University School of Nursing, effective July 1. Read the full story on the Indiana University website.

Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and special guests assembled at the School of Nursing on April 8 for Dean Jane Kirschling’s first annual State of the School Address. The presentation, “Academic Nursing: Maryland and Beyond,” highlighted 2014 faculty, staff, and departmental successes, as well as new traditions, culminating with a look ahead to the future. Dean Kirschling began with some recent highlights, which included the School’s new No. 6 ranking by U.S. News & World Report. Eight of the School’s master’s specialties/options are ranked in the top 10 and two — Clinical Nurse Leader and Nursing Informatics – are ranked No. 1 Speaking to new traditions, Dean Kirschling noted the creation of the School of Nursing ceremonial mace; the White Coat Ceremonies that started last fall; the Dean’s List for BSN students; and December graduation ceremonies, held for the first time in School history.  Enrollment numbers, which remained consistent through 2014, included a 10 percent increase in the entry level and RN-to-BSN admissions figures. Dean Kirschling was also pleased to announce that the School’s student body is comprised of 36 percent minorities, 10 percent higher than the national average of minorities in nursing programs. “Diversity is one of the University’s core values and remains a point of pride for the School of Nursing,” Kirschling said. “The diversity of our student body differentiates us from many schools of nursing across the country.” Other triumphs for the School were the revision of the curricula across four programs; reopening of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner specialty (the only one offered in Maryland); and eight pre-doctoral students being named Jonas Scholars. The School also met all standards during its accreditation audit by the Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education; a formal report is expected in late spring. A first-rate faculty continues to be a hallmark of the School, as five faculty members are serving in leadership roles at the state and national levels, and 12 recently received faculty awards. In addition, faculty members published 15 books, 275 refereed works, 46 non-refereed works, and made 293 presentations. “An important facet of academic nursing is seeking and developing opportunities for nursing leadership,” Kirschling said. “The School of Nursing has a legacy of producing nurse leaders and I’m pleased that we have so many on our faculty.” The School also continues to excel in faculty research and scholarship, as it received $4 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants in 2014. It is ranked 11th nationally in NIH funding and sixth among state institutions.   Staff contributions have also played a significant role in the growth of the School. The Office of Development and Alumni Relations had a banner year. As of March 31, $2.65 million was raised toward a $3.2 million goal—83 percent of the annual fundraising total.  Several of the School’s staff members received achievement awards; the Student Success Center had its initial Who Will Care grant renewed; and the Office of Communications redesigned the School’s website, magazine, and e-newsletter. Dean Kirschling closed her address with her vision for the future. She’d like to see continued opportunities for nursing academic leadership, grant funding, and student success; recruitment and retention of high-quality faculty; and exploration of new models of care in response to the needs of the community. In addition, she wants the School to take advantage of partnerships with the University System of Maryland; within the University of Maryland, Baltimore; and any technological opportunities that may be possible.      “As we move forward, we must ensure that our goals are in alignment with the core values of the University – accountability, civility, collaboration, diversity, excellence, knowledge, and leadership,” she said. Dean Jane Kirschling with colleagues at her first annual State of the School address. Back Row: Michael B. “Mickey” Dowdy, MBA, chief development officer and vice president, UMB; Richard P. Barth, PhD, dean and professor, School of Social Work; Mark A. Reynolds, PhD, DDS, dean, School of Dentistry; Roger Ward, EdD, JD, MPA, chief accountability officer, vice president of academic affairs, and vice dean of the Graduate School, UMB; Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, senior vice president and dean of the Graduate School, UMB; James B. Kaper, PhD, senior associate dean for academic affairs, School of Medicine; Front Row: Natalie D. Eddington, PhD, FAAPS, FCP, dean and professor, School of Pharmacy; Donald Tobin, JD, dean and professor, School of Law; Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and professor, School of Nursing; Jay A. Perman, MD, president, UMB; Lisa Rowen, DNSc, MS ’86, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, University of Maryland Medical Center; and Jeffrey A. Rivest, FACHE,  president and chief executive officer, University of Maryland Medical Center. State of the School from UMB News on Vimeo.

Students will be able to apply to both schools simultaneously and satisfy the requirements of both schools. ‌Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) and the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) recently signed an agreement of dual admission that will bring a seamless transition from the Associate of Science in Nursing to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree to southern Maryland. UMSON has partnered with CSM to design a program where nursing students may apply to both schools simultaneously and progress through the program, satisfying the requirements of both schools. In addition to transfer credits for completed coursework, UMSON will award students 30 credits toward their BSN degree at UMSON upon verification of an active registered nurse license. BSN coursework can be completed through Web hybrid courses taught onsite at CSM by UMSON faculty members. Believed to be a step in the right direction for increasing qualified nursing candidates, the agreement will also help further the mission of the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) Future of Nursing Campaign for Action to advance comprehensive health care change. Specifically, it will address one of the eight goals set forth in the IOM report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, to increase the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020. “Baccalaureate programs in this country can’t meet this target unless we embrace and welcome these opportunities to establish partnerships between associate’s degree-granting institutions and those offering baccalaureate education,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I’m so excited and pleased that this legacy, in terms of the partnership with the College of Southern Maryland, could be part of our School’s 125th anniversary year, celebrating more than a century of excellence in nursing education.” Students in the program will be granted special student status, which allows them to take UMSON courses while still working on their associate’s degree. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Recipients will receive a $30,000 grant to assist with educational and professional expenses. Baltimore, Md. – Ten faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) have been awarded the Nurse Educator Doctoral Grant (NEDG) for Practice and Dissertation Research.  Assistant Professors Charon Burda, MS ‘03, PMHNP-BC; Katherine Fornili, MPH, RN, CARN; and Kelley Wilson, MSN, RN; and Clinical Instructors Ben Canha, MS ‘96, RN; Meredid Caves, MSN ‘13, RN; Dzifa Dordunoo, PhD ’14, MSN, RN; Ana Duarte, MS ‘09, BSN ’06, APRN, CRNP-PMH;  Michelle Gonzalez, MSN, MSOM, RN, CRNA; Ann Hoffman, MS ‘11, RN; and Kathleen McElroy, MS ’10, BSN ’97, received awards of $30,000. This competitive grant program is designed to assist PhD and Doctor of Nursing Practice candidates while pursuing their advanced degrees. Its goals are to increase the number of doctoral-prepared nursing faculty in the state of Maryland, strengthen faculty development for optimal capacity at schools of nursing, and recruit and retain a diverse nursing faculty. “With the availability of these awards to our faculty, the School of Nursing is in prime position to answer the Institute of Medicine’s call for a more highly-educated nursing workforce and improved nursing education system,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I fully expect this program to help us build and fortify our faculty infrastructure, which will ensure an adequate educational capacity for the preparation of future nurses.” Grant recipients can use the funds for professional development; course release time; wages for research-related administrative support; or project-related expenses for supplies, travel, and document creation. NEDG is a statewide funding initiative supported by the Nurse Support Program II and is jointly approved by the Health Services Cost Review Commission and Maryland Higher Education Commission. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, was among leaders of nursing, public health, and medical schools who participated in a White House Roundtable held April 9 to address climate change. Read the full story on the UMB website.

Members of the School of Nursing gathered on Thursday, April 2, for a ceremony and reception celebrating staff anniversaries. Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, recognized 17 staff members who have been with the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) for five, 10, 15, or 20 years. The honorees’ anniversaries must have occurred between June 1, 2014, and May 31, 2015. Phyllis Lovito celebrated 20 years of service, and Kathy Davis, Allison Hewitt, Sonia Smith, and Charlotte Weber have all reached the 15-year mark. Kathie Dever, Lori Harris, Memory Jackson, Nancy McDowell, and Nicole Willhide have been with UMB for 10 years. and Dan Alcott, Amy Connor, Dardanelles Este,; Katie Hern, Victoria Laubach, Neil McGinn, and Cynthia Sikorski celebrated their five-year anniversaries. Honorees received a certificate and a pin engraved with their number of years of service. The staff anniversary celebration will now take place annually. “Every day our staff members bring their talents and passion for students to the School. Their hard work and dedication does not go unrecognized,” Kirschling said. “Our staff is absolutely essential to meeting the School’s vision of developing leaders in nursing education, research, and practice, and they deserve to be recognized for their vital role in our mission.” ‌

Susan G. Dorsey, PhD, RN, FAAN, presented the fifth annual Suzanne H. Brouse lectureship during the University of Michigan School of Nursing's Dean Research Day. The annual event highlights nursing research and inspires new ideas and collaborations. Read the full story on the University of Michigan School of Nursing website.

Students from each of the schools at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) gained insights from each other and from actors, called standardized patients, during IPE Day on Feb. 26. The third annual interprofessional education event drew 231 students and 68 faculty and staff members, including participants from the UMB programs at the Universities at Shady Grove. Read the full story on the UMB website.

Fellows have demonstrated major contributions to clinical practice, research, education, or policy. Baltimore, Md. – Elizabeth Galik, PhD ‘07, CRNP, associate professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), and three other alumnae, have been selected to the 2015 Fellows of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) program.  UMSON alumnae Deborah Chapa, PhD ’06, Deborah Schofield, DNP ’09, MS ’95, and Shari Simone, DNP ’11, MS ’96, were also chosen. Fellows are visionaries committed to the development of imaginative and creative future nurse practitioner leaders. They are charged with impacting national and global health through engaging recognized nurse practitioner leaders who have greatly influenced clinical practice, research, education, or policy while enhancing AANP’s mission. “Only a small number of Fellows are selected each year, so it is gratifying to see members of the School of Nursing family recognized by their peers for impacting national and global health through clinical practice, research, education and policy,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “The contributions that our faculty and alumni are making to the health care field are outstanding and really highlight the caliber of professionals that have graduated from our program.”  Established in 2000, the FAANP program is dedicated to the global advancement of nurse practitioners and the delivery of high-quality health care.  The program not only enhances AANP’s mission, but also develops nurse practitioner leaders of the future while furthering the field. “It is a great honor to be recognized as a Fellow,” Galik said. “I am looking forward to working with FAANP to advance the nurse practitioner profession while improving care for older adults with dementia by applying the latest research findings to clinical practice.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Kathie and Cassia are mainstays of the School of Nursing program at the Universities at Shady Grove. Each helps with recruitment, admissions, registration, paperwork, and the human aspects, like lending an ear to students' problems.  Read the full story on the UMB website.

‌Eight master’s specialties/options ranked in top 10; two are rated No. 1. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is now ranked No. 6 among all accredited graduate nursing programs by U.S.News & World Report in its 2015 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” UMSON advanced from a No. 11 ranking in 2011 to a tie for No. 6 with the schools of nursing at Duke University, New York University, and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. In addition to its No. 6 overall ranking, eight UMSON master’s specialties/options are ranked in the top 10 in the 2015 U.S.News & World Report listing. The Clinical Nurse Leader option and the Nursing Informatics specialty are ranked No. 1; the Adult /Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner specialty is ranked No. 4; the Nursing Administration and the Family Nurse Practitioner specialties are each ranked No. 5; the Nurse Anesthesia specialty is ranked No. 7; and the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner and the Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialties are each ranked No. 8. “This exciting news is a tribute to the exceptional faculty, staff, students, and alumni who make up the fabric of the University of Maryland School of Nursing,” said Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “We are proud of these achievements and will continue to grow our nursing programs to meet the needs of the ever-changing health care landscape.” The U.S.News & World Report “America’s Best Graduate Schools” rankings process is conducted every four years for nursing graduate schools. Rankings are compiled through the gathering of opinion data from deans, administrators, and faculty from schools of nursing that are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. U.S.News & World Report Rankings   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked sixth nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program is designed to address nursing workforce shortage through highly-educated faculty. Baltimore, Md. – Mary Pat Ulicny, MS '11, MHA, RN, CNE, clinical instructor and clinical simulation lab director for the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), has been selected to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). Its purpose is to address the nursing workforce shortage by increasing the number of qualified nursing faculty in the classroom. NFLP provides funding to schools of nursing to support the establishment and operation of its loan fund. Participating schools make loans available from the fund to assist registered nurses with enrolling in an advanced education nursing program in preparation for a nursing faculty role. Loan recipients may receive partial loan forgiveness if they finish their program and serve as full-time nursing faculty for the prescribed period of time. Up to 85 percent of the loan may be canceled over four years in return for serving as full-time faculty at any accredited school of nursing. “The NFLP award recognizes the importance of preparing nursing faculty members for the future. With the access to such loans, nurses working toward a doctoral degree can have a wider range of program opportunities,” said Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ‘93, RN, assistant professor and chairperson for the UMSON’s program at USG.” “Mary Pat sought a program that offered a strong foundation in simulation methodology. Her connections with leaders in the simulation field will bring added depth and insights to clinical simulation methodologies. We look forward to learning from Mary Pat as she continues her educational journey.” Funds will be paid annually to the student’s institution as long as the recipient remains in good academic standing. The loan is for a maximum of five years. Ulicny has been approved for $14,124, for 12 credits, and will be taking PhD courses at Duquesne University School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, Penna. "The NFLP award will definitely alleviate the financial burden of tuition and fees for my PhD program. This award will help me to reach my goals as a nursing researcher, educator, and leader in the area of simulation,” Ulicny said. “I am hoping that my research can add to my current body of knowledge by providing theoretical foundational approaches that link simulation practices to the improvement of patient safety and outcomes." # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Leadership Maryland is a professional development program for the state’s brightest leaders. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, has been selected to Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2015. Kirschling is one of 50 Maryland leaders who were chosen to participate. Leadership Maryland is a professional development program dedicated to building a stronger Maryland by educating, cultivating, and connecting the state’s brightest leaders. It is an eight-month, hands-on learning program focused on the state’s most vital social, economic, and environmental issues. “The selection process for the Class of 2015 was very competitive, as we had an extraordinary pool of diverse and experienced applicants to choose from,” said Renée M. Winsky, president and chief executive officer, Leadership Maryland. “The 50 participants selected represent a broad spectrum of highly qualified executives from across the state, and we are confident that their Leadership Maryland experience will help them to play an even greater role in our unified effort to shape the future of our state.” Highlights of the program include a two-day opening retreat in April, and five, two-day intense sessions focusing on Maryland’s economic development, education, health and human services, criminal justice, environment, and multi-culturalism/diversity. There will be a closing retreat in November and a graduation ceremony in December. More than 100 leaders representing the business, government, education, and non-profit communities will serve as panelists and guest speakers. “It is an honor to have been selected to Leadership Maryland’s Class of 2015. This experience will provide exposure to the social, environmental, and economic complexities of the state, while exploring real solutions for our communities with some of Maryland’s top decision makers,” Kirschling said. “I am also looking forward to the interprofessional opportunity the Program will provide, as members of this class represent a diversity of professions from across the state.”  Leadership Maryland is open to senior-level executives with significant achievements in their careers and/or their communities. Members of the program have demonstrated a desire to learn more about Maryland’s most critical issues and have a personal commitment to promoting a positive change in their organizations, communities, and the state. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Vanessa Fahie has spent 20 years developing programs to increase diversity in the profession. Fahie hopes that reaching children early and throughout their academic careers can usher more nurses of all backgrounds into the profession. Read the full story on the UMB website.

Wiseman serves on board that advises Shady Grove Medical Center and its president. Baltimore, Md. –Rebecca Wiseman, PhD '93, RN, associate professor and chair of the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s program at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), has been appointed to the Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center Governing Board. Wiseman is serving a three-year term as a community board member. The Shady Grove Medical Center Governing Board is comprised of 19 members who are appointed by the Adventist HealthCare Board of Trustees. Its purpose is to support the mission, values, and well-being of Shady Grove Medical Center through elevating the stature and success of its programs, services, and capabilities. The Governing Board, comprised of business, education, physician, health care, and community leaders, provides counsel to the Shady Grove Medical Center and its president. “It is a great honor to be invited to serve on the Shady Grove Medical Center Governing Board. I look forward to working with colleagues who are committed to providing superior health care services to their clients,” Wiseman said.  “Nurses bring unique perspectives to hospital governing boards and I am excited about this opportunity to make an important difference in the delivery of health care in Montgomery County.” Additionally, Wiseman serves on the Workforce Investment Board of the Allied Health Industry Alliance in Montgomery County and the advisory board of the Montgomery College nursing program. She is also part of the Maryland Action Coalition, which is responsible for implementing the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing recommendations. Shady Grove Medical Center, a not-for-profit, 305-bed acute care facility in Rockville, Md., is a part of Adventist HealthCare’s system of health care services. It is nationally recognized for cancer care, cardiac and vascular services, orthopedics, and joint replacement. “We are delighted to have Rebecca on our Governing Board,” said John Sackett, president, Shady Grove Medical Center. “We admire her passion for nursing and her commitment to health care education. She shares our dedication to serving the community, and we look forward to her collaboration and input.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,600 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

By Kevin Nash Three School of Nursing faculty members braved frigid, windy conditions on two consecutive nights this winter to participate in Journey Home Baltimore’s Point in Time (PIT) count. Katherine Fornili, MPH, RN, CARN, assistant professor; Veronica Gutchell, DNP ‘13, RN, CNS, CRNP, assistant professor; and Rosemary Riel, MAA, clinical instructor and associate director, Office of Global Health, were members of a team of 12 who took to the Interstate 83 Corridor to assist the City’s homeless population. The PIT count is a two-night event where volunteers travel in teams to help track sheltered and unsheltered homeless citizens. Its purpose is to determine the prevalence of homelessness in Baltimore while assessing the needs of the population. Teams were armed with blankets, coats, hats, mittens, shoes, socks, and snacks as they ventured onto the streets between midnight and 6 a.m. Hundreds of volunteers were trained before participating in the survey, which took place in various locations throughout the City. The School of Nursing’s team surveyed 24 homeless people, many of whom were not adequately dressed for the cold temperatures of the Code Blue night in Baltimore. “I have been in public health nursing since 1983, and have spent a lot of time working with the homeless. I thought I had seen everything, but this experience helped me to realize that you really don’t know what it’s like to be homeless,” Fornili said. “It’s not until you are out with them in the wee hours of the morning, on a very cold, wet, snowy night, talking to a man wearing wet socks, but no shoes, that you begin to grasp it.”   ‌City officials announce a Code Blue when temperatures are expected to be below 25 degrees with winds of 15 miles per hour or higher, temperatures are less than 20 degrees, or during other periods of intense winter weather. With these conditions on the horizon, the team worked to convince homeless individuals to relocate to a shelter. If they accepted the offer, volunteers made calls to have them transported to a shelter. The team was able to send three to five homeless people to a shelter each night. Although Baltimore has more than 4,000 homeless citizens, Journey HomeBaltimore’s plan is to make homelessness rare and brief. It brings together the public and private sectors, not-for-profits, faith-based organizations, and concerned citizens to work on solutions for preventing and ending homelessness. The count will help the City allocate the appropriate amount of funds to assist its homeless. “The experience of homelessness can seem overwhelming. I feel hopeful because there are a lot of people that care about this issue and came out in the middle of a winter night to conduct this important survey. There's something moving and hopeful in that fact,” Gutchell said. “I am inspired by those who dedicate their professional lives to this cause and the volunteers who continue to work hard to make homelessness a temporary experience for individuals and families. It's that work and commitment that keeps me hopeful.”‌

The NNP specialty will be the only one offered in Maryland. Baltimore, Md. – Beginning in fall 2015, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will offer a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) Post-Bachelor of Science in Nursing to Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) specialty. An NNP is an advanced practice nurse whose scope of practice includes the provision of direct patient care to pre-term infants, full-term infants, neonates, and children up to age 2. UMSON is launching the new specialty in response to a continued need to strengthen the NNP workforce. Education for the NNP role includes competencies specific to the neonatal population. NNP graduates are prepared to function in the NNP role, as it currently exists, in neonatal intensive care units, step down units, newborn nurseries, and developmental follow up clinics. “Infant mortality and pre-term birth rates remain high nationally and in the state of Maryland. Unfortunately, recent NNP workforce surveys reveal that for every NNP who graduates, there may be as many as 80 positions that are unfilled,” said Jan Wilson, DNP, CRNP, NNP-BC, assistant professor and NNP specialty director. “The shortage is compounded by the fact that many of our most seasoned NNPs have 10 to 20 years of experience and will be retiring within the next five to 10 years.” Satisfactory completion of the program results in the award of the DNP degree and eligibility to take the national certification examination in the neonatal specialty area. Key doctoral requirements include preparation for leadership in nursing and health care; preparation for innovative, evidence-based specialized advanced nursing practice; health care policy; interprofessional collaboration; and information systems and use of technology in patient care and health care. “This program will be the first and only DNP neonatal nurse practitioner program in the state of Maryland,” Wilson said. “We are confident that our graduates will be strategic, collaborative partners in helping to address the many problems faced by this vulnerable population.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Program designed for nurse educators seeking a rapid transition into a leadership role. Baltimore, Md. – Five University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have been selected to participate in the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) 2015 LEAD Program.  Amy Daniels, MS ’12, BSN ’89, RN, CHSE, clinical instructor; Lori Edwards, DrPH,  BSN ’80, RN, PHCNS-BC, assistant professor; Vanessa Fahie, PhD ’94, BS ’76 RN, assistant professor; Margaret Hammersla, MS ’05, BSN ’95, RN, CRNP, assistant professor; and Michelle Moulton, MS ’09 , RN, PCCN, CHSE, clinical instructor, were chosen. LEAD, a part of the NLN Leadership Institute, focuses on leadership development for nurse educators who are emerging into administrative leadership roles or for the Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators. A year-long program, LEAD teams participants with peers and experts to examine issues related to leadership concepts and organizational systems. The program guides participants in developing strong management and leadership skills, the art of negotiation and communication within groups, and how to develop teams that perform at a high level. Additionally, the program helps members create a three-year, focused career plan; examine key issues in organizational dynamics; and implement an individual plan for leadership development. “The LEAD program is a great opportunity for members of our faculty to be exposed to world-class nursing professionals,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “It is through these types of interactions that leadership skills are nurtured and developed, which leads to lasting transformation in professional growth and maintainable institutional change.”     NLN, comprised of nurse educators, education agencies, health care agencies, and interested members of the public, is dedicated to excellence in nursing education. Its members are offered faculty development programs, networking opportunities, nursing research grants, testing and assessment, and public policy initiatives. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Assistant dean is responsible for developing and implementing program’s policies and procedures. Baltimore, Md. – Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), recently announced the appointment of Associate Professor Gail Schoen Lemaire, PhD ‘96, PMHCNS, BC, CNL, as  assistant dean for the Master of Science program. Lemaire, a psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialist and psychotherapist, has been a faculty member at UMSON since 2000, and currently serves as director of the Clinical Nurse Leader master’s option. In her new role, Lemaire is responsible for the development and implementation of the program’s policies and procedures.  She will also provide leadership in administration and program coordination, curriculum planning, student recruitment, advisement, and retention. “I am very pleased to have been selected for this position,” Lemaire says.  “I am excited to have already assumed some of my new responsibilities and am looking forward to directing the master’s program and contributing to the strategic operations of the School.” During her tenure at UMSON, Lemaire’s clinical specialty has been psychiatric mental health nursing. She has taught psychiatric nursing at the undergraduate and graduate levels and will continue in that capacity.  Lemaire’s research interests have focused on community-based psychiatric outcomes and women’s mental health. “Dr. Lemaire is a highly-respected member of our faculty who has demonstrated the attributes that we are looking for in the leader of our master's program,” Kirschling said. “I am confident that she will make significant contributions to the strategic operations and direction of our program while furthering the mission of the School.” Lemaire earned a PhD from UMSON; a Master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Texas, San Antonio; and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston University.   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Research to examine care for elderly population and managing chronic disease treatment. ‌Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing’s (UMSON) Center for Biology and Behavior Across the Lifespan (CBBAL) has been awarded a $12,500 grant from the Loveman Foundation to help facilitate ongoing research projects. ‌CBBAL’s current research projects include optimizing function and physical activity among older adults and their caregivers in long-term care settings; optimizing health among adults living in the community via community-based services and telehealth approaches; and managing and treating symptoms associated with chronic disease, particularly pain. Co-directed by Professors Barbara Resnick, PhD ‘96, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, and Eun-Shim Nahm, PhD ’03, MS ’95, BSN ’89, FAAN, the CBBAL is one of two research centers within UMSON. “Funding is critical in helping our members expand ongoing research activities and build new initiatives and projects,” says Resnick. “The research projects help us address the exploding health care needs of an aging society.  Through our research and findings we are seeking to ensure that all Americans and aging individuals worldwide receive evidence-based care that results in optimal quality of life.”   CBBAL’s mission is to conduct interdisciplinary research related to the effect of biology and behavior on health across the lifespan. The Center provides a core for the pooling of resources and sharing of data across a wide variety of projects related to biological and behavioral outcomes. Through the work of CBBAL, the School of Nursing is positioned to lead the University in research related to biology and behavior across the lifespan. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – Commencement ceremonies for fall and winter 2014 graduates of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) were held for the first time in December, marking another new tradition launched during UMSON’s 125th anniversary year. Ceremonies were held Friday, Dec. 12, for Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) graduates at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), and Monday, Dec. 15, at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore for graduates of Baltimore’s nursing programs. Three hundred twenty-four degrees were awarded, including 139 BSNs, 160 Master of Science, 20 Doctor of Nursing Practice, and five PhDs. Nine certificates were awarded. “You begin your careers at a time when nursing presents unparalleled possibilities—no other profession offers such a diverse range of career paths and opportunities for professional advancement,” said Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing. “Moreover, very few professions afford you the privilege of having a significant impact on the lives of individuals, families, and communities as nursing does.” Article and Video Photo Gallery # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Awards given to new faculty members to offset educational and professional costs. Baltimore, Md. – Twelve University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) faculty members have received the New Nurse Faculty Fellowship Award for FY ’15-‘17, a grant funded through the Nurse Support II Program (NSPII). NSPII is a statewide initiative designed to grow the number of nurses prepared to effectively function in a faculty role. UMSON Assistant Professors Lori Edwards, PhD, MPH, BSN ’80, RN, PHCNS-BC; Maranda Jackson-Parkin, PhD ‘13, MS ’06, RN, CCRN, CRNP-BC; and Gina Rowe, PhD ‘13, DNP ‘10, MPH, FNP-BC, PHCNS-BC, CNE; and Clinical Instructors Beth Barrows, MS ‘13, BSN ’05, RN; Mary Burr, MS ‘02, CPNP; Ann Felauer, MSN, RN, CPNP-AC/PC; Lori Mooney, MS ‘09, BSN ‘05 RN, PMHNP-BC, CRNP-PMH; Linda Murray, MS ‘84, CPNP; Karin Russ, MS ‘09, BSN ‘89 RN; Kate Scott MPH, RN; Celeste Seger, MS ‘13, BSN ’10, RN; and Nicole Smith, MS ‘14, RN, were all recipients of the award. These fellowships will assist Maryland nursing programs in recruiting and retaining new nursing faculty to produce nursing graduates to staff Maryland hospitals. "We are extremely pleased to see so many of our faculty members receive such generous financial support through the Fellowship Program," said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  "This statewide initiative helps the School of Nursing attract and retain talented faculty, which in turn improves our capacity to produce a strong nursing workforce." State institutions with nursing degree programs are eligible to nominate an unlimited amount of newly-hired, full-time, tenured or tenure-track faculty members for the fellowship. The maximum amount of the three-year fellowship is $20,000. Recipients receive $10,000 during year one, and then $5,000 for the remaining two years. Funds can be used to supplement a fellow’s salary, graduate education expenses, and professional development and associated dues. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Award recipients and scholarship winners honored at annual convention. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that two faculty members and two students were recently honored by the Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) at its annual convention. Barbara Dobish, MSN, RN, assistant professor, and Mary Fey, PhD ’14, MS ’01, RN, CHSE, assistant professor and director of UMSON’s clinical simulation laboratories, received MNA Awards. Clinical Nurse Leader students Emilie Cecil and Sarah Khaver were awarded Nursing Foundation of Maryland Scholarships. Dobish, who has been a nurse educator for more than 30 years, received the Outstanding Nurse Educator Award. The award is given to a MNA member who has demonstrated excellence in nursing education, continuing education, or staff development, and has provided others with exceptional educational opportunities. Fey was honored with the Outstanding Pathfinder Award, which is presented to a MNA member who has demonstrated excellence and creative leadership that fosters the development of the nursing profession. An educator since 1996, Fey has been instrumental in developing clinical simulation programs, integrating simulation into nursing curricula, providing faculty development programs related to simulation, and designing and building simulation labs.  Cecil received the Barbara Suddath Nursing Scholarship, which is awarded to a nurse enrolled in a graduate degree nursing program who intends to work with the elderly population. Khaver earned the Nursing Foundation of Maryland Scholarship, which is given to a baccalaureate or graduate nursing student in Maryland.   “I always look forward to the annual MNA Awards, as it is an opportunity for MNA members to recognize their colleagues for their extraordinary contributions to the nursing profession,” said MNA President Janice Hoffman, PhD ’06, RN,ANEF,associate professor and assistant dean for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at UMSON. “Although I’m president of MNA, it was also  special for me as a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of Nursing to be able to present awards to my colleagues.  Additionally, I was thrilled to see two of our nursing students receive scholarships.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

WHAT: White Coat Ceremony for Nursing Students Incoming Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Clinical Nurse Leader students will receive their white coats at a ground-breaking program. The School was one of 100 nursing schools to receive funding support through a collaborative effort between the Arnold P. Gold Foundation (APGF) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) to pilot White Coat Ceremonies. The purpose of the program is to instill a commitment to providing compassionate care among future health professionals entering nursing schools. Although White Coat Ceremonies have been an important rite of passage at medical schools for more than 20 years, this new collaboration between APGF and AACN marks the first time a coordinated effort has been developed to offer similar events at schools of nursing. In this pilot year, nursing schools in 43 states plus the District of Columbia were provided financial support and guidance to offer a White Coat Ceremony, which will consist of the recitation of an oath, cloaking of students in a white coat, an address by an eminent role model, and a reception for students and invited guests. WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday, October 21                            WHERE: University of Maryland School of Nursing – Room 130, 655 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD 21201 # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Award celebrates the achievements and successes of University students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Baltimore, Md. – Two faculty members from the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) were among the recipients of Founder’s Week Awards from the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Karen Kauffman, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, associate professor and chair, Department of Family and Community Health, received the Public Servant of the Year Award, and Robin Newhouse, PhD ‘00, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, was co-recipient of the Researcher of the Year, along with C. Daniel Mullins, PhD, chair, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. Each year, UMB celebrates the achievements and successes of the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and philanthropic support, and pays tribute to its 200-plus-year history. As part of the celebration, awards are presented in four categories: Researcher of the Year, Public Servant of the Year, Teacher of the Year, and Entrepreneur of the Year. Kauffman, who has devoted much of her career to fighting Alzheimer’s disease, started a private practice in 1999 to provide long-term care consultation for older adults, many dealing with dementia, and then served on a work group of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Assisted Living. Additionally, she has been published in national and international peer-reviewed journals on various topics, including Alzheimer’s disease; served on the National Board of the Alzheimer’s Association; chaired the 23rd Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy Forum; and chaired a panel to revise the national Alzheimer’s Association’s Statement of Ethics. She also serves on the board of the Greater Maryland Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Newhouse conducts comparative effectiveness research using multi-site studies to test health system interventions to improve care processes and patient incomes. She has published extensively on health services improvement interventions, acute care quality issues, and evidence-based practice, and is chair of the Methodology Committee of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, a committee she was appointed to by the U.S. Comptroller General. Newhouse is the only nurse serving on this prestigious 17-member committee.  In addition, in 2013, Newhouse was elected to the board of AcademyHealth, an interprofessional organization for health services researchers, and earlier this year, she was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. She serves on two current Institute of Medicine committees. “We are very pleased that multiple recipients of the Founder’s Week awards are from the School of Nursing. It is great that Dr. Kauffman and Dr. Newhouse are being celebrated University-wide for their countless contributions that have advanced the field of nursing,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Our School is extremely fortunate to have professors of their caliber.  This recognition, among others, continues to demonstrate that we have top-rate faculty.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Awardees to be recognized at 125th Anniversary Gala in April 2015. Baltimore, Md. – Since 1889, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been committed to excellence in educating nurse leaders.  As part of its 125th anniversary celebration, UMSON will honor 25 outstanding alumni (both living and deceased) as Visionary Pioneers who have become expert clinicians, educators, and leaders in Maryland, the nation, and around the world. Those selected have made a significant impact on and contributions to the nursing profession based on their leadership, innovation, or entrepreneurship. “We are excited to announce our inaugural Visionary Pioneer Award winners during this momentous year in the School of Nursing’s history. All of these outstanding alumni have had an impact on the nursing profession and health care, and we are extremely proud of them,” said Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the School of Nursing. The following 25 Visionary Pioneers will be honored at UMSON’s 125th Anniversary Gala Saturday, April 18, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.   Patricia Abbott, PhD, MS ’92, BSN ’89, RN, FAAN, FACMI, associate professor, Division of Systems Leadership and Effectiveness Science, University of Michigan School of Nursing Abbott is recognized internationally for her leadership in preparing scholars and practitioners in nursing informatics. She led the development of the American Nurses Association’s Standards of Practice for Nursing Informatics (NI) and then served for 12 years on the Committee for Board Certification in NI at the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Abbott was director of NI graduate programs at UMSON in the early years of the specialty and spearheaded the Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics after its founding in 1991. Rachel Z. Booth, PhD, MS ’70, BSN ’68, former dean, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Booth is an internationally recognized educator and former director of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Center for International Nursing at UAB. She started one of nation’s first adult nurse practitioner programs in 1971 at UMSON, where she was also associate dean for undergraduate studies. Her extensive international publications and research interests have focused on leadership, conflict, power, and organizational assessment and development. Mary Catherine Bunting, MS ’72, Baltimore benefactor and chair, Mary Catherine Bunting Foundation   Retired after a 34-year career as a nurse practitioner at Mercy Medical Center, Bunting is a transformational benefactor to causes that align with her personal values—a deep respect for the environment, a belief in the life-changing power of education, and a commitment to quality health care, particularly for the underserved. She established the Mary Catherine Bunting Clinical Nurse Leader Scholarship endowment to provide scholarship support for Maryland residents enrolled in UMSON’s Clinical Nurse Leader master’s option. Ethel Palmer Clark, DIN 1906 (deceased) An early nurse leader, Palmer Clark was superintendent of the University of Maryland Hospital from 1911-1914. She was an early advocate for graduate nursing education and served as director of the Indiana University Training School for Nursing from 1915-1932, where she led the school to national prominence. She was instrumental in the founding of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, which currently has more than 135,000 active members. Darlene J. Curley, MS '82, BSN '80, RN, FAAN, executive director, Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence   Curley has extensive experience as a health policy leader, entrepreneur, leadership consultant, workforce expert, and registered nurse. She served two terms in the Maine House of Representatives, where she established herself as one of the legislature’s foremost experts on health policy issues. Prior to her service in the legislature, Curley was founder and CEO of a home health care and medical staffing business. She has served on the faculty of the University of Southern Maine and was Director for Strategic Planning for Healthsouth Corporation/Advantage Health, one of the largest health care companies in the nation. COL Marla De Jong, PhD, MS ’96, RN, CCNS, FAAN, dean, United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine   De Jong has had a stellar 25-year career in the U.S. Air Force. She has held numerous leadership positions and her extraordinary skills have been recognized through early promotions to the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel. Her contributions have shaped military and civilian nursing clinical practice, the delivery of health care, nursing education and management, research, and health policy. Dorrie K. Fontaine, PhD, MS ’77, RN, FAAN, dean, University of Virginia (UVA) School of Nursing and Sadie Heath Cabaniss Professor of Nursing; associate chief nursing officer, University of Virginia Health Systems A passion for critical care nursing underlies Fontaine’s distinguished career. Prior to her appointment as dean at UVA, she was associate dean for academic programs and clinical professor at the University of California, San Francisco.  Fontaine also held associate dean positions and taught at Georgetown University School of Nursing. She served as president of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACCN), the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACCN recognized her contributions with its Lifetime Member Award. Patricia A. Grady, PhD, MS ’68, RN, FAAN, director, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health An internationally recognized researcher, Grady's scientific focus has primarily been in stroke, with emphasis on arterial stenosis and cerebral ischemia. She was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 1999, and is a member of several scientific organizations, including the Society for Neuroscience, the American Academy of Nursing, and the American Neurological Association. She is also a Fellow of the American Heart Association Stroke Council. Pamela V. Hammond, PhD, MS ’79, RN, FAAN, provost, Hampton University   Hammond is the chief academic officer at Hampton University and oversees matters relating to educational policies and academic appointments. She previously served as dean of Hampton University’s School of Nursing. As dean, Hammond increased student enrollment by 60 percent and assumed major responsibilities for the research, development, and grants activities that directly impacted faculty productivity. In 1999, through Hammond's efforts, Hampton University implemented the first PhD program in nursing at a historically black college or university, resulting in an increase in the numbers of doctoral-prepared racial and ethnic minority nurses. Donna S. Havens, PhD ’91, RN, FAAN, interim dean and professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Havens’ career has included roles in nursing practice, academe, administration, and research. She developed the Decisional Involvement Scale (DIS), which is used extensively in the U.S. and internationally to identify actual and preferred degrees of nurse involvement in workplace policy and practice decisions. For more than 25 years, she has studied, published, consulted, and presented about the nurse practice environment nationally and internationally. Ruth McCorkle, PhD, BSN ’68, RN, FAAN, Florence Schorske Wald Professor of Nursing and Professor of Epidemiology, Yale School of Nursing A pioneer in oncology nursing and an international leader in cancer nursing, education, and cancer control research, McCorkle has conducted landmark research on the psychosocial ramifications of cancer. She has more than 40 years experience in testing clinical interventions with cancer patients and their families. McCorkle has successfully secured funding to conduct seven clinical trials that have demonstrated consistent findings across the illness trajectory. Esther McCready, DIN ’53, Maryland Civil Rights pioneer, retired nurse, and educator McCready grew up in Baltimore and came of age during the modern Civil Rights movement. With the help of NAACP lawyers, including Thurgood Marshall, McCready sued for admission into the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She won her case in the Maryland Court of Appeals in April 1950, helping to lay the groundwork for the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court decision of 1954. She helped pave the way for generations of aspiring African American nursing students in Maryland and across the nation. Patricia G. Morton, PhD ’89, MS ’79, RN, FAAN, dean and professor, University of Utah College of Nursing; Louis H. Peery Presidential Endowed Chair A nationally known expert in nursing education, critical care, and cardiovascular nursing, Morton was previously the associate dean for academic affairs at UMSON. At UMSON, she spearheaded a project to develop clinical simulation laboratories and developed strategies to integrate simulation into both undergraduate and graduate nursing education that have served as a national model.  Morton has authored three textbooks, numerous book chapters, and many journal articles. She has served on the editorial board of seven nursing journals and is currently editor of the Journal of Professional Nursing. The Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, MAS, BSN ’80, member, Maryland House of Delegates, District 10, Baltimore County Nathan-Pulliam was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1994. She is the first Caribbean-born person and the first African-Caribbean registered nurse elected to the Maryland General Assembly. Nathan-Pulliam has years of experience as a quality assurance coordinator, head nurse, and team leader at hospitals in the Baltimore metropolitan area. She has more than 40 years of service as a political and community activist in local, state, and federal activities. RADM (Ret.) Elizabeth Schuyler Niemyer, MS, BSN ’78, chief, Program Office for United Healthcare, Military and Veterans Niemyer retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral after 32 years of service. She completed her military career as the 23rd Director of the Navy Nurse Corps and Deputy Chief, Wounded, Ill, and Injured, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. As director of the Navy Nurse Corps, she was responsible for coordinating all major nursing policies for 6,000 active, reserve, and civilian nurses worldwide. Niemyer is currently chief program officer for United Healthcare, Military and Veterans, responsible for administrative oversight of a $21 billion TRICARE-Western Region managed care support contract covering 2.9 million beneficiaries in 21 states. Marla T. Oros, MS, BSN ’84, president, The Mosaic Group Oros has had an accomplished career in public health, academia, hospital administration, business management, and nonprofit organizational development. She has worked for the past 30 years to create and promote innovative programs that increase access to primary medical and behavioral health care for the most vulnerable populations. She developed model community and public health programs and services that have proven effective, sustainable, and replicable. Oros has achieved national recognition for her work testing and advancing innovative substance abuse interventions.  Barbara J. Parker, PhD ’86, MS ’76, RN, FAAN, professor emerita of nursing, University of Virginia School of Nursing Parker has been actively involved in the field of violence against women since 1975. She conducted several research studies on intimate partner violence, including studies on the relationship between abuse in pregnancy and maternal and infant complications, a clinical trial to test a nursing empowerment intervention for abused women, and a qualitative study of abuse with community dwelling women who have severe mental illness. In the 1970s, she was intrinsically involved with the creation of The House of Ruth in Baltimore, Md., one of the nation’s leading intimate partner violence centers. RADM (Ret.) Carol A. Romano, PhD ’93, MS ’85, BSN ’77, RN, BC, NEA, FAAN, FACMI, professor and associate dean for academic affairs at the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USPHS) Romano is recognized as a pioneer in nursing informatics. She helped design and implement one of the first computerized medical information systems in 1976, which provided electronic medical orders and clinical documentation for physicians and nurses in ambulatory and hospital environments. She was co-architect of the world’s first graduate curriculum in nursing informatics at UMSON. Romano served as advisor to the World Health Organization on the management of manpower and health information in developing countries. She has served in a variety of leadership positions in the USPHS in the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), including Acting Deputy Surgeon General, Acting Chief of Staff OSG, Director of the Office of Reserve Affairs, and Chief Nursing Officer. Lisa Rowen, DNSc, MS ’86, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, University of Maryland Medical Center Rowen, a transformational leader who has advocated for nurses and their valuable roles in all aspects of health care, was instrumental in developing a partnership, UMNursing, between UMSON and the University of Maryland Medical Center. She was the driving force behind UMMC’s first-time achievement of Magnet Designation in 2009, and is a nationally recognized leader in her profession. Phyllis Sharps, PhD ’88, BSN ’79, RN, CNE, FAAN, associate dean for the community and global program and director, Center for Global Nursing, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) As an expert in maternal and child health nursing, a researcher, and a mentor to the next generations of Johns Hopkins nurses, Sharps works at the forefront of community and public health nursing and at the interface of mental and physical health. She is director of three health and wellness centers operated by JHUSON, provides care in a Baltimore shelter for homeless battered women and their children, and conducts ongoing community-based, participatory research. The overarching focus of her work is on the effects of intimate partner violence on the physical and emotional health of pregnant women, infants, and very young children. Betty Lou Shubkagel, PhD, BSN ’54, (deceased), professor emerita, UMSON Shubkagel served as an educator and leader at UMSON for more than 28 years. She led the UMSON faculty in developing an undergraduate program in medical-surgical nursing that was highly respected nationally. She also conducted research in nursing education and nursing care of patients with cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular pharmacology. In 1965, Shubkagel co-authored the text Pharmacology and Therapeutics, which became the standard of excellence in textbooks for undergraduate nursing pharmacology. Debra L. Spunt, DNP ‘08, MS ’83, BSN ’79, RN, FAAN, (deceased), former assistant professor and director, UMSON clinical simulation labs Spunt was a pioneer in the use of clinical simulation as an innovative technology-enhanced teaching strategy. She was nationally and internationally recognized for her knowledge, expertise, and leadership in clinical simulation. Spunt provided leadership through formal and informal consultations to schools of nursing and health care agencies in more than 38 states and 12 countries, including South Korea, Israel, and Canada.  Through her leadership, clinical simulation became recognized as a nursing specialty.  Joan M. Stanley, PhD, MS ’78, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP, senior director of education policy, American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Stanley has provided leadership for the development of all AACN Essentials documents for nursing education, including the Essentials of Master’s Education for Advanced Practice Nursing and the Model for APRN Regulation: Licensure, Accreditation, Certification and Education. She has contributed to many major position statements on a variety of nursing education issues, including the Clinical Nurse Leader, the Research-Focused Doctorate, and the move of Advanced Practice Nursing to the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. She has authored numerous articles and texts, including the 2011 Advanced Practice Nursing: Emphasizing Common Roles, 3rd edition. Since 1973, Stanley has worked as an Adult Nurse Practitioner within the University of Maryland Medical System. Elizabeth Scanlan Trump, MS ’60, (deceased), collaborator with R Adams Cowley, University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center Widely known as the nation’s first trauma nurse and the “Mother of Critical Care Nursing,” Scanlan Trump collaborated with R Adams Cowley, MD, to develop a model trauma center that is now one of the preeminent trauma centers in the world. She was the first director of nursing at the Shock Trauma Center. Scanlan Trump was instrumental in publishing the first trauma and critical care nursing text book, Trauma Nursing, From Resuscitation to Rehabilitation. David Vlahov, PhD, MS ’80, BSN ’77, RN, FAAN, dean and professor, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing Vlahov has vast experience in interprofessional and interdisciplinary education and research. His research background includes expertise in epidemiology, infectious diseases, substance abuse, and mental health. He initiated the International Society for Urban Health and is an expert consultant to the World Health Organization’s Urban Health Center in Kobe, Japan. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

UMSON students selected from a pool of 644 applicants. Baltimore, Md. – Three University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) students have been awarded scholarships from the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Foundation.  Alice Cho, Tushana Fowlin, and Victoria Ladele each received scholarships from the Foundation. The Foundation awards scholarships to students currently enrolled in a nurse anesthesia program recognized and accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. Sixty of the 644 applicants were awarded scholarships totaling more than $125,750. Cho received the AANA Diamond Club Scholarship for $2,000, which is given by past presidents of the AANA in honor of Marie Bader, a past president. Fowlin was awarded the Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists Scholarship for $3,000, which is awarded to a student enrolled in UMSON’s Nurse Anesthesia Program. Ladele received the GALA Scholarship for $1,000, given to students attending institutions that respect and support gays and lesbians. “We are very proud of our students for earning these scholarships. They stood out from an extremely competitive pool of applicants, which demonstrates their hard work and ability to compete,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It is great to see that the AANA Foundation is dedicated to investing in students who are the future of advancing the science of anesthesia.”  AANA’s Foundation is a charitable organization devoted to anesthesia research, education, and development. It seeks to advance the science of anesthesia through education and research. Additionally, the Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of AANA,  and funds scholarships, doctoral fellowships, post-doctoral fellowships, research grants, general poster sessions, oral “State of the Science” poster sessions, and doctoral mentorships. # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Fellows will spend a year in Washington, DC participating in the federal health policy process. Baltimore, Md. – Marian Grant, DNP, RN, CRNP, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been named a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Health Policy Fellow. Seven health professionals from across the country were selected to participate in the program, beginning this fall. RWJF’s Health Policy Fellow program offers exceptional midcareer health professionals an opportunity to actively participate in the health policy process at the federal level. Each year, fellows are selected through a highly-competitive selection process to leave their campus or workplace to spend a year in Washington, D.C.  More than 250 fellows from a variety of disciplines in health and health care from across the nation have participated in the program since its inception in 1973. “This fellowship is considered one of the most prestigious in the nation and attracts extraordinarily talented health professionals from across the country. We are proud of Dr. Grant for standing out from a highly-competitive pool of applicants,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “I know that she will use this experience to help nurses gain a much-needed voice in health policy, while serving as a strong ambassador for the School of Nursing and the nursing profession.”        For the first three months, fellows participate in an orientation program, which is followed by a nine-month assignment working with a congressional office or executive branch of the government. Work assignments are supplemented throughout the year with health policy leadership development activities and media training.  After completing the program, fellows return to the field where they are expected to put new networks and their health policy leadership skills into practice. "I am honored to have been given an opportunity to participate in this fellowship. The voice of nurses often go unheard in today’s health care debate, so I hope to develop the skills necessary to represent them to policy leaders,” Grant said. “As a nurse practitioner certified in palliative care and hospice, I also hope to increase awareness and access to these important types of care.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Academy recognizes contributions of nurse educators for excellence in nursing education. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that Louise S. Jenkins, PhD, RN, professor and Director of the Institute for Educators in Nursing and Health Professions, has been inducted as a Fellow of  the National League for Nursing’s (NLN) Academy of Nursing Education. New fellows were inducted at the NLN’s Annual Education Summit, held recently in Phoenix, Ariz. Jenkins is one of 20 nurse educators selected to join the Academy’s 169 fellows representing nursing programs across the academic spectrum and from other organizations across the United States. As a newly-named fellow, Jenkins has been lauded for her contributions to faculty development in Maryland and surrounding areas. She has been instrumental in the development and operation of the Institute for Educators, a statewide center for achieving excellence in nursing education that prepares new educators and supports current nurse faculty members. This work addresses aspects of nursing faculty shortages and produces outcomes that significantly impact nursing education.      “I am very honored to be selected as a Fellow in the Academy of Nursing Education for my contributions to nursing education,” Jenkins said. “It has been very satisfying to work with exceptional educators and leaders throughout Maryland in achieving shared goals for preparation and ongoing support of highly-qualified nursing faculty. I am fortunate to work in an area where we are truly making a difference in the quality of preparation of nursing faculty, and ultimately future and current nurses.”  Established in 2007 by the NLN, the Academy of Nursing Education fosters excellence in nursing education by recognizing and capitalizing on the wisdom of nurse educators who have made sustained and significant contributions to nursing education. Fellows provide visionary leadership in nursing education and in the Academy of Nursing Education, and support the vision of the NLN to promote standards of excellence in nursing education that will increase the number of graduates from all types of nursing programs. Fellows serve as important role models and resources for new educators and for those who aspire to become nurse educators.  “Dr. Jenkins’ contributions to the University of Maryland School of Nursing and nursing education have been invaluable. Her visionary leadership is remarkable and is certainly worthy of national recognition,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It is gratifying to see Dr. Jenkins honored for her tireless efforts in the field of nursing.” # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Inductees have made significant research contributions to the profession and people it serves. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that Robin P. Newhouse, PhD '00, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, was recently inducted into the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame. Newhouse was one of 25 nurse researchers inducted at the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society of Nursing’s 25th International Nursing Research Congress held in Hong Kong. Created in 2010, the International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame is one of STTI’s International Awards for Nursing Excellence. The award recognizes nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained broad national or international recognition for their work, and whose research has impacted the profession and the people it serves.   “We are very proud of Dr. Newhouse for receiving this distinguished honor,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “She has worked tirelessly over the years as a nurse researcher to create innovative methods to improve the quality of care delivered to patients by health care professionals. It is nice to see that her efforts are being recognized both nationally and internationally.”  Newhouse’s research has promoted the adoption of evidence-based interventions. Her team's multi-site studies have demonstrated improvements in health care for people with heart failure and/or substance use, while providing evidence for policy makers that care delivered by advanced practice registered nurses is high quality, safe, and effective.   "My induction into the STTI Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame is such an honor, but is clearly an accomplishment that I did not reach alone,” Newhouse said. “I am thankful for my mentors, research  team members, collaborators, partner clinicians, and patients who have worked with me over many years to answer questions needed to improve care." Throughout her career, Newhouse has received multiple national and international appointments as a result of her research. She has served on the Methodology Committee of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute and two Institute of Medicine Committees, the Standing Committee on Credentialing Research in Nursing, and the Study on Treatment of Cardiac Arrest: Current Status and Future Directions. She has also chaired the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Research Council and the Research and Scholarship Advisory Council for STTI. She was elected to the Board of AcademyHealth in 2013.                       # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

MPower Research and Innovation Seed Grant will fund research project. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), in collaboration with the University of Maryland, College Park; the University of Maryland School of Medicine Institute of Human Virology; and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, is pleased to announce that it has received a grant to research strategies for improving and supporting occupational health practices in Haiti to protect workers from blood borne pathogens (BBP).  UMSON has received funding for the Blood Borne Pathogen Assessment Survey Among Health Care Workers in Haiti project from the University of Maryland MPower Research and Innovation Seed Grant.‌  Jane Lipscomb, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor, UMSON, and Robert H. Feldman, PhD, FAAHB, professor, University of Maryland School of Public Health, will serve as the principal investigators. BBPs are infectious microorganisms present in blood that can cause disease in humans. Workers exposed to BBPs are at risk for serious or life-threatening illnesses. The research project aims to examine methods to protect the health care workforce by reducing the risk of the transmission of BBPs, such as Hepatitis B/C and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among workers employed at Haitian hospitals. In Haiti, the HIV and Hepatitis B/C prevalence is estimated between two and four percent. Through the study, the research team will develop recommendations to raise awareness of this issue and identify unsafe practices.  Researchers will identify culturally relevant control strategies in preventing the transmission of BBPs and assess current prevention practices. “This work is important for the School of Nursing, as it builds upon knowledge developed during previous research conducted in Maryland and extends its reach to address the health and safety of health care workers in Haitian hospitals.  Our work will also provide the opportunity for future collaborations around workforce protection between UMSON and its Haitian colleagues,” Lipscomb said. “The recent epidemic of Ebola infections among health care workers demonstrates the need for further global research into protecting health care workers from exposure to a range of workplace hazards, including infectious diseases.” The University of Maryland: MPowering the State fosters a working relationship between the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park campuses that demonstrate teamwork and collaboration. This joint effort is expected to have a great impact on the state, its economy, the job market and the next generation of innovators.  Seed grant funding can be used to develop new tools such as technologies that improve health care. “We are pleased to be part of MPower, which is designed to promote innovation and impact through collaboration, and to have this opportunity to work with our colleagues at the University of Maryland, College Park on this important research effort in Haiti,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.   # # #  The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Informatics Enabling Patient-Centered Care Across the Continuum Judy Ozbolt, PhD, RN, FAAN, FACMI, FAIMBEVisiting Professor and Chair, Summer Institute in Nursing InformaticsUniversity of Maryland School of Nursing Hundreds of nurses and other informatics professionals convened in Baltimore July 16-18 for the University of Maryland School of Nursing’s 24th Annual Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics (SINI), while dozens more followed the proceedings live via Web streaming. With support from sponsors ESD Consulting and HIMSS, this year’s SINI described new roles for clinicians and informaticians in using informatics tools to support patient-centered care across settings. In addition, experts in two think tanks conducted during SINI explored ongoing challenges in interoperability and data analytics, focusing particularly on issues arising from patient-generated data and health information exchange across settings. National leaders in health informatics filled plenary sessions with a set of distinguished lectures. In the opening keynote address, Philip Fasano, executive vice president and chief information officer, Kaiser Permanente, described online tools that Kaiser members may use to manage their health and communicate with their providers.  Martin Kohn, chief medical scientist, Care Delivery Systems, Jointly Health, opened day two with a discussion about big data and clinical decision support. Later in the day, participants had the opportunity to hear a follow-up presentation by Eric Siegel, professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine, about what must happen before Watson, IBM’s super computer, can support bedside care. The focus shifted from big data to personal health management in a presentation by a representative of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Ellen Makar, senior policy advisor, described initiatives ONC is undertaking to help individuals and families engage in reaching their health goals through the use of computer-based and mobile health applications.  Molly McCarthy, chief nursing strategist, Microsoft U.S. Health and Life Sciences, opened day three  by telling participants about new Microsoft initiatives in health care and personal health management.  Finally, Patricia Flatley Brennan, professor of nursing and industrial engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, gave the endnote address, inviting participants to look at emerging technologies that will transform both the delivery of health care and personal health management. Interspersed with the distinguished lectures were 34 invited and peer-reviewed podium presentations offered in concurrent sessions. An additional 27 peer-reviewed poster presentations sparked lively discussions during the poster session. Participants also enjoyed networking at the Exhibitor Evening. In addition to the showcase of products and services aimed at nursing informatics, participants met the authors of popular nursing informatics texts at a book signing and got acquainted with colleagues they had been following on Twitter at a Tweet Meet. The essence of SINI remains the quality of the content, the expertise and generosity of the presenters, and the collegiality of the participants. We were honored to receive a large number of excellent abstracts. The abstracts were carefully reviewed and scored by the 16-member planning committee, and awards were given to the highest-rated abstracts for poster and podium presentations in the categories of research and practice. In addition, attendees at the poster session voted for a People’s Choice award.  Click here to view the entire article in the CIN Journal.

Assistant professor will investigate asthma control in children with sleep apnea. Baltimore, Md. –Valerie E. Rogers, PhD, RN, CNRP, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded a Biomedical Research Grant from the American Lung Association. Biomedical Research Grants provide seed money to junior investigators researching the mechanisms of lung disease and general lung biology.  Rogers has been allotted $40,000 for the 2015 fiscal year, with a possible second year of funding. Rogers’ project, Biomarkers of Airway Inflammation and Asthma Control in Children with Comorbid Sleep-Disordered Breathing, investigates the mechanisms that cause the symptoms of children’s asthma to worsen when coupled with sleep apnea.  She will team with University of Maryland School of Medicine faculty members Mary E. Bollinger, DO, associate professor; Jeffrey D. Hasday, MD, professor; and Steven M. Scharf, MD, PhD, professor; and Shijun Zhu, PhD, a biostatistician at UMSON.  Childhood asthma is a chronic disease that affects nine percent of children nationwide and is particularly high in Baltimore, as the hospitalization rate is two to three times the national rate. “Sleep apnea in children is associated with poor asthma control, but the reason for this association is unclear. Our study will measure inflammation in the tonsils of asthmatic children who have tonsillectomy for sleep apnea so that we can better understand the contribution of sleep apnea to upper airway inflammation, and its association with asthma control,” Rogers said. “Working in a city like Baltimore, where the rate of pediatric hospital admission for asthma is high, there is an urgency in finding modifiable risk factors, such as sleep apnea, to improve asthma control and help children lead a healthy life.”  American Lung Association offers a highly-competitive research program, which is funded through its Awards and Grants Program. The Awards and Grants Program aims to foster laboratory, patient-centered, and social-behavioral research designed to prevent and relieve the suffering associated with all lung diseases, and corresponding risk factors. Additionally, the Program seeks to fund researchers at important crossroads of their careers to gain long-term commitment to lung disease research. “The American Lung Association selects its recipients from the best and brightest basic science researchers. We are very proud of Dr. Rogers for being recognized as a top-notch researcher,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Childhood asthma and sleep apnea are very important health issues both locally and nationally, and I am confident that Dr. Rogers and her team will make strides in curbing this chronic disease.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The Baltimore Sun recently published this article, entitled, "Equality's Struggles," highlighting the great civil rights work of several Baltimoreans. Among them were Esther McCready, the first African-American graduate of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, andLarry Gibson, LLB, professor of law for forty years at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. In honor of their achievements, and to expound the University's support for equality of opportunity, University of Maryland, Baltimore PresidentJay A. Perman, MD and University of Maryland School of Nursing Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, wrote the following response, which appeared in the paper on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. That landmark federal legislation outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It also ended discrimination in schools, workplaces, and public accommodations. A Foundation for Advancement We are writing in response to the June 30 Baltimore Sun article"Equality's Struggles," featuring Esther McCready, a 1953 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Nursing. The article's sub-head, "Setting the Foundation," could not be more appropriate. For the past 60 years, the foundation set by Ms. McCready's courage and fortitude has continued to open doors not only for African-American nursing students but for minority students in all the professional schools (dentistry, law, medicine, pharmacy, and social work) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). Small in stature and soft in voice, Ms. McCready had no idea how her initial letter of interest to the School of Nursing in 1948 would impact generations to come. She did not set out to make history, but that is what she did. The school of nursing currently boasts a minority enrollment of 37 percent, of which 53 percent are African-American. The UMB campus enrollment includes 37 percent minority students, more than a third of whom are African-American. Prestigious African-American nursing alumnae such as Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, MS '99, chief nurse officer, U.S. Public Health Service, andRuby L. Wesley-Shadow, PhD '87, RN, associate chief of nursing education and research, Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center, were able to reach their goals due to Ms. McCready's "can do" spirit and pioneering efforts. All these years later, Ms. McCready still attends School of Nursing events and has served on the school's Board of Visitors. Students of all races clamor to meet her when she visits the school. Our Living History Museum (one of few museums in the nation located in a nursing school) boasts an exhibit dedicated to Ms. McCready. We are very proud to count Esther McCready among our 20,000 University of Maryland School of Nursing alumni. We at UMB are also very proud to count as one of our own another Baltimore civil rights leader featured in "Equality's Struggles." Larry Gibson is much more than a professor of law. Guided by his own struggles growing up in segregated Baltimore, Mr. Gibson has been a forceful advocate for equality, serving in the U.S. Justice Department, and as campaign manager and advisor to many local, state and national political campaigns. His research and writings have brought to vivid life the legacy of slavery and the history of civil rights in Maryland, most notably the amazing story of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, which Mr. Gibson eloquently describes in his book, "Young Thurgood: The Making of a Supreme Court Justice." The University of Maryland, Baltimore is committed to addressing the call for a professional workforce that better reflects the demography of our city, state and nation. To that end, we are deeply engaged in a number of pipeline initiatives intended to excite and prepare our youth for opportunities in health, law and social work. The stories of Esther McCready and Larry Gibson, and their contributions to our university, remind us that we must never lessen that commitment. Posting Date: 07/02/2014 Contact Name: Alex Likowski Contact Phone: 410-706-3801 Contact Email: alikowski@umaryland.edu

Program aims to increase number of doctoral-prepared faculty members and advance practice nurses. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that it has been chosen by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare to participate in the Jonas Nurse Leaders Scholar Program. Eight UMSON doctoral students will be provided with financial assistance, leadership development, and networking support through the Program. PhD students Lauren Bently, MS '12, RN, and Elizabeth Heetderks, ACNP, were selected PhD Jonas Nurse Leader Scholars. Doctor of Nursing Practice students Sharon Smith, MS, RN, OCN, CCRP, FNE, Christine Simon-Waterman, MSN, RN, CRNP, and Linda Murray, MS ‘84, CRNP-Ped, a clinical instructor at UMSON, were named Jonas-Blaustein Nurse Leader Scholars.  PhD students Irene Akande, MSN, MS, BSN ’05, Valerie Dernetz, MA, BSN ’02, RN, and Marik Moen, MSN, MPH, RN, an assistant professor at UMSON, were named Jonas Veterans Healthcare Scholars. Supported by the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare, the program aims to increase the number of doctoral-prepared faculty members to teach in nursing schools nationwide and advance practice nurses to provide direct patient care.  Jonas Scholars will receive a total of $10,000 from 2014-2016, which will be used for tuition and other academic costs. The Program will support a total of 250 Scholars—100 students for the Jonas Veterans Healthcare Program and 150 as Nurse Leader Scholars.  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Haut becomes president of NAPNAP in July 2015. Baltimore, Md. – Catherine Haut, DNP '10, MS '93, RN, CRNP, PNP, assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been elected president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners’ (NAPNAP).  Haut, who begins her term as president-elect on July 1, is only the fourth member of NAPNAP’s Maryland chapter to be appointed national president. As president-elect, Haut will be working closely with the current president in preparation for leading the executive committee and teaming with NAPNAP’s chief executive officer to represent the Association on pediatric initiatives, policies, and practices once she assumes the presidency. Executive committee members serve three-year terms, beginning as president-elect for a year, followed by a year as president. After their presidency, they complete their term with a year as past-president.  Haut becomes president in July 2015.   “It is truly an honor to be elected by my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) colleagues, and I look forward to representing them in many facets of pediatric health care.  In my role as president, I hope to support the NAPNAP mission of empowering PNPs and their health care partners in enhancing child and family health,” Haut said. “I am looking forward to increasing the visibility of the role of PNPs through working with other organizations while representing the interests of pediatric nursing and medicine.” NAPNAP is a professional association that actively advocates for children’s health through providing funding, education, and research opportunities for pediatric nurse practitioners.  The Association seeks to empower PNPs and their health care partners to enhance child and family health through practice, leadership, advocacy, education, and research. “We are very proud of Dr. Haut for assuming this important national leadership role for pediatric nurse practitioners,” said UMSON Dean Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I am confident that she will excel in representing the interests of pediatric nursing while serving as an ambassador for the University of Maryland School of Nursing.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The 2014-2015 President’s Symposium and White Paper Project topic has been announced! During the next academic year, the University of Maryland, Baltimore and the surrounding communities will engage in discussions on meaningful ways of engaging with the community. The President’s Symposium and White Paper Project is a year-long, Interprofessional initiative during which faculty, staff, students and community members will join in a conversation that impacts the University and surrounding community. We are now accepting applications for President’s Fellows. Please forward this email to any students who you believe will be interested in being part of an interprofessional team that will be responsible for providing UMB senior leadership with recommendations on how to advance deep and meaningful community engaged learning, service and scholarship. The selection process is rigorous and we hope to have competitive candidates from all of the professional schools. The President’s Fellows application is due on Friday, June 27 at 5 p.m. You can find more information about the President’s Symposium and previous years topic here. The speakers for the President’s Symposium Speaker Series will be announced soon. This year’s Symposium is a joint initiative of the President’s Office, the Office of Interprofessional Student Learning and Service Initiatives (ISLSI) and the Center for Community Based Engagement and Learning. Please contact ISLSI with any questions you may have: ISLSI@umaryland.edu.

To continually ensure that our educational programs are effective, of the highest quality, and meet the established standards of undergraduate and graduate (master’s, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and post-master’s Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certificate) programs in nursing education, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is seeking a 10-year accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE will conduct an on-site accreditation visit at UMSON September 22-24, 2014. In accordance with their Procedures for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Degree Nursing Programs, CCNE provides the opportunity for program constituents to submit, in writing, third-party comments concerning a program’s qualifications for accreditation status. Third-party comments must relate to the CCNE Standards for Accreditation of Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing Programs (http://www.aacn.nche.edu/ccne-accreditation/Standards-Amended-2013.pdf), and must be signed and received at the CCNE offices by August 23, 2014. Comments are shared only with the CCNE evaluation team appointed to review UMSON programs. All concerns related to the accreditation standards will be identified in the accreditation report and UMSON will have an opportunity to respond to those concerns as part of its response to that report. Please submit comments via email to Catherine Sneed, CCNE Accreditation Coordinator, at: csneed@aacn.nche.edu. Or, you can mail comments to: Catherine Sneed, Accreditation Coordinator Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530 Washington, DC 20036

Scholarships support second-career nurses from groups underrepresented in the profession. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that for the sixth time, it has been selected as a grant recipient of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) New Careers in Nursing (NCIN) Scholarship Program. UMSON is one of 52 schools of nursing that will comprise the final cohort of the program. Ten $10,000 scholarships will be awarded to UMSON for the 2014-2015 academic year for newly-admitted students in the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s degree option. At the end of round seven, 63 students will have received a total of $630,000 in scholarship funds. In addition to the monetary award, NCIN scholars have access to a variety of academic resources and serve as mentors to other students. “Since 2008, New Careers in Nursing has made amazing strides in helping schools of nursing recruit and retain diverse students in these competitive and rigorous accelerated degree programs,” said David Krol, MD, MPH, FAAP, RWJF senior program officer. “Through supporting these institutions, NCIN is working to increase the diversity of our nursing workforce, while also assisting schools of nursing in making their institutions more inclusive. The leadership, mentoring, and other support these institutions provide is helping prepare a diverse nursing workforce to be able to meet the challenges associated with building a culture of health in our nation.” “Because relatively few scholarships are available for CNL students, we are especially pleased that UMSON has once again been awarded these funds, which will help reduce the financial burden for our students,” said Gail Schoen Lemaire, PhD, PMHCNS, BC, CNL, associate professor and director of the CNL master’s option. “Previous scholarship recipients have been grateful for these funds and have used them for tuition, books, child care costs, and other living expenses.”  NCIN grantee schools must maintain leadership and mentoring programs for their scholars. The schools are also required to provide a pre-entry immersion program to assist scholars with learning essential study, test-taking, and other skills needed to succeed in their program of study. For more information about the RWJF New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, visit www.newcareersinnursing.org.  To learn more about UMSON’s CNLmaster’s option, visit http://www.nursing.umaryland.edu/academic-programs/grad/masters-degree/cnl. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) has placed a high priority on interprofessional education (IPE) and its importance is recognized in the University's 2011-2016 Strategic Plan. To encourage faculty members from multiple schools to work together for this purpose, the UMB Center for Interprofessional Education has awarded seed grants to interdisciplinary teams whose 13-month pilot projects will be carried out by June 2015.The selection of the six grantees was based on an evaluation of proposals that met criteria in one of two categories for collaborative work: Interprofessional team-based care: Care delivered by intentionally created, usually relatively small work groups in health care, who are recognized by others as well as by themselves as having a collective identity and shared responsibility for a patient or group of patients. Interprofessional education: "When students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes" (World Health Organization, 2010). Jane Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the University of Maryland School of Nursing (SON) and director of the center, shown in the photo above, speaks on behalf of its leaders in congratulating the winners. The IPE center's co-directors are Heather Congdon, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, assistant dean, School of Pharmacy (SOP) at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG); David Mallott, MD, associate dean, medical education, School of Medicine (SOM); and Edward Pecukonis, MSW, PhD, associate professor, School of Social Work (SSW). Teams consisting of faculty from two or more disciplines were required to propose projects that will be practice or classroom focused, with educational and evaluative components employing the Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice. sponsored by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative. The grant recipients are: Philip Dittmar, MD, and Norman Retener, MD, both of the SOM, $10,000. Other faculty participating are Sandeep Devabhakthuni, PharmD, BCPS; and Jeffrey Gonzales, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, both of the SOP; Sai-Ho Jason Chui, PharmD, BCPS, of the University of Maryland Medical Center, Pharmacy; and Mary Fey, MS, RN, of the SON. The proposal, "Rapid Response:ý An Interprofessional Approach," will allow nursing, pharmacy and medical students to collaboratively manage a simulated patient (high fidelity mannequin) through a series of enhanced acute-care scenarios. Rebecca Wiseman, PhD, RN, of the SON, $9,000. Faculty participants include the SOPýs Congdon and Mary Lang, MBA, both of USG; Joan Pittman, PhD, MSW, LCSW-C, of the SSW; and two faculty members from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Diane Alonso, PhD, of UMBC's Department of Psychology and Katherine Morris, LCSW-C, of UMBC's School of Social Work.ý The proposal, "Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Interprofessional Summer Internship," will bring together students for an eight-week period from two academic institutions, UMB and UMBC. Representing the four disciplines of nursing, social work, pharmacy, and psychology, the students will observe interdisciplinary teamwork within the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services. Kerri Thom, MD, MS, of the SOM, $9,000. Participating faculty members are Alison Duffy, PharmD, BCOP, and Emily Heil, PharmD, BCPS, both of the SOP; Meg Johantgen, PhD, RN, of the SON; and Daniel Morgan, MD, MS, of the SOM and the VA Maryland Health Care System. The proposal, "Interprofessional Approach to Teaching Patient Safety and Quality Improvement at the Point of Care," will develop an opportunity for students of multiple disciplines to learn to identity potential patient safety and quality improvement issues in the setting of the medical intensive care unit at UMMC. Sandra Quezada, MD, MS, of the SOM, $8,000. Faculty participants include Jody Olsen, PhD, MSW; of the SSW, Bonnie Bissonette, MA, of the UMB Student Center for Global Education, and Amy Ramirez, MA, of the UMB Office of International Scholar and Student Services. The proposal, "Spanish for Health Professions Providers," is a new initiative that builds on the framework of an existing SOM with the objective of expanding access to Spanish education to students at all UMB professional schools. Sarah Edwards, DO, of the SOM, $6,000. Faculty members include Sean Pustilnik, MD, of the SOM, Susan dosReis, PhD, of the SOP, and three participants with UMMC affiliations: Shari Simone, DNP, CPNP-AC, FCCM, of the SON; Allison Lardieri, PharmD, of the SOP; and Linda Kyle Walker, MD, FCCM, of the SOM. The proposal, "The Pediatric TEAM (Training, Education, Assessment and Management of Delirium) Program," will help medical, nursing and pharmacy students learn collaborative care of children who are predisposed to and/or experiencing delirium in critical care settings. Shannon Idzik, DNP, CRNP, of the SON, $5,000. Faculty participants include Jackie Fried, RDH, MS, and David Williams, DDS, MS, MPH, both of the School of Dentistry (SOD); and Jane Kapustin, PhD, CRNP, of the SON. The proposal, "Use of Simulation to Augment Interprofessional Learning in the Emergency Department," will bring together dental, dental hygiene and nurse practitioner students in a clinical simulation focused on oral health of patients who present with non-life threatening dental complaints in hospital emergency departments. Contact Name: Patricia FanningContact Phone: 410-706-7946Contact Email: pfanning@son.umaryland.edu

Heavy rain did not dampen the spirit of School of Nursing graduates who celebrated the successful completion of their nursing degrees Friday, May 16, at the Baltimore Arena. The Class of 2014 consisted of 289 Bachelor of Science in Nursing,  288 Master of Science, 13 Doctor of Nursing Practice, and five PhD graduates, making it the largest class of nursing graduates in the state of Maryland The ceremony began with the presentation of the School of Nursing’s new ceremonial mace by Jay A. Perman, MD, president, University of Maryland, Baltimore (see below). Convocation speaker Susan D. Finlayson, DNP, RN, NE-BC, senior vice president of operations at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, shared two principles for graduates to add to their toolboxes – the first, to begin with the end in mind; the second, to always strive for excellence. “I don’t know what your differences will be, but I do know that if you stay true to your values, begin with the end in mind, and always strive for excellence, you will end the day knowing you have done what you could and that tomorrow is a new day,” she said. Two faculty members were honored with Excellence in Teaching Awards. Regina Donovan Twigg, DNP, RN, assistant professor, received the award for undergraduate education, and Kathryn VonRueden, MS, RN, CNS-BC, FCCM, associate professor, received the award for graduate education. This is the first time these awards had been presented, beginning a new tradition at the School of Nursing. Professor Sandra McLeskey, PhD, RN, who is retiring this spring, had the honor of being the first carrier of the new ceremonial mace, leading graduates and faculty members from the arena at the close of the ceremony. Later in the day, School of Nursing graduates participated in the University of Maryland, Baltimore Commencement ceremony at Baltimore Arena. Commencement speaker Wes Moore, MLitt, asked graduates: "What's your work? What is your purpose?" challenging them to build careers that would provide gratifying replies at some point in the future. In his remarks, the best-selling author and entrepreneur said they should be concerned not so much where they will work but to whom it will matter that they did so. Geraldine “Polly” Bednash, PhD, RN, FAAN, former chief executive officer, American Association of Colleges of Nursing, was among the three honorary degree recipients lauded for their exemplary work.  She received an honorary doctorate of public service. Click here to view a slideshow of Convocation 2014 photos.  Ceremonial Mace Celebrates School of Nursing’s 125th Anniversary The ceremonial mace presented to the School of Nursing at Convocation 2014 by Jay A. Perman, MD, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), celebrates the School of Nursing‘s 125th anniversary. Ceremonial maces are ornamental staffs made of wood and metal that are carried by an honored designee at graduation or other significant university events. When used, the mace is a focal point of the beginning and ending processionals. The School of Nursing’s mace was crafted by Bruce Jarrell, MD, FACS, senior vice president, academic affairs and chief academic and research officer at UMB, with the assistance of his daughter, Gwynneth, BSN ‘06. The walnut staff is topped with a bronze and copper replica of the School of Nursing Alumni Association pin. The design of the steel mace holder is based on elements of the Maryland state flag, and was created by Ukrainian blacksmith Anatoliy Rudek and Dr. Jarrell. The oak and ebony base was crafted by Dr. Jarrell’s sister, Bess Naylor, a UMB alumna who received a master’s degree from the School of Medicine in 1977. When not in use, the mace will be prominently displayed in the School of Nursing building.

New initiative should increase number of BSN-prepared nurses. Baltimore, Md. – Beginning in spring 2015, the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will offer its Registered Nurse-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree option at the Laurel College Center (LCC), located at 312 Marshall Ave, Laurel. The program will be supported through a $345,412, University System of Maryland Non-USM Regional Higher Education Centers Incentive Funding Request during fiscal years 2015 and 2016. This new initiative at LCC is in response to Maryland’s increasing demand for bachelor’s-prepared nurses. During the past year, UMSON revised its RN-to-BSN option based on feedback from stakeholders, students, and faculty members affiliated with Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) institutions in Maryland. “Both Howard and Prince George’s Community Colleges prepare a large number of ADN graduates. This new offering at LCC will provide an opportunity for ADNs in this region to obtain their BSN degree,” said Janice Hoffman, PhD, RN, ANEF, assistant professor and assistant dean for the BSN program at UMSON. “Registered nurses from other Maryland counties are also eligible to attend RN-to-BSN courses at LCC.” According to both the 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, and the 2009 Carnegie report, Educating Nurses: A Call for Radical Transformation, there is a need to increase the number of BSN-prepared registered nurses. With the increasingly complex health care needs of patients, RNs now need specific competencies in care coordination, management of patients with complex needs, and transitional care issues. The IOM report calls for 80 percent of nurses to hold at least a BSN degree by 2020.  Maryland’s statewide education articulation agreement aims to minimize potential barriers to educational advancement while encouraging nurses to achieve the highest level of education possible. The RN-to-BSN option, which requires 31 academic credits for completion, is already being offered at UMSON in Baltimore and at the Universities at Shady Grove. # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Grant aims to improve first-time pass rate of National Council Licensure Exam for ESL students. Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) has been awarded an 18-month, $200,000 grant through the Who Will Care? Project Hope initiative. It is designed to increase retention, graduation, and first-time pass rates on the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX-RN) of students for whom English is a second language (ESL). Project Hope is an enhanced support program to increase the academic performance of pre-licensure ESL students in Adult Health Nursing, UMSON’s key medical/surgical course. An institutional study found that there is a link between first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of ESL students and their ability to excel in Adult Health Nursing. The study also revealed that ESL students scored significantly lower in the course than their native English-speaking classmates. Adult Health Nursing has proven to be a solid indicator of likely retention, graduation, and first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates for students in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) master’s option. Over the past five years, UMSON boasted high first-time pass rates of the NCLEX-RN, as 91.5 percent of BSN students and 92.7 percent of CNL students passed on the first try, respectively. However, 75 percent of UMSON students who did not pass on the first attempt were ESL students. “This grant supports our efforts to enhance the learning of UMSON students for whom English is not their first language,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Increasing the retention, graduation, and first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates of ESL students will help grow the number of ESL nurses entering into practice, which will help diversify the health care workforce.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. –Joseph E. Pellegrini, PhD, CRNA, associate professor and director of the Nurse Anesthesia specialty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been appointed to the Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care. The Council’s mission is to improve patient safety in women’s health care through multidisciplinary collaboration that drives culture change. A unique consortium that champions women’s health, the Council consists of 14 member organizations that have teamed to promote safe health care for women.  The Council seeks to better understand the causes of harm during care and to disseminate patient safety information. Through fostering programs and tools that implement safety initiatives, and by encouraging a health care culture of respect, transparency, and accountability, the number of patients harmed during care is expected to decrease. “Rates of severe maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States are increasing and are now at levels twice as high as those in Western Europe.  To address this, the National Partnership for Maternal Safety was formed to develop patient evidenced-based safe practice guidelines to improve patient outcomes,” Pellegrini said. “I am honored to be asked to serve on this Council and am looking forward to the opportunity to make a difference in the promotion of patient safety in women’s health care.”   Pellegrini, the only Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist serving on the Council, is also a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, which is a supporting organization of the consortium. The Council has been diligently working to improve the safety of women’s health care since 2011. “Providing safe and effective health services to women is a very serious issue. Dr. Pellegrini’s selection to the Council is a great opportunity for him to continue to make a difference in this arena,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “I am confident that he will be an asset to the Council as it continues to make strides in providing safer care for women.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that Rebecca Wiseman, PhD ‘93, RN, assistant professor and assistant dean for the UMSON program at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), has been awarded the USG Board of Advisors’ Kendall Service Award for Program Director of the Year. Nominees for the award must have at least two years of service to USG; been instrumental in creating a unique campus environment that is supportive of student success through activities such as community service and academic achievement; helped advance students’ careers and educational goals through high-level access to development opportunities such as job and internship placements; and fostered peer development, collaboration, advocacy, and training through innovative programs. “I am honored to have been selected for this prestigious award,” Wiseman said. “Nominations came from students, faculty, and staff members at USG, and a panel of peers made the final selection. So it’s a very humbling experience to have such support.”    The Program Director of the Year, created in 2013, is one of three Kendall Service Awards given by the USG Board of Advisors each spring. Former USG Board of Advisors member Cliff Kendall and his wife Camille established the awards to recognize faculty members, program directors, and staff members who have performed exceptionally in supporting student success at USG. “Dr. Wiseman is truly dedicated to the success of our students. She is an innovative leader who equips our students with the tools to succeed at a high level once they have entered the workforce,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN. “This award shows how much we all appreciate Dr. Wiseman’s efforts.”  # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is pleased to announce that Mary E. (Meg) Johantgen, PhD, RN, associate professor and interim assistant dean for the PhD program, has accepted the position permanently. As assistant dean, Johantgen is tasked with ensuring that graduates of the PhD program are well-prepared to meet the demands of future health research. She will be responsible for evaluating the curriculum, recruiting highly-competitive students nationally and internationally, and increasing the number of students who successfully compete for extramural funding. “I am eager to lead UMSON’s PhD program during this exciting time as we work to increase our interdisciplinary collaborations in education and research,” Johantgen said. “There are also opportunities for increased synergy by facilitating collaboration between Doctor of Nursing Practice and PhD students.” Prior to beginning her tenure at UMSON as an assistant professor in 1998, Johantgen served on the faculty at three other universities, where she taught health systems, research methods, and data management.  She also worked at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and in private industry, where she studied health care quality. As a co-investigator on numerous funded projects, Johantgen’s research interests have expanded to the implementation of evidence and the influence of regulation on patient outcomes.  She is also a member of the American Nurses Credentialing Center Research Council and has been a reviewer on numerous scientific review panels. “We need a visionary leader who can take our PhD program to the next level,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “I am confident that Dr. Johantgen will effectively lead our faculty, staff, and students in ensuring that the School reaches its goals. The program is in very capable hands.”   # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

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Baltimore, Md. – The University of Maryland School of Nursing is pleased to announce that Robin P. Newhouse, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, professor and chair, Department of Organizational Systems and Adult Health, has been selected to an Institute of Medicine (IOM) research committee. Newhouse will serve on the IOM’s Treatment of Cardiac Arrest: Current Status and Future Directions Committee. The Committee will focus on the current status and future opportunities to improve cardiac arrest outcomes in the U.S. In conducting this study, researchers will examine current statistics and variability in survival rates from cardiac arrest. Additionally, the study will access existing life-saving therapies and public health strategies that could improve survival rates. Committee members will also focus on promising areas of research and future steps to improve the quality of patient care. “This consensus study will focus on understanding the evidence on outcomes for people who have experienced cardiac arrest both in the community and in the hospital,” Newhouse said. “I am proud to work with the committee on this important health priority to improve the quality of care.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling more than 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Baltimore, Md. –Kyunsook Gartrell, MS ’10, RN, BSN ’05, a PhD student at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has been awarded the Medical Informatics Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. This prestigious fellowship is a component of the Medical Informatics Training Program at the Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications (LHNCBC). The yearlong fellowship, which begins July 1, provides training and research opportunities for PhD and MD students, with a goal of producing future leaders in medical informatics research. Fellowship recipients will work with LHNCBC research staff preceptors, which will provide opportunities to make significant contributions to their fields. “This fellowship will allow me to receive further training in nursing informatics while I continue to expand my area of expertise, particularly in electronic personal health records,” Gartrell said. “I’m looking forward to being involved in ongoing, high-level research projects at the National Library of Medicine.” Awardees must have experience in content-based image retrieval, document image analysis and understanding, medical image processing, named entity recognition, natural language processing, or Web document analysis. Gartrell’s background is in Web documentation analysis. “This is a great opportunity for Kyunsook to continue to sharpen her informatics skills as she continues on her journey to be a leader in informatics research,” said UMSON Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN.  “We are extremely pleased that Kyunsook is being recognized for her work in informatics.” # # # The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools, and is ranked eleventh nationally. Enrolling 1,700 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.

Six School of Nursing students accompanied Dean Jane M. Kirschling, PhD, RN, FAAN, to Annapolis for the School’s annual Advocacy Day on March 11. Their goal was to deliver one central message to lawmakers — the health care of Marylanders depends on well-educated nurses. Assisting Dean Kirschling in reinforcing the School of Nursing’s message were Doctor of Nursing Practice students Sonia Brown, MS ‘99, RN, ACNP-BC and Cheryl Harrow, MS ‘01, FNP-BC, RNC-LRN, IBCLC; Bachelor of Science in Nursing students Brian Hoffman and Natalie Colville; and Clinical Nurse Leader students  Christopher Gawrych and Winnie Makawa.  Each student was given the opportunity to shadow a legislator for the morning. Senators Thomas M. Middleton, District 28, Charles County; Paul G. Pinsky, District 22, Prince George’s County; and Katherine A. Klausmeier, District 8, Baltimore County; and Delegates Brian K. McHale, District 46, Baltimore City; Herbert H. McMillan, District 30, Anne Arundel County; and Melvin L. Stukes, District 44, Baltimore City, took time to meet with students.    Dean Kirschling reinforced the important topics to discuss with legislators before everyone officially began their day. She reminded students that although the nursing shortage has been reduced due to the economy and Baby Boomer nurses remaining in the workforce, they can’t be complacent in advocating for well-educated nurses. “It is very important that legislators hear our message today. We want to provide high-quality health care. In order to do that, we need a well-educated nursing workforce,” Dean Kirschling said. “We are pleased to continue to produce well-educated nurses for Maryland, the region, and the world.” Dean Kirschling also implored students to talk with legislators about helping to shoulder the cost of graduate-level education. Nursing students rely heavily on financial aid and scholarships to offset the cost of their education. The need for financial support for tuition is definitely something that Brown, a Jonas Scholar, can identify with and had no problem advocating for. "Without the funds that I have received, I’d be in debt with student loans,” Brown said. “To be able to walk away after graduation with minimal debt is great. As a single mother with a school-aged child, it would have been a real struggle without the support of the Jonas Scholarship.” Other items on Dean Kirschling’s agenda were gaining the continued support of the Maryland legislature for the Governor’s Wellmobile Program and the removal of barriers to practice for advance practice registered nurses (APRNs).  APRNs are essential to meeting the health care needs of Marylanders, the operation of the Wellmobile, and other community initiatives that impact the health of the underinsured and underserved residents of Maryland. Students joined their assigned legislator on the floor of the General Assembly where they heard discussion on speed cameras, medical marijuana, and other issues. Attendees left with a keener understanding of how our government works and the importance of advocating for the needs of improved health care. “We have to be involved at all levels,