Noteworthy

First-year nursing students Melvasia Fitzpatrick, Raheim Grant, and Sakyra Sar-Tuch, have bene chosen as recipients of The Independence Blue Cross (IBX) Foundation’s Healthcare Scholars award. The scholarship covers tuition and educational expenses of students interested in pursuing a bachelor of science or associate degree in nursing. A total of 35 students in Pennsylvania were honored at an awards reception held in August. 

This award is given in an effort to increase representation and diversify the nursing profession. The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education finds that patients are better served by healthcare providers of the same background. 

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Widener University’s School of Nursing has been recognized by the National League for Nursing as a Center of Excellence in the area of advancing the science of nursing education. This is the third time Widener has received this recognition.

Nine nursing education programs across the country and the academic spectrum of higher education in nursing, as well as leading teaching hospitals and clinical sites, have been named Centers of Excellence, with Widener being the only recipient in the category of advancing the science of nursing education for 2023. Formal recognition of the award will take place at the 2023 National League for Nursing education summit in September.

“Widener is dedicated to educating the next generation of nurses by creating the evidence to support innovation in nursing education. Recognition for advancing the science of nursing education demonstrates our commitment to ensuring student success through scientific inquiry,” said Anne Krouse, dean of the school of nursing.  

Since 2004, the National League for Nursing has encouraged nursing programs to apply to become a center of excellence based on their ability to demonstrate in concrete, measurable terms sustained excellence in faculty development, nursing education research, student learning and professional development, and academic progression in nursing. Historically, many programs have achieved recognition in multiple categories or once designated, have maintained their center-of-excellence status through multiple award cycles. 

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Assistant Professor of Nursing Jawanza Bundy has been recognized in the graduating cohort from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) Diversity Leadership Institute, a program which empowers academic nursing leaders with strategies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of nursing and nursing education.  

Each graduate of the 2023 cohort learned high-impact DEI strategies that can be implemented in their own classrooms, and completed a capstone presentation. Bundy’s capstone, titled “Color Blocking: Creating a Colorful Canvas of Culture Across the Campus,” takes into account Widener’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging when looking at existing research and creating a plan of action to be implemented in the School of Nursing. 

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The Widener University Board of Trustees has appointed rising junior nursing major Maritza Garcia ‘25 to the student seat on the board. She will serve a two-year term.

As the student trustee, Garcia, 20, of Bensalem Township joins the prestigious governing body entrusted with the institution’s long-term success. The board monitors and oversees critical aspects of the university, including educational quality, financial strength, mission, and the student experience. She will provide a critical voice to her fellow board members about what it is like to be a student in the Widener community.

Garcia is a strong student who has excelled both inside and outside of the classroom. Her accomplishments include serving as a resident assistant within the Office of Residence Life and becoming a certified peer educator through this position. She also re-established the Latinos Unidos student organization, which had been dormant at Widener – seizing an opportunity to provide a greater sense of belonging for students who identify within the Hispanic culture and community at the university. She serves as the group’s president.

An aspiring neonatal intensive care nurse, Garcia is a C.R.E.W. leader in the Office of Student Engagement. Students who hold the position, which stands for the Committee Responsible for Enhancing Widener, serve as guides for helping acclimate new students to Widener and are instrumental in the university’s summer registration and orientation processes. 

In addition, she serves as a pride mentor in the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and pride service site leader with the Center for Civic and Global Engagement. Outside of Widener, she works as a barista shift lead at Starbucks and a shift operation manager at CVS Pharmacy.

Garcia will attend her first board meeting in October. She fills the student seat that had been held by Ijjae Hill ’23, who earned her bachelor’s degree in visual and performing arts in May. 

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Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology Catherine Safran, with the help of nursing student Taylor Wise ’25, presented a poster at the 2023 Annual Conference of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The poster, titled “The Implementation of Structured Office Hours as a Central Component of Student Success in A&P courses,” is based on Wise’s experience in anatomy and physiology (A&P) courses and using resources such as faculty office hours and peers to improve her academic performance. The observations concluded that students who utilize office hours will have improved performance in A&P classes and can act as group leaders to help their peers succeed as well. 

In addition to presenting, Safran was awarded the HAPS John Martin Second Timers Award, which recognizes HAPS members for repeated attendance and commitment to the organization’s annual conferences. 

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Teresa Lamarra, director of the Center for Simulation, has been chosen to participate in the 2023 National League for Nursing (NLN) Leadership Institute. The highly competitive program offers dual professional leadership development tracks for nurses in education and practice. Lamarra will participate in the Leadership Development Program for Simulation Educators, which is designed for the experienced simulation nurse educator who aspires to a leadership role in simulation. Sim Leadership track participants focus on maximizing their leadership potential to advance simulation initiatives in nursing education and practice. As part of the yearlong program, Lamarra will attend the Intensive Leadership Retreat this summer in Washington, D.C. as well as the 2023 NLN Education Summit, Extraordinary Nurse Educators: Leading Extraordinary Times, in the fall. 

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Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of Nursing Kathleen Sheikh published a paper in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners titled, “Rapid-cycle deliberate practice telehealth as an integrative learning strategy in nurse practitioner education.” The paper shares a cognitive technique called rapid-cycle deliberate practice that teaches learners skills through purposeful repetition and accumulation. Students were able to combine skills and previous knowledge from in-person simulation sessions and translate those experiences toward telehealth services. 

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Cathleen Evans, associate professor of nursing, has been awarded the COVID-19 Pandemic Civilian Service Medal for exemplary service to the nation as part of the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) during the federal medical response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Evans, an expert in emergency and disaster care and education, serves as a member of an NDMS Disaster Medical Assistance Team which deploys emergency medical, logistical, and command and control personnel in response to public health emergencies, such as COVID-19, and natural disasters, such as a hurricanes, tornados, or wildfires. Evans and her NDMS colleagues served as a lifeline to hospitals and long-term care facilities across the country by providing temporary relief to staff, adding bed capacity, and improving outcomes for COVID-19 patients.
 
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Christine Pariseault, assistant professor of nursing, co-authored a study that explored the perceptions and experiences of nurses in clinical practice engaged in caring for patients diagnosed with COVID‐19 during the early months of the pandemic. The qualitative descriptive study published in Research in Nursing & Research addressed clinical nurses' daily struggles at the bedside while caring for patients diagnosed with COVID‐19. Analyzed findings showed five themes: navigating uncertainty, managing death and loss, acknowledging emotional responses, learning opportunities, and facing community undercurrents. The report concluded on the important of collecting and analyzing data and disseminate findings to inform the nursing profession, healthcare industry, and the public. 

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The Widener Community Nursing Clinic recently held an event to celebrate 10 years of service to greater Chester community. Clinic leaders and patients gathered with representatives from Widener and Chester to recognize the clinic's proven history of delivering the highest level of care and support.

For more than a decade, the clinic has stood as a steadfast community resource offering pro bono medical care to uninsured and underinsured residents. The clinic, led by Ellen Boyda, clinic director, is staffed by nurse practitioners and registered nurses from the School of Nursing faculty, students, alumni, and community volunteers. In addition to critical health care services, the clinic also provides Widener nursing students with valuable experience in non-hospital settings. 

In 2021, the clinic expanded from its flagship location at Chester CityTeam to open a new location at the Chester Senior Center. The growth enabled clinic staff to broaden its ability to offer affordable and accessible care to individuals and families throughout the community.

Photo: President Stacey Robertson with Ellen Boyda, clinic director.

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Carly Kearney, a PhD candidate in the School of Nursing, was named a 2022-23 Jonas Scholar by National League for Nursing (NLN). The highly competitive scholarship provides direct funding for Kearney in her final year of doctoral study, leading to completion of her dissertation projects, as well as support for travel expenses to attend conference. Launched in 2010, the Jonas Scholars Program has been generously funded by Jonas Philanthropies, a New York-based foundation that promotes excellence in nursing, to advance the science of nursing education. 

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A research team consisting of faculty, students, and an alumni in the School of Nursing published a study examining nurse faculty administrators’ experiences of rapid transition and disruption in nursing education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published in the journal Nursing Education Perspectives, co-authors Anne Krouse, dean of nursing, Kristen McLaughlin, nursing graduate, Rose Rossi, associate dean of undergraduate nursing, Wendy Black-Dorn, nursing PhD candidate, Bette Mariani, nursing graduate, and Barbara Patterson, director of the nursing science doctoral program, implemented a descriptive survey methodology to understand the experiences of academic nurse administrators during the pandemic. The survey utilized the Four Cs of Disaster Partnering conceptual framework which encompasses communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration and the interrelatedness of those activities in partnering relationships. The authors' findings showed that key elements of the Four Cs framework played a role in the successful adaptation to new learning environment realities.

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The School of Nursing has been chosen to participate in a national initiative led by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) designed to foster inclusive learning environments and build a more diverse nursing workforce. Widener's nursing program is one of 50 schools of nursing selected nationwide to participate in AACN's pilot project titled "Building a Culture of Belonging in Academic Nursing."

With funding from Johnson & Johnson, the program aims to help schools of nursing create environments where students, faculty, and staff possess a strong sense of belonging and are encouraged to thrive. Specifically, the program will utilize a survey instrument developed by AACN to collect data and provide institution-level assessments and action reports to participating schools related to developing inclusive academic environments.

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The Widener Community Nursing Clinic earned a Gold Rating from the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) Quality Standards Program. This is the third consecutive year that the clinic has received this national recognition for its continued delivery of high-quality and reliable pro bono health care. 

Congratulations to Ellen Boyda, clinic director, and the nursing student and alumni volunteers whose commitment to providing essential services help to maintain both individual and community health.  

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Brenda Kucirka, associate professor of nursing, was named a top nurse in the region by Main Line Today. Kucirka was named in the publication's 2022 Excellence in Nursing Awards, an annual recognition that asks nurses in the main line and western suburbs to cast votes for their peers in a variety of specialties. A 2013 graduate of Widener's doctoral nursing science program, Kucirka was honored for her excellence in nursing education. 

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Christine Pariseault, assistant professor of nursing, is first author on this article entitled, “Original Research: Nurses' Experiences of Caring for Patients and Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Communication Challenges” which published in the American Journal of Nursing. This article explains the experiences of nurses caring for patients and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Policies in many hospitals have changed to fit the social requirements of social distancing and social isolation. This article further investigates the perspectives of nurses actively working with the new challenges they face.

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Professor Shirlee M. Drayton-Brooks has been named a Distinguished University Professor. The honor recognizes faculty of distinction and demonstrates to the broader community that Widener is committed to recognizing excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service throughout a faculty member’s career. Distinguished professors serve for three years.

Drayton-Brooks is a nationally recognized leader in nursing education, especially in the preparation of Doctor of Nursing (DNP) Practice students. She initiated this program at Widener and continues to lead it. Drayton-Brooks is a role model for undergraduate and graduate nursing students and has facilitated the scholarly development of multiple students, advising translational research projects and chairing dissertations. Her national reputation is signified by her position as a Past President of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. She is also a Fellow of the National Association of Nurse Practitioners. She has made tremendous contributions to nursing education through her role on the National Advisory Council on Nursing Education and Practice and as director of both the DNP and Family Nurse Practitioner programs at Widener. Drayton-Brooks demonstrates a record of excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. 

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The Widener University Student Nurses' Association (WUSNA) was awarded the Chapter Excellence Award from the Student Nurses' Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) during the organization's annual convention. The Chapter Excellence Award is SNAP's most prestigious award that recognizes a nursing program for its achievements and contributions to the field. Led by undergraduate nursing students, WUSNA provides opportunities for students to become intellectually engaged in events with their local school chapter, their community, and at the state level.

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Politics and COVID-19 have shaken the United States to its core and have sparked national debates over race relations, police brutality, as well as the right to bear arms in any situation. Wayne Riddle, a nursing science doctoral student and adjunct professor, published an article calling for action and advocacy from nurses and other medical professionals to end the gun violence epidemic. In his article published in the May issue of Nursing Forum, Wayne describes how those who work within the healthcare field  and care for patients suffering from either COVID-19 or gun violence must raise awareness and advocate for legislation to increase the public’s safety and well-being.

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Kristin Davies, a nursing science doctoral student, was selected for a special grant funding from the Foundation of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. The $1,000 grant will fund her research proposal on Incorporation of Social Determinants of Health in Associate Degree Nursing Programs. Davies is expected to receive the award at the OADN 2021 Town Hall and Awards in November.

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