college report
College of Nursing
In moving the College of Nursing towards its vision to “build upon its tradition of developing caring and scholarly nurse leaders who positively impact contemporary and future healthcare,” the faculty has identified the college’s distinctiveness as providing caring and nurturing programs across the curricula and through our service mission. This is done in a dynamic fashion, both locally and globally, while meeting the healthcare needs of our community and the educational needs of our students in a culturally acceptable manner.
2006-2007 Highlights
Community
- In May 2006, the College added a new Center for Nursing Innovation that enables creative programs and outreach initiatives. Entrepreneurial ideas of faculty and staff can become reality within the center.
- In fall 2006, two graduate students received a $14,500 grant from the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety to study childcare and safe-play areas for rural farm families. Data was collected from farm families attending the World Dairy Expo in Madison. The project was conducted in collaboration with the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield.
- In fall 2006, undergraduate nursing students worked on a medication disposal project for Winnebago County. They collaborated with the Department of Natural Resources, police departments, area pharmacists and the Winnebago County Health Department at medication disposal events held in Neenah and Oshkosh. The project was identified as a priority because research shows medications that are not disposed of properly are likely to contaminate waterways.
- In fall 2006, undergraduate students in Green Lake County raised funds for a Health Fair at Markesan High School. With about 400 people attending, the students arranged for 20 booths sponsored by health organizations, such as doctors’ offices and hospitals.
- In spring 2007, undergraduate students worked on a fire safety project. With grant funding provided by UW Extension, the students purchased and distributed smoke alarms and batteries to families receiving Women, Infants and Children (WIC) services. Other partners on this project were Kimberly-Clark, Vista and Winnebago County Health Department.
- In spring 2007, undergraduate students provided health screenings for farmers at the Wisconsin Public Service farm show. This event was held on the Experimental Aircraft Association grounds in Oshkosh.
- In spring 2007, undergraduate students participated in a well-water testing project. Because Winnebago County and other counties in northeastern Wisconsin have some of the highest levels of arsenic in the world, citizens who use well water as their primary water supply source are at risk. Many citizens are unaware of the danger. Students in this project provided health information to a variety of community sites.
- In spring 2007, undergraduate students in cooperation with Waupaca County Public Health completed a Safe Kids Bicycle Safety Program for children and parents involved in the area.
- Undergraduate students provided health promotion programs at UW-Fond du Lac. Students set up informational booths in a common area and put out a monthly newsletter on a variety of topics.
- Rep. Tom Petri visited the Living Healthy Community Clinic on two occasions to gain increased understanding of the needs of the uninsured. Along with Sen. Herb Kohl, Petri assisted in securing a federal grant of $150,000 to upgrade technology for the clinic.
Teaching
- The College created a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory in N/E39. Via a UW Oshkosh lab modernization grant, the lab exemplifies the technology needed for the future of clinical teaching in nursing.
- SIMbaby, a computerized mannequin that simulates human baby responses to both routine and disease conditions, arrived in spring 2007.
- Undergraduate students’ performance on the Registered Nurse licensure exam continues to meet or exceed national averages in all four quarters of reporting.
- Graduate student performance on the American Nurses Credentialing Center Family Nurse Practitioner Exam continues at 100 percent.
- UW Schools of Nursing were awarded a federal collaborative technology grant to further faculty development related to technology and teaching. Four scholars were selected from the College as well as one from North Central Technical College and one from Fox Valley Technical College.
- Four scholars attended the National Conference on Nursing Skills and Simulation in San Antonio, Texas, June 28-30. They gained valuable insight and ideas regarding simulation. Four scholars also attended a Second Life workshop at the Distance Education 2007 conference in Madison and are now planning for UW Oshkosh Virtual Reality Year 2008 to 2009.
Scholarship
- Michael Carter, a distinguished professor and former dean of the University of Tennessee-Memphis College of Nursing, spoke at the December scholarly event sponsored by Eta Pi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. He discussed implementation of a clinical doctorate also called the Doctor of Nursing Practice.
- In spring 2007, Mary Ellen Wurzbach was invited to participate in a seminar of historical significance. The seminar was titled Nursing and Health Care Ethics: a Legacy and a Vision. Twenty-four internationally recognized nurse ethicists and scholars from across North America gathered for the first time in one place at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
- In fall 2006, Mary Barker was honored by the Wisconsin Nurses Association (WNA) with the Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year award. In addition, WNA created a graduate scholarship in her name.
- Via a special initiative funding, Jaya Jambunathan was awarded $18,000 to help nurse educators from India visit UW Oshkosh in spring 2007. They participated in a variety of classes and gave research presentations at the Eta Pi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Research Day.
- Via special initiative funding, Patricia Vander Loop was awarded $10,000 to develop clinical simulations for nursing specifically relevant to childbearing families.
- Via special initiative funding, Suzanne Marnocha and Stephanie Stewart were awarded $27,538 to develop laboratory simulations using SIMman, the computerized manikin.
- Via the UW Extension Program Innovation Fund, Bonnie Schmidt was awarded $625 for a project titled “Strengthen Civic Engagement Activities Through Academic Service Learning.”
- Cheryl Eastman, a family nurse practitioner graduate student, won the 2007 UW Oshkosh Distinguished Thesis Award. Her thesis titled Correlation Between Perceived Empowerment and Foot Care and Adults with Diabetes was submitted to the 2007 Midwest Association of Graduate Schools competition.
- Faculty scholarship included presentations and articles on a variety of topics, including peri-operative patient safety, working across cultures, the Omaha System experience and more.
Partnership
- The pilot Wausau Step Ahead Bachelor of Science in Nursing program graduated the first group of eight students.
- The Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Lakeshore Face-to-Face BSN Program graduated the first two bachelor of nursing degree students in May 2007.
- For the fifth consecutive year, Theda Care donated the services of three master of nursing degree-prepared registered nurses to teach hospital-based, traditional undergraduate courses during both the fall and spring semester.
- In March 2007, an instructional academic staff member began work as a joint employee of the College and Affinity Health System. The employee works collaboratively to reach the goals associated with the graduate level Clinical Nurse Leader Option.
- The 15th annual Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Nursing Practice dinner was held in May. Twenty-four nurses from central and eastern Wisconsin were nominated for this year's award
Stewardship
- In May 2006, after a national search, Rosemary Smith was named dean of the College. In addition, members of the College’s interim leadership team all became official in their positions
- In January 2007, Colleen Huseboe was hired as the College’s advancement officer. Her major duties are fundraising, communication with alumni and general public relations.
- The Kennedy Foundation of Texas pledged $250,000 over five years for nursing scholarships. Each year, 20 students will receive $2,500 toward their tuition.
- An anonymous donor provided $18,000 in support for nursing scholarships.
- The College’s welcoming ceremony was held for traditional undergraduate students entering the program’s professional component. The College’s vision and values were reviewed and each student was introduced and asked to recite the Professional Nursing Pledge, which is reminiscent of the Nightingale Pledge.
- In fall 2006, the College was recognized with active chapter status by the American Assembly of Men in Nursing. Tracy Raether ’ 87 and ’95, vice president of quality and organizational development at Evergreen Retirement Community, is the first recipient of the College’s Nursing Faculty and Staff Alumni Award.