Dean's Monthly Communication: January 2008

Dean's Monthly Communication: January 2008

MESSAGE FROM DEAN WOODS

It’s the start of a new year and the beginning of a new, exciting era for the School of Nursing. With the appointment of Dean-designate Marla Salmon, we mark the transition in our leadership as well as in the life of the school.

Over the years, our school has worked together to identify the core values that are at the heart of our institution and our university. Among these are excellence, respect, collaboration, diversity, innovation and integrity. You will see these reflected in our publications and in the UW’s mission and vision statements.

What is most important to me is that these values permeate all we do. As we look to the future of the school, the activities in which we engage and the programs we offer are bound to change. We have seen the development of many new programs in the past decade and dramatic changes in the School of Nursing since I joined the faculty in 1978. What has remained constant – and will remain constant – is the commitment to these core values.

In times of transition, there is comfort in holding on to these constants while contributing to the rethinking of some aspects of the organization and its work. I know that Marla will help us hold on to these values in all we undertake!

-- Nancy Woods

FROM THE EDITORS

Thanks to all who completed the online readership survey for the DMC last month. We had a strong response. Among the results:

Overall, there is a high level of satisfaction with the DMC – most of you read or skim it every month, and the overwhelming majority of you say you are satisfied or very satisfied with it.
However, a number of people suggested that the DMC be shortened.
About 1/3 of respondents said they weren’t familiar with the process for submitting news or weren’t sure who in their departments was responsible for gathering the news.
Many of you asked where you could submit personal news or information requests – news about births, for example, or questions about finding a room to rent. We will be working to set up a separate listserv or another opt-in forum where this kind of information can be shared.
Soon, we will set up an informational meeting with department news gatherers to clarify the process and the standards for the DMC and discuss ways to improve it.

CAMPAIGN UW: CREATING FUTURES UPDATE

An anonymous donor recently established the Dottie Hicks and Denyce Pine Endowed Fellowship in Nursing with a $100,000 gift, which qualifies for a Students First match of $50,000. The donor also intends to establish an endowed professorship through estate plans. Hicks taught as an assistant professor at the UW School of Nursing from 1969 to 1976 and was instrumental in launching and directing the school’s Continuing Nursing Education program.

SoN IN THE NEWS

“More men brave nursing,” Seattle P-I, 12/24/07:
Women still hold more than 90 percent of the jobs in nursing, but trends at the college and university level indicate slow and steady change is happening. At the UW School of Nursing, 14 percent of undergraduate nursing students are men. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344818_nurse25.html

HONORS AND AWARDS

Three SoN faculty members and one lecturer have been selected to lead UW Exploration Seminars around the world in 2008. They are: ARDITH DOORENBOOS, asst. prof., Dept. of BNHS; EUNJUNG KIM, assoc. prof., Dept. of FCN; JANET LENART, lecturer, Dept. of BNHS; and FRAN LEWIS, prof., Dept. of FCN. These seminars take place during the early fall and will be held in Italy, South Korea, India and Russia. For more information and how to apply: http://depts.washington.edu/explore/

FACULTY

CATHERINE WARMS, research asst. prof., Dept. of BNHS, has been appointed to the Governor's Committee on Disability Issues and Employment for an initial three-year term. This committee identifies issues and concerns affecting people with disabilities and advises the governor, Legislature, state agencies, the business community, organized labor and other organizations and the general public on disability issues with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for independence and employment.

ELIZABETH BRIDGES, asst. prof., Dept. of BNHS, will be promoted to full colonel in the Air Force Reserves as of April 2008.

A safety toolkit developed by BRENDA ZIERLER, assoc. dean for TIER and assoc. prof., Dept. of BNHS, and a group of colleagues aims to prevent hospital-acquired blood clots. The toolkit was one of the first patient-safety toolkits rolled out by the HHS’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to reduce medical errors. The toolkit takes a multidisciplinary approach to eliminating preventable blood clots in the hospital.

NEW GRANT AWARDS

KATHLEEN WATSON (BNHS)
Title: Fracture risk and prevention in adults with developmental disabilities
Sponsor: ARC of Washington Trust Fund
Abstract: http://www.son.washington.edu/research/Grants/ShowAbstract.asp?ProjectID=1151

The new grant training schedule for winter quarter 2008 is available at this link:
http://www.son.washington.edu/research/internal/Training/Schedule.asp
Questions? Contact Jennifer Snow in the Office for Nursing Research: jennbond@u.washington.edu

STAFF

PATRICIA HUMPHREY has joined the Dept. of BNHS as a Fiscal Specialist II to assist with training grants and curriculum. She has been a UW fiscal specialist for many years, most recently in the Department of Communications.

SIDNEY LEWIS has joined the Dept. of FCN, filling in as program coordinator to support the Midwifery and Neonatal NP programs as well as the HRSA grant. Sidney has a BA in Women Studies from UW. She previously was a UW program coordinator for the graduate certificate program in HIV & STIs, UW Center for AIDS & STDs at Harborview, and also for the International Health Program, UW.

INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARS

The Dept. of BNHS will host two faculty members from Korea as visiting scholars beginning this month, each for one year: KYUNG-MI KIM from Ulsan University will work with TERRI SIMPSON, assoc. prof., Dept. of BNHS, as her faculty sponsor. JEUNG IM KIM from Soonchunhyang University will work with MARGARET HEITKEMPER, Elizabeth Sterling Soule Endowed Chair and prof., Dept. of BNHS, as her faculty sponsor.

The school will host three faculty members from Chiang Mai University, Thailand, as visiting scholars for three months beginning this month:
PAKAPAN WOOTTILUK will work with FREDERICA O’CONNOR, assoc. prof., Dept. of PCH, and CHAWAPORNPAN CHANPRASIT will work with BUTCH deCASTRO, asst. prof., Dept. of PCH. Chanprasit also will work with MAYUMI WILLGERODT, assoc. prof., Dept of FCH. PIKUL BOONCHUANG will work with TERRI SIMPSON, assoc. prof., Dept. of BNHS, and ELIZABETH BRIDGES, asst. prof., Dept. of BNHS.

Visiting doctoral student NANTAPORN SANSIRIPHUN from Chiang Mai University arrived last month and will work with PAMELA JORDAN, assoc. prof, Dept. of FCN, and KRISTEN SWANSON, chair and prof., Dept of FCN, until August.

STUDENTS

DNP student JOSE PARES-AVILA was recently awarded one of three scholarships provided by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Health Education and Research Trust, making him the first nurse to receive the scholarship. The organization offers the scholarships to self-identified LGBT health-sciences students pursuing advanced degrees and committed to issues of LGBT health.

Congratulations to DNP students SHARON DELANEY, CINDY DESCHENES, ANNE HEDGER, CHRISTINE HOYLE, ELIZABETH PERPETUA, WENDY RYCHWALSKI and LISA SIEBERSON, who are serving on the editorial board of Clinical Scholars Review: The Journal of Doctoral Nursing Practice, a new biennial, clinically oriented journal published through Columbia University.

ACADEMIC SERVICES

ADMISSIONS

MEPN/GEPN: 190 applications were received. Interviews with 73 applicants will be held during the week of Jan. 7 to 11. Target admissions goal: 48 MEPN/GEPN admits.

The deadline for application to the BSN, MN, MS, DNP and PhD programs is Jan. 15. Academic Services will be closed Jan. 16 and 17 for admissions processing.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP/FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEB. 28, 2008

The SoN has limited funds available for student scholarships and loans. Most support is determined by student need. Undergraduate and graduate students must ANNUALLY submit a SoN Financial Aid Application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for funding. For more information: http://www.son.washington.edu/students/all_financialaid_son.asp

TIER

KEARI EGGERS is now a part-time staffer in the TIER video group, after working with us as an hourly for the past two years. SARAH ALKIRE returns to the HelpDesk, also as a part-time staffer.

The Microsoft Office 2007 upgrade is planned for summer 2008. Nurskit, which currently provides remote access, will be upgraded in spring. Nurskit2, with multi-platform support, will provide better remote access and offer additional features. Corporate Time/Oracle calendar will be phased out and replaced by Exchange/Outlook by June 1. If you haven’t already migrated your calendar to Exchange, please contact TIER for help.

Reminder: The best way to contact TIER support is to email tier@u.washington.edu or to call (206) 616-7435. You can also stop by the HelpDesk in T440. We have an after-hours pager for emergencies. If you leave a voicemail message with TIER support after business hours, a TIER staff person automatically will be paged.

The Learning Lab has a birth announcement: our first simulated birth! Mother Noelle (birthing simulator) delivered baby Sidney with the help of Lab Teaching Assistant SOPHIA LICHENSTEIN-HILL and Lab Director JUVANN WOLFF. Sidney’s identical twin was delivered shortly after by midwifery faculty members CATHERINE CARR, assoc. prof, Dept. of FCN, and CHRISTINE HUNTER, senior lecturer, Dept. of FCN. Mom and babies are doing well and ready for many future simulated births. The Noelle simulator and a variety of adult and pediatric human patient simulators were purchased with donated funds, thanks to the efforts of the development staff. If you are interested in a tour of the Learning Lab, please contact JUDITH KELSON, director of TIER operations: jkelson@u.washington.edu.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

CONTINUING NURSING EDUCATION

JANUARY

--Jan. 10 to April 10: Medical-Surgical Nursing 2008: Review Course for Practice and Certification http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08134-SP

--Jan. 30: The World of Diabetes Update 2008 http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08108-C

FEBRUARY

--Feb. 6 to June 20: Ostomy Management Education Program (online program) http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08160-SP

--Feb. 13 to April 17: Wound Management Education Program http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08170-SP

--Feb. 13: 10th Annual Update in Nurse Midwifery http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08105-C

--Feb. 14 and 15: Cardiovascular Care Update http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08106-A-C

--Feb. 29: Neuroscience Symposium: Empowering Your Brain http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display3.asp?SKU=08108-C

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