Unique MedRest Program Serves Ill and Injured Homeless Youth

When you’re homeless and sick, the small comforts that can help speed recovery – a quiet, safe place to sleep, a little chicken soup -- are usually out of reach. The homeless and ill may try to recuperate by riding a bus all night to keep warm. Others remain outside and struggle to keep their medications dry and their symptoms under control.

Now, a first-in-the-nation outreach effort led by the UW School of Nursing has offered an alternative to homeless young people in Seattle – and provided a gateway to other services to lead them out of homelessness to a more stable life. READ MORE

                     * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Proud to Be a Pioneer: Perspectives of a First Cohort of DNP Students

The UW School of Nursing's first group of Doctor of Nursing Practice students were featured in the American Journal for Nurse Practitioners in March 2009. The article, authored by Louise Kaplan of Washington State University College of Nursing and Marie-Annette Brown of the UW School of Nursing, reports findings on the experience of students beginning a new doctor of nursing practice program. The article describes the expectations and perceptions of the first cohort of UW SoN post-master's DNP students upon matriculation in January 2007.

Read the article here: Proud to Be a Pioneer: Perspectives of a First Cohort of DNP Students. This article is posted with permission from NP Communications, LLC, Vol. 13, No. 3.

                          * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Finding Her Passion: Recent Graduate Pulls Own Ilness to Work

Jessica Simpson, a 2009 graduate of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) program, has a special connection with the ill children in her care. Diagnosed with severe chronic asthma when she was 8, Jessica has spent much of her life in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals. So when she cares for her young patients, she understands deeply their experiences, including the uncertainty, fear, and desire to get back to a “normal” life.

READ MORE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Talking pill bottles aim to improve health, health literacy

Imagine a pill bottle that could "talk" to you, reminding you when to take medication or how much to take. New research being led by the UW School of Nursing is examining how talking pill bottles might improve the health, safety and health literacy of certain patients taking medications.

See full article

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Students Create Nursing Video

A group of School of Nursing students recently created a 2-minute video reflecting on their work in community health nursing. The video was made as part of a video challenge by the Johnson & Johnson Campaign for Nursing's Future and debuted at a fundraising gala in March 2009.

Watch the video

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Global Health Workforce: Watch Barbara Stilwell's Lecture

Barbara Stilwell discussed global workforce migration issues Feb. 19 at the UW School of Nursing’s Elizabeth Sterling Soule Endowed Lecture. With introdutions by Marla E. Salmon, the Robert G. and Jean A. Reid Endowed Dean in Nursing, and Barbara Burns McGrath, research associate professor, Department of Psychosocial and Community Health.

WATCH NOW:

Soule Lecture Videostream on Feb. 19, 2009

(See Help/Viewing Requirements)

Nursing students call private financial support critical to their education

Generous donors to the UW School of Nursing have contributed more than $8 million for student support in the past eight years – money that is key to opening doors for future nurses who may lack the means to pursue their dreams.

Two UW nursing students recently were asked to share their stories of how private support made a critical difference in enabling them to pursue careers in nursing.

Kelly Fox is working toward obtaining her master’s degree in nursing education, with a goal of educating the next generation of nurses. She plans to complete her thesis in spring 2009.

Elizabeth Perpetua is pursuing her Doctor in Nursing Practice degree while working as a cardiology nurse practitioner at the Swedish Heart & Vascular Clinic at Swedish Medical Center. She plans to complete her degree in spring 2009.

Fox and Perpetua were keynote speakers at the school’s Scholarship Recognition Banquet in October 2008. Click their names above to read excerpts of their speeches.

The UW School of Nursing wants to hear from you!

In January 2009, we launched an online survey of our nursing alumni, asking you to let us know how you would like to be involved in the school's Future of Caring.

Want to receive our new e-newsletter? Become involved in mentoring or precepting? Learn about upcoming events? Take five minutes to fill out our online survey and tell us how you'd like to join us in making a difference at home and around the world.

https://catalysttools.washington.edu/webq/survey/jhoutz/66822

You can also e-mail us at: sonalum@u.washington.edu

Or call the School of Nursing Office of Advancement: (206) 543-3019.