NURSING LIFE MAGAZINE | Summer 2010 Volume 5

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Extra Stepsfor Haitian Evacuees+ Top 30 in NIH Nursing Research + 100 Years of Gordon Keller + Path of Light Illuminates Alumni

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I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the University of South Florida as your new Dean for the College of Nursing! You may ask what drew me to USF - four simple but very important words: people, purpose, passion and partnerships.

The people that make up the College of Nursing – students, faculty, staff and alumni- are its key asset. The College’s diverse students will be tomorrow’s healthcare leaders, and ensuring their academic and life success is a crucial part of my role. Supporting the nursing faculty in their roles as leading research scientists, educators, and clinicians and facilitating global recognition for their achievements will be a top priority for me. Just as critical to the ongoing success of the College are its dedicated and involved staff, alumni and community partners. It was because I met so many of these highly qualifi ed and motivated “people” that I was sure that USF was the right place for me.

Our purpose is clear. The College of Nursing will play a strategic role in developing innovative educational programs for nurses and our inter-professional colleagues. The science generated by nursing faculty will have major impacts on nursing science, health interventions, and evidence-based practice. The College of Nursing will play a signifi cant leadership role as we expand our partnerships, both within USF Health, the university, and the community.

The passion is evident. The fuel that drives USF is its passion for innovation and progress. I’m eager to be a part of USF because of its leaders’ high energy and commitment to making the university a forerunner in academic and scientifi c achievements. During my visits to the Tampa Bay area, I could feel the passion and enthusiasm for USF’s many accomplishments throughout the entire community. USF has had the largest increase in research funding in the entire country and the excitement that comes with this is palpable. USF was recently recognized as one of the top “up-and-coming” universities, and it is clearly evident that it is ready to take the next step towards national prominence.

And our partnerships continue to grow. Prior to my arrival on April 30th, I visited USF and saw immediately how different colleges within the university could work and partner together. My own research focuses on HIV prevention in adolescent girls and young women and it truly has benefi tted from hearing from many different voices. My research team had eight different disciplines represented so I understand the value of interdisciplinary research. It is my experience that the more people you get together with different perspectives, the more likely you are to get better answers to your questions. The growing inter-professional education, research and clinical initiatives at USF and the greater community is not only exciting, it is also how we can have the greatest impact on healthcare and education for the Tampa Bay Area, our nation, and the world.

Partnerships build relationships and are the catalyst for positive change. The concentration of disciplines under the USF Health umbrella allows for more innovative collaboration in education, research and patient care. Coupled with our alumni and community, we will work together to identify areas of mutual need. In Nursing Life, we will continue to explore how people, purpose, passion and partnerships will play a key role in the College of Nursing’s future success.

I invite you to join me on this exciting journey.

Sincerely,

Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAANDean, College of Nursing at the University of South Florida

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NURSING LIFE MAGAZINE | Summer 2010 Volume 5

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA

Extra Stepsfor Haitian Evacuees+ Top 30 in NIH Nursing Research + 100 Years of Gordon Keller + Path of Light Illuminates Alumni

L I FE+ Cover: When the fi rst group of Haitian

earthquake survivors arrived in Tampa General Hospital’s emergency room, three USF nursing students of Haitian descent were there to help translate. L to R: USF nursing students Vatanie Turenne, Sheronda Fevrier and Joanne Leo.

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Nursing Life Magazine is produced by USF Health Offi ce of Communications 12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC 47Tampa, FL 33612P. (813) 974-3300 F. (813) 974-5422

Published for faculty, students, staff, alumni and the community of USF Health.

EditorAshlea Hudakahudak@health.usf.edu

Production Director Monica Matos

Contributing WritersLeanna Baylis, Sarah Benson, Anne DeLotto Baier, Ana Duque, Allison Edmonds, Ashlea Hudak, Marcia Parker, Anne Phillips, Deena Kemp-Pople, Patricia Shirley.

Art DirectorKlaus Herdocia

PhotographersLuis Battistini, Ashlea Hudak, Candace Mundyand Eric Younghans

President, University of South FloridaJudy Genshaft, PhD

Sr. Vice President, USF HealthDean, USF College of MedicineStephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA

Sr. Associate Vice President, USF Health Dean, USF College of NursingDianne Morrison-BeedyPhD, RN, WHNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN

College of NursingUniversity of South Florida12901 Bruce B. Downs BoulevardMDC Box 22, Tampa, FL 33612P (813) 974-2191

health.usf.edu

USF Health is a partnership of the University of South Florida’s colleges of medicine, nursing, and public health; the schools of basic biomedical sciences and physical therapy & rehabilitation sciences; and the USF Physicians Group. It is a partnership dedicated to the promise of creating a new model of health and health care. USF is one of the nation’s top public research universities and one of 39 community engaged public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF received more than $360 million in research contracts and grants last year. It is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one of the nation’s fastest growing universities for federal research and development expenditures.

S T U D E N T L I F E

02 TAKING THE EXTRA STEP WITH SERVICE

04 BLAZING A PATH OF EXCELLENCE

05 DIVERSITY COMMITTEE SEEKS TO INCREASE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

R E S E A R C H L I F E

06 USF JUMPS TO TOP-30 NIH RANKING IN NURSING RESEARCH

07 ONGOING FUNDED RESEARCH

C O M M U N I T Y L I F E

09 STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESS

10 GORDON KELLER ALUMNAE CELEBRATE 100 YEARS

12 NURSING STUDENTS TRANSLATE FOR HAITIAN EVACUEES

13 CLINICAL COLLABORATIVE IMPACTS COMMUNITY

14 SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON

A L U M N I L I F E

15 PATH OF LIGHT ILLUMINATES ALUMNI

16 YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE

17 CLASS NOTES

17 SAVE THE DATE: HOMECOMING 2010

Corrections: Nicole Williams was the cover model for the last Nursing Life Spring 2010 Vol.4 without

credentials. Nicole has earned Bachelor of Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida

Major: Biomedical Sciences Minor: Public Health 2006. Master of Science in Medical Sciences,

University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida Concentration: Pharmacology 2008

Mandi Ruscher, a second-degree

student of the class of May 2010, is ready

to make a difference, especially for those

less fortunate.

She graduated from Florida

International University with a Bachelor

of Arts in international relations and a

certifi cate in women’s studies. Almost

immediately after graduation Mandi

embarked on a journey traveling abroad

and has since worked in Hungary,

Holland, Korea and Cambodia teaching

English immersion classes. The majority

of her time was spent in Asia teaching

kindergarten, drama, music and science.

Mandi wanted a career as a diplomat

working in international relations. However

after teaching out of the country, she

realized that she wanted to become a

nurse.

“When you travel abroad, work in

really impoverished nations and see the

defi nite need for help, you don’t want to

be stuck in an offi ce doing budgeting - you

want to be there, giving immunizations or

however you can help” Mandi explained.

On her fi rst trip to Cambodia, where

the need was so great, Mandi realized she

needed to make the switch to Nursing.

While researching nursing schools and

completing prerequisite courses, Mandi

discovered the University of South Florida

College of Nursing’s Second Degree

sequence. This program

allows students who have already

received a bachelor’s degree in another

fi eld to receive a Bachelor’s of Science

degree with a major in nursing. The

sequence is typically completed in four

consecutive full-time semesters. Upon

completion graduates may take the

nursing licensure exam.

“I had already invested fi ve years into

a teaching career that I really loved and to

leave it only for four semesters was a lot

easier than going into a two year program”

Mandi said.

Mandi learned she was accepted in

fall 2008 while teaching in South Korea,

leaving her very little time to move to

Tampa and prepare for classes. A

dedicated student, Mandi committed

to her nursing studies and immediately

developed an immeasurable appreciation

for her faculty and peers. Her clinical team

was very cohesive and willingly provided

guidance and support to help each other

succeed and get through challenges.

“I don’t know how I could have done

it without the support from Cathy O’Neil

or Brittny Chabalowski. I never expected

to have this kind of support,” Mandi

said. “Knowing that we have a nursing

shortage, as nurses you have to help

each other. Our team started a bookshelf

where we donate our used books, so the

next semester’s students can utilize them.”

Mandi appreciates her time spent

at USF. In class, she felt surrounded by

intelligent people genuinely concerned

about the care of patients. The extra

steps that students take give Mandi faith

in the nursing profession. She cherishes

memories of students helping other

students in need and classmates going

the extra mile – such as making sure a

patient has a cup of hot chocolate.

“It’s just the little things that you don’t

think about,” Mandi said. “I would be

happy to have anyone of them as my

nurse – that’s important!”

Mandi feels that the College of

Nursing helped her accomplish her

goals by providing volunteer activities,

community health experiences and

opportunities for scholarships and

memberships in service organizations

and professional societies. She has

volunteered her time in collaboration

with the College of Public Health taking

blood pressures and providing fl u shots

at USF-sponsored events. She provides

service not only through the university’s,

but also through volunteering her time

tutoring refugees and helping families by

organizing donation drives. Community

service has always been a part of life for

Mandi.

Volunteering is a character building experience. You get a lot more out of it than you put into it.“

”

TAKING THE EXTRA STEP WITH SERVICE Story by Sarah Benson

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“I give what I can. I don’t have a lot

of money, but I do have time – not a lot.”

she said while smiling. “Volunteering is a

character-building experience. You get a

lot more out of it than you put into it, even

if it’s only a few hours a week”.

Mandi is making a difference, little

by little, and every little bit counts. She

is currently exploring her options for

pursuing a Master’s Degree in Nursing

or maybe Public Health and eventually

wants to work abroad with an organization

providing healthcare to the less fortunate. Mandi provided some tips for her fellow students as they progress through the program. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your professors are here, willing to help you - fellow students are the best resources for study aids and useful websites,” she said. “Make friends in the College of Nursing, is my advice.” NL

Second-degree student, Mandi Ruscher cherishes her time spent at USF working to accomplish her goal of becoming a nurse.

After graduating from USF College of Nursing’s Masters Program with a concentration in Nurse Anesthesia, LaSonya Malbrough had some major decisions to make. With all of the opportunities available to graduates in today’s marketplace, how would she determine the next steps in her life? For LaSonya, the choice was to enter the USF College of Nursing Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. For her, making the decision to pursue the DNP was an easy one “It is not every day that you are given the opportunity to do something that you never even considered or dreamed. Considering that I am the fi rst college graduate in my family – fi nishing undergraduate and master’s level education is something to be very proud of. I knew I had to complete the terminal degree--the question I began to ask myself was ‘why would you not do it?’” LaSonya said. “Passing up such an incredible opportunity just would not be wise! I hope to inspire others in my family and community to follow their dreams as well. If only one person goes to college as a result of my infl uence – I would be ecstatic.”

LaSonya is currently employed part-time with Florida Gulf to Bay Anesthesiology, P.A. Working for such a large anesthesia group provides her the opportunity to work in a variety of settings throughout the community, both in hospital and in outpatient settings. In addition, the position affords her the fl exibility to work part-time while pursing her doctoral degree at USF. LaSonya is a recipient of the University Graduate Fellowship and the Nurse Traineeship Award. Receipt of these funds was one of the key factors in choosing USF to pursue the DNP. If she had not received funding, she would not have been able to commit to full-time enrollment in the program. “The importance of having scholarships and fellowships for potential students is an invaluable recruiting tool for the College,” LaSonya said.

After graduation, LaSonya hopes to study the effectiveness of pain management in acute care and outpatient settings, especially as it relates to underserved/minority populations. She plans to seek dual employment in a hospital setting and as a part-time university faculty member. This will “allow me to maximize my growth and development as a doctorally prepared practitioner. To my core, I am a patient advocate in every respect.” With a passion for healthcare technology, she hopes to build upon her evidence based project to test the effectiveness of ultrasound guidance for central line insertion in the inexperienced anesthesia provider.

LaSonya often fi nds herself sharing with others the many opportunities that USF has to offer. Not only is she a mentor and graduate of USF, having the discipline and desire to pursue the DNP demonstrates her commitment and earns the respect of patients and colleagues alike.

BLAZING A PATH OF EXCELLENCE:NURSE ANESTHESIA GRADUATE SEEKS TO INFLUENCE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE THROUGH DNP PROGRAM Story by Marcia Parker

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DIVERSITY COMMITTEE SEEKS TO INCREASE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT Story by Marcia Parker

The USF College of Nursing Diversity Committee is looking forward to an exciting list of priorities and strategic objectives for this year. These objectives range from increasing student involvement and examining student success to hosting the 4th Annual Diversity Celebration.

The mission of the Diversity Committee is to create and maintain a fully inclusive environment that actively promotes and values diversity in its broadest sense. Specifi cally this includes ensuring broad representation of students, faculty, and staff across multiple indicators of diversity defi ned by age, gender, race, ethnicity, socio-economic level, national origin, religious belief, and sexual orientation, as well as by prior educational attainment and work experience that are cross-disciplinary. The committee meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues pertinent to the mission.

In accordance with its objective to increase student involvement, the committee is partnering with students such as Pam Lozano, President of the Masters Student Nursing Organization and Diversity Committee Student Representative. Student participation and input is central to “Translating the Mission Statement

of the College of Nursing Diversity Committee into a plan of action” (USF College of Nursing Strategic Plan).

For Pam, reaching out to a broad representation of students is important because it gives them “hope that higher education can be possible despite the struggles of speaking another language or having cultural differences. It provides students with role models and mentors throughout their nursing education process.” She participates in the College of Nursing Diversity Committee because “USF has the ability and resources to truly make a change for nursing students by offering education, research, and resources regarding diversity in healthcare settings.” Pam hopes that nursing students will get involved in multicultural activities offered throughout the University. Students from the College of Nursing currently participate in the Annual Diversity Celebration and Cultural Competence Seminar as well as in the USF Health Cultural Fiesta.

The Diversity Committee welcomes student input. Any suggestions on activities or services to involve and/or serve students can be emailed to nurstudent@health.usf.edu. NL

Nursing master’s student, Pam Lozano, in traditional Peruvian attire, and her brother, a future nursing student, at the 3rd Annual College of Nursing Diversity Celebration.

The College of Nursing at the University of South Florida has achieved its highest research ranking ever from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The College ranked 30th among nursing schools nationwide in NIH funding for 2009* – vaulting from a 66th place ranking in 2008.

USF nursing faculty members attracted more than $1.53 million in NIH funding in 2009 for research including palliative and end-of-life care, stress reduction in breast cancer survivors, and postpartum stress and immunity. They surpassed all other Florida nursing schools most recently ranked by the NIH, including the University of Miami and the University of Florida.

The latest round of NIH research rankings, released earlier this month, has the USF College of Nursing gaining ground on nationally-prominent nursing schools at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Emory University and the University of Maryland-Baltimore, to name a few.

Grants and contracts from federal sources, including NIH, are considered among the most competitive and coveted funding sources.

“The ranking is a credit to the skill, persistence, creativity and experience of our faculty,” said Kevin Kip, PhD, Executive Director of the Research Center at the USF College of Nursing. “The fact that we’ve managed to substantially expand our research portfolio in such a competitive

environment -- at a time when the NIH is funding fewer and fewer grant applications -- is quite an accomplishment.”

“This is an impressive achievement that takes team effort, support, and plain old hard work. I am so excited about taking the helm with such outstanding colleagues,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, who joined USF Health in April as the new nursing Dean. A federally-funded researcher herself, Dr. Morrison-Beedy was Assistant Dean for Research at University of Rochester School of Nursing – a school ranked sixth in NIH awards.

The USF College of Nursing’s total funding for research and contracts increased 120 percent over the last four years, from slightly over $1.3 million in

USF JUMPS TO TOP 30 NIH RANKING IN NURSING RESEARCHStory by Anne DeLotto Baier

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Dr. Kevin Kip, executive director of nursing research at USF Health, with the three senior faculty members attracting the most NIH awards to the College of Nursing -- from left to right, Dr. Susan McMillan, Dr. Cecile Lengacher and Dr. Maureen Groer.

ONGOING FUNDED RESEARCH Burns, Patricia $160,172 Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Nursing Health Resources and Services Administration 7/1/2009 - 6/30/2010 $111,347

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Supplement ARRA 2009 Health Resources and Services Administration 9/1/2009 - 6/30/2010 $48,825

Cadena, Sandra $356,571 VA Nursing Academy (VANA) Veterans Administration Medical Center - James A. Haley 12/15/2008 - 12/14/2014 $260,841

VA Nursing Academy (VANA) - IPA Agreement 8/21/2009 - 12/9/2009 $86,947

Veterans Administration Medical Center - James A. Haley VA Nursing Academy (VANA) - Subcontract/IPA with VA 1/11/2010 - 5/6/2010 $8,783

Evans, Mary $40,422 Adaption of Multisystemic Therapy for Transition Age Youth University of Massachusetts 4/1/2008 - 7/31/2010 $12,459

Confl ict Management: Tools to Help Implement and Sustain System of Care MACRO International, Inc. 9/30/2004 - 3/30/2010 $27,963

Gower, Sierra $214,519 CRNA Program for the Underserved Health Resources and Services Administration7/1/2008 - 6/30/2011 $214,519

Groer, Maureen $333,882Infl uence of Lactation on Postpartum Stress and Immunity - researchsupplementNational Institutes of Health9/21/2009 - 5/31/2011 $333,882

Johnson-Mallard, Versie $106,733Word of Mouth: An Intervention Study Targeted at Decreasing Viral STIsamong a Diverse Group of Young Adults Males and FemalesJohnson (Robert Wood) Foundation9/1/2009 - 8/31/2012 $106,733

Kip, Kevin $128,084Process and Outcomes of the VHA Safe Patient Handling ProgramVeterans Administration Medical Center - James A. Haley3/1/2010 - 9/30/2010 $9,214

Racial Differences in Atherosclerosis, Plaque Vulnerability, and CVD University of Pittsburgh8/17/2009 - 7/31/2010 $23,870

Supplemental Services to Improve the Emotional Health and Quality ofLife of U.S. Service Members and Veterans with Severe DisabilitiesSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 9/30/2009 - 9/29/2010 $95,000

Lengacher, Cecile $693,849MBSR Symptom Cluster Trial for Breast Cancer Survivors National Cancer Institute2/1/2009 - 12/31/2010 $693,849

Mcmillan, Susan $858,814Managing Medication-induced Constipation in Cancer: A Clinical Trial National Institute of Nursing Research12/10/2008 - 11/30/2010 $642,230

Pilot of an Intervention for Caregivers of Hospice HF Patients National Institutes of Health8/11/2009 - 7/31/2011 $216,584

fi scal year 2006-07 to more than $2.8 million in 2009-10 (state fi scal year-to-date). In that same period, NIH funding climbed from $324,832, or 25 percent of total awards, to more than $1.8 million, or about 65 percent of total awards.

Three senior faculty members – Maureen Groer, PhD; Cecile Lengacher, PhD; and Susan McMillan, PhD – pulled in the most NIH research funding at the USF College of Nursing in 2009. All three were successful in winning economic stimulus funding from NIH, available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to help supplement their ongoing studies.

With support from the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR), Dr. Groer is tracking changes in women’s immune

systems in the months following childbirth, including how breastfeeding may infl uence postpartum stress and immunity. Dr. Lengacher is conducting a clinical trial funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on the use of mindfulness-based stress reduction for breast cancer survivors. Dr. McMillan leads a NCI-sponsored clinical trial

on managing medication-induced constipation in cancer patients; she is also testing a NINR-sponsored psychoeducational intervention to teach family caregivers how to better cope with specifi c symptoms of hospice patients with heart failure. Dr. Kip points to the vision and leadership of Patricia Burns, PhD (who steped down as USF’s nursing Dean after 12 years) in helping the University advance its research stature. Dr. Burns vigorously supported dedicating the time needed

for faculty to pursue grant writing and conduct research studies. Working with Dr. Kip, she also strengthened the College’s research infrastructure – including establishing a new Biobehavioral Laboratory, this year which supports state-of-the art biological data analysis for faculty and student projects.

“The strong showing in the NIH research ranking will help the College of Nursing in its national recruitment of top-level nurse scientists – both faculty and research-oriented master’s and doctoral students,” Dr. Kip said. “It will also bolster the College’s prospects for a prestigious NIH Institutional Research Training Grant (T32), a program to support novel and advanced training of predoctoral students and postdoctoral fellows.” NL

The ranking is a credit to the skill, persistence, creativity and experience of our faculty.‘‘ ‘‘

(Left to Right) Dr. Versie Johnson-Mallard, Dr. Kevin Kip, Nancy Lee, Dr. Cecile Lengacher and Dr. Denise Passmore meet to discuss a collaborative, interdisciplinary research project.

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STRATEGIC PLAN PROGRESSIn November of 2009, faculty, staff and

students met to discuss progress made since beginning the work of the College of Nursing’s Strategic Plan over one year ago. The Strategic Plan Oversight Group leaders met with all participants and interested persons to report on and evaluate the actions of the preceding year as well as identify goals for the upcoming period of time. This exercise also gave individuals who were new to the process an opportunity to participate in areas of interest. In each of the four separate meetings, which were centered on the major goals that drive the Strategic Plan, the objective team leaders and participants reported on the strengths, challenges, and opportunities identifi ed over the preceding year. For example, some of the strengths that were highlighted included the creation of a Diversity Day and the preceptor tuition program. Challenges mentioned less than optimal communication with outside agencies and minimal student participation in college planning activities. Opportunities that were described included more inclusion of the alumni and friends board in the business of the college and the entrepreneurial potential of the simulation lab.

Highlights, accomplishments, and indicators were recognized by each of the teams. Team 1 listed a number of highlights accomplished through the Strategic Plan process. These include location of potential near-term funding

sources along with opportunities that align with faculty expertise. Other highlights listed the placement of research residents at several area hospitals and the development of a protocol to expand on-site research. Additionally, the mission and goals of four innovative interdisciplinary research programs were established. These programs include psychoneuroimmunology, women’s health, end-of-life care, and data coordination of multi-center studies. Team 2 highlighted the restructuring of the Offi ce of Student Services as a major task accomplished. Two separate advising groups were created to address the needs of undergraduate and graduate students. A Blackboard organizational site was generated to provide a place for faculty to share innovative methods of teaching and tools used in their live and online classes. A change in the use of standardized-testing at the end of courses and programs was initiated based on a needs assessment that identifi ed ways to increase the academic success of diverse learners.

Inclusion of doctoral students in a project to track and prioritize national and local health problems was one of the highlights described by Team 3 members. An expansion of the Clinical Collaborative model to include a community component was initiated to include partnerships with diverse groups within the community and address the needs of nurse practitioner students. Development and support of

a faculty-run practice is ongoing and numerous activities have occurred over the last year towards making this a reality.

The identifi cation of values for the college was a major highlight of Team 4, as this objective helped determine the direction of other goals within the Strategic Plan. The team was responsible for initiating a number of administrative functions such as the creation of the Executive Leadership Team, reorganization of the college’s administrative areas, and reviewing current faculty workload issues. The team also addressed the work environment through redecorating efforts and an ongoing security assessment plan. Technology initiatives included the purchase of Cerner’s Educational Electronic Medical Record System and a needs assessment of the technology needs of the college.

These highlights help us focus efforts for the coming year. As the work of the Strategic Plan continues, participants in the process can use this fi rst year’s accomplishments to evaluate what has been successful to continue the ongoing work necessary to meet the major goals outlined in the Strategic Plan.

We are looking forward to the advancement of our college, university, and community through the efforts of our Strategic Plan and believe this year will be the best one yet!

-The Stategic Plan Oversight Group

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Story by Deena Kemp Pople

GORDON KELLER ALUMNAE CELEBRATE 100 YEARS HELP PREPARE STUDENTS FOR NURSING’S NEXT CENTURY

When the Gordon Keller School of Nursing closed its doors in 1972, Hillsborough Community College acquired the facility and the nursing program, but the College of Nursing at University of South Florida adopted the school’s alumnae.

On the eve of its 100-year anniversary, passing on the school’s legacy is particularly important to some of these women who still meet each May to celebrate their memories. Jean Thomas, a 1953 graduate, is part of

this group. Interacting with today’s nursing students at USF, she fi nds herself refl ecting on her experience as a young nurse at the Gordon Keller School.

“My parents chose Gordon Keller because it had the highest scores on state boards of any school in Florida,” she explained, “but it was also a very controlled atmosphere. My dad was a lawyer and he wouldn’t let me go just anywhere.”

Gordon Keller was an all-girls nursing

school and the women lived on campus for the duration of the three-year program.

“We were not allowed to be married or get married while enrolled, and male visitors were not allowed in our rooms,” she remembered.

The curriculum was very intense. The fi rst six months were a probationary period. Nurses on probation mainly attended classes with short sessions on the hospital fl oors. After the fi rst six months they were

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put to work as if they were already RNs.“We were in class from eight in the

morning to four in the afternoon and could be assigned to work anytime we were not in class,” Jean says.

The student nurses were also required to perform a certain amount of night duty from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. When they were not working, they had three hours of free time in the evening to go anywhere followed by two hours of study and quiet time. For girls who were not assigned the night shift, lights were out at 10 p.m. “We had a house mother and wehad to sign in and out whenever we left or returned. Can you imagine that today?” she exclaimed. But the restrictive schedule had a huge payoff. In addition to classroom learning, Gordon Keller’s nurses in training administered total care of patients, performing rotations on medical and surgical fl oors from obstetrics to the psychiatric ward.

“It was a real hands-on experience,” Jean said. “We spent a month in the operating room mainly as scrub nurses.”

The Gordon Keller Schoolof Nursing produced very experienced nurses ready to meet the region’s medical challenges. But after the school closed and the nature of nursing programs began to change, the school’s alumnae, now veteran leaders in the medical community, became very concerned that recent graduates were knowledgeable but lacked practical skills.

“There were complaints that we were hiring bright young nurses and fi nding they didn’t have much clinical experience,” Jean said. So the group was excited about the opportunity to align themselves with USF’s nursing program.

“Dean Burns was building an outstanding program that incorporated academics with practical training. We wanted to be a part of that.” Jean said.

The alumnae banded together and established the Gordon Keller Alumni Association Scholarship to support strong students with demonstrated fi nancial need. They also founded the Gordon Keller School of Nursing Professorship to support research that would improve the

effects of nursing in acute care. Jean worked as the assistant

supervisor of surgery at Tampa General Hospital and was on call when the fi rst aorta implant procedure was done there. She remembers using a huge tub fi lled with bags of ice to cool the patient off slowly. The medical staff had to tie off the blood vessels by hand.

“We certainly didn’t have fancy equipment, but we were very well prepared,” Jean said.

She believes that advances in medicine and technology can ease a nurse’s job, but emphasizes that state-of-the-art equipment is only useful if you know how to use it. This means it’s essential for nurses today to be well educated and well trained. The culture and curriculum may be about a century apart but the goal of nursing has not changed. That’s why Jean and her fellow alumnae are honoring their Gordon Keller birthright by helping students of their adopted alma mater receive excellent training to deliver excellent care. NL

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In 1910, The Gordon Keller Memorial Hospital and Gordon

Keller School of Nursing opened to provide improved medical

services to the community. When the 32-bed hospital closed

in 1927, the nursing school moved to Davis Islands with the

new Tampa Municipal Hospital. The “notorious” class of 1953

are shown here in front of that 250-bed facility. Both the school

and hospital named in honor of the late Tampa businessman,

philanthropist and city treasurer, Gordon Keller, are now gone.

However, the school’s impact lives on through the contributions

of its graduates.

NURSING STUDENTS TRANSLATE FOR HAITIAN EVACUEES

When the fi rst group of Haitian earthquake survivors arrived in Tampa General Hospital’s emergency room Tuesday evening (Jan. 26), three USF nursing students of Haitian descent were there to help translate.

Sherhonda Fevrier, Joanne Leo, and Vatanie Turenne, all in their second year of the baccalaureate nursing program at USF, were born in the United States but speak fl uent Creole. All three women have family members in Haiti who were left homeless by the devastating earthquake; a cousin of Fevrier’s perished in the disaster. All go to school full-time and work part-time – Fevrier and Turenne as nursing techs and Leo as a Licensed Practical Nurse. The trio studies together, sometimes carpools to classes and socializes.

“We really wanted to go to Haiti to help, but because of our obligations we couldn’t, so God brought Haiti to us,” Leo said.

The nine critically injured patients, transported to Tampa General Hospital

(TGH) from a triage staging area at Tampa International Airport, included young adults and several children accompanied by a parent or guardian. They arrived with infected burns, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and other injuries. Since then, TGH has admitted 27 more evacuated Haitian patients, ranging from ages 1 to 75.

On Tuesday, Fevrier, Leo and Turenne were among 12 USF undergraduate nursing students at TGH conducting a medical-surgical clinical rotation that began at 7 a.m. Late that afternoon, Fevrier, who was rotating through the ER along with Leo, overheard a physician saying that the hospital would be receiving patients from Haiti that evening. Fevrier asked TGH administrative nursing supervisor Anita McCoy, a clinical instructor for USF nursing students, if she and her two classmates who spoke Creole could stay on as volunteers after their shift to help translate.

“She said ‘please can we do this?’” McCoy said. “They were more than ready to help, and I was glad to help facilitate that

opportunity. They are outstanding students – strong, independent and real go-getters… Tampa General was extremely happy to have them there to translate.”

After completing their rotations (Vatanie was working on a cardiac surgery fl oor of the hospital) and a post-clinical conference, the three students grabbed a quick bite to eat and went back to the ER to wait for the patients. They began to arrive by ambulance shortly before 10 p.m., and teams of physicians, nurses and other health practitioners sprang into action to stabilize the patients – many with extensive medical needs.

“The fi rst patient I saw was a 23-year-old man who had been in a car when the earthquake hit and the vehicle exploded,” Fevrier recalled. “He had third degree burns on both arms and his face was burned.”

Leo remembers another young man, whose spinal cord had been crushed, paralyzing him from the mid-chest down. “It was very sad,” she said. “I had to explain

Story by Anne DeLotto Baier

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to him the CT scan… that he would be put into a long, narrow tube… and that everyone was trying to do the best they could to help him.”

For nearly three hours, the three students translated – sharing patients’ experiences with the ER staff, explaining procedures patients would be undergoing, helping facilitate informed consent, reassuring and consoling, obtaining phone numbers of patients’ relatives for the chaplain. The patients were quickly treated and sent to hospital rooms, many in intensive care.

Fevrier made it home about 1 a.m. – exhausted, yet grateful, after a 16-hour day. “I’m surprised I made it through the night without crying, but I feel blessed to have been able to do something.”

Fevrier continued to visit and help translate for recovering Haitian patients and their relatives in the pediatric intensive care and burn units at TGH.

CLINICAL COLLABORATIVE IMPACTS COMMUNITY

The University of South Florida College of Nursing Clinical Collaborative Preceptor Partnership model aims to employ the best characteristics of traditional education combined with the breadth of the university education. This model, launched by the College in 2001 began a partnership with over a dozen health care hospitals/systems to facilitate practice collaboration among health care facilities in the Tampa Bay area and provide clinical training preparation of undergraduate nursing students. While doing so the program makes a large impact on the healthcare of the Tampa Bay community.

The Clinical Collaborative Preceptor Partnership model has formed a network that bridges traditional institutional boundaries and enlists cooperation among the Chief Nursing Offi cers and Vice Presidents of nursing services of area hospitals and the College of Nursing. Generating cooperative educational opportunities, the Clinical Collaborative has increased and enhanced the professional nurse experiences throughout the Tampa Bay area.

With over 350 traditional and second degree nursing baccalaureate students enrolled at the College at one time, each are required to complete around 885 clinical hours for their degrees, the College contributes approximately 318,600 hours of nursing care to area hospitals per cohort.

The program enables students to learn essential nursing skills under the guidance of an experienced nurse preceptor at a partnering health care organization facility from the fi rst day of clinical experience. A unique feature that distinguishes this model from other traditional models is that students are required to complete their entire student experience at a single health care organization or team of hospitals. Some of the hospitals in the USF Clinical Collaborative provide the entire clinical experience at their facility while others have teamed with another hospital or two to comprise a hospital team.

Hospitals involved in the USF Clinical Collaborative include: All Children’s Hospital, Bayfront Medical Center, H. Lee Moffi tt Cancer Center & Research Institute, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Morton Plant Mease, Shriners Hospitals for Children, South Florida Baptist Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa General Hospital and University Community Hospital.

The innovative model process begins with a new cohort of students admitted and assigned to a hospital team, led by a College of Nursing academic faculty Team Coordinator (TC).The TC collaborates with College academic clinical faculty and hospital-based faculty to assign preceptors to each student in their fi rst semester of clinical, and every semester thereafter. To avoid undue burden on the unit’s cadre of preceptors, no more than two students are assigned to a clinical nursing unit, and the preceptor to student ratio is 1:1. The students learn at the side of their preceptor, and the clinical faculty supports the preceptors by continually making rounds.

The preceptor serves as a role model for professional nursing practice, engages students in aspects of patient care management appropriate to their level of study, and reinforces the needed psychomotor skills. The clinical faculty ensure the students are applying didactic content and concepts by focusing on clinical reasoning and critical thinking. The College’s academic faculty evaluates student performance with input from both the preceptors and clinical faculty. Students advance through their program of study as a cohort in a single hospital team, establishing a bond with each other, their preceptors, and their health care system.

Story by Ashlea Hudak

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L to R: USF nursing students Vatanie Turenne, Sheronda Fevrier and Joanne Leo.

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The College of Nursing Scholarship Awards Luncheon is a major highlight of the College’s year. It is the opportunity for students to meet face-to-face with the person who made their scholarship possible. For many of these students, the generosity of this individual and others who support almost 40 College of Nursing scholarships makes the difference in the students ability to attend a university. Dr. Stephen Klasko, CEO of USF Health and Dean of the College of Medicine, welcomed the students and guests to the 10th annual event. He noted that USF is exceeding expectations due to our students, faculty and staff. And the impact our donors make is refl ected in the success of the College of Nursing. Klasko introduced Dean Patricia Burns noting, “Dean Burns is also a key reason for the success of the College and this scholarship luncheon is just one of her legacies at the College of Nursing.”

Dean Burns identifi ed highpoints in the history of the luncheon and how it’s grown over the years.

• At our very fi rst luncheon, 44 students received awards totaling $24,000. Today 92 students are receiving approximately $130,000.

• The College of Nursing Endowed Memorial Scholarship, established in 1981, was the fi rst scholarship for the College of Nursing.

• There are about 130 friends, faculty and staff supporting nursing scholarships at USF.

The afternoon’s program included presentations by three recipients giving their perspectives on what their scholarships mean to them. Sara Ippolito in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program – Upper Division stated, “You are not only helping us right now while we are in nursing school, but you are also helping build the future of nursing.”

“Regardless of how we use these awards, the end result is that they bring us one step closer to success. Now that I am working on my PhD, I know that this would not be possible without the unselfi sh donations from our honored guests today.”

said Glenna Brewster in the BS to PhD Program

Jessica Heckel in the Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program explained, “My experiences at the College of Nursing have intensifi ed my quest for knowledge, as well as my passion for helping others.”

The keynote speaker was Mr. Erik Edward Joh, the managing trustee of The Gertrude E. Skelly Charitable Foundation. The Skelly Foundation supports fi rst generation scholarships in nursing at USF. Mr. Joh engaged the audience in thoughtful consideration of the benefi ts they are providing not only to the students but the population at large. He explained that the Skelly Foundation believes that fi nancial need should not stop a student from attaining their educational dream.

The luncheon ended with the recognition of donor and recipients for each scholarship. Pictures were taken so that donors would receive tangible evidence of their generosity and students could imagine what it would be like when they could stand in the shoes of a donor!

SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEONStory by Patricia Shirley

Nursing students, grateful for donors generosity, posed for photographs at the Fall 2009 Scholarship Luncheon.

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On December 12, 2009 and May 8, 2010, the USF College of Nursing Alumni and Friends Society held its newest tradition at the USF College of Nursing, the Alumni Path of Light. College of Nursing alumni led the processions of nursing graduates into the USF Health auditorium. Holding lighted candles that signify their pledge taken in the tradition of Florence Nightingale, the “Lady with the Lamp”, the alumni formed a pathway for their fellow new alumni and colleagues. Christine Olney, ’07, College of Nursing

Alumni and Friends Board President lead the procession and addressed the graduates including leading all nurses in the nursing pledge. With over 400 guests in attendance at the fall ceremony and nearly 700 in attendance in the spring, this ceremony has become one of the College’s most recent points of pride.

This new tradition along with the pinning ceremony was made possible through efforts lead by Melissa Molinari Shelton ’05, ‘08 cochair of the Awards and Recognition Committee

of the Society. “All of us working on the project were so pleased with the response from alumni and graduates. Since the Convocation, I have had a number of alumni and student alumni ask how to become involved. I can’t think of a better sign of success,” said Shelton. “I’ve told them to watch the College of Nursing Alumni and Friends Society website for the details to participate in our next Alumni Path of Light as we hope to light the entire length of the aisle!”

Story by Leanna Baylis

The Path of Light is based on the nickname “the Lady with the Lamp” earned by Florence Nightingale for her dedication toward the welfare of her patients by tending the sick through the night. It is a reminder to alumni and graduates of the tradition of service and care they are upholding.

PATH OF LIGHT ILLUMINATES ALUMNI

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On Saturday, November 21, 2009, University of South Florida College of Nursing Alumni and Friends Society welcomed alumni underneath the USF Nursing Tailgate Tent outside of Raymond James Stadium for the Homecoming Reunion Tailgate. Over brunch alums spent the morning catching up with one another and reminiscing about their time as students at the College of Nursing. There was plenty of Bulls’ spirit in the air to celebrate the USF Nursing pride!

“Not only were the accommodations, giveaways and food great, it was an excellent opportunity to meet with and

speak to alumni from the College’s early years.” said Nursing doctoral student, faculty, and Alumni and Friends Board member, Marisa Belote.

College of Nursing Alumni and Friends Board President, Christine Olney ’07 noted, “It was so exciting to meet colleagues and learn about how the College made a difference in their lives. Not to mention being in the middle of the pregame Homecoming activities!”

After the tailgate, nursing alums helped cheer on the USF Bulls to a 34-22 victory over the Louisville Cardinals.

“I had such a great time at the College of Nursing Homecoming Reunion Tailgate,” said Belote. “As a member of the faculty and as a doctoral student I am proud of the caliber of nurse our College produces and I am looking forward to Homecoming 2010!”

Planning for the 2010 Reunion has begun! Class Presidents and Class Agents (Classes of 2010, 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1985, 1980 and 1975) are encouraged to contact the College of Nursing Alumni Relations at (813) 974-6850 or lbaylis@health.usf.edu to help ensure the success of this exciting event.

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YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE

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Patricia Podlas, ’78, is a Registered Nurse at Morton Plant Hospital, Bardmoor ER, in Largo, Florida.•

Kathleen Glaser, ’84, is the Director of Health Practitioners for the Department of State Offi ce of Medical Services in Washington, D.C.

Melissa Carver, ’86, is currently working for Florida Cancer Specialists in Tampa, Florida.

Christi Champion Switzer, ’87,is a Certifi ed Registered Nurse Anesthetist working for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in Houston, Texas.

Jeanne Hopple, ’93, is a Family Nurse Practitioner for Family Care Specialists in Ocala, Florida.

Michael Gibbons, ’95, is a Staff Certifi ed Nurse Anesthetist for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and is currently residing in Stuart, Florida.

Linda Mason Barber, ’99, is an Assistant Professor at Lagrange College in Lagrange, Georgia.

Tracy Hammett, ’02, is a Nurse Educator for Labor and Delivery at Bayfront Medical Center in Tampa, Florida.

Bethany Graves Brown, ’09, is a Registered Nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, and is currently enrolled in the Nurse Practitioner Program at USF training in critical care.

Ruthanne Brown, ’09, is a Registered Nurse for the Bay Care Health System in Tampa, Florida.

Jenny Clanton, ’09, is a Registered Nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida.

Allison Lowe, ’09, is a Registered Nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, working on the transplant fl oor.

Corrianne Norrid, ’09, is currently serving as an Ensign in the United States Navy, Nurse Corps.

Karen Rahman, ’09, is a Nurse Practitioner in Vascular and Thoracic Surgery in Punta Gorda, Florida.

Karen Santora, ’09, is a Registered Nurse at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE SURE YOU AREN’T LEFT OUT?

Sign on to the Online Community at nursing.usfhealthalumni.net

CLASS NOTES

SAVE THE DATEUSF Homecoming 2010 will be the

weekend of October 8th-10th and is sure to

be fi lled with numerous events to remember!

Mark your calendars now and update

your contact information through the USF

Nursing Alumni Society online community

at nursing.usfhealthalumni.net to make sure

you receive all the updates about the events

planned for that week.

Want to be involved in the success of

the nursing reunion events?

Contact Nursing Alumni Relations at

(813) 974-6850 or lbaylis@health.usf.edu.

College of Nursing12901 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, MDC Box 22Tampa, FL 33612P (813) 974-2191health.usf.edu

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University of South Florida

FACULTY OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLEVisit: employment.usf.edu

Why USF?• The fastest growing research university in the United States

• One of the nation’s top 20 “up and coming universities”

• The 6th largest employer in the beautiful Tampa Bay region

• One of the largest US university with an enrollment of over 46,000 students

• One of the fi rst US universities to earn the Carnegie Community Engagement Classifi cation

Why College of Nursing?• Ranked 30th nationally in research funding from NIH

• Top-notch clinical partners including 10 area hospitals and over 350 clinical affi liates

• World class faculty integrating technology, education and research

• New facilities with state-of-the-art simulation center and a cutting-edge Biobehavioral laboratory

Why Now?• Dr. Dianne Morrison-Beedy, a new Dean with a bold new outlook and strategic direction

• USF Health – a unique interprofessional collaboration of faculty from all of the health sciences

• USF World – a platform for developing exclusive partnerships across the globe

• The Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (opens Fall 2012) is a world class, state-of-the-art, facility for international education, training and research in simulation and innovative continuing education models