2014 UCF NURSING MAGAZINE, vol. 9

Nursingmagazine

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA | COLLEGE OF NURSING | ORLANDO, FLORIDA | www.nursing.ucf.edu

Volume 9

2014

OUR NEW CAREERS IN NURSING SCHOLARSFROM INDUSTRY TO PATIENT CARE THANKS TO A PRESTIGIOUS RWJF NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA2

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COLLEGE LEADERSHIP

Mary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM Interim Dean and Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing

Susan Chase, EdD, FNP-BC, FNAPAssociate Dean for Graduate Affairs and Professor

Maureen Covelli, PhD, RNInterim Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs and Associate Professor

Donna Felber Neff, PhD, RN, FNAPInterim Director of Nursing Research, PhD Program Coordinator and Associate Professor

UCF Nursing Magazine is published annually by the College of Nursing at the University of Central Florida for alumni, friends, national nursing leadership, community partners, students, faculty, staff and the media.

Send correspondence to:UCF College of NursingAttn: Editor, UCF Nursing Magazine12201 Research Parkway, Suite 300Orlando, Florida 32826

For address changes, alumni notes, story ideas or photo submission, e-mail: [email protected]

EDITOR / DESIGNCarolyn M. Petagno

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORSIvanna Alayon, Jason Crews, Courtney Gilmartin, Julie Harper, Zenaida Kotala, Angie Lewis, Seeta Nath, Annie O’Donnell, Judy Pardo, Shelley Preston, Zack Thomas and Ashley White

DESIGN CONTRIBUTORSRyan Connors and Kristen Longbrake

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTORSLisa Goldblatt, Deaw Jayanama, Geoff Levy, Kristen Longbrake, Annie O’Donnell, Zack Thomas, Malcolm Yawn, Frank Weber of RF Photography, Steve Williams and UCF Marketing

Nursingmagazine

2014—Volume 9BREATHE EASY: KEEPING CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA OUT OF EMERGENCY ROOMS PAGE 4

GRANT SUPPORTS NURSE PRACTITIONER STUDENTS PAGE 9

PHD FOR NURSES NOW OFFERED ONLINE PAGE 11

MEET OUR NEW CAREERS IN NURSING SCHOLARS PAGE 12

$2.3 MILLION NIH GRANT TO HELP CRITICAL PATIENT CARE PAGE 17

NEW PATENT FOCUSES ON TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION, AND COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION PAGE 18

MEET OUR FIVE ENDOWED CHAIRS IN NURSING PAGE 20

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

INTERIM DEAN’S MESSAGE: PAGE 3

COMMUNITY AT A GLANCE: PAGES 4–7

ACADEMICS AT A GLANCE: PAGES 8–11

STUDENTS AT A GLANCE: PAGES 12–15

RESEARCH AT A GLANCE: PAGES 16–23

FACULTY AT A GLANCE: PAGES 24–29

GIVING AT A GLANCE: PAGES 30–35

ALUMNI AT A GLANCE: PAGES 36–39

FEATURES

INSIDE this Issue

COLLEGE OF NURSING MAGAZINE 3

ASPIREUCF is hiring 100 faculty members – 90 percent

tenure track – for new positions, as well as 100 more to replace departed or retiring faculty

members. The new positions are in every college, with emphases in STEM and areas with high student demand. These positions are a result of UCF’s first significant increase in state funding in seven years. The increase, which followed several years of budget cuts, also enabled UCF to provide faculty members with raises in 2014. The College of Nursing is in the process of hiring 11 faculty to support both undergraduate and graduate education.

“Aspire” is the theme of the university’s faculty recruitment campaign. Aspire means to direct one’s goals toward achieving something. Our goal at the College of Nursing is to achieve excellence in teaching, research and service, while offering a diverse portfolio of educational programs. This theme is so appropriate for UCF and the College of Nursing where opportunities for growth and professional development are limitless. Subthemes of the Aspire campaign also relate to the college—build, innovate, incubate, educate a workforce, partner, improve lives and save lives.

The College of Nursing has built strong educational programs. For example, students from our traditional and second degree BSN programs, who are taking the NCLEX licensure examination for the first time, achieved a 98 percent pass rate. This rate was the highest among our peers in the state university system, and well above the state and national averages. Our innovative dual enrollment, concurrent ASN to BSN program with Seminole State College and Valencia College is thriving. Along with a strong online RN to BSN program, the UCF College of Nursing is helping to promote a BSN-prepared workforce, and our BSN graduates are in high demand.

Our diverse portfolio of graduate programs is also shaping the nursing workforce. Graduate students are earning degrees in nursing education, nursing leadership and management, and as primary care nurse practitioners. These graduates are also in high demand for faculty positions, leadership roles in organizations, and in the delivery of primary care across our region. Our innovative doctoral programs (DNP and PhD) are educating clinicians who can impact change at the organizational level and nurse scientists who generate new knowledge to guide nursing practice.

Our innovative online graduate programs are ranked in the top 25 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report (p. 8). Since we excel in online delivery of programs, we plan to deliver the PhD program online starting in fall 2015 (p. 11).

Our faculty and student researchers have “Incubated” their ideas! We continue to recruit high-quality students to pursue Honors-in-the-Major projects. Consistent with past years, our students earned high honors at the annual Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence event (p. 13). Competitive grants were awarded to several faculty members to improve

nursing care delivery, including a large NIH grant awarded to me (p. 17) and individual grants from the Florida Blue Foundation to Drs. Donna Neff and Laura Gonzalez (p. 19). Nursing continues to develop a strong niche in simulation through our work with Dr. Gregory Welch (p. 18).

Partnerships are abundant in the college. Dr. Linda Gibson-Young initiated the Easy 2 Breathe Asthma camp this summer (p. 4-5). Students had an amazing opportunity to work with school-age children to improve their management of asthma. The camp provides opportunities for teaching, research and service. These students definitely improved the lives of the children and their families. We also held lectureships (p. 6-7) and invited nurses in the community. These lectureships provide an opportunity for promoting alumni relations, recruitment into our many programs, and ideas for ongoing and new partnerships.

Partnerships are also demonstrated by our strong relationships with our donors. Our students have benefited from the many scholarships donors have established to support their education. Our simulation area was enhanced by a generous gift of manikins, medical supplies and equipment from Lockheed Martin (p. 32). We are increasing simulation in the undergraduate and graduate curriculum and this gift will help us in our teaching and research efforts.

Our students and graduates continue to improve and save lives every day through both planned and extracurricular activities. The Student Nurses Association chapters across our three campuses partnered with numerous organizations to improve the lives and well-being of many. The Orlando chapter won state (Diamond Chapter Circle Award) and national (Stellar School Chapter) awards for their activities (p. 14-15). Our recently-awarded Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship funding is supporting advanced practice education for those interested in delivering primary care to underserved populations (p. 8-9).

These are only highlights of the many activities showcased in this edition of our annual magazine. I am proud to work with a great group of faculty, adjunct faculty, staff and students. We all aspire to excellence, and we work hard to ensure that our students are well-educated to improve and save lives.

Go Knights, and Charge On!

Mary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCMInterim Dean, UCF College of Nursing Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing UCF Pegasus Professor

MESSAGE from our Interim Dean


Jaksael Moreno leaped to swat at a red balloon as it sank slowly in the air. He missed and lunged for another before it hit the floor. Like a pack of rowdy puppies, the 7- and 8-year-olds

around him in the classroom dashed and tumbled to keep the floating targets aloft. The camp counselors supervising the frolic were alert; any sort of physical activity is a scary situation for a group of children with asthma who might not recognize when too much fun quickly becomes an emergency. But kids — even ones with asthma — will be kids.

Finding her happy son after playtime, Moreno’s mother, Jessica, smiled. “This is the first time he’s been with so many kids with asthma.”

Like her son, the other boys and girls at Camp Easy 2 Breathe wore belt packs carrying inhalers and peak flow meters to test their lung capacity. Two nurses with an oxygen tank stood at the ready. Youthful exuberance wasn’t something to tolerate — it was a reason to celebrate. And for camp founder Dr. Linda Gibson-Young, an assistant professor at the College of Nursing, watching children with asthma chase balloons was a small victory in a long battle. Keeping children with asthma out of the emergency room is Linda Gibson-Young’s goal.

PREVENTING EMERGENCIES

Before joining the UCF faculty in 2011, Gibson-Young was a pulmonary nurse who worked with what seemed like an endless line of children who came into the emergency room suffering from painful and sometimes-fatal asthma attacks — many of which were preventable.

“It was heartbreaking to see those children suffer needlessly,” she says.

Most of the children Gibson-Young treated in that Birmingham, Alabama, ER came from low-income homes. She knew firsthand the challenges all families face when they have a child with a chronic illness. Her own son, Greyson, was diagnosed with asthma in 2010. That experience helped clarify her mission: “My goal in life is to make a difference in the lives of kids with asthma.”

Asthma is the third-leading cause of preventable hospitalization in Florida. As defined by the Florida Department of Health, it is a chronic lung disease characterized by inflammation of the airways and recurring attacks of symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and chest tightness. Inflammation makes the airways sensitive to common irritants such as smoke, pet dander, pollen, mold, chemicals and other airborne triggers. Currently, there is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled through medical treatment and environmental management. That control starts with education.

In Osceola County, the number of children visiting emergency rooms because of pediatric asthma is one of the highest in the state. More than 22 percent of the county’s children under the age of 18 have had at least one asthma attack. So Gibson-Young approached Barbara Meeks, chief nurse executive at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, about partnering to create an asthma camp. Meeks was on board immediately. She had run

medical camps in other states and knew they made a positive impact not only on the children attending them, but also on ER staff swamped with asthma cases.

With support from Nemours and a staff of UCF nursing students, Gibson-Young launched Camp Easy 2 Breathe based on the American Lung Association’s curriculum for children ages 6 to 12. The four-day camp offers activities designed to get kids thinking about how their illness works, such as scavenger hunts highlighting attack triggers and making lung puppets out of paper sacks and construction paper. Children also learn lung-strengthening exercises and participate in physical activities that teach them how to recognize their limits and avoid an attack that may lead them to an emergency room.

“This is the time when children are beginning to take responsibility for their asthma but may not know yet how to look for symptoms,” Gibson-Young says. “That’s where we help.”

MANAGING ASTHMA

Children squeezed slimy, green “mucus” between their fingers. They were mixing a sticky concoction of cornstarch, water and green food coloring to help them better understand their asthma.

“What happens when you squeeze the mucus?” a counselor asked. “Imagine mucus in your body — why is it difficult to breathe?”

“It plugs up your lungs,” a child responded.

“Normalization is a big part of what we do here,” said Melody Wallace, a child life specialist at Nemours. The arts and crafts projects are a way to introduce topics to campers that they may not feel comfortable talking about with non-asthma sufferers. And normalization is the key to getting the children to discuss their challenges.

“So,” asked student nurse Tamesha Rolle, ’14, “what are some of your triggers?”

“Smoke!” yelled one of the boys. “Pollen!” said another. “Cleaning products!”

“Good. Any more?” asked Rolle.

“Barbie stickers!” a boy shouted out, getting a laugh from the campers and counselors.

The trigger activity set the stage for a special visitor to the camp. Rebecca Campbell, an asthma sufferer on the UCF women’s rowing team, told the children about her first attack.

“I noticed my chest felt a little heavy, and I couldn’t get in a full breath of air,” she recalled. “I started to panic and cry, which only made things worse. I had heard of asthma before from classmates in elementary school, but I didn’t recognize what was happening to me.” Fortunately, her coach recognized that it was an asthma attack and encouraged Campbell to see a doctor after calming her down.

Rather than backing away from sports, Campbell learned to use an inhaler, cool down with a wet towel over her forehead and take belly breaths when she found it hard to breathe.

BREATHE EASY


WHAT IS AN ASTHMA ATTACK?When an asthma attack occurs, the linings of the

airways in the lungs swell as the muscles around them contract and mucus production increases, causing coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, difficulty in

breathing and sometimes asphyxiation.

Keeping children with asthma out of the emergency room is Linda Gibson-Young’s goal.

COMMUNITY at a Glance

5COLLEGE OF NURSING MAGAZINE

“I lived through it, altered my workouts and was forced to find ways to manage on my own,” she said. “You can find middle ground of being athletic and living with asthma — I’m proof of that.”

GAINING PERSPECTIVE

Standing on one foot and pulling on his ears, Freddy Roman, ’14, had every camper’s attention.

“Freddy says, hop up and down.” The giddy campers hopped.

“Stop!” Roman cried. A few did. “Aw! Freddy didn’t say!”

The remaining campers continued to jump in earnest as Roman watched, monitoring their stamina until he finally gave the order. “Freddy says, stop!”

The kids collapsed into a pile of giggles — still holding their ears.

Roman, along with 36 other nursing students from UCF’s Daytona Beach campus, probably never thought a game of Simon Says would be part of his education. But practical experience garnered from volunteering is an important step for the students, and Camp Easy 2 Breathe provided an integral lesson in working with children. As they educated the campers about their disease, students witnessed the complications and psychological toll that asthma can take on a young patient.

“Some [students] are learning they have a knack for working with kids, while others see the challenges young patients present,” says nursing professor Dr. Angeline Bushy, who observed her students in action. “This has been great for them.”

Nursing student Crystal Blankenship, ’14, agrees. “You can only read so much about asthma or any medical condition, but when

you actually see it and experience it, the knowledge solidifies much quicker.”

MOVING FORWARD

Stomp, stomp, clap. Stomp, stomp, clap.

Entering the classroom filled with their parents and caregivers, the campers wiggled with excitement as they took their places, ready to perform their final skit. Gibson-Young, who spent most of her previous few days flitting around each activity, finally stood still — soaking in the last minutes of camp.

Stomp, stomp, clap. Stomp, stomp, clap.

“We will, we will, BREATHE WELL!” the children chanted.

From the back of the room, counselor Blankenship cheered.

“They are fully capable of doing more than most people give them credit for,” she says. “I saw children looking out for each other, knowing when to tell an adult that their campmate was having trouble breathing. [They] were taking responsibility for their own asthma as well as for others. It was amazing.”

For parent Cherie Dwyer, who collected her 9-year-old son

Sean after the skit, there were many good lessons to take home from the camp. “He learned a lot and enjoyed making friends,” she says. “He’s better at taking his medicine — he now knows that it helps him, and he wants to stay healthy.”

“This is the beginning of a strong community partnership,” says Gibson-Young. “The community of Kissimmee wrapped their arms around us with food donations for our asthma campers and families. We expect to continue this camp in the future and add more in Central Florida communities.” •

ASTHMA IN FLORIDA

1 in 10 children in Florida suffer

from asthma.

Children with asthma miss about

3 times as much school as

other students.

Youth with asthma are at increased risk for depression.

Asthma is the third-leading cause of preventable

hospitalization.

In 2012, 47,733 children ages 0 to 17 visited

emergency rooms for asthma-related issues.

13 children ages 0 to 17 died of asthma-related causes

in 2012.

80% of asthma-related deaths are

preventable with proper education and management.

1 in 10 children with lifetime asthma (or

their parent) have taken a course on how to manage their asthma.

1 in 3 children with lifetime asthma have

received an asthma action plan from a health professional.

The College of Nursing continues to serve the greater Central Florida community through 16 Community Nursing Coalitions across five counties, providing 31,450+ interventions and 30,000+ hours of service per year. Three Student Nurses Association chapters also serve the areas surrounding UCF’s Cocoa and Daytona Beach campuses and the main Orlando campus.

In Brevard County alone, the Cocoa student nurses helped Habitat for Humanity build homes in Palm Bay, raised money for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, educated attendees at a Stand Up to Cancer event, and participated in a United Way Feed & Read event in Cocoa. They also helped provide blood pressure screenings at a health fair in Merritt Island and assisted with a back-to-school event for underprivileged families in Titusville.

As part of their CNC service-learning, they completed 1,000+ vision screenings in schools and gave 850 flu shots at seven veteran outpatient clinics and assisted with a VA Stand Down event for homeless veterans. •


COMMUNITY at a Glance

TOUCHING LIVES, LEADING BY EXAMPLE AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE:OUR STUDENT NURSES, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY

KT WAXMAN DELIVERS LECTUREUCF DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES

Dr. KT Waxman from the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Nursing and Health Professions delivered a challenging lecture on “Advancing Nursing Leadership” in early 2014.

Waxman’s lecture centered on the need for leaders in nursing to bridge the gap between finance and nursing in their education and their practice. Nursing has grown as a profession, she says, and with this, so has the need for leaders of the profession to develop the skills needed to “talk the finance talk” by writing business plans and working to maintain the financial health of their organizations despite the current health care challenges.

Waxman outlined some of these challenges: (1) 50 percent of health care spending in the U.S. is allocated for 5 percent of the population; (2) rapid diffusion of new technology; and (3) the number of people affected by chronic disease is expected to increase significantly over the next 20 years.

“These challenges require nursing leaders to develop their ‘business intelligence’,” Waxman said.

“This is one of the reasons why our Executive DNP curriculum includes a finance course,” said Susan Chase, associate dean for graduate affairs. “We are preparing nurses to lead health systems.”

A nurse leader and educator with nearly 30 years of experience in health care and corporate settings, Waxman is a tenure-earning assistant professor at USF (Ca.) and chair of the Doctor of Nursing Practice department. She teaches in both the executive leader and traditional DNP programs.

This event was hosted with support from Florida Blue. •


Karen Cox, an executive vice president and co-chief operating officer at Children’s Mercy Hospital, a 384-

bed academic pediatric medical center in Kansas City, Mo., and assistant dean for clinical partnerships at the University of Missouri—Kansas City, was the guest speaker at the fourth annual Orlando Health Nursing Lecture held Nov. 4 at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center.

During her lecture, “All Nurses as Leaders: The Possibilities in a Changing Health Care Environment,” Dr. Cox shared lessons learned from her experience in the Clinical Scene Investigator (CSI) Academy, a 16-month nursing leadership and innovation training program.

Cox emphasized the role of leadership and the fact that it is not a formal title or position but a skill. “Leadership is important, it matters, and it starts with all of us,” she said.

UCF alumna Rue Hilal, assistant nurse manager at Orlando Health’s South Seminole Hospital, says she felt refreshed after the lecture. “I really liked how she encouraged leadership down to the bedside level. Often times we think of leadership in a more management level.

So that left a lasting impression that anyone with an RN can impact change,” Hilal said.

Recently accepting a new position as a patient care administrator at Orlando Health’s

Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, Jennifer Stoeke agrees with Hilal that leadership involves

everyone. She says the lecture will help her grow her team as leaders, as well as help them see the importance in communicating effectively with one another.

Cox also spoke on the topic of quality and safety in health care. She says medical errors are the third leading cause of hospital deaths nationally. Hilal did not find this statistic surprising. “Medical errors do happen and we have to be honest and realistic about them and continue to find ways to decrease the occurrences,” she said. She emphasized the importance of communication in preventing errors and outlined several techniques including clarifying questions and using a three-way communication system.

Daleen Penoyer, director of the Center for Nursing Research at Orlando Health, says she feels fortunate that Dr. Cox was able to travel to Orlando to present the distinguished nursing lecture and to describe the CSI Academy she helped to develop and lead with the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. “The Crime Scene Investigator Academy is an innovative program that guides staff nurses to drive quality improvements from the front line. It’s exactly the kind of thing we are looking for here in Orlando,” Penoyer said.

Dr. Lori Forlaw, clinical assistant professor in the UCF College of Nursing, enjoyed the lecture and will use some of what Cox shared in her own courses. “Dr. Cox gave great advice about recognizing the need to self-regulate and adding mindfulness approaches to our own practice. She also provided concrete examples of improving the health care environment for patients, families, and staff.”

The Orlando Health Nursing Lecture is hosted annually by the UCF College of Nursing and is supported by the Orlando Health Endowed Fund. The event is attended by current and future nurse leaders and helps to fulfill nursing continuing education requirements by bringing national experts to UCF to address innovative topics in nursing and health care. •

NATIONAL EXPERT IN NURSING CLINICAL AND EXECUTIVE PRACTICE SPEAKS AT ORLANDO HEALTH NURSING LECTURE


PRIMARY CARE SCHOLARS DISCUSS HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNDERSERVED

The UCF College of Nursing held a panel discussion on Health Care for the Underserved in October

during UCF’s annual Diversity Week.

Alina Collins, a master’s student, and five Doctor of Nursing Practice students, Patricia Delgado, Danielle McDonough, Ted Newman, John Rothwell and Andrea San Martin, served on the panel together as Primary Care Scholars (see p. 9). Faculty members, Drs. Linda Gibson-Young and Angela Ritten, led the discusion.

The panel discussed the issues affecting the underserved including how to care for those who are uninsured, unemployed, or unaware of the resources available to them. The students shared their thoughts on how to use education, teamwork, and the understanding of cultural differences to meet the needs of the medically underserved.

San Martin addressed a challenge she and her classmates faced during their first nurse practitioner class. At a health fair sponsored by Hispanic Health Initiatives, they displayed breast models to teach women how to perform self-breast exams. Her group realized that the Hispanic women did not feel comfortable using the models in such a public place. To provide privacy,

San Martin placed cardboard around the activity area to increase their comfort level and participation. “It’s all about learning how to become culturally sensitive and incorporating that into your own practice,” she said.

Also speaking on the Hispanic population, Delgado says her missionary

trips to the Dominican Republic helped her see the similarities between the Hispanics there and those here in Central Florida. She observed that both did not know about health care resources available to them. “I feel a lot more work can be done in just getting the word out,” said Delgado.

Rothwell, a military war veteran, agrees with Delgado and says as a health care

provider he feels it is his responsibility to educate veterans he encounters so they can utilize the resources available to them.

Ritten, a clinical assistant professor in the graduate department, says while working at a local hospital, she witnessed countless situations in which people became unemployed and uninsured

due to the economy and other circumstances. As a volunteer medical provider at Shepherd’s Hope, she says their overall goal is to make a difference in the health of the people they are able to treat.

McDonough shared that many of the clients she encounters at the Brevard Health Alliance have treatable diseases, but because they are uninsured and don’t know where to seek primary care, they often come in too late and their condition is now more advanced.

Dr. Diane Wink, professor and coordinator of the MSN nurse educator program, says she feels it’s imperative that students are aware of the needs of these populations so they are prepared to provide them with high-quality nursing care. “Our overall goal is that every one of our nurse practitioners will have a significant amount of experience with the underserved,” said Wink. •

* attend intensives twice per academic year

O = course format is online

H = hybrid format is mixed mode (some online courses and travel to campus 1-2 times per week)

ONLINE PROGRAMSBachelor of Science in Nursing • RN to BSN / RN to MSN O

Master of Science in Nursing• Adult/Gero Nurse Practitioner H

• Family Nurse Practitioner H

• Leadership & Management O

• Nurse Educator O

Doctor of Nursing Practice• Adult/Gerontology Primary Care

Nurse Practitioner H

• Family Nurse Practitioner H

• Post-MSN Advanced Practice O*• Post-MSN Nurse Executive O*

Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing• Nurse Scientist O* (see page 11)

The College of Nursing ranked No. 24 alongside John Hopkins University on the U.S. News & World Report’s list of best graduate online nursing programs. Last year, UCF ranked 45th.

“We are pleased to see that our online graduate tracks at the MSN and DNP level are being recognized for their quality,” said Susan Chase, the college’s associate dean for graduate affairs.

The college currently offers four graduate online nursing programs, and is moving its Nursing PhD program online in 2015.

All online graduate programs are geared toward working professionals who

want to enhance their skills and achieve leadership positions in health care.

UCF’s programs ranked well in part because of small class sizes (an average of 16) that are taught primarily by faculty who are innovators

in their field, college interim dean Mary Lou Sole said.

“Peer rankings reflect our faculty’s dedication and commitment to offering the highest quality graduate programs,” Sole said. “I’m extraordinarily proud of our growing national reputation.”

U.S. News & World Report ranked online graduate programs in an array of fields and ranked each university based on how well programs engaged with their students, the quality of the faculty, the innovative use and ease of technology used to deliver the curriculum, peer reputation and admission selectivity. A total of 103 schools submitted data for the review. •

WE ARE PLEASED TO

SEE THAT OUR ONLINE

GRADUATE TRACKS

AT THE MSN AND DNP

LEVEL ARE BEING

RECOGNIZED FOR

THEIR QUALITY.

—Susan Chase

ONLINE GRADUATE NURSING PROGRAMS RANK AMONG NATION’S 25 BEST

ACADEMICS at a Glance


COMPETITIVE GRANT SUPPORTS 23 NURSE PRACTITIONER STUDENTS

The UCF College of Nursing has received a competitive grant in the amount of $700,000 for two

academic years from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The college will receive $350,000 each academic year to support nurse practitioner students through the Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship (AENT) program.

This competitive grant was created by HRSA to support the preparation of nurse practitioners, particularly those from underserved areas and those who plan to work within rural and/or medically underserved communities.

Thanks to the AENT grant, the College of Nursing has selected 23 Primary Care Scholars from the Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs to receive the grant funding. Eight full-time nurse practitioner students are each receiving $21,438 for the 2014-5 academic year, while 15 part-time students in their final year of preparation as nurse practitioners are each receiving $10,929.

“All of our Primary Care Scholars are already serving communities in need, whether through their employment or through volunteering,” said Susan K. Chase, associate dean for graduate affairs in the College of Nursing. “It was difficult to narrow our selection to just 23 students deserving of this grant award.”

Awardee Alina M. Collins, a master’s student studying to become a family nurse practitioner, says, “in the future, I would love to be a part of a united front in helping the medically underserved. If given the time and opportunity, we have the potential

to improve the health and well-being of thousands of individuals in this world.”

Raised by a single mother who depended on welfare, awardee Britney Ballard, a DNP student, knows the struggle all too well and is compelled to help those in need.

“As I venture into my career as a (family) nurse practitioner, my ultimate goal is to identify, empower and save lives in underserved communities,” wrote Ballard to the grant committee.

The College of Nursing has been the recipient of several AENT grants in the past. This is the college’s first award since the traineeship application process became competitive in 2012.

“Scholarships and grants are critical for our graduate students,” said Chase. “These students often are supporting a family and must continue to work while pursuing their advanced degree. The traineeship grants will help alleviate some of this financial burden and allow them to focus on school.”

The traineeship grant aligns with the college’s goals of increasing the diversity of students enrolled in the nurse practitioner programs at UCF, accelerating the graduation rates of nurse practitioner students enrolled at UCF, and increasing the proportion of family nurse practitioner and adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner graduates who

begin their employment in primary care settings within rural and undeserved communities. •

(L to R): Britney Ballard and Alina Collins


MeLisa Gantt, a UCF alumna, earned her PhD in nursing in August 2010 through a full military scholarship.

While a student, Gantt served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Nurse Corps and conducted research in the area of stress and hypertension in soldiers.

Since then she has continued to focus her research on the relationship between hypertension and stress disorders in service members, but is also looking at complementary and alternative approaches to stress, as well as the effect pain and sleep have on cardiovascular response.

FROM SECRETARY TO NURSE RESEARCHER

In the early 90’s Gantt obtained a position as a civilian secretary at the Pentagon. She was inspired to be in the presence of so many military men and women.

“I had the honor of working in one of the Joint Staff offices under General Colin Powell during Desert Storm and remember passing the late General Norman Schwarzkopf in the halls,” said Gantt.

Gantt then resigned from her federal position and enlisted in the military as an operating room technician and continued to take college classes at night. A classmate soon discovered that Gantt had accumulated a lot of college credits and suggested that she go to nursing school and become an operating room nurse.

“I can’t say that nursing was my calling, but I serendipitously met people along my path who were instrumental in guiding me to the amazing destination where I am today,” said Gantt.

DISSERTATION AND NEW RESEARCH STUDIES

Gantt’s dissertation, “The Effect of Combat Exercises on Cardiovascular Response: An Exploratory Study” focused on stress and hypertension in soldiers. Her findings showed that psychological stress as well as physical stress had a tremendous impact on the cardiovascular system.

Currently Gantt is working on two funded research studies. One study is looking at the efficacy of binaural beat technology on anxiety and sleep.

“Binaural Beat Technology is a sound technology that affects brainwave patterns,” says Gantt. “I am assessing if this technology can help decrease anxiety enough so that a person can get a good

night sleep and in turn have a positive effect on their cardiovascular response.”

The second study is looking at the efficacy of Reiki (a biofield energy therapy) on neuropathic pain in service members who have sustained extremity trauma.

This fall she is writing a new research proposal to test the efficacy of other sound modalities such as shamanic drumming, signing bowls, and resonance tuning on sleep quality.

“I believe I have made an impact on the individuals within my studies,” said Gantt. “My goal for 2015 is to get this information out!”

SERVING OVERSEAS AND DEPLOYMENT

Gantt is now the chief for the Center for Nursing Science and Clinical Inquiry at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Her responsibilities include overseeing a team of nurse scientists and clinical nurse specialists who design, implement, manage and evaluate nursing research and evidence-based practice initiatives within the European Regional Medical Command.

“Besides this, I’m still heavily involved with my own research and have existing studies at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, both in the Washington, D.C. area,” Gantt says.

Recently she returned from her deployment in Afghanistan where she served as the deputy director of the Joint Combat Casualty Research Team. There she collected data for ongoing studies that evaluated casualty care given by medical care professionals within the armed services. Their primary focus was to assess the injuries treated and to determine whether or not they are able to improve the care given to treat that specific type of injury.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

“People depend on nurses. They put their trust in you to help them get better. As a PhD nurse, it’s now what can you do to contribute back to science,” explains Gantt.

In 2012, Gantt received the college’s Alumni Professional Achievement Award for the impact she has made both as a nurse and military researcher.

“I would have never guessed in a million years that today I would be a Lieutenant Colonel serving as a medical researcher for the European Medical Command. That young secretary back at the Pentagon has come a mighty long way.”

As she reflects on her time as a PhD student, Gantt says the overall UCF experience was positive and she’d like to return one day so she can pass the torch on to new scientists. “To have a first-hand experience with a nurse who has been at the bedside of a warrior, I think that can help educate people who have not yet worked with military populations,” she says. •

MEET LTC MELISA GANTT, ARMY NURSE RESEARCHER

ACADEMICS at a Glance

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Nurses seeking to advance their career with a PhD now have the opportunity to access world-

class research facilities and university faculty through the click of a mouse. The University of Central Florida’s College of Nursing, one of the nation’s best online graduate programs for nursing, according to U.S. News & World Report, will offer the state’s first and only online PhD program specifically designed to educate nurse scientists.

The 60-credit hour program combines the strengths of the nation’s second-largest university with the convenience and flexibility of an online format. Students will only have to travel to Orlando twice per academic year. The first classes will begin the summer of 2015 and applications are currently being accepted. The application deadline is Jan. 15.

“UCF and the College of Nursing are dedicated to providing an array of educational opportunities to our students,” said Dr. Susan K. Chase, associate dean for graduate affairs in the College of Nursing. “By creating an online program, we’re able to attract and prepare more nurse researchers who are the future of health care. Graduates will be able to serve in senior leadership roles in the fields of academia, health care, military and more, and will make valuable contributions to advance nursing and solve some of our world’s ever-evolving health concerns.”

Dr. Donna Neff, program coordinator and interim director of research, said:

“Our graduate students are typically employed full time in leadership positions and appreciate the flexibility of an online program, which allows them to balance their career while furthering their education. This new program expands our existing online offerings to seven, and aids in the growing demand for nurse PhDs.”

Online PhD students will have access to the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, experience small class sizes of less than 20, and receive one-on-one academic support to help meet their educational goals. The UCF College of Nursing currently has 14 faculty scholars actively engaged in cutting-edge research, including in the fields of simulation and technology, acute care and physiology, gerontology, health care self-management, and health systems.

This high-quality educational opportunity is not only convenient but also affordable as UCF has been named one of the nation’s “best value” universities by Kiplinger and The Princeton Review.

The UCF College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for its baccalaureate, master’s and Doctor of Nursing Practice degree programs. The PhD program aligns with The Indicators of Quality in Research-Focused Doctoral Programs in Nursing published by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. •

UCF TO OFFER ONLINE OPTION FOR NURSES SEEKING PHD

Program is first and only in Florida designed for nurse scientists

60 Credit hour program available online (on-site intensives just twice per academic year)

20 Student sized classes to enhance student and professor relations

14 Faculty actively engaged in research

5 Research areas including simulation and technology, acute care and physiology, gerontology, health care self-management, and health systems

$3.5 Million dollars in grant funding for research studies

UNLIMITED Job opportunities across the nation

By the Numbers



STUDENTS at a Glance

THE ULTIMATE DREAM, THE ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE

After seeing Soterios Djiovanis play the oboe on stage, you might not be prepared when he tells you he is becoming a nurse. Born into a Greek Cypriot family, Djiovanis’ worldliness and love of music has given him a unique perspective on his career and how he might achieve his goals. Djiovanis had been playing professionally for eleven years, and was featured in over 30 orchestras, operas, festivals and symphonies.

A new passion sprung in his heart, the desire to nurse others into health, to be part of the “helping professions” as he likes to call them. Djiovanis tells us his struggles, “At this point in my life, I have seen family and friends die. I have seen family and friends suffer from chronic diseases. I want to be the one who can help in an emergency.”

Not many nurses have the benefit of being a trained performer. Years of performances have helped him be at ease in high stakes situations. He draws a comparison between practicing for a big show, where nothing can be taken back, and nursing, where decisions make or break the outcome. “My ability to work under pressure is a strength that I bring to nursing at UCF,” says Djiovanis. One overarching trend throughout his professional life has been the desire to teach. Alongside performing, Djiovanis taught oboe. Now, his career goal is to become a professor of nursing, or a clinical instructor.

Djiovanis pulls from his linguistic background to advance his dream. He learned to speak Spanish while studying at Florida State University and from playing in a Mexican orchestra. “I know that Spanish will be very useful, clinically. Greek has proven to be an enormous asset already, academically.”

His background extends beyond his language. His mom and dad were both health care professionals and he takes great pride in his family legacy. “Both of my parents are beloved by their patients and the community and I aspire to be like them.”

A MILITARY WIFE, MOTHER & AN INSPIRED DAUGHTER

“You will be a great nurse.” Inspired by the words of her dying mother, Donna Encarnacion Dozier set her sights on becoming a nurse. Dozier worked full time to earn enough for tuition and personal expenses, and after graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry found herself working in laboratories. “My background and previous work experience is a foundation of scientific research and teaching," while being a mother has taught her time management and preparation.

Other inspiration comes from her military background. Dozier is a military spouse and very familiar with a community of support. “My experience has taught me patience, mental fortitude, and the strength to persevere through four deployments.” Alongside her work providing communications, activities and support for military families, Dozier has also coordinated drives, and volunteered for her church and Girl Scout troop.

Dozier enrolled into UCF’s pre-nursing track and achieved a 99th percentile score on her admissions test. She eventually wants to earn her doctorate in nursing. She is convinced that her previous lab experience will be invaluable. “I am fascinated by the ground-breaking theories and discoveries that advance the medical field.” She would like to be a clinician and participate in medical research. In fact, she would like to end up right here in the College of Nursing as a professor.

“Attaining a goal is not a single event,” she reminds us, “but a series of steps and events.”

Thanks to the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) New Careers in Nursing Scholarship Program, these four inspiring students are now pursuing their second bachelor’s degrees to become nurses. As NCIN Scholars, they each received a $10,000 scholarship which can be used to pay for tuition, academic fees and living expenses while completing the 15-month accelerated BSN program.

The NCIN Scholarship Program was launched in 2008 by the RWJF and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing to expand enrollment in second degree programs of nursing, address the nursing shortage and increase the diversity of the workforce.

(L to R): Soterios Djiovanis, Myrlyn Verdelus, Devon Beneby and Donna Dozier

NEW CAREERS IN NURSING SCHOLARS


Dr. Jean D’Meza Leuner Dr. Kelly Allred

NCIN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In addition to the $10,000 scholarships, NCIN Scholars receive other support to help them meet the demands of an accelerated degree program. All NCIN grantee schools provide a leadership program and a mentoring program for their scholars, as well as a pre-entry immersion program to help scholars learn to study, test-taking and other skills that will aid them in managing the challenges of an accelerated program.

Jean D'Meza Leuner, PhD, RN, FAAN, is serving as the college’s principal investigator on the NCIN grant.

Kelly Allred, PhD, RN-BC, CNE, is the college’s NCIN program liaison.

Ten undergraduate nursing students participated in the 2014 Showcase for Undergraduate Research Excellence (SURE) competition. All presenters did a fabulous job. Three were awarded scholarships for their honors research.

Health Sciences categoryGeraldine Martinez – 2nd Place“Factors that influence pain management strategies in the NICU”—Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kelly Allred

Hector Ortiz Cintron – Honorable Mention“Use of complementary and alternative medications in older

adults with chronic pain: A pilot hospice nursing survey”—Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kelly Allred

Social Science III categorySarah Thomas – Honorable Mention“Research apprenticeship: An effective way to increase interest

and socialization at the undergraduate level”—Faculty Advisor: Dr. Anne Norris

(L to R): Sarah Thomas, Hector Ortiz Cintron and Geraldine Martinez

STUDENTS RECOGNIZED FOR HONORS RESEARCH

A GLIMPSE OF COMPASSION

Life has been a series of surprises for Myrlyn Verdelus. An extra-curricular activity she took part in called to her in a way that was undeniable. While visiting a neonatal unit in a nearby hospital, she saw the care and compassion that she wanted to have in her career. She remembers the nurse fondly. “She exuded a love for people that mirrored the exact sentiments I aim to attain.” Her volunteer work in her local assisted-living community provided a glimpse of the familial atmosphere that care could provide. She then decided to become a nurse.

Verdelus graduated from Florida International University in 2012 with a BS in Biological Sciences, but wants to pursue a second degree in nursing so she can help the poor. Economically-depressed communities always struggle with health, which is precisely why Verdelus wants to work with them. “Many times, there are barriers impeding on a community to seek counsel regarding health,” she says. She wants to break the barriers she thinks are caused by inadequate transportation and difficulty securing insurance.

Communication is very important to Verdelus. Patients that a nurse encounters are as diverse as the world. We need to have an ‘attentive ear’ for people, she says. “The more we interact with people, the more aware we are to their needs, perceptions, ideas, and personalities.”

A HEALTHY PORTFOLIO

Devon Beneby is a manager by nature. After graduating from Florida International University with a bachelor’s in business administration, he spent a decade managing other people’s money. His power though, was limited to finance. When his client’s unhealthy lifestyle would drain his or her account, all Beneby could do was watch. Now, he manages a new currency—health. “Money is not the most important asset. It is health. Money comes and goes, but once health is done, so are they. I want to provide affordable health to people regardless of their financial situation.”

Being a manager, he’s not a man without a plan. He aspires to work in the emergency department at the local VA hospital. He believes the wide range of scenarios he’ll encounter will make him well rounded. Plus, the experience of working with veterans, who have already sacrificed so much, is rewarding. When his career is stable enough, he will pursue a master’s degree part time.

Ultimately, Beneby felt inspired to help others. This led him to volunteer at Florida Hospital, unsure of where to start, but certain of his field. After assisting a nurse, he knew this was his path. “It was amazing to witness how the nurses help people in the most vulnerable state,” he recalls.

His determination has taken him far, academically and geographically. He traveled to the U.S. from the Bahamas at age 21. He was firmly committed to becoming the first member of his family to obtain a college education. Now, with a wife and two children, he’s working on his second degree. “Giving up is simply not an option for me. I am determined to succeed.” •


Patty Berwager, who is pursuing her MSN in Leadership and Management, was the recipient of a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award.

Lais Bryan, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Mariella Caballero, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Lillian Canamo, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Soterios Djiovanis, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Ann Hartley, a DNP student, was a recipient of a DNP Research Fund grant.

Kathy Hayes, a BSN student, was elected the corresponding secretary of the Florida Nursing Student Association (FNSA) for 2014-5.

Annabeth Huff, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Anthony King, a BSN student, served as first-vice president of the Florida Nursing Student Association (FNSA) for 2013-4.

Sharon Laskowski, a MSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Laurie Laurino, an MSN student in the nurse educator track, was a recipient of a MSN scholarship from the Clinical Professional Organization of the American Society of Perianesthesia Nursing.

Blake Lynch, a BSN student, served as president of the FNSA board for 2013-4.

STUDENT KUDOS

“Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.” –Zora Neale Hurston

During my first degree, the very last thing on my mind was research. I never thought twice about why it was important or if I should do it. My mindset was that I was a “service-oriented”

person, so I should focus on my strengths and what I liked. Research, to me, appeared as test tubes, microscopes, slides, and petri-dishes. It was something you did “after” you completed your undergraduate degree. Truth is, I, personally, did not want any part of that world.

However, when I entered nursing school, research was placed in a completely different light. Professors and instructors talked about research every day. It was the means to discover the best practices to protect our patients. It was part of the lifestyle we will operate with on

the floor. It was the reason we hold pressure after Lovenox administration. All of a sudden, research meant a little bit more than some fancy lab equipment. It meant being part of a better tomorrow for health care.

Knowing this, I signed up for the Honors in the Major program my second semester of nursing school. The HIM program is great because there’s flexibility in your topic and students are allowed to choose the modality and topic of their research. I, personally chose to do a comprehensive literature review on the effect of dietary interventions in pregnant adolescents and their birth outcomes.

It has definitely been a whirlwind of a turn around since then. I’ve had the pleasure to present at three different conferences. I’ve won scholarships to support my research goals and met with professors to help guide me in the process. I’ve gotten the chance to discuss best practices with my peers on a variety of nursing topics from hand hygiene, clotting risk in pregnancy, to anxiety in pediatric asthmatics. I can truly say that my experience with undergraduate student research has taken a complete one-eighty since my first degree.

As an undergraduate researcher, I had no idea about all the amazing things I had yet to do when I signed up. Nursing research is about asking “why” and developing evidence for that “hunch” you have when you’re walking around a floor. I strongly encourage all students considering HIM to at least give it a try. It was an amazing experience, and I learned a lot while doing it. •

HIGHEST NATIONAL RECOGNITION AWARDED

The National Student Nurses’ Association has named the UCF College of Nursing as a recipient of NSNA Stellar School Chapter Recognition. This program recognizes NSNA school chapters for their ongoing involvement in NSNA and their commitment to shared governance and professional development. UCF is one of only two nursing programs in the state and one of only 23 schools nationwide to receive this honor. Kudos to our students and their faculty mentors, Linda Howe and Kim Dever, on this exciting achievement! •

THE UNEXPECTED RESEARCHERBy Seeta NathA STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

STUDENTS at a Glance

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEETA NATH


The Orlando Student Nurses Association chapter earned the Florida Nursing Student Association’s most prestigious honor—the inaugural Diamond Chapter Circle Award. The glass award recognizes the chapter’s display of commitment for FSNA’s mission and goals through their activity in the previous year. It also demonstrates excellent achievement across all award categories. FNSA awarded three Diamond Chapter Circle Awards, with UCF taking home first place. Seventeen nursing student delegates, along with their chapter faculty consultants, Dr. Linda Howe and Ms. Kim Dever, accepted the award on behalf of the Orlando SNA chapter during the FNSA’s 60th Annual Convention in October.

Additional honors and awards:

• Dean of the Year Award: Dr. Mary Lou Sole

• FLN Chloe Trammel Scholarship: Lilian Canamo, president of UCF Orlando SNA Chapter, for her Nursing Heroes and Villains 3-D project

• Third Place, Banner Contest: UCF Orlando SNA Chapter

Resolutions adopted by FNSA:

• “Initiate Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness and Education by Practicing Nurses and Nursing Students” by Lais Bryan, secretary for UCF Orlando SNA Chapter

• “Increasing Nursing Student Research Exposure to Address Need for More Research-Focused Nurses” by Sarah Thomas (’14), FNSA Board

Resolution to be presented at NSNA Convention in 2015:

• “Implementing the Use of Yoga as an Integrative Form of Chronic Pain Management in the Pediatric Population” by Annabeth Huff, community health director for UCF Orlando SNA Chapter •

Michael Manning, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award.

Geraldine Martinez, a BSN student, received the college’s 2014 Founders’ Day Award for her dedication to excellence in academics, leadership and community service. She also served as the region 3 director for the Florida Nursing Student Association (FSNA) for 2013-4.

Christopher Martorella, an Executive DNP student, published his article “Meeting AONE’s Strategic Imperatives: The Tanzania Nursing Leadership Institute” in the journal Nurse Leader.

Sharon Mayes, a DNP student, was a recipient of a DNP Research Fund grant.

Randy Miller, a PhD student, was a recipient of the 2013-4 Knightingale Society Scholarship.

John O’Leary, a BSN student, served as the liaison coordinator for the Florida Nursing Student Association (FNSA) for 2013-4.

Joy Parchment, a PhD student, was a recipient of the 2013-4 Knightingale Society Scholarship.

Arielle Ripley, a BSN student, was named the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year.

Chelsea Rose, a BSN student and member of KnightMoves, the UCF dance team, competed in the 2014 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, presented by Universal Cheerleaders Association and Universal Dance Association. KnightMoves finished ninth in the Division IA Hip Hop Dance division, marking the second-best finish in the group’s history.

Tami Jo Santo, a DNP student, was a recipient of the DNP Research Fund grant.

Charlanna Speights, a DNP student, was a recipient of a DNP Research Fund grant.

Lauren Solberg, a BSN student, received the S. Truett Cathy Scholar Award. This is Chick-fil-A’s highest scholar recognition and is awarded to only 25 students across the U.S., recognizing students for excelling in academics, community and leadership.

Sherrina Steward, who is pursuing her MSN in nursing education, is the recipient of a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award.

Jamie Thomas, a MSN student in the leadership and management track, published an article “Enhancing Stroke Team Care and Communication through Automation: Implementation of a Multidisciplinary Stroke” in the journal Neurocritical Care.

Sarah Thomas, a BSN student, served as the region 1 director, reunion director, legislative committee chair and resolutions committee chair for the Florida Nursing Student Association (FNSA) for 2013-4.

Maureen Tremmel, a PhD student, has earned the advanced designation of Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced (CHSE-A) from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). She is among the first, and one of only a select few worldwide, to earn this new designation. According to SSH, the CHSE-A is a portfolio-based certification that has been developed for leaders in health care simulation.

Ashley Williams, a DNP student, was a recipient of a DNP Research Fund grant.

Brooke Wonderly, a BSN student, was a finalist in the 2014 March of Dimes Student Nurse of the Year award. •


TOP STATE HONORS FOR ORLANDO SNA CHAPTER


Kelly Allred, PhD, RN-BC, CNE Co-Investigator, Bridging the Gap: Integration of High-Fidelity Simulation in Nursing Curricula to Increase Transfer of Knowledge and Skills to the Workforce, Florida Blue Foundation. $40,000.

Angeline Bushy, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAAN Co-Investigator, Electronic Health Record Use in Primary Care Organizations, National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health. $157,875.

Susan K. Chase, EdD, FNP-BC, FNAP Principal Investigator, Advanced Education Nurse Traineeship (2014-15), Health Resources Service Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. $700,000.

Loretta Forlaw, PhD, RN, FACHE Principal Investigator, Using Crockpots to Help Families Increase Their Efficiency in Providing Healthy Meals, Healthy Central Florida. $1,610.

Linda Gibson-Young, PhD, ARNP Principal Investigator, Testing New Information Technologies for In-Home Asthma Management and for Childhood Asthma, UCF Office of Research & Commercialization. $7,500.

Linda Gibson-Young, PhD, ARNP Principal Investigator, Examining Use of Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO) in Children with Asthma: A Pilot Study, UCF College of Nursing. $3,000.

Laura Gonzalez, PhD, ARNP, CNE Principal Investigator, Bridging the Gap: Integration of High-Fidelity Simulation in Nursing Curricula to Increase Transfer of Knowledge and Skills to the Workforce, Florida Blue Foundation. $40,000.

Linda M. Hennig, EdD, RN Principal Investigator, 2013 Central Florida AHEC Project: Tobacco Training and Cessation Program, Area Health Education Center. $3,000.

Linda Howe, PhD, RN, CNS, CNE Principal Investigator, The History of the Dominicans of Hawthorne, UCF College of Nursing. $3,000.

Anne E. Norris, PhD, RN, FAAN Principal Investigator, Identifying the Verbal and Non-Verbal Communication Behaviors of Skeptical Communication Behaviors of Skeptical Entry Level Auditors, Institute for Fraud Prevention. $10,000.

Anne E. Norris, PhD, RN, FAAN Principal Investigator, The Client Interview: Client Interpersonal Style and Trait-Based Skepticism in Accounting Students and Early Career Auditors, Institute for Fraud Prevention. $3,000.

Donna Felber Neff, PhD, RN, FNAP Principal Investigator, Association of State Regulations and APRN Practice in Rural Underserved Areas, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. $249,735.

Susan Quelly, PhD, RN, CNE Principal Investigator, Feasibility of an Educational Interactive Glucose Simulator to Prevent and Reduce Childhood Obesity, Drs. Diane and Thomas Andrews Faculty Research Award: UCF College of Nursing. $5,000.

Susan Quelly, PhD, RN, CNE Principal Investigator, Development and Testing of a Survey to Measure Child Perceptions and Behaviors Associated with Childhood Obesity, UCF College of Nursing. $3,000.

Mary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM Principal Investigator, Oral Suction Intervention to Reduce Aspiration and Ventilator Events (NO ASPIRATE), National Institutes of Health. $2,338,048.

Gregory F. Welch, PhD Principal Investigator, Human-Surrogate Interaction, Office of Naval Research. $2,312,188. •

FUNDED RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIPS ACTIVE IN 2013-2014

DONNA FELBER NEFF, PhD, RN, FNAPAssociate Professor

At a time when our nation’s health care faces many challenges, it is our goal to continue to be a leading school of nursing that encourages inquiry, generates and disseminates new knowledge, and integrates that knowledge into practice.

UCF College of Nursing faculty is actively engaged in research within the areas of simulation and technology, acute care and physiology, gerontology, health care self-management, and health systems.

INTERIM DIRECTOR OF NURSING RESEARCH

RESEARCH at a Glance


More than one hospital television drama has played out an

emergency room scene where a patient has to be “tubed” to re-establish breathing.

Intubating and placing patients on ventilators saves lives, but it also comes with risks especially for people who are critically ill. According to several studies, use of ventilators is associated with complications, such as pneumonia. If this occurs, the patient’s risk for death doubles. Pneumonia in these patients occurs from many factors, including leakage of saliva and other fluids from the mouth into the lungs around the breathing tube, termed aspiration.

UCF College of Nursing Interim Dean and Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing Mary Lou Sole hopes to change the odds for patients by improving the way nurses manage their patients’ care when they need a ventilator.

She has spent more than 20 years studying nursing care practices for managing the patients who have breathing tubes, both as a researcher and

a practicing nurse. She started her career in a hospital intensive care unit and saw first hand the complications she studies.

In her preliminary research, Sole found that many critically-ill patients have a lot of saliva and other fluids in the mouth increasing their risk for pneumonia, and she identified the best way to remove these fluids. The National Institutes of Health recently awarded Sole a $2.3 million grant to determine if regular removal of fluids that accumulate in the mouth and the back of the throat can also help prevent aspiration.

About 300,000 people require ventilators each year. Patients who develop pneumonia experience an increase in up to $40,000 in costs and hospital stays of up to 10 additional days. And it’s not a comfortable process for patients either.

We want to prevent complications,” Sole said. “We want to improve outcomes, reduce harms and improve the quality of life for patients. If we can do that, there also will likely be a difference in the cost associated with treatment

because we will be preventing costly complications.”

Sole will be conducting her study over the next four years at intensive care units at Orlando Regional Medical Center, a division of Orlando Health. The grant will determine if the protocol she’s developed aids in preventing complications of the ventilator.

The protocol calls for a standard way for nurses to remove excess fluids from the mouth and back of the throat. The team will also check patients for a special biomarker, a protein that is routinely found in saliva, but should not be found in the lungs. If it is found in the lungs it would indicate that the patient has aspirated secretions from the mouth into the lungs.

“I’m hopeful we can make a difference,” Sole said. “It’s why I do what I do.”

Aside from her duties at UCF, Sole is a clinical nurse specialist and clinical research scientist at Orlando Health. She is widely published and has been nationally recognized for her research with awards from the National Association of

Clinical Nurse Specialists and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

Sole is a fellow in both the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Critical Care Medicine. She earned her doctorate at the University of Texas-Austin, which named her a 2010 Distinguished Alumna. She is on the editorial boards for American Journal of Critical Care, Heart & Lung, and AACN Advanced Critical Care. She is also a past president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses of Metro Orlando.

Co-investigators on the NIH study are: UCF assistant professor and nurse Dr. Steven Talbert who specializes in adult trauma nursing and Dr. Xin Yan, professor of statistics; ORMC critical care medicine physician Dr. Sam Venus; director for the Center for Nursing Research at Orlando Health Dr. Daleen Aragon Penoyer, and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Devendra Mehta, who specializes in biomarkers. •

$2.3 MILLION NIH GRANT WILL HELP IMPROVE CRITICAL PATIENT CARE


Dr. Gregory Welch

Gregory Welch, a computer scientist and engineer, is bringing a new perspective to the UCF College

of Nursing and actively developing technology innovations for the health care industry. Dr. Welch, who was appointed the Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation last year, was part of a team of inventors recently awarded a U.S. patent for a new method in deep-brain stimulation.

Welch is a co-inventor on the patent along with Orlando neurosurgeon Dr. Nizam Razack and Dr. Richard Gilson, professor emeritus in the psychology department at the UCF College of Sciences, who had the idea and led the collaborative effort.

Deep-brain stimulation, a neurosurgical procedure used to treat Parkinson’s disease and other conditions, involves the implantation of electrodes that emit signals to interfere with the neurons causing the tremors. Conventionally the electromagnetic signals are broadcasted equally in all directions, reaching both the offending neurons and healthy brain tissue. The placement of the electrodes is also challenging as the precise location of the offending neurons is not known, and the region from which the tremors originate may move in the brain over time.

The team’s invention includes methods to electronically “steer” the signals to more places in the brain, more selectively, in order to deliver a more concentrated signal to the problem area while minimizing the impact on the surrounding brain tissue. If the region from which the tremors originate moves, a patient would be able to have the signals adjusted electronically by a neurosurgeon without additional surgery.

Welch likens the current method to a light bulb, shining equally everywhere. The new method, he says, functions more like a spotlight.

This research area is of personal interest to Welch as his mother has Essential Tremor, a condition with tremor symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease. She had deep-brain stimulation surgery 15 years ago and has had multiple electrode revision procedures since then. “This is an amazing medical procedure yet it is very difficult to accurately target the neurons responsible for the tremors, both in terms of electrode placement and subsequent device programming,” explains Welch.

“As a computer scientist and engineer, I recognized that new types of electrodes and new computer algorithms could provide health care professionals with better tools for more precisely targeting the offending neurons.”

It wasn’t until Welch arrived at UCF that he could begin to work on improving the procedure. He was introduced to Gilson, who had patented other deep-brain stimulation technology, and the two began to collaborate on the new invention. In the future, they plan to research methods for reducing the complexity and increasing the efficacy of the programming process for the electrodes, as well as continuous automatic adaptation of the programming while a patient carries on with daily activities.

Welch has a record of innovation having been a co-inventor on multiple patents and a recipient of more than $20 million in research funding. His primary research interests include virtual and augmented reality, motion tracking systems, 3D telepresence and stochastic estimation with applications to training and education.

Recently his physical-virtual avatars, which are primarily targeted at training health care professionals, have been used in experiments looking at frequency of social initiations, frequency of social responses, and the duration of social interaction among students with autism.

Earlier this year, he received funding from the Office of Naval Research for specialized humanoid robots with rubber “skin” faces that allow the robots to act as surrogate humans during training. Welch, together with UCF Professors Dr. Arjun Nagendran in the UCF Institute for Simulation and Training and Dr. Charles Hughes in the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Science, are creating a platform to test and develop the “surrogate humans” and associated animation to assist in training for military, health care and education.

UCF is widely recognized for its innovative research. The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching named UCF a university with “very high research activity.” UCF also ranks among the top 25 universities in the world for the number of patents awarded according to the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. •

NEW PATENT HIGHLIGHTS NEW FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION, COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH



VICTORIA (VICKI) LOERZEL, PhD, RN, OCN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Dr. Loerzel’s primary research interests include older persons with cancer, quality of life, symptom self-management, and cognitive representations of symptoms and illness. Her primary research goal is to assist older adults to self-manage treatment-related side effects and optimize health at all stages of the cancer trajectory by developing new and innovative methods to educate them about symptom self-management options. She has been funded by the UCF Office of Research and Commercialization and by the American Nurses Foundation as a Virginia Stone Scholar. Loerzel is currently seeking grant funding for her proposal: Promoting Cancer Symptom Self-Management in Older Adults. Loerzel has published in scientific journals such as Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Cancer Nursing, Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, and Oncology Nursing Forum. •

DONNA FELBER NEFF, PhD, RN, FNAP ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, INTERIM DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, PhD PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Dr. Neff was recently funded by the Florida Blue Foundation for her study: Multimethod Approach to Evaluate Geographic Distribution and Practice Regulations of Florida Nurse Practitioners. This study extends her national research study funded by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She will examine the geographic distribution of Florida Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and explore how NP practices varies by individual characteristics, institutional/organizational factors, reimbursement policies and state regulations. Neff will also examine the effect of regulations that restrict independent practice of NPs on the likelihood that NPs work in and serve populations in areas with limited access to primary care physicians. The goal is to provide findings to state and national policymakers to develop policies for maximizing access to primary care in underserved areas and removing policies that restrict the ability for NPs to practice to their full extent of education, certification and training. •

NORMA CONNER, PhD, RN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Dr. Conner’s research foci fall under the larger umbrella of health services use, particularly end of life decision making, informal caregiver decision making, advance care planning and the relationship between spirituality and palliative and end of life care. Additionally, she has completed research and published on pedagogical issues including RN to BSN education, community/public health nursing education, and end of life education. Conner is currently seeking grant funding for her proposal: Community Engagement to Improve Advance Care Planning among Blacks aged 40 to 70. She has been published in peer reviewed journals including American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Journal of Advanced Nursing and Nursing Outlook. •

LAURA GONZALEZ, PhD, ARNP, CNE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Dr. Gonzalez’s research focuses on the use of simulation and innovative technologies to prepare future nurses and ensure improved patient outcomes. This includes the examination of the 1) use of aseptic technique and the prevention of skill decay, 2) use of high-fidelity simulation to close the graduate nurse to professional nurse gap. She has been funded by the Florida Blue Foundation (2013-15) for the study: Bridging the gap: Integration of high fidelity simulation in nursing curricula to increase transfer of knowledge and skills to the workforce. Recently, she was named the interim director of the Florida Healthcare Simulation Alliance, whose purpose is to provide and enhance patient safety for all Floridians by expanding and advancing the use of all forms of simulation in academic settings, health care institutions and agencies. Gonzalez has been published in peer reviewed journals such as Informatics in Nursing, Journal of Clinical Simulation in Nursing, and Journal of Nursing Education. •

SUSAN QUELLY, PhD, RN, CNE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Dr. Quelly recently joined our faculty and is conducting research related to childhood obesity prevention using emerging technologies and simulation. She has also examined the school nurse role in preventing childhood obesity, as well as health promotion in schools and afterschool programs. She has been funded for her beginning work by UCF College of Nursing and the Andrews Faculty Research Award. Quelly has been published in peer-reviewed journals including MSN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing, Journal of Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, Journal of School Nursing and Anthropologischer Anzeiger. •


THE BERT FISH SCHOLAR UPGRADES

HEALTH CARE FOR COMMUNITIES

Nursing education and community health care are twin interests of

Angeline Bushy, PhD. She has been advancing both for nearly two decades, as the Bert Fish Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair of the UCF College of Nursing on the Daytona regional campus.

When Bushy arrived at UCF Daytona in 1996, surrounding Volusia County had just a half-dozen nurses with bachelor’s degrees. She became aware of just one nurse holding a master’s degree in local hospitals. Today, registered nurses with an associate degree from Daytona State College have well delineated paths to UCF’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs. The UCF Daytona campus also offers a four-year BSN nursing program.

Higher education for nurses translates into higher quality health care for patients and communities, Bushy said. “Research shows that patient outcomes in hospital settings are improved when they have baccalaureate prepared nurses,” she said.

Bushy earned her doctorate at the University of Texas and came to UCF from the University of Utah, where she was an associate professor and coordinator of the master’s program in community health nursing.

Her scholarly interests have focused on the many challenges of rural health care. By every measure, from numbers of physicians to availability of preventive care, sparsely populated regions tend to be underserved, she said.

She currently is researching rural health clinics in Account-able Care Organizations (ACOs) with a $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. She is co-investigator on the study led by Dr. Thomas Wan in

the College of Health and Public Affairs.

An ACO focuses on disease prevention and management, with payments tied to keeping populations healthy. It is part of a growing effort to limit the need for costly, acute care in emergency rooms and hospitals. For that to be successful, community nursing must play a major role.

“Primary care starts in the community,” Bushy said. “You may be a school nurse, a parish nurse or a nurse with an insurance company; nurses are working with communities and planning care for the people who live there.” •

Dr. Angeline Bushy

NURSING HAS SECOND MOST ENDOWED CHAIRS OF 12 UCF COLLEGES

Endowed chair positions are important

because “they enable us to be competitive in attracting outstanding faculty members. They also give us an ability

to maintain high levels of excellence in key areas

over the long haul,” explained UCF Provost

Dr. Dale Whittaker.

ENDOWED CHAIRS



CHATLOS PROFESSOR STUDIES MINORITY

AND IMMIGRANT HEALTH

Karen Aroian, PhD, the Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair in

Nursing, is concerned with the health of minorities and of immigrants as they resettle into new homelands, including Spain, Israel and the United States.

Her major work, which was supported by a $2.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, has been with Arab immigrant mothers and their adolescent children.

She was the principal investigator in this five-year study into how the mothers’ stress and adjustment affects her relationship with her adolescent children and, in turn, how that is related to adolescent behavior problems.

The study of 634 mothers and children yielded a rich trove of data that followed the families through early to late adolescence. “The findings identified a vicious cycle between child behavior problems and the mother-child relationship: a poor mother-child relationship leads to the child’s behavior problems but a child with behavior problems is more difficult to parent. Clearly, interventions with adolescents with behavior problems need to focus on both the mother and the child to improve the relationship between them,” she said.

A subsequent study was about the discrimination

experienced by Muslim-American adolescents. She conducted that research in collaboration with the UCF Institute of Simulation and Training.

“What I found was that much of their discrimination occurs in school at the hands of their teachers,” she said. “I found some pretty horrific examples.”

Aroian was an endowed professor at Wayne State University when she was recruited for the Chatlos chair in the UCF College of Nursing in 2008. The endowment provides her money to conduct pilot studies and teach fewer classes, giving her the data and the time to prepare competitive proposals for major grants.

“It’s incredibly helpful in tight financial times,” she said.

Her research findings have provided information for clinicians and health providers

to improve immigrant and minority health. “NIH is looking for studies with a strong impact on health,” she said. “As the nation’s second-largest university, it’s important that we have a strong presence, leading change with impactful studies.”

Aroian currently is working with Dr. Jason Lang at Nemours Children’s Hospital to examine how cultural and health beliefs guide families’ management of a childhood chronic illness. She is looking specifically at the Puerto Rican population, which has a high incidence of childhood asthma.

Aroian was one of 19 nurse researchers worldwide inducted last year into Sigma Theta Tau International’s Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame — further demonstrating the reach and impact her research is having in the world of health and health care. •

Dr. Karen Aroian

Mary Lou Sole, PhD, devotes her career to improving the care of

hospital patients, particularly those who must spend time on ventilators for respiratory failure. The Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing and Interim Dean of the College

of Nursing, Sole’s research interests include the best ways for these critically-ill patients to avoid complications.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia or other complications can add $40,000 to the cost of care and lengthen a hospital stay by up to 10 days, Sole says. Patients may require more time with an artificial airway and long-term respiratory assistance. “If you can get the tube out earlier and prevent infection, not only does it have other benefits, I’d argue that it improves quality of life,” she says.

Supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, Sole has researched prevention and measurement of fluid leakage into lungs. A recent

$2.3 million grant from the NIH (see p. 17) is funding her team’s study into how nurses can prevent leakage.

Funds from her Orlando Health appointment help her prepare the strongest possible grant proposals. She can pay a research assistant, travel for scientific meetings, and conduct pilot testing of clinical and lab techniques to support her research.

“Work supported by the professorship is used to show NIH that we have the resources and lab capacity to do the research we propose,” Sole says. “Funding for pilot work was instrumental in securing the $2.3 million grant because we could demonstrate how it can positively impact thousands of patients.” Sole earned her

doctorate at the University of Texas at Austin, but it was at the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing that she first discovered what became the focus of her career. A professor there emphasized patient care, particularly the importance of oral care for those on ventilators, Sole says. It became part of her practice and her teaching, and eventually developed into her passion.

“I am always one to challenge the system. What is the best way to do something? What’s the best frequency? How can we improve what we do?” she says. “When nurses say, ‘what you’ve done has changed my practice,’ that’s very fulfilling.” •

ALWAYS ONE TO CHALLENGE THE SYSTEM

Dr. Mary Lou Sole


VIRTUAL PATIENT, REAL INNOVATOR

S I M U L AT I O N E X P E RT G R EG O RY W E LC H A P P O I N T E D TO N E W E N D OW E D C H A I R

The College of Nursing has received a $1 million gift from Florida Hospital

to establish an endowed chair for health care simulation. Research professor Gregory Welch, a computer scientist and engineer, has been appointed to the position.

Dr. Mary Lou Sole, interim dean of the college said, “This new endowed chair underscores the College of Nursing’s commitment to

becoming a national leader in developing and testing innovative technologies to enhance nursing and health care education as well as patient care delivery.”

“Dr. Welch brings significant education and experience in simulation from a culture outside of health care, and we believe he will challenge our thinking about medical simulation in all the right ways,” said Sheryl Dodds, chief clinical officer at Florida Hospital. “We feel his work will have a positive effect on both health care education and our clinical operations. We are excited to be working with Dr. Welch, UCF and other professionals, as we explore new opportunities and expand the Florida Hospital approach to simulation in health care.”

Welch’s primary focus is the improvement of simulated

patients that are used in the education of nurses and other health care professionals, as well as other uses of technology for patient care. His research interests include virtual and augmented reality, the capture of human movement for simulation and training, and human surrogates for training and telepresence – particularly related to health care.

The multidisciplinary nature of his appointment allows Welch to foster collaborations between computer scientists and health care educators, practitioners and organizations so that UCF can develop the next generation of health care technology (see p. 18).

He brings to his appoint-ment both a record of technological innovation—he is the co-inventor on multiple patents—and a longstanding interest in health care. While

a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he earned his PhD, he led research efforts to develop three-dimensional remote health care consulting technology, allowing physicians to “look over the shoulder” and coach emergency medical personnel through necessary procedures.

Prior to academia, he worked on the Voyager Spacecraft Project at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and on airborne electronic countermeasures at Northrop-Grumman's Defense Systems Division. •

Dr. Gregory Welch

Diane Wink, EdD, knows that developing great nurses requires great

nurse educators, and the Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Chair in Nursing has spent much of her career ensuring that nurses get the best possible preparation for their practice.

A nationally recognized nurse leader, educator and

scholar, Wink has developed a long record of accomplishment at the UCF College of Nursing. She is currently a professor and coordinator of the Nurse Educator MSN program, but she also was pivotal in creating the college’s signature community-based nursing education curriculum. She helped develop the initial Nurse Educator Postgraduate Certificate and coordinated the Family and Adult Nurse Practitioner tracks.

Wink became the endowed chair, which was established by the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, in 2012. As part of her endowed chair work, she has been working on ways to enhance the nurse educator experience. Recently, she updated an online preceptor education program developed by former UCF faculty

member Dr. Judith Ruland. More than 100 local nurses enrolled for the Spring 2014 sessions. This 10-week course teaches participants how to assess individual learning needs, evaluate a student or preceptee’s performance, and implement best practices for communication. There is also an emphasis on making high-quality evidence the foundation for nursing practice.

Preceptors, who oversee nursing education in clinics, hospitals and other clinical settings, are in short supply both regionally and nationally. The UCF College of Nursing wants to increase the number of highly qualified nurse preceptors throughout the region, so that nursing students have more options for enriching practice experiences.

In designing and structuring programs, Wink said her goal is to meet the needs of students, agencies and the health care system, as well as patients, by providing the best possible preparation for educators.

Next, Wink says she’d like to focus on increasing enrollment in her nurse educator program. “The nurse faculty shortage is another nationwide problem that I’d like to help address here in our community,” she said. “The nursing shortage is a real concern—and it can’t be resolved until we have enough nurses with advanced degrees willing to teach the next generation of nurses.” •

Dr. Diane Wink

A NATIONAL LEADER IN EDUCATING NURSE

EDUCATORS



The UCF College of Nursing honored five philanthropists “whose contributions to nursing, UCF and Central Florida are beyond measure” at an Oct 30 dinner at the college.

The Bert Fish Foundation, The Chatlos Foundation, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, Florida Hospital and Orlando Health have each given substantial gifts, which are invested to perpetually support faculty chairs at the college. Gifts like these ensure that students will always have the opportunity to learn from leading scholars and experts in the field.

One of those students, Aurea Middleton, began her nursing education at UCF in 2011, participating in the Honors in the Major program under the mentorship of College of Nursing Interim Dean and Orlando Health Endowed Chair in Nursing Dr. Mary Lou Sole.

“Under her mentorship, I worked on my thesis — assessing the presence of gastric markers in the endotracheal suction secretions of intubated critically-ill patients. This thesis served as the pilot study for the current NIH study that was funded earlier this year for $2.3 million dollars,” Middleton said.

As a result of her work, she has participated in presentations at conferences in South Florida, Alabama and Puerto Rico and now serves as a research coordinator on the grant, coordinating 18 research assistants.

Increasing faculty support through endowed chairs is one of the university’s four top priorities as it engages in a multi-year fundraising campaign.

Endowed chair positions are important throughout the university, because “they enable us to be competitive in attracting outstanding faculty members. They also give us an ability to maintain high levels of excellence in key areas over the long haul,” explained UCF Provost Dr. Dale Whittaker. “We are grateful to have these five endowed chairs in the College of Nursing, and we are deeply appreciative of our generous donors.” •

FIVE NURSING DONORS HONORED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS “BEYOND MEASURE”

UCF Provost Dr. Dale Whittaker opened the dinner by explaining the importance of endowed chairs at the university.

Right: Aurea Middleton, a recent graduate of the College of Nursing, offers a toast to thank the five philanthropists who were honored at the dinner.


Dr. Kelly Allred is the undergraduate program coordinator.

Dr. Karen Aroian was one of nine nurse researchers selected to showcase their research during a special “Presentations of Distinction” time slot at the 2014 State of the Science Congress on Nursing Research. Based on the quality of her work, her abstract, Substantive Application of Cross-lagged SEM for Testing Diathesis-stress Theory, was reviewed and chosen out of more than 500 submissions.

Dr. Christopher Blackwell successfully passed his Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) examination. He was also named the 2014 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year for the category of Public Health.

Dr. Angeline Bushy received the Rural Nurse Organization’s 2014 Anne Mae Ericksen Award. This prestigious award was presented to her at the International Rural Health and Rural Nursing Research Conference in July. She was recognized, not only by her peers but across disciplines, as someone who will have a long-lasting influence in rural nursing and health care.

Ms. Erica Hoyt has been promoted to the rank of associate instructor.

Dr. Leslee D’Amato-Kubiet is the campus coordinator for the UCF Daytona Beach nursing program.

Dr. Sigrid Ladores was named a Leadership Scholar (Level 3) in the Philippine Nurses Association of American Leadership Scholars Program.

Dr. Jacqueline LaManna received a Purdue Golden Graduate Award during the Purdue University School of Nursing’s 50-year Golden Anniversary. She was one of only 50 alumni selected for this prestigious award. She earned her ADN and BSN from Purdue.

Ms. Patricia Leli is the undergraduate clinical education coordinator.

Ms. Hannah Morse was named the 2014 March of Dimes Nurse of the Year for the category of Academic Nurse Educator.

Dr. Donna Neff, interim director of research and PhD program coordinator, received the 2014 Excellence in Research Award from the Florida Organization of Nurse Executives.

Dr. Anne E. Norris received the 2014 SNRS Research in Nursing and Health Authorship Award from the Southern Nursing Research Society for her publication, Interactive Performance and Focus Groups with Adolescents: The Power of Play.

Dr. Susan Quelly was interviewed for a podcast with the editor of the Journal of School Nursing about her dissertation work and initial research (see p. 19) regarding the influence of perception on school nurse childhood obesity prevention practices. She also passed her certified nurse educator (CNE) exam.

Dr. Mary Lou Sole was named the 2014 Dean of the Year by the Florida Nursing Students Association (see p. 15). She was also recognized by her alma mater, The Ohio State University College of Nursing, as one of their “Alumni Transformers in Nursing & Healthcare” during their Centennial celebrations.

Dr. Steven Talbert received an Outstanding Alumnus Award from Tennessee Tech University, where he earned his BSN.

Ms. Dawn Turnage passed her family nurse practitioner board certification examination. She is now an ARNP, FNP-BC.

Dr. Julee Waldrop was inducted as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. •

FACULTY NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Dr. Maureen Covelli

Maureen Covelli, an RN and a nursing faculty member at

the University of Central Florida since 1989, has been appointed the associate dean for undergraduate affairs at the College of Nursing. She began her new position in January 2014 after serving as interim associate dean since August 2013.

Covelli is former chair of the college’s Faculty Association and Leadership Council, and is an associate professor with primary teaching responsibilities in the baccalaureate program. She also holds a courtesy appointment at the University of Florida Department of

Physiology and Functional Genomics.

She has published research on hypertension, has developed cardiovascular health-promotion intervention programs to decrease hypertension risk in adolescents, and has presented her research to regional, national and international scientific conferences.

Covelli earned a nursing PhD with a minor in physiology from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in adult health and nursing education from New York University, and a bachelor’s from Hunter College-Bellevue School of Nursing in New York.

She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International honor society for nurses, the International Fetal and Neonatal Physiology Society, the International Society of Nurses in Genetics, the National League for Nursing, the Southern Nursing Research Society, the Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, and an inaugural member of the D.H. Barron Reproduction and Perinatal Biology Research Program at the University of Florida. •

NURSING NAMES UNDERGRADUATE ASSOCIATE DEAN

FACULTY at a Glance


KELLY ALLRED, PhD, RN-BC, CNEEditorial Board, Pain Management Nursing, since 2008

KAREN AROIAN, PhD, RN, FAAN Chatlos Foundation Endowed Chair in NursingAssociate Editor, Journal of Transcultural Nursing, since 2013

CHRISTOPHER BLACKWELL, PhD, ARNP, ANP-BC, AGACNP-BC, CNEConsulting Editor, Journal of American College Health, since 2012

ANGELINE BUSHY, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAAN Bert Fish Eminent Scholar Endowed Chair in NursingEditorial Board, Family and Community Health, since 1991Editorial Board, Journal of Nursing Quality Care, since 1987Editorial Board, Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, since 2001

LINDA GIBSON-YOUNG, PhD, ARNPEditorial Board, Florida Public Health Review, since 2013

LINDA HOWE, PhD, RN, CNS, CNEEditorial Board, Nursing Education Perspectives, since 2011

JEAN D’MEZA LEUNER, PhD, RN, CNE, FAANEditorial Board, Journal of Information Fluency, since 2010

SUSAN SCOTT RICCI, MSN, MEd, ARNPEditorial Board, Women’s Health Online Journal, since 2014

MARY LOU SOLE, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCMOrlando Health Endowed Chair in NursingEditorial Board, AACN Advanced Critical Care, since 2006Editorial Board, American Journal of Critical Care, since 2000Editorial Board, Heart & Lung, since 1992

GREGORY F. WELCH, PhD Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare SimulationAssociate Editor, Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, since 2008Associate Editor, Frontiers in Virtual Environments, since 2013

DIANE M. WINK, EdD, ARNP, FNP-BC, FAANP Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean Endowed Chair in NursingEditorial Board, Nurse Educator, since 1994Editorial Board, Journal of Nursing Education, since 2000

Journal Editors & Editorial Boards

Faculty FellowsAMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSING

Karen J. Aroian, PhD, RN, FAANAngeline Bushy, PhD, RN, PHCNS-BC, FAANJean D’Meza Leuner, PhD, RN, CNE, FAANMary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERSJosie A. Weiss, PhD, PNP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANPDiane M. Wink, EdD, ARNP, FNP-BC, FAANP

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CRITICAL CARE MEDICINEMary Lou Sole, PhD, RN, CCNS, CNL, FAAN, FCCM

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVESLoretta Forlaw, PhD, RN, FACHE

NATIONAL ACADEMIES OF PRACTICESusan K. Chase, EdD, FNP-BC, FNAPDonna Felber Neff, PhD, RN, FNAP

NCLEX SUCCESS

UCF Pass Rate, YTD

98.06%

National Average, YTD

82.52%

The UCF College of Nursing has the highest NCLEX-RN pass rate of all state universities in Florida and students scored well above the national average for BSN degrees.


FACULTY at a Glance

Laura Gonzalez, an assistant professor in the UCF College of Nursing, has been named the interim director for

the Florida Healthcare Simulation Alliance. She was appointed by Mary Lou Brunell, director of the Florida Center for Nursing, effective Nov. 1.

As a statewide organization, the FSHA’s purpose is to provide and enhance patient safety for all Floridians by expanding and advancing the use of all forms of simulation in academic settings, healthcare institutions, and agencies. Dr. Gonzalez says the alliance is also looking to collaborate beyond the state of Florida.

“FHSA will soon be providing training at all levels that includes best practice recommendations, standardization, opportunities for networking, and collaboration,” she said.

Gonzalez is a member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning board of directors. She is also an active leader in the FHSA East Central Region. Her research

studies focus on the use of simulation and innovative technologies to prepare future nurses and ensure improved patient outcomes.

“I am excited to pursue this opportunity in addition to my faculty role,” said Gonzalez. “I am a passionate proponent of simulation.”

UCF College of Nursing Interim Dean Mary Lou Sole believes the selection of Gonzalez acknowledges her expertise as a state and national leader in the field.

“At this level, Laura will be able to effect change and coordinate efforts to promote high-quality health care simulation across the state” Sole said. “It will also benefit students by having faculty with influence at state and national levels.” •

Two College of Nursing faculty members, Drs. Jean Kijek and Linda

Howe, were recognized in September by the Florida Nurses Association (FNA). Kijek, a professor emerita, was honored with the FNA Hall of Fame Award for her enduring contributions to the nursing profession. Howe, an associate professor, received the Heather Scaglione Award for her role as faculty consultant to the Student Nurses Association chapter at UCF Orlando.

“Dr. Kijek is an exceptional nurse leader who has had a distinguished career as a nurse and in nursing education,” wrote Dr. Jean D’Meza Leuner, a professor at the College of Nursing, in her letter nominating Kijek.”

“Her passion for nursing and her leadership have contributed immensely to the nursing profession,” echoed Joyce Dorner, a retired associate professor.

Dr. Mary Lou Sole, interim dean of the College of Nursing, says that Kijek was “instrumental in the early development and growth of the nursing program at UCF” and that she has been an activist in professional nursing organizations throughout her career.

Heather Scaglione, whose life was tragically cut short by a motor vehicle accident several years ago, was very active in the Florida Student Nurses Association. “It’s an honor to receive this award named for one of UCF’s former students,” Howe said.

Under Howe’s leadership, the SNA Chapter at UCF Orlando received the Stellar Chapter Award from the National Student Nurses Association, as well as several other state awards. She has also been a member of the American Nurses Association since she graduated from nursing school.

Sole notes “Dr. Howe embodies the spirit and legacy of the Heather Scaglione Award as an articulate, compassionate, and charismatic leader of future nurses.”

Kim Dever, who works with Howe as co-consultant to the SNA chapter at UCF Orlando, says that “Dr. Howe is a very ‘student-centered professor’ who is dedicated to the professional development of our students. Her door is always open and she is at nearly every SNA event.”

FNA awards are given annually at the FNA Membership Assembly. They recognize and reward Florida nurses by allowing fellow peers to nominate an individual or group within their profession to receive formal recognition. It is one of the highest honors to have bestowed upon as a professional nurse. •

KIJEK AND HOWE HONORED AT STATE LEVEL

GONZALEZ NAMED FHSA INTERIM DIRECTOR

Dr. Linda Howe

Dr. Jean Kijek


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Gibson-Young, L., Martinasek, M.P., Clutter, M., & Forrest, J. (2014). Are students with asthma at increased risk for being a victim of bullying in school or cyberspace? Findings from the 2011 Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Journal of School Health, 84(7), 429-434.

Gibson-Young, L.M., Gerald, L.M., Vance, D.S., & Turner-Henson, A. (2014). The relationships among family management behaviors and asthma morbidity in maternal caregivers of children with asthma. Journal of Family Nursing, 20(4), 442-461.

Gonzalez, L. & Sole, M. (2014). Urinary catheterization skills: One simulated check-off is not enough. Journal of Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 10(9), 455-460.

Gonzalez, L. (2013). Interprofessional teamwork: An immersive experience in the Dominican Republic. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 27(3), 277-278.

Gonzalez, L., Aebersold, M., & Fenske, C.L. (2014). Diffusion of innovation: Faculty barriers to adoption. Computers, Informatics, Nursing: CIN, 32(5), 201-204.

Greenblum, C.A., Rowe, M.A., Neff, D.F., & Greenblum, J.S. (2013). Midlife women: Symptoms associated with menopausal transition and early postmenopause and quality of life. Menopause - The Journal of the North American Menopause Society, 20(1), 22-27.

Hicks, M. & Conner, N. (2014). Resilient aging: A concept analysis. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(4), 744–755.

Ilie, A. & Welch, G. (2013). Automated camera selection and control for better training support. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 80(27), 50-59.

Ilie, A. & Welch, G. (2014). On-line control of active camera networks for computer vision tasks. ACM Transactions on Sensor Networks, 10(2), 25:1-25:40.

Knapp, S.J., Sole, M.L., & Byers, J.F. (2013). The EPICS family bundle and its effects on stress and coping of families of critically ill trauma patients. Applied Nursing Research, 26(2), 51-57.

PUBLICATIONS 2013-2014


FACULTY at a Glance

Lampe, J.S., Geddie, P.I., Aguirre, L., & Sole, M.L. (2013). Finding the right “fit”: Implementation of a structured interviewing process for the clinical nurse specialist. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 24(2), 194-202.

Loerzel, V. & Aroian, K.J. (2013). A bump in the road: Older women’s views on surviving breast cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 31(1), 65-82.

Loerzel, V.W. & Conner, N. (2014). Advances and challenges: Student reflections from an online death and dying course. International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship. Advance online publication.

Loerzel, V.W. (2013). Assessing baccalaureate students’ knowledge of ovarian cancer. Nursing Education Perspectives, 34(1), 51-52.

Loerzel, V.W., Crosby, W.W., Reising, E., & Sole, M.L. (2014). Developing the tracheostomy care anxiety relief through education and support program (T-CARES). Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 18(5), 522-527.

Loerzel, V.W., Hunt, D., & Rash, E. (2014). A pap test does not screen for everything: Nurse practitioner knowledge of ovarian cancer. Journal of the American Academy of Practitioners. Advance online publication.

Mahramus, T., Penoyer, D., Frewin, S., Chamberlain, L., Wilson, D., & Sole, M.L. (2014). Assessment of an educational intervention on nurses’ knowledge and retention of heart failure self-care principles and the teach back method. Heart and Lung, 43(3), 204-212.

Mahramus, T., Penoyer, D.A., Sole, M.L., Wilson, D., Chamberlain, L., & Warrington, W. (2013). Clinical nurse specialist assessment of nurses’ knowledge of heart failure. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 27(4), 198-204.

Martinasek, M.P., Gibson-Young, L. & Forrest, J. (2014). Hookah smoking and harm perception among asthmatic adolescents: Findings from the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey. Journal of School Health, 84(5), 334-341.

Menozzi, A., Clipp, B., Wenger, E., Heinly, J., Dunn, E., Towles, H., & Welch, G. (2014). Development of vision-aided navigation for a wearable outdoor augmented reality system. 2014 IEEE/ION Position, Location & Navigation Symposium - PLANS 2014, 460-472.

Nagendran, A., Pillat, R., Kavanaugh, A., Welch, G., & Hughes, C. (2013). AMITIES: Avatar-mediated interactive training and individualized experience system. Proceedings of the 19th ACM Symposium on Virtual Reality Software and Technology, VRST 2013, 143-152.

Nagendran, A., Pillat, R., Kavanaugh, A., Welch, G., & Hughes, C. (2014). A Unified Framework for Individualized Avatar-Based Interactions. Presence: Teleoperators and Virtual Environments, 23(2), 109-132.

Neff, D., Cimiotti, J., Sloane, D., & Aiken, L. (2013). Utilization of non-U.S. educated nurses in U.S. hospitals: Implications for hospital mortality. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 25(4), 366-372.

Neff, D.F., & Harman, J. (2013). Foreign educated nurses: Effects on nurse, quality of care and patient safety indicator outcomes. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 4(1), 19-24.

Quelly, S.B. (2014). Childhood obesity prevention: A review of school nurse perceptions and practices. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 19(3), 198-209. Advance online publication.

Quelly, S.B. (2014). Influence of perceptions on school nurse practices to prevent childhood obesity. Journal of School Nursing, 30(4), 292-302.

Sadagic, A., Kölsch, M., Welch, G., Basu, C., Darken, C., Wachs, J. P.,… Cheng, H. (2013). Smart instrumented training ranges: Bringing automated system solutions to support critical domain needs. The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation: Applications, Methodology, Technology, 10(3), 327-342.

Sole, M.L., & Bennett, M. (2014). Comparison of airway management practices between nurses and respiratory care practitioners. American Journal of Critical Care, 23(3), 191-200.

Sole, M.L., & Marinski, A. (2014). Ventilator-associated events: A new outcome measure. American Nurse Today, 9(8). 1-17.

Sole, M.L., Conrad, J., Middleton, A., Bennett, M., Allen, K., Ashworth, S., & Mehta, D.I. (2014). Pepsin and amylase in oral and tracheal secretions: A pilot study. American Journal of Critical Care, 23(4), 334-338.

Sole, M.L., Guimond, M.E., & Amidei, C.S. (2013). An analysis of simulation resources, needs, and plans in Florida. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 9(7), e265-e271.

Sole, M.L., Talbert, S., Penoyer, D., Bennett, M., Sokol, S., & Wilson, J. (in press). Respiratory infections in critically ill patients who undergo percutaneous tracheostomy. American Journal of Critical Care.

Sole, M.L., Talbert, S., Penoyer, D., Bennett, M., Sokol, S., & Wilson, J. (2014). Characteristics, resource utilization, and nursing care of patients who undergo percutaneous tracheostomy. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 28(5), 288-295.

Talbert, S., & Sole M.L. (2013). Too much information: Research issues associated with large databases. Clinical Nurse Specialist: The Journal for Advanced Nursing Practice, 26(2), 73-80.

Tofthagen, C., Gonzalez, L., Visovsky, C., & Akers, A. (2013). Self-management of oxaliplatin related peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer survivors. Chemotherapy Research and Practice, 1-7.

Tofthagen, C., Halpenny, B., Melendez, M., Gonzalez, L., Sanchez -Varela, V., Negron, R. & Berry, D. (2014). Evaluating the linguistic appropriateness and cultural sensitivity of a self-report system for Spanish-speaking patients with cancer. Journal of Nursing Research and Practice.

Waldrop, J. & Chase, S.K. (2014). Lead faculty workload model: Recognizing equity and leadership in faculty. Nurse Educator, 39(2), 96-101.

Weinstein, P., Amirkhosravi, A., Angelopoulos, T.J., Bushy, A., Covelli, M., & Dennis K. (2014). Reducing cardiovascular risk in women with lupus: Perception of risk and predictors of risk-reducing behaviors. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 29(2), 130-139.

Zhang, J., Welch, G., Bishop, G., & Huang, Z. (2014). A two-stage kalman filtering scheme for robust and real-time power systems state tracking. IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, 5(2), 629-636.

Zheng, F., Schubert, R., & Welch, G. (2013). A general approach for closed-loop registration in AR. 2013 IEEE Virtual Reality (VR), 47-50.


BOOK CHAPTERS

Aroian, K.J. (in press). Research considerations: Minimizing mistrust and maximizing participatation. In M.M. Amer & G.H. Awad (Eds.), Handbook of Arab American Psychology. New York, NY: Routledge.

Aroian, K.J., Uddin, N. & Ullah, D. (in press). Social support and depression in Arab Muslim immigrant women in the U.S. In N. Khanlou & B. Pilkington (Eds.), Women’s Mental Health: Resistance and resilience in community and society. Advances in Mental Health and Addiction. (Series Editor: Masood Zangeneh). New York, NY: Springer.

Blackwell C.W. & Dziegielewski, S.F. (2013). Public funding of sectarian organizations for the provision of HIV/AIDS prevention and care: Discriminatory issues for gay males. In C. Colby (Ed.), Connecting social welfare policy to fields of practice (1st ed., pp. 239-251). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

Blackwell, C.W. (2014). Domestic violence among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons: Populations at risk. In L. Ross (Ed.), The war against domestic violence (2nd ed., pp. 176-186). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

Bushy A. (2014). Health care ethics in rural public health. In J. Warren (Ed.), Rural public health: Best practices and preventive models (pp. 41-54). New York, NY: Springer.

Bushy, A. (2014). Rural health and migrant health (Ch. 22). In M. Stanhope & J. Lancaster (Eds.), Foundations of community health nursing: Community-oriented practice (4th ed., pp. 389-407). Elkridge, MD: Mosby Elsevier.

Bushy, A. (2013). Community health nursing in rural areas (Ch. 32). In C. Smith & F. Maurer (Eds.), Community Health Nursing: Theory and Practice (5th ed., pp. 799-821). Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders.

Bushy, A. (2013). Connecting the dots: Nursing workforce development, clinical practice, research and theory. In C. Winters (Ed.), Rural nursing: Concepts, theory and practice (4th ed., pp. 449-468). New York, NY: Springer.

Bushy, A. (2013). Risk, vulnerability, social determinants and health disparities in rural populations. In C. Winters (Ed.), Rural nursing: Concepts, theory and practice (4th ed., pp. 225-240). New York, NY: Springer.

Bushy, A. (in press). Epidemiology of health and illness. In K. Saucier-Lundy (Ed.), Community health nursing: Caring for the public health (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Bushy, A. (in press). Vulnerability: An overview. In K. Saucier-Lundy (Ed.), Community health nursing: Caring for the public health (3rd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Chase, S.K. (in press). Faith-oriented communities and health ministries in faith communities. In G. Harkness and R. DeMarco (Eds.), Community and Public Health Nursing: Evidence for Practice (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Chase, S.K. (in press). The art of diagnosis and treatment. In L.M. Dunphy, J.E. Winland-Brown, and D. Thomas (Eds.), Primary care: The art and science of advanced practice nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.

Chase, S.K. (2014). The cardiovascular system. In P. Tabloski (Ed.), Gerontological nursing (3rd ed., pp. 363-399). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Knapp, S.J., & Sole, M.L. (2013). Patient and family responses to the critical care experience. In M.L. Sole, D.G. Klein, & M.J. Moseley (Eds.), Introduction to Critical Care Nursing (6th ed., pp. 14-25). Philadelphia: Saunders.

LaManna, J. & Amidei, C. (2013). Endocrine alterations. In M.L. Sole, D.G. Klein & M.J. Moseley (Eds.), Introduction to critical care nursing (6th ed., pp. 543-587). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

LaManna, J. (2013). QSEN best practice exemplars. In M.L. Sole, D.G. Klein & M.J. Moseley (Eds.), Introduction to critical care nursing (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Ricci, S. (2014). Prenatal. In C.L. Edelman & C.L. Mandle (Eds.), Health promotion throughout the lifespan (8th ed., pp. 351-387). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

Ricci, S. (2014). Infancy. In C.L. Edelman & C.L. Mandle (Eds.), Health promotion throughout the lifespan (8th ed., pp. 388-427). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

Sole, M.L. (2013). Overview to critical care nursing. In M.L. Sole, D.G. Klein, & M.J. Moseley (Eds.), Introduction to Critical Care Nursing (6th ed., pp. 2-13). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders. •

BOOKS

Ricci, S. & Kyle, T. (2013). Maternity & pediatric nursing (2nd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Ricci, S. (2013). Essentials of maternity, newborn, & women’s health nursing (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.

Sole, M.L., Desmarais, P., Galura, S., Amidei, C., LaManna, J., Howe, L., & Makic, M.B. (2013). Evolve electronic instructor resources for introduction to critical care nursing (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

Sole, M.L., Desmarais, P., Galura, S., Howe, L., LaManna, J., & Makic, M.B. (2013). Evolve online student study guide for introduction to critical care nursing (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

Sole, M.L., Klein, D.G., & Moseley, M. (Eds.). (2013). Introduction to critical care nursing (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.


(L to R) Mary Lou Sole, Greg Welch, Sheryl Dodds and Brian Paradis

Florida Hospital was honored by the UCF College of Nursing and the

UCF Foundation in May for its contributions to the university and the college.

The hospital gave a $1 million grant to establish The Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation. This is the sixth endowed chair established in the College of Nursing, and the second chair that Florida Hospital has endowed at UCF. The first is in the College of Medicine.

Diane Chase, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, thanked Florida Hospital for its partnership and said the chair position “is a perfect example of working across traditional academic boundaries and silos in striving for innovations, solutions and best results.” The chair will support the research and development of enhanced simulation technology to improve health care education. The position is unique in that it includes appointments to the UCF

nursing faculty, the Institute for Simulation and Training, and the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Gregory F. Welch, PhD, is the inaugural appointee to the Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation. He is a computer scientist and engineer with a record of technological innovation and a longstanding interest in health care.

Sheryl Dodds, chief clinical officer at Florida Hospital, who was an active member of the search committee that selected Dr. Welch, indicated that she and the committee immediately knew Welch was the perfect candidate for the position. “We just knew he was the right fit for what we were doing because he’s truly an out-of-the-box thinker and can take us to that next level.” Dodds said she saw his pioneering work and thought he is what we need, someone to guide health care into the future.

Currently, Welch is working with a team of UCF nursing

professors to prototype a unique technology for health care simulation training and research. The goal is to improve the simulated patients that are used in the education of nurses and other health care professionals by adding emotion and personal touch to simulated patient interactions.

“One of my primary interests is in developing technology that you could think of as a flight simulator for health care professionals, but instead of airplanes we want to simulate patients.”

While his work is very mechanical, Welch emphasizes that it is all about bringing more humanness to the simulation process. The technology students now use lacks authentic expression and voices. His goal is to increase this authenticity dramatically. Welch recognizes that even though the ceremony celebrates his work, this position is not really about him. “It is about everybody else, everything we can do together.” •

Katie Korkosz, MSDirector of Development

FLORIDA HOSPITAL GIVES $1 MILLION FOR HEALTH CARE SIMULATION

Gifts of all amounts help to advance the College of Nursing and its priorities. Annual and endowed gifts over the past year have allowed our students and faculty to purchase equipment and supplies for teaching through the Community Nursing Coalitions, expand student simulation training, support five

students on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic, support faculty members with their research efforts, and establish new scholarships to assist with tuition, lab fees and books. These are just a few examples of the many areas that have been impacted by the support from alumni, friends, community members, foundations and organizations over the past year.

Through your philanthropic investment in the College of Nursing, we can:

• Continue to keep the nursing program affordable through endowed scholarships and other forms of private support

• Attract and retain top faculty researchers and scholars

• Provide funding for programs that allow our graduates to shape the future of health care on the local, national and global levels

We believe every patient deserves a UCF educated nurse, and we are committed to touching lives, leading by example and making a difference in nursing care. Your gift to the UCF College of Nursing ensures that we can prepare the next generation of nursing leaders. To discuss a philanthropic investment in our future nurse leaders or ways to get involved, please contact the Development Office at:

407.823.1600 [email protected] 12201 Research Parkway, Suite 300, Orlando, FL 32826

YOUR GIFTS ADVANCE THE MISSION OF THE COLLEGE

GIVING at a Glance


Thank you to our donors who supported their endowed fund from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

Dr. Howard A. Bender III (’97, ’98) – The Bender Family Endowed Nursing Scholarship

Dr. Robert M. Byers – Dr. Jacqueline Byers Memorial Nursing Scholarship

Femmes de Coeur – Femmes de Coeur Endowed Nursing Scholarship

Mr. David (’81) and Mrs. Ania Hanke – David and Ania Hanke Endowed Fund for Global Health Outreach

Dr. Linda M. Hennig (’96) – Drs. Linda M. and E. Glenn Hennig Jr., Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Jean C. Kijek – Dr. Jean C. Kijek Doctoral Student Endowed Scholarship

Dr. Kate (’79, ’83) and Mr. Joseph F. Kinsley – Ida Kinsley Memorial Nursing Endowed Scholarship

Mr. Robert A. Lowke - Jeanne Lowke Endowed Scholarship for Oncology Nursing Students

Nirvana Health Services, Inc. – Nirvana Health Services Endowed Scholarship

Mr. Mark S. (’99) and Mrs. Lisa Moore - The JKLM Moore Endowed Scholarship

Orlando Health – Orlando Health Nursing Endowed Fund

Dr. Earl A. and Mrs. Jan T. Smith – Dorothy Anne Perkins Tomlinson Endowed Scholarship

VITAS Innovative Hospice Care – VITAS Innovative Hospice Care Endowed Scholarship

Mr. Daniel W. (’74) and Mrs. Ria C. Voss – Light The Way Endowed Scholarship

Vivian and Barry Woods Trust – Vivian and Barry Woods Educational Endowment

We apologize for any errors or omissions.

ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP DONORS

UCF WON FIRST PLACE in a regional dancing face-off against other nursing programs in a competition called “Let Us Entertain You”, or LUEY. UCF has participated in the event for the past seven years, but never placed first until now. UCF came by the victory not only through talent, but in dollars raised.

UCF secured its victory with Sigrid Ladores (PhD ’14), who not only danced, but sang. Ladores has been singing for years and greatly improved her step with Tony Sterling, a local dance instructor.

LUEY is hosted by a nonprofit fundraising group called Femmes de Coeur, meaning Women of Heart. The competition was created purely for fun and as a way to raise money for new scholarships for nursing students. UCF, Valencia College, Seminole State College and Adventist University School of Health Sciences each receive $5,000 in proceeds towards their respective Femmes de Coeur Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund.

Each school provides one participant as their ‘celebrity’ dancer, with faculty, staff and members of the public purchasing tickets to attend in support. The show takes on a format similar to the acclaimed Dancing with the Stars television show. Each contestant takes several weeks’ worth of professional dance lessons before the show. The dancers are not limited to academia. Other local celebrities like news anchors, attorneys and real estate agents participate as well. •

DA N C E- O F F S E C U R E S S C H O L A R S H I P S

The UCF College of Nursing awarded more than $142,600 in scholarship

aid for the 2013-4 academic year thanks to the generous support of donors. The college honored its donors and 64 scholarship recipients at an appreciation luncheon in March at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. Of the 64 scholarship recipients, 28 students received more than one scholarship.

“We are very thankful for the support we receive from the community in providing scholarships for our nursing students,” said Mary Lou Sole, interim dean of the UCF College of Nursing.

Katie Korkosz, director of development for the college, says scholarships are a funding priority for the college, and assist students with their tuition and educational expenses. “Many

nursing students are not able to work during the program due to the rigorous curriculum, so scholarship support is critical and helps us recruit the best and brightest students.”

Two scholarship recipients, who have since graduated, spoke at the luncheon expressing their appreciation for the philanthropic gifts they received.

Born in Germany, Iris Appenrodt, a BSN student who received two scholarships, spoke about the many obstacles she overcame and her financial struggles along the way. “When I was notified about the scholarships, I was trying to figure out how to pay for the spring semester and my upcoming graduation. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for this generous contribution.”

After she passed her nursing board exam, Appenrodt began a full-time job at the Orlando VA where she spent her final year of nursing school participating in their Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency (VALOR) program. She is very passionate about her work with veterans. “I am a naturalized U.S. citizen, so to me, being a VA nurse gives me the opportunity to embrace

my chosen country and the veterans who make it possible for me to be here.”

A proud mom of two grown children, Libby Gersbach said, “I am not sure that the words ‘thank you’ are enough to adequately express my heartfelt gratitude for the donors. Their generosity has helped me achieve my goals and pursue the career of my dreams.”

Gersbach, also a BSN student and the recipient of two scholarships, said she put her family first before finally embarking on her desired nursing degree. “My son graduated from Midwestern University with his Pharm D last spring and my daughter is finishing her third year of law school,” she said. “She sat for her bar exam this past summer around the same time that I was taking my nursing board exam.” •

Iris Appenrodt and Libby Gersbach

STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM $142,600 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, DONORS HONORED

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JOIN THE KNIGHTINGALE SOCIETY

Founded in 2007 and named in honor of Florence Nightingale, the revered mother of modern nursing, the Knightingale Society provides donors with the opportunity to invest in nursing at the University of Central Florida. With the university’s mascot being the Knight, it only seemed appropriate to link UCF’s nursing society to her name with a “K.” Annual contributions of $1,000 or more will help the college lead the way in health care and provide scholarship funds to support our students.

SUPPORT NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS

An endowed scholarship is a gift that the College of Nursing holds into perpetuity. Endowed scholarships can honor classmates, faculty members, caregivers and relatives who have impacted your life. With this gift, you are touching the life of the honoree while helping to ensure that new generations of UCF nurses improve health and healing in our community. Gifts to existing scholarships are also welcome.

LEAVE YOUR LEGACY WITH A PLANNED GIFT

A variety of giving methods are available that allow a donor to maximize their investment, increase their current cash flow and provide tax savings. The advantages a donor can receive from making a planned gift are enhanced by the knowledge that their gift will provide support for future generations of nurses.

SUPPORT THE ANNUAL FUND

Donations of all sizes helps us prepare the next generation of nurses, faculty and researchers, ensuring that great nurses will be there when we need them. These gifts have a significant impact on what we’re able to accomplish, and no gift is too small. •

GIVEWAYS TO

‘ S IMULATION SAVES MONEY,AND TRAINING SAVES LIVES’

Lockheed Martin, whose longtime partnership with UCF represents a shared commitment to education and an improved quality of life in Florida, has recently

donated state-of-the-art simulation equipment to be used for student training in UCF’s College of Nursing.

Three high-fidelity mannequins, consumable medical supplies, an IV catheter trainer and other equipment will allow students to practice physical exams, history-taking, diagnostic and communication skills in a safe environment where learning can occur without risk to a patient.

“Simulation saves money, and training saves lives,” said Jon Rambeau, vice president and general manager for Lockheed Martin Training and Logistics Solutions. “We are proud to be a long-standing partner with UCF in advancing training and innovation right here in Central Florida.”

Mary Lou Sole, interim dean of the College of Nursing, appreciates the enormous contribution made by Lockheed Martin. The equipment will help expand simulation in the college, as well as enhance student learning.

“This is an incredibly generous gift,” said Sole. “On average, one high-fidelity simulator can cost between $70,000 and $90,000—depending on its functionality. Thanks to Lockheed Martin’s donation, we received three simulators to put into immediate use.”

One simulator, Sole says, will be used to create new advancements in technology through research led by Professor Gregory Welch, the college’s newly appointed Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation.

“We are working on, among other things, improving the interpersonal aspects of today’s patient simulation systems,” said Welch. “The Laerdal SimMan systems, given as part of the donation, for example will allow us to prototype advanced physical-virtual patient simulators for more emotionally engaging training.”

A recent study from the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) found that 50 percent of high-quality simulation can be effectively substituted for traditional clinical experiences in undergraduate nursing programs. Readiness for clinical practice was no different between the traditional control and simulation groups.

“Given the new data from the NCSBN, we will be poised to increase the amount of simulation we are currently delivering to our students,” said Laura Gonzalez, assistant professor at the College of Nursing. “This is important, especially with the shortage of clinical sites available to our students.”

In addition to providing a safe learning environment, simulation, which has become an integral part of nursing education, offers other advantages. For instance, Sole said, simulation allows instructors to stage a wider variety of scenarios than students are likely to see during their clinical rotations, giving students “a deeper understanding and broader exposure to diverse patient events.” •

GIVING at a Glance


Thank you to our donors who supported the college with a gift over $1,000 from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014

Drs. Thomas W. and Diane R. Andrews

Anonymous

Mrs. Kathleen Black (’84, ’01, ’02)

The Honorable Kenneth W. (’85) and Mrs. Ruth I. Bradley

Dr. Angeline A. Bushy

Dr. Susan K. Chase

Drs. Joseph L. and Maureen M. Covelli

Dr. Kenneth W. Dion (’91)

Mr. Michael and Mrs. Bari Ann DiPietro

Florida Hospital

Florida Navy Nurse Corps Association

Dr. Loretta Forlaw

Ms. Ann S. Fowler

The Gertrude Skelly Charitable Foundation

Dr. Linda Gibson-Young

Hans & Cay Jacobsen Foundation

Heart of Volusia

Dr. Stephen D. (’02, ’04, ’12) and Mrs. Darlene M. Heglund

Dr. Linda A. and Mr. John Howe

Dr. Kathryn C. (’79, ’83) and Mr. Joseph F. Kinsley

Mrs. Katie (’04, ’05) and Mr. Todd (’04, ‘05) Korkosz

Drs. Martin A. Kubiet and Leslee A. D’Amato-Kubiet (’13)

Dr. Sigrid (’13) and Mr. Andrew Ladores

Dr. Jacqueline (’13) and Mr. Anthony J. (’93) LaManna

Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation

Dr. Victoria W. (’07) and Mr. Steven C. (’87, ’92) Loerzel

Lynn Atton Davis Jr. Foundation

Ms. Mary W. McKenzie

Mr. Gerard and Mrs. Debra Michaud (’01,’03,’10)

Mr. Mark S. (’99) and Mrs. Lisa M. Moore

Dr. Donna F. Neff

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Ms. Nina C. Price

Dr. Samuel D. Realista (’01)

Dr. Mary Lou and Mr. Robert Sole

VNA Foundation

Drs. Julee B. and Tony G. Waldrop

Dr. Gregory F. Welch

The Diane and Lawrence Wink Fund

We apologize for any errors or omissions.

TH E K N I G H T I N G A L E SOCIETY

U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T R A L F L O R I D A


THE KNIGHTINGALE SOCIETYMembers were honored for their 2012-3 and 2013-4

contributions at two exclusive events (see p. 33).

2014 EVENTS IN REVIEW

SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEONDonors were thanked in spring

2014 for their 2013-4 scholarship support (see p. 31).

GIVING at a Glance


DIRECTORY OF GIVING STORIES

• BERT FISH FOUNDATION PAGES 20, 23

• CHATLOS FOUNDATION PAGES 21, 23

• ELIZABETH MORSE GENIUS FOUNDATION

PAGES 22-23

• FLORIDA BLUE PAGE 6

• FLORIDA HOSPITAL PAGES 22-23, 30

• LOCKHEED MARTIN PAGE 32

• ORLANDO HEALTH PAGES 7, 21, 23

• ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION

PAGES 12-13

FLORIDA HOSPITAL HONOREDFlorida Hospital was honored by the

college and the UCF Foundation in May for its $1 million grant to establish The Florida Hospital Endowed Chair in Healthcare Simulation. Dr. Gregory F. Welch is the inaugural appointee to this position (see p. 30).


The UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter hosted six continuing education dinners during the year across Central Florida as a part of the Simply Speaking Lecture Series on Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in special populations. Attendees earned one contact hour for their participation.

Following the lecture, guests heard a college update and learned more about how to stay connected to the UCF Alumni Association.

Check your in-box in January for spring dinner dates coming soon. Registration will be limited so make sure to sign up early. •

ENGAGING ALUMNI THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION

A common denominator apparent in many of her best new hires and colleagues inspired Patricia “Trish” Celano (’10) to further her education. Upon observing the level of preparation bestowed upon nurse leaders who had gone through the UCF College of Nursing master’s program, Celano was convinced that UCF was the place for her. As chief nursing officer and vice president of clinical services for Florida Hospital South, she now implements her new skills to effectively manage one of the largest nursing workforces in the state.

Celano also serves as president-elect for the Florida Organization of Nursing Executives and on the board of the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society.

Celano was honored at the Black & Gold Gala held during UCF’s Homecoming Week. •

CNO/VICE PRESIDENT OF CLINICAL SERVICES FLORIDA HOSPITAL ORLANDOTrish Celano, MSN, RN

2014 UCF PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT

>>>

ALUMNI at a Glance


DATETHESAVE

APRIL 18, 2015

6:30-9:30 P.M.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSOR!

More than 60 alumni and friends celebrated a Knight of dancing, dining, and ReUKnighting at the May 3 all-class reunion. Special recognition was given for the classes of 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2009.

We hope to see more of our alumni and friends at the 2015 all-class reunion on April 18 at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center. This year special recognition will be given to the classes of 1985, 1990, 2005 and 2010.

2014 ALL-CLASS REUNION RECAP

NEXT REUNION


SHARE YOUR NEWS!

Did you... Get married? Start a new job? Win an award? Move? We want to know where you are and

what you are doing! Submit updates at ucfalumni.com/nursing or e-mail [email protected]. •

’80sEllarea (Elle) Farwell (BSN ’83) is attending Florida Southern

College in Lakeland, Fla. where she is pursuing her master’s in Nursing Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification. She expects to graduate Dec. 2014. She was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Upsilon Omega Chapter in April 2013. For the past 19 years, she has worked at the Orange County jail in Corrections Nursing. She is married, and has five children and 18 grandchildren.

Susan McLennon (BSN ’85) was promoted to associate professor of nursing with tenure at Indiana University, Indianapolis. She is also the assistant chair for the department of science of nursing care at IU.

Patricia Lafferty (BSN ’86, MSN ’97) earned her nursing PhD in spring 2014 from UCF after successfully defending her dissertation, “Factors Associated with Information Literacy Competencies of the Traditional Baccalaureate Nursing Student.”

’90sTeresa (Bucknam) Powshok

(BSN ’93) worked in the health care industry for 12 years and now works as a land surveying manager. Married to her husband Drew, they have a 19-year-old son, AJ, and a 16-year-old daughter, Jackie.

’00sPauline Dixon (BSN ’09) is a

2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Rebecca Ivatury (BSN ’04) served in the Air Force from 2005-9 as an Active Duty Officer and worked at Wilford Hall Medical Center as a trauma nurse. Rebecca also served in Balrad, Iraq and worked in a wartime military hospital in 2007. Following her active duty, Rebecca worked at the Brooke Army Medical Center as a research nurse performing research on Functional Outcomes of Wartime Vascular Injury. She completed a Master in Health Administration at Trinity University with a GPA of 3.83 while also a full-time mother and wife.

Trecia D. Jones (MSN ’08) is a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Allison (Gallagher) Collings (BSN ’08) married fellow UCF Knight, Chris Collings (’06, ’10) on Aug. 2, 2014.

’10sAmanda Cralley (BSN ’12) is

a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Lisa D’Agostino (BSN ’13) had her undergraduate honors research “The Associations among Maternal Resiliency, Perceptions of Touch, and reports of Infant Touch” published in the University of Central Florida Undergraduate Research Journal.

Jamie Lynn Eunice (BSN ’11) is a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Pamela Grellman (BSN ’11) is a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Kristin O’Connor (BSN ’11) sang her way to the top 13 on the thirteenth season of American Idol.

Leslie Parsons (BSN ’12) is a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Darin Principe (MSN ’13) was accepted for a Family Nurse Practitioner Residency Training program in Yakima, Wash. with the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic. The residency is a 12-month program specifically for FNPs who are committed to developing careers as PCPs in community health centers and other safety net settings. The program structure includes precepted primary care sessions, specialty rotations, mentored independent clinics and didactic sessions.

Amanda (Oyola) Tavares (BSN ’12) is a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient.

Joanne L. Vano (BSN ’13) is a 2014 Orlando Health Nursing Excellence Award recipient. •

>>> CLASS NOTES <<<ALUMNI at a Glance


Employers are invited to share Job Opportunities on our LinkedIn Job Board.

Like us! UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter

Tweet with us! @UCF_Nursing

Join us! UCF College of Nursing Alumni Chapter

> > > A R E YO U S O C I A L? BECOME FACULTY

Visit nursing.ucf.edu to view faculty employment and preceptor opportunities. To learn more about faculty opportunities, contact Carey Ann at [email protected] or 407.823.4941. For preceptor opportunities, contact Dawn Allen at [email protected] or 407.823.4940.

UPDATE US

Share your professional and personal announcements with us at ucfalumni.com/nursing or e-mail [email protected]. We welcome your high-resolution, printer quality photos as well.

CEU OPPORTUNITIES

Our chapter hosts continuing education dinners in several locations around Central Florida during the fall and spring. Visit ucfalumni.com/nursing or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook for dates and more information.

FOOTBALL TAILGATING

Faculty and staff join together prior to each home football game for a tailgate party in the softball lot. Stop by and join us next season, and reconnect with the college. For more information, contact Dr. Christopher Blackwell at [email protected]. Go Knights! #ChargeOn

GET INVOLVED

Our chapter focuses on bringing grads together to renew friendships and professional connections that benefit alumni and the university. Our chapter is the perfect way to connect and stay tuned in to UCF and the endless opportunities available throughout our community. If you would like to learn more about volunteer leadership opportunities, please e-mail [email protected].

JOIN US!

I N M E M O RI A M

Dr. Leon Earl Eldredge (8/31/1929 – 9/12/2013) passed away on Sept. 12, 2013 at Jonesboro Health and Rehabilita-tion Center in Arkansas. Dr. Eldredge was the first director of the nursing program at UCF, which involved a year of strategic design and writing of the curriculum. He was also instrumental in starting nursing education programs at colleges and universities in Jonesboro, Ark.; Tyler, Texas; San Angelo, Texas; and Brevard County, Fla. After his retirement from UCF, he moved to Vero Beach, Fla. He returned to Arkansas after becoming ill to be near family. Eldredge was a veteran who served in the Marine Corp (1951-1953) and the Army Nurse Corp (1966-1968). He obtained the rank of Major.

Dr. Roberta G. Gropper (6/23/1937 – 11/10/2014) lost her 12-year battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 77 on Nov. 10, 2014 in Port Orange, Fla. Dr. Gropper was a respected UCF faculty member and nurse educator on the Daytona Beach campus. She dedicated much of her life to nursing education and was loved by her RN to BSN students.

Dr. Judy Morter (4/27/1945 - 9/15/2014) passed away at the age of 69 on Sept. 15, 2014. Dr. Morter was a longtime adjunct professor for UCF on the Cocoa campus and previously worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner at the Brevard Health Department. She instructed basic BSN clinicals at Parrish Medical Center for more than 10 years, educating almost an entire generation of UCF nurses. Morter was patient, giving, and loved by her students. In honor of her passing, a memorial scholarship has been established by her family at the UCF College of Nursing. •

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Documents

2014 UCF NURSING MAGAZINE, vol. 9