News from the UF College of Nursing

Welcome to the Gator Nurse E-Connection, your link to the news and activities of the UF College of Nursing! We are excited to be able to bring you Gator Nurse news in electronic format and we welcome your feedback and suggestions.

Do not miss The 50th Anniversary Gala and Reunion Weekend!

The UF College of Nursing will conclude a yearlong commemoration of our 50th Anniversary at the Gala and Reunion on November 17th-18th, 2006. We hope that you and your family will plan to attend this exciting event. Registration forms will be mailed in August. Don’t miss this chance to return to campus and celebrate Gator Nursing! For updated information and registration,
click here

Schedule of Events

Friday, November 17th, 2006

Saturday, November 18th, 2006

Special thanks to our 50th Anniversary Sponsors:

HONOR A NURSE

Maybe it was your parent, grandparent, friend or faculty member who helped you or your family while you were sick. If you are a nurse, it may be that person who inspired you to become one. Now is the time to recognize these special people who have made such a difference in your life and touched countless others.

Honor someone who exemplifies the spirit of nursing.

Your Gift

• In recognition of a gift of $1000, a 4 x 8 brick with the honoree’s name will be placed in the College courtyard. A special message from you to the honoree will be included in the 50th Anniversary Gala program and the commemorative issue of The Gator Nurse.
  
  
• A gift of $250 will allow your honoree’s name to be recognized in the 50th Anniversary Gala program.
  
• Upon receiving your gift request, the College will send correspondence to notify the honoree of your tribute.

All proceeds go directly to support the Dorothy M. Smith Endowed Chair. Dorothy M. Smith, the founding dean of the College of Nursing, brought national and international attention to the University of Florida for her pioneering ideas. Her work laid the foundation for all Gator Nurses who Care, Lead and Inspire.

Do not miss this opportunity to thank those people who have touched your life!

If you would like to receive a pledge form, please click here.

Save the Date
On September 8, Dr. Molly (Mickey) Dougherty, Professor of Nursing at University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill and editor of the prestigious journal Nursing Research, will be visiting the College of Nursing. She will make a presentation focused on her long-standing program of research on urinary incontinence. The presentation will be from 12 Noon to 1 pm at the HPNP Complex. We invite all alumni and guests to attend. For more details or questions, please contact the Alumni Office at (352) 273-6360.

Alumni Council Hosts Pinning Ceremony

On April 28th, 2006 the College of Nursing held its first Pinning Ceremony in nearly two decades. Unlike those in the past, this Pinning Ceremony represented a “new” rite of passage; one to signify the transition of graduating BSN students to alumni status.

“Regardless of where the new graduates’ nursing careers take them, their pin will always represent their steps from student to professional nurse” said BarBee Geiger, President of the Nursing Alumni Council. “As these new graduates enter the workforce or continue their education, we encourage all Gator Nurse Alumni to wear their pins with pride.”

Following the presentation, graduating senior Cassidy Bell led the recitation of the revised Nightingale Pledge.

“In full knowledge of the obligations I am undertaking, I promise to practice professional nursing with all my skill and the understanding I possess, without regard to race, creed, color, politics, or social status of those entrusted to my care, sparing no effort to preserve quality of life, alleviate suffering, and to promote health, as affirmed by the person.”

To read the rest of the revised pledge, click here.

College's Commencement Ceremony Honors Heritage, And Outstanding Alumni

This year’s May 5th commencement ceremony was particularly special because it celebrated the College’s 50th anniversary. To mark the event, a number of special guests were in attendance and significant events highlighted the ceremony.

The College of Nursing presented an honorary doctorate to Linda Aiken, Ph.D., R.N., one of the college’s most renowned alumna. Aiken received both her bachelor of science in nursing and master’s of nursing degrees from UF and is now the director of the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, the Claire M. Fagin leadership professor of nursing, and a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Aiken is known worldwide for advancing the quality of patient care through the research and health policy work.

Serving as keynote speaker was Clair Martin, PhD, RN, FAAN a notable College of Nursing alumnus who has served in several esteemed academic positions, including a president of Cumberland University and dean of nursing at Emory University, the University of Colorado and the University of Alaska. During his time as a student at the College, he was particularly close to many of the founding faculty members, including founding dean Dorothy M. Smith.

The Alumnus of the Year award was presented to Audrey Nelson (Ph.D. 1990), the director of the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry and associate director of nursing service for research at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa.

College News

College Expanding Academic Programs with DNP and New Masters of Science in Public Health Nursing

This fall, the College will offer new and exciting graduate degree options. In late spring, the Florida Board of Governors granted approval to UF to offer a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. UF was the first university to be given official approval from the Board of Governors. The college will offer a post-master’s DNP degree this fall, and plans to initiate a post baccalaureate DNP in Fall 2008.

The College also received confirmation of a three-year grant award from the Health Resources and Services Administration to offer a Master of Science in Nursing degree with a public health specialty. The HRSA will provide $270,000 in the first year, with similar funding levels expected for two additional years, totaling more than $800,000. Students may enroll in part- or full-time study starting Fall 2006. Approximately 80 percent of the classes will be taught online and clinical rotations will be arranged with practice partners in students’ local areas.

For more information on these or other graduate programs offered by the College of Nursing, visit our Web site at www.nursing.ufl.edu or call (352) 273-6331.

College Briefs

• Senior students and faculty members participated in the College’s international practicum in Gdansk, Poland. Students Rani Ridenour, Laura Chime Swetland, Sara Wilson and Lori Yontz as well as faculty members Clinical Assistant Professor Joan Castleman and Dr. Veronica Feeg visited the Medical University of Gdansk in March and April. They were engaged in a number of different activities, including collaboration with health professionals on community assessment and health promotion activities as well as sharing insights with Polish faculty members and students on nursing education. Congratulations to them for breaking new ground!
  
  
• The College of Nursing dedicated its very own History Alcove this spring, a result of the tremendous efforts of Assistant Professor Jodi Irving. The alcove features photos, facts and a timeline of the first 50 years of the College of Nursing. It includes an extensive listing of academic, research and clinical efforts by College faculty member and a guestbook for visitors to sign. Don’t miss the History Alcove on the 3rd floor of the College of Nursing building when you are in the Gainesville area.
  
  
• Associate Professor Meredeth Rowe was named a UF Research Foundation Professor for 2006-2009. Dr. Rowe was one of 33 faculty members recognized for strong records of research likely to lead to continuing distinction in their fields. She is committed to finding strategies to decrease the inherent threats to safety associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.

Student Spotlight: Judy Campbell, Doctoral Student

Doctoral student Judy Campbell recently received the “Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity” pre-doctoral scholarship funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation and administered by the American Academy of Nursing. The scholarship, which provides $40,000 a year for two years, will enable her to concentrate on her research full-time. She was one of a select group of 18 recipients nationwide to receive the scholarship. To read more, click here.

Looking for your long-lost classmates or college friends? Join the Gator Nation Network!

The Gator Nation Network (GNN) is a private, online community that allows UF alumni and friends to connect securely with Gators everywhere. This is the perfect opportunity to contact a long lost classmate or to network with fellow alumni. Just visit http://gnn.uflalumni.ufl.edu to complete your profile. Once there, you can:

• Find your UF friends and colleagues
• Network with alumni about events, housing and jobs
• Invite new friends to join or accept invitations from fellow Gators
• Have event reminders displayed when logged in
• Be reminded of friends’ birthdays
• And much, much more

GNN is available, courtesy of the UF Alumni Association. The service is FREE OF CHARGE to all UF alumni and there are no strings attached. Access your account and begin to develop your Gator network today!

Tracy Brown Wright,
Director, Public Relations and Communications
(352) 273-6421
tracyb@nursing.ufl.edu

Austin Geiger
Associate Director of Alumni Affairs
(352) 273-6360
aageiger@vpha.ufl.edu

College of Nursing
Alumni Affairs Office
PO Box 100197
Gainesville, FL 32610
http://www.nursing.ufl.edu