Past News from the Penn State School of Nursing (2005)
Donna Fick receives the 2005 Springer Award.
December 5, 2005
University Park, PA—Donna Fick, Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, has been awarded the 2005 Springer Award in Geriatric/ Gerontologic Nursing. The award, co-sponsored by the Hartford
Institute for Geriatric Nursing and Springer Publishing, is given annually to honor a distinguished single work of research in applied geriatric nursing. Dr. Fick received this year’s award in recognition of her research article “Delirium superimposed on dementia in a community-living managed care population: A three year retrospective study of prevalence, costs, and utilization,” co-authored by Ann Kolanowski, Jennifer Waller, and Sharon Inouye and published in the Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences. The award was presented to Dr. Fick at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Nov. 19, 2005, in Orlando, Florida.
Along with receiving a cash prize, the awardee of The Springer Award is considered for publication by Springer Publishing Co., either in book or journal-article format. To be considered for this award, the recipient must be a geriatric and gerontological nurse whose research applies to improving the nursing care of the elderly.
Beta Sigma Receives Chapter Key Award
November 2005
Sigma Theta Tau International, the honor society of Nursing, has awarded the prestigious Chapter Key Award to Penn State University School of Nursing’s Beta Sigma Chapter. The Sigma Theta Tau International Chapter Key award is given biennially to those chapters who meet criteria of excellence in the categories of membership recruitment and retention, chapter outreach, and professional leadership and development. Activities that Beta Sigma members performed that resulted in this award included the School of Nursing Career Fair, Nursing Camp, and the Women’s Resource Center Christmas family project—activities that are “an excellent reflection of the work of a vibrant chapter.” The award was presented at the STTI 38th Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, IN, on November 16, 2005. Of the over 400 chapter in STTI, only 27 received this award this biennium. Congratulations to Beta Sigma!
Fang Yu Receives American Nursing Foundation Grant
November 2005
Fang Yu, PhD, Post-doctoral Hartford Scholar, has been awarded an American Nursing Foundation grant to pursue her research on the effect of aerobic fitness exercise on executive functioning and function in community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease.
In addition, Fang has been chosen as the Dorothy Cornelius/American Nurses Foundation Scholar for 2005-2006.
A recent article by Dr. Yu, Functional outcomes for elders with cognitive impairment in a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation facility, has been published in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, and three more articles have been accepted and are forthcoming in the Journal of Nursing Scholarship, the Journal of Gerontological Nursing, and the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia.
The School of Nursing and the Alumni Program Group
October 25, 2005
are presenting the 2nd Annual Career Building Workshop on Monday, November 7, 2005, at Heritage Hall in the HUB at University Park. The workshop has been designed to assist senior undergraduate students in launching a successful career path in nursing. Registration for the day’s events begins at 8:30 a.m., and the program begins at 9:00 a.m. This year’s panel of speakers will be addressing such issues as how to launch a job search, career advancement, networking/making connections, mentoring, and crafting a career. The speakers include alumni as well as leaders from the Penn State School of Nursing and the University. Nursing alumni will be featured during lunch to share their insights informally and to network with upcoming nursing scholars! Following the workshop at 1:00 p.m., students are encouraged to visit with the recruiters at the annual Job Fair in the HUB Alumni Hall. Senior nursing students and alumni are invited to register by emailing Chris DeRosa: cjc15@psu.edu
Darlene Clark receives CHHD Diversity Achievement Award
October 11, 2005
Darlene Clark, Instructor in the School of Nursing, will be receiving the Diversity Achievement Award from the College of Health and Human Development. This award was established by the College to recognize a faculty or staff member who demonstrates commitment to the value of diversity and has been instrumental in creating or facilitating a climate of inclusiveness in the College. She will be receiving her award and her achievement will be publicly recognized at a ceremony on October 17th at 4:00 pm in the Living Center. I hope you will plan to join us for that event.
Darlene Clark ran a very successful community health experience to South Africa this past summer for 4 student. They had clinical experiences at Mulderdrift in Johannesburg and at several other clinics in South Africa.
Donna Fick: Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America
July 15, 2005
In a message to all faculty and staff in the School of Nursing, Dr. Paula-Milone-Nuzzo, Director, asked all to join her in “congratulating Dr. Donna Fick for being awarded Fellow status by the Gerontological Society of America. The Gerontological Society of America is the oldest and largest national, multi-disciplinary scientific organization devoted to the advancement of gerontological research. Fellowship represents the highest class of membership because fellows are recognized by their peers for outstanding contributions to the field of gerontology.
“Dr. Fick joins a prestigious group of PSU faculty who are currently fellows in the Gerontological Society of America. Congratulations Dr. Fick for this much deserved honor!”
Ann Kolanowski's Awarded NIH Research Grant
May 2005
Dr. Ann Kolanowski has been awarded an NIH research grant for her project “A Prescription for Enhancing Resident Quality of Life.” The nearly $1million award is funded from May 2005 to February 2009.
This study will test the efficacy of recreational activities, derived from the Need-Driven Dementia-Compromised Behavior Model, for responding to agitation and passivity in nursing home residents with dementia, a major factor for diminished quality of life in this population. Activities are tailored to personality style of interest and skill level and are designed to promote physical functioning.
Other exciting news from the School of Nursing include:
Diane Ebken recently received the 2005 Faculty Appreciation Award from the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society.
Suzanne Kuhn and Dede McCreary (Altoona Campus) passed the new NLN Nurse Educator exam. This was the first time the exam was offered and passing it makes them Certified Nurse Educators. Congratulations to both of you for this accomplishments.
Dr. Judy Hupcey received an HHD Seed Grant for her work entitled Palliative Care Needs of Health Failure Patients and Families. Dr Janice Penrod will serve as the co-investigator on this project.
The Fayette campus of SNAP was well represented at the National Students Nurses Association of Pennsylvania State Convention. Fourteen of their students attended the convention and received two awards. They received The Bronze Achievement 2005 Award for Membership Recruitment and Retention and The 2005 Community Health Excellence Award. Congratulations to the Fayette campus SNAP chapter and their SNAP advisor, Charlotte Stotelmeyer.
Kathryn Carney (Worthington Scranton) received the Kathryn J. Grove Nursing Advocacy Award from the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association at their Annual Summit.
Dr. Rae Brown received the 2005-2006 Writing Across the Curriculum Grant for enhancement of the 200W course.
Issue 1 of Penn State Nursing: A Magazine for Alumni & Friends
May 2005
The inaugural edition of Penn State Nursing, a magazine highlighting the many activities and accomplishments of the Penn State School of Nursing, was published in May 2005 and is available to students, faculty, and friends. In addition to the inspiring cover story on Dr. Mona Counts' founding of the Mt Morris Primary Care Center, readers will find other articles that focus on how Nursing faculty are “Fulfilling the Mission: Touching Lives through Teaching, Research and Service.”