From the

We had a great year at Union College and the Edna Jenkins Mann School of Nursing and hope that you enjoy some of the stories and pictures in this edition of the “Stethoscoop.”

The nursing department is growing with each semester and a continued excitement about nursing at Union College is in the air.

The program is happy to announce the addition of Mrs. Karen Wynn, BSN, RN as the new nursing laboratory and simulation director. Mrs. Wynn comes to Union College with over 20 years of nursing experience with the last 5 years in the role of a nursing laboratory/simulation instructional specialist. Her expertise in the field of nursing and simulation in nursing education is a wonderful asset to Union College and the School of Nursing.

As we continue to grow a new program was approved and will begin fall 2017 – Medicaid Nurse Aide – Nursing Assistant Skills courses! Union College and the School of Nursing went through the approval process with the state of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services and received full approval to begin this program. The program will lead to state certification for students to become State Registered Nursing Assistants (SRNA) some refer to them as Certified Nursing Assistants. We are looking forward to launching this new program and Mrs. Wynn will be leading the courses in addition to her other duties.

We hope you enjoy this newsletter as it provides brief highlights of our year and sharing with those that support and

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11 students graduate from 2017 nursing program

For the first time in the school’s history, nursing students were included among the students recognized for outstanding academic achievement at the annual Honor’s Day ceremony.

Union College Dean of Nursing, Dr. Marisa Greer introduced both the Leadership in Nursing Award and the Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award. The Leadership in Nursing Award is given to the senior BSN student who

Nursing Students Honored during Convocation

Dean’s desk

August 15, 2017unionky.edu

Dr. Marisa Greer

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The end of the 2017 academic year sent 11 new nurses out into the world of healthcare with a Union College education. This is the second class of students to graduate from Union’s four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“This is a difficult program and we all have to live and breathe it,” said Dr. Marisa Greer, during the 2017 nursing pinning ceremony. “We get a lot of support from this institution and because of that, these students have the opportunity to stay close to home to earn their BSN.”

Dr. Greer noted that this is only the second class to complete the pre-licensure nursing program at Union since the program was implemented in 2012. Last year, 14 students graduated through the program with all of them passing their certification exams to gain licensure. Dr. Greer said the demand for nurses with BSN degrees is

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Vital StatsNursing News and notes

Roger’s Explorers Summer Camp at Union

Union College hosted Roger’s Explorers this summer. The program takes high school students from throughout the region and cultivates skills in leadership, technology, math, science and community service. While at Union, the students participated in nursing programs at the Edna Jenkins Mann School of Nursing with Dr. Greer.

Nursing students deliver programs first baby

Union College proudly announced the birth of a baby girl, born February 7 to SimMom at the Edna Jenkins Mann School of Nursing. Nursing students worked throughout the semester to care for the expectant mother, who was experiencing complications with her pregnancy. Once SimMom went into labor, nursing professors Melissa Owens and Karen Wynn helped direct the BSN nursing students through the delivery. Both SimMom and SimBaby are healthy and doing well.

11 2017 Pre-Licensure graduates

15Health

Scholars Camp Participants

255Clinical Hours for 2017 Seniors

40RN-BSN

Students

160Students declared

nursing as major

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Melissa Owens, Union College Assistant Professor of Nursing, was honored during the 2017 Commencement ceremony by being named Union’s Exemplary Teacher of the year. The award is presented through the United Methodist Church with college faculty and students nominating candidates based on their service to students beyond the classroom.

Union’s Nursing Students engaged in the healthcare profession

Nursing in a Snap

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2017 Pinning Ceremony: Kayla

Moyers was presented with the 110 percent

award; Natasha Rawlings was

presented the Most Compassionate award and Allison Swafford

was presented the Academic award.

Knox County Health Fair: Ellen Denham and Cassie Martin show their lighter side during the 2017 Knox County Health Fair. Union nursing students assist with the community program every year.

Kentucky HOSA Conference: Nursing Lab Director Karen Wynn, Admissions Counselor James Becknell and Athletic Trainer Professor Doug Branch speak with prospective students during the state HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) conference.

Frankfort Field Trip: Union’s senior nursing leadership class, along with professors Dr. Lisa Abner and Myrtle Mills, took a trip to Frankfort in February. The students attended the legislative day for health care, learning about issues in their career field and meeting with their representatives.

From the front11 new graduates

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follow our program is vital to our success.The School of Nursing has admitted the

largest class to date (details to follow in the fall edition of the newsletter) so it is going to be a busy fall semester for our department but we are excited to reach this milestone!

I hope you enjoy the contents of the newsletter and please feel free to contact me with any questions or if you or someone would like a tour of our beautiful campus and our state of the art nursing facilities.

Take care,

unionky.edu/nursing

From theDean’s desk

so high that every student to graduate from the program has had multiple job offers prior to graduation.

“These students work extremely hard to make it to this point and they will enter the healthcare field with a wealth of knowledge in patient care,” Dr. Greer said. “Our healthcare partners understand the work and sacrifice these students have made and are ready to provide them with great career opportunities.”

Nine of the students graduating in the program this year are from the Barbourville community or the local region. Prior to graduation, each student defines an area of interest they hope to specialize in once they begin their careers.

Dr. Greer led the students through the 2017 pinning ceremony. She was joined by nursing faculty members, college administration and Edna Jenkins Mann, the Union College trustee that helped establish the nursing school that now carries her name.

“Nurses are the glue that hold healthcare together,” Mann said. “Nurses see a patients face more than the doctor does and they have to be a friend as well as care for them mentally and physically.”

Mann would later watch as each of the students accepted an honorary nursing pin from Dr. Greer. They then stood before family, friends and faculty

members to recite the nightingale pledge and the nurse’s prayer. Awards were also presented to three of the students. Kayla Moyers was presented with the 110 percent award; Natasha Rawlings was presented the Most Compassionate award; and Allison Swafford was presented the Academic award.

The Edna Jenkins Mann School of Nursing lives up to the standards of the best liberal arts colleges. The program currently offers two options for students seeking a baccalaureate degree in nursing.

The RN to BSN program is for those who are already registered nurses after completing an associate degree or diploma program. The program is now being offered online as well as on-campus. The pre-licensure program is designed for those who are entering college or returning to college who are seeking to enter the profession with a baccalaureate degree.

The Edna Jenkins Mann School of Nursing began with the RN to BSN program in the fall of 2010. The pre-nursing phase of the pre-licensure program began in 2012. The Bachelor degree program in Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, Washington, DC.

Learn more about the programs by visiting www.unionky.edu/nursing.

Follow us on Facebook @UnionCollegeKY

Contact us at:Union College310 College StreetBarbourville KY 40906606.546.1756MGreer@unionky.edu

is a leader among peers in the School of Nursing, the College, the Community, and the profession, exhibiting leadership, advocacy, and mentoring accomplishments. This student lives out the philosophy of nursing and exhibits leadership and a commitment to mentoring.

The 2017 awardee is Jacob Johnston. The Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award is given to

the senior BSN student who best exemplifies caring in nursing situations, demonstrated through competence and in-depth knowledge of the science and art of nursing. This student puts critical thinking into practice, while remaining competent with technical skills and caring behaviors.

The 2017 awardee is Felisha Gray. Honors Day awards acknowledge high scholastic

averages of students by class year and discipline, including literature, computer programming, business, accounting, history, psychology, the sciences and others. Special scholarships and other recognition, including a distinguished professor award, were also presented during the event.

Honors Convocation