Faculty Present at National Conference

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ******

Spring, 2012

Volume 1, Issue 1

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY ROBERT E. SMITH SCHOOL OF NURSING

THE PULSE

FNP Faculty Members, Shelby Polk, Monica Jones, and Addie Herrod were invited to present a workshop to over 100 participants at the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Annual Conference in Charleston South Carolina, April 12-15, 2012. The NONPF is devoted to promoting quality nurse practitioner (NP) education at the national and international levels. The faculty received many questions regarding their successful use of advanced technology in the FNP program at DSU.

PLANT A SEED Junior nursing students along with science education students utilized funding from Dr. Leila Wynn Dulce Fund and the Delta Mississippi Area Health Education Center (DMAHEC) to work with 1st grade students this year. Activities included hands-on activities such as planting and nurturing their seeds. The 1st graders also learned about food and nutrition and how it relates to health. Faculty sponsors were Catherine Hayes and Debbie Allen from the Robert E. Smith School of Nursing along with Ellen Green and Lacey Fitts from the Biological and Physical Sciences Division. Emily Newman is the Director of the DMAHEC.

Robert E. Smith School of Nursing DSU PO Box 3343

Cleveland, MS 38733

PHONE: (662)846-4255

FAX:

((662)846-4271

E-MAIL:

nursing@deltastate.edu

Find us on the web

nursing.deltastate.edu

The Pulse Page 2 of 8

Nurse Practitioner Day

A Dialogue on Health and Culture

On March 1, 2012 Family Nurse Practitioner

students and faculty participated in Nurse

Practitioner Day at the Mississippi State Capitol

and talked with legislators about bills relevant to

the practice of Nurse Practitioners in Mississippi.

Pictured here with Senator Hillman Frazier (D-

District 27) are Sarah Beasley, Virginia Holmes,

& Gabrielle Boone.

Senior nursing students provided poster presentations of health beliefs among various cultures. Visitors were able to taste foods from around the world as they learned about the health traditions of selected countries.

The Pulse Page 3 of 8

Student Nurses Association

Student Nurses Association Members 2012 Robert E. Smith School of Nursing

Delta State University

President – Mary Glenn Vice President – Hunter Calvert Treasurer – Amanda Henderson

Recording Secretary – Chelsea Burnett Corresponding Secretary - Holly Davis

Breakthrough to Nursing - Katie Brooker Sponsor – Debbie Allen, MSN, RN

The Student Nurses Association was honored as a DSU Student Organization Champion at the annual Community Recognition luncheon in February, 2012. The association was cited for the ―organization’s dedication to the success of students at Delta State University‖.

The Pulse Page 4 of 8

Mary Glenn recently attended the National Student Nurses Association convention in Pittsburgh, PA. As a delegate, she represented both the Mississippi Association of Student Nurses and Delta State University and participated in the debate and voting process for 40 resolutions presented to the House of Delegates. She attended a breakout session where chapter presidents discussed the strengths and challenges of their organizations. Several students approached her afterward seeking more information about the workings of DSU’s Student Nurses Association chapter. ―I am thankful for the opportunity to have learned so much in such a short amount of time. I am exhausted, but it was hard

to leave,‖ she says. ―We had late nights and early mornings. Some meetings, including our state board meeting lasted until well after 10 pm! Even so, I stayed up each night with my roommates—like little girls at a slumber party—talking about all of the exciting new things we were experiencing and learning, such as the political process at the national level and how my ideas about health promotion for both patients and nurses are in line with the goals of the American Nursing Association.‖ Mary says that she sincerely hopes Delta State nursing students continue to have the opportunity to go to a national convention. After the experience she has also been inspired to to begin to draft a resolution to present at the MASN convention in October 2012. On the last official day of the convention, Mary ran in NSNA’s first 5k Fun Run.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

RESSON NEWS School of Nursing Instructor and Simulation Lab Coordinator Jeni Bond has met the criteria to be a mentor for the simulation apprenctice program sponsored by the Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce. She is one of four mentors in the state. Delta State is one of the 4 trainee sites in Mississippi. Jeni will be training faculty from other schools of nursing throughout Mississippi on the complex workings of the simulation lab. The lab is used to help students work through many real-life scenarios. Boot Camp for incoming BSN students will be held August 7, 8, & 9. New students will be introduced to the technology used at the School of Nursing as well as receive many tips on handling the challenges of nursing school. National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses 1st write pass rate for the class of 2011 was 97%. Approximately 50,000 hours of service learning is provided by Robert E. Smith’s School of Nursing each year. Students excel academically while learning the importance of commitment to their community. Congratulations to the Class of 2012! All members have successfully completed Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) provider training.

The Pulse Page 5 of 8

AA DDAAYY IINN TTHHEE LLIIFFEE OOFF

AA DDEELLTTAA SSTTAATTEE NNUURRSSIINNGG SSTTUUDDEENNTT

The Pulse Page 6 of 8

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

2ND semester FNP students attended the annual skills workshop to learn suturing, I&D techniques along with many other Advanced Practice Nursing skills.

Advanced Nursing Practice - Examining Health Care Needs

Delta State University’s Robert E. Smith’s Annual Research Day co-sponsored by Pi Xi Chapter: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing was held on March 8, 2012.

Students, faculty, and supporters listened as 4th Semester Graduate Students presented their research projects on a variety of health related subjects. Students Lea Ann Bryd and Katrina Carter are pictured with Rosalyn Howard from the MS Nurses Foundation which provided grant funding to assist with their research project.

The Pulse Page 7 of 8

Amanda Parker and Valerie Orcutt Antici, 2009 RESSON alumni, participated in the Kappa Delta 5K run held in March. Valerie is currently employed by the Delta Regional Medical Center in Greenville, MS, and Amanda works at Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital in Rolling Fork, MS.

SNA students collected toys to donate to Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in honor of Hayden Casavechia. Hayden is the son of Delta State University alumni Lauren Steinle Casavechia.

(including spaces)