FALL/WINTER NURSING DEPARTMENT NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2012
Dear RN to BSN and MSN Students, The fall semester is nearing completion. I hope that you have found your fall courses to be educationally fulfilling. We have offered some of our courses in the new media enhanced classrooms located in the Administration Building. The remodeling of the Administration Building should be completed prior to the start of classes in January. During the spring semester, the College will be changing the classroom educational instructional management system from Blackboard Vista to EcLearn. You are encouraged to go online to https://eclearn.emmanuel.edu/courses/630650 and complete the EcLearn orientation prior to the start of spring classes. The spring semester will be eventful for the department of nursing. Dr. Janice Bell Meisenhelder, RN, Professor of Nursing will be joining the department of nursing faculty. Dr. Meisenhelder earned a BSN from Wagner College and MSN and DNSc degrees from Boston University. She comes to Emmanuel College with substantial experience in medical surgical nursing and nursing education. She is a scholar with prominent research programs investigating spirituality and health outcomes, and fear of HIV contagion. Dr. Meisenhelder will be teaching the undergraduate and graduate research courses during the spring semester. We heartily welcome her to our department. We will also be welcoming the evaluation team from the Commission on Collegiate
Nursing Education (CCNE) to campus from April 3rd to 5th, 2013. The evaluation team is coming to campus for the MSN accreditation visit. The MSN students will be invited to meet with the evaluators during the visit and the evaluators will be attending some of the MSN classes. We are anticipating a positive review culminating in initial accreditation for the MSN program. CCNE policy requires that institutions provide an opportunity for the program's identified communities of interest (e.g. students, alumni, faculty, employers etc.) to provide written input into the deliberations of the evaluation team. Comments should be directed to: Christina Walcott Administrative Assistant Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education 1 Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530 Washington, DC 20036. The nursing faculty members wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We hope that you will enjoy the holidays and have a wonderful semester break. Sincerely, Diane Arathuzik, DON Chair THE EMMANUEL PORTAL (ANNOUNCEMENTS, EMAIL, ONLINE LEARNING, EC LEARN) Students and faculty in the Graduate Studies and Nursing are required to use the Emmanuel Portal for all Emmanuel-related online work (http://portal.emmanuel.edu). The Portal provides centralized access to a host of resources, including but not limited to: Announcements, Course Offerings, Course Registration, Email, EcLearn online course management system, Grades and Course evaluations. The Portal’s email system is used for all college-related communication between students, faculty, and college administration. Computers are available in the Library to access your email. It is anticipated that communication with students and faculty will be via email. Faculty use EcLearn as an enhancement to face-to-face courses, to facilitate a hybrid format and as the main platform for online courses. This is a new course management system at Emmanuel College starting Spring 2013. Go to the website listed below for a tutorial on EcLearn.
Important: We advise you to be PROACTIVE. You should review all online support materials BEFORE taking a course that uses EcLearn. Go to: http://atig.emmanuel.edu for a tutorial about EcLearn.
Distinguished Scholar Lecture “The Intersection of Global Health and Nursing” The Department of Nursing and Pi Epsilon-at-large Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International were pleased to host the Annual Distinguished Scholar lecture on November 9th, 2012. The speaker was Patrice Nicholas, DNSc, DHL (Hon.), MPH, MS, BSN, RN, ANP-C, FAAN. Dr. Nicholas is Professor of Nursing at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions School of Nursing and the Director of Global Health Nursing at Brigham and Women's Hospital Division of Global Health Equity and Center for Nursing Excellence. Dr. Nicholas discussed the global issues that influence nursing practice, education, research, and health policy. Opportunities in global nursing and health care research were highlighted. The event was very well attended. Her research is in the area of patients suffering from HIV/AIDS in Africa. She presented moving accounts of the struggles endured by these patients and their families. She has worked closely with health care providers there to ensure adequate care and resources for the patients and their families. Everyone present was deeply moved by the portrayals of her work. “ If any nursing student would like the adventure of traveling across the globe in one evening, I can recommend spending a few hours with Dr. Patrice Nicholas. This exciting lecture impressed me with the global power of nursing to care for and positively effect the health and well being of people wherever they may be.” (Rita McMillian, RN/BSN student). An interesting question and answer period ensued. Refreshments were served. This program was approved for 1 contact hour through Massachusetts/Rhode Island League for Nursing (MARILN).
If You Need Help with Coursework... Any student who finds him/herself struggling in a course is encouraged to speak with the professor and to take advantage of the services offered through the Academic Resource Center (ARC). This office provides peer tutoring, writing assistance, disability services, and academic counseling. The ARC (Room G04 617.735.9755) is located on the lower level of the Cardinal Cushing library. If you are interested in writing assistance services, Emily Neeves is the writing specialist who is available to help nursing students. She is located in the Academic Resources Center (ARC) and can be contacted by email through the EC email system arcservices@emmanuel.edu.
Nursing Department Curriculum Committee Representatives Rita McMillian and Suzanne Tapley from the RN/BSN program have agreed to serve as the student representatives to the Department of Nursing
Faculty/Curriculum Committee. The Committee is a forum where faculty, student representatives, and the Enrollment Counselor for the department meet to discuss Program issues. The Committee meets twice a month. If you wish to have the representatives bring any student issues/questions/ or concerns to the meeting please email them through the EC email system by typing in the representative’s name. Student representatives from the MSN program serve on a rotating basis. If you are interested in serving as a representative please contact Dr. Diane Arathuzik arathuzik@emmanuel.edu
December 2012-May 2013 Graduates If you are planning to graduate in May 2013, you must submit a completed Degree Application form to the Registrar’s Office by February 15, 2013 for the May graduation. If you are planning to graduate in December 2012 your Degree Application should already have been submitted. The form can be obtained from your academic advisor. Send completed application to your advisor. If you have any questions about your courses and whether you are able to graduate contact your advisor. The Advisor/Advisee list is posted on the Department Bulletin Board outside of MAR403.
Ongoing Information… Distinction in the Field: Emmanuel College criteria for “Distinction in the Field” require that students have a GPA of 3.5 in nursing courses and complete a significant senior project. Students are encouraged to take two semesters to complete the project. If you are interested you should contact your advisor. More on this honor can be found in the BSN Student Handbook on the Nursing Homepage. Career Help: The Office of Internships and Career Development can be of help with job searches, promotion assistance, resume and cover letter critiques, and interview prepping. You can contact them by telephone at 617- 735-9930 or careerdevelopment@emmanuel.edu
Pinning Ceremony The 2013 Pinning Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 9 from 5-8pm in the Emmanuel College Chapel (with reception in the Auditorium to follow). Participating students will receive information regarding pin purchase from the Bookstore Manager. Pins must be ordered by February 28, 2013. You do not need to purchase a pin to take part in the ceremony. We are in the process of forming a Pinning Planning Committee and will keep you up-dated on details.
For further information or if you have any suggestions, ideas, or questions, please contact Prof. Helen Ahearn at ahearn@emmanuel.edu.
Clara Barton Service to Humanity Award Clara Barton was committed to the personal and professional expression of service. A Civil War heroine and the founder and first president of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton was a strong female voice battling bureaucratic indifference in service to Americans. Driven by tenacity of purpose to serve humanity in a wide range of endeavors, Clara Barton is memorialized in a century of literature as an individual always true to her country and true to herself. At the annual Nursing Pinning Ceremony, the Department of Nursing celebrates the achievement of outstanding students and community nurse leaders through the presentation of the Clara Barton Service to Humanity Awards. The awards are designated to recognize individuals who combine Barton’s zeal of serving others with the commitment to significantly contribute to professional and civic communities, and like Clara Barton, who have made a distinctive mark on those communities. In particular, the awards are presented to individuals for outstanding service to a vulnerable population/s through volunteer work or extraordinary practice in the workplace. 1. Student Award: The student award is given to one RN to BSN graduating student. Students may nominate a peer or nominate themselves. Nominations should be sent to Assistant Professor Helen E. Ahearn before March 1. When students are nominated they will be asked to write a two-page statement describing in some detail their service to the vulnerable community. It is a good idea to have someone, such as an administrator who directly knows your service, send a reference recommending you for the award. A current resume should be included with the nomination statement.All materials should be sent by letter or email to Assistant Professor Helen E. Ahearn by April 1. The faculty in the Department of Nursing then reviews all nominations and selects the recipient. Students will be notified about the award as soon as possible. 2. Community Nurse Leader Award: The community nurse leader award is given to a nurse who demonstrates the commitment and zeal of Clara Barton in service to a vulnerable population/s. The nurse may practice in a hospital, community, or service setting. Graduating students and faculty members may nominate a nurse for this award. If you wish to nominate a nurse for this award, you will need to write a one-page nomination statement outlining the attributes, service, and practice that you feel makes this person a worthy candidate. When a nurse is nominated, he/she will be contacted by Assistant Professor Helen E. Ahearn for further information. The faculty will select and notify the awardee. 3. Please contact Assistant Professor Helen E. Ahearn at ahearn@emmanuel.edu or by telephone at 617-735-79840 if you have any questions about nominating someone for either award. 4. In certain years, the faculty may choose to award a Clara Barton Service to Humanity Educator Award.
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Applications for graduating RN/BSN students must be submitted by February 15, 2013. They may be downloaded from the nursing homepage on the Emmanuel College website. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 to apply. The top 35% of graduates will be considered for Induction. Students are encouraged to apply. MSN students who are not members of STTI and who have completed at least 12 credits of course work may also apply for membership in Pi Epsilon–at-large Chapter. The applications forms are located on the nursing homepage of the Emmanuel College website. The completed application forms can be left in the faculty boxes for Dr. Nola Della-Monica or Dr. Terri Jabaley located outside the nursing office in MAR403.