GVSU M' FALL 07

Gerontology Rita LaReau , Making a Difference in Geronto logy

Hartford Fellowship, Team to Study Woyfinding @ LEI , GRANDVALLEY Toking Time for Gerontology STATEl.JNivERSITY..

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KIRKHOF COLLEGE OF NURSING

From The Dean WHAT AN .A.DVENTURE IT'S BEEN!

As I look back on my career. and especially the last seven years as Dean of

KCON. I remember ii as an adventure . Little d id I know when I made that firs t lrip

lo the "cornfields" in 1973 lhat GVSU and KCON would become w hat they are

today. We did the unexpec ted and we d id ii w ith flair. Back then. few thought ii

was necessary lo educate nurses with the BSN. We believed it was the wave of

the future. and in the years since. our students have proved we were right.

Being able to contribute lo KCON by developing and leaching in the BSN.

RN/BSN and MSN programs through my career has been very rewarding. Both

GVSU and I have grown up through these years as we have watched health

care and n Jrsing mature.

I have also watched my faculty colleagues and staff mature. They are heroes

and they hove immeasurably enriched my career. They weren ' t afraid lo lake

risks. provide curricula that were ahead of the limes. offer that BSN w hen ii wasn' t

valued. and start an MSN program when o thers said we weren' t ready. Now we

a re p lanning a doctoral program, and I know ii w ill be groundbreaking for this

community.

Bui the real impact of what we have done al KCON hit me when my family

members needed nursing care recently. Everywhere I go. from Muskegon to

Grand Rapids. I see our graduates, faculty and students - and they are providing

care for my family. I saw an alum admit my father to an emergency room. Even

though ii was a very stressful si tuation. I relaxed because I knew the education

that Grand Valley nurse had received. When my nephew was hospitalized. a

new Grand Valley grad cared for him.

Our alumni are also chief nurse officers, educators. nurse praclilioners and nurse

researchers in our community. I know we all receive the best nursing care in the

area because of Grand Valley.

So wha t's next for me? I wi ll con tinue with my in terests

in geronto logy and expand on the osteoporosis

research that I have been involved with for the last

20 years. I hope that students in o ther health fields will

participate and make it a model for in terdisciplinary

research in West Michigan. And I expec t there will

be more adventures for me. I hope our new Dean,

Cynthia Mccurren, will have as good a lime as

I have had!

Dr. PHYLLIS E. GENDLER

2 2 Making a Difference

·n C c 1 to1"'9Y Rita LaReau Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specia li st, Bronson Methodist Hospital

4 rford F ' o vsh·p Dr. Rebecca Davis Team lo Study Wayfinding

5 I l=I Longitudinal Elder Initiative (LEI) Taking Time for Gerontology

6 Alumni Gpdate

8 KCON Today

I 0 Studert/SNA Update

I 2 Faculty/Staf~ Update

15 C rm 1 1

It Takes A Village Caring For O lder Adults a l the Family Health Center

15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8

FEATURE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN GERONTOLOGY

RITA LAREAU, GERIATRIC CLI NICAL NURSE SPECIALIST

Inpatient care for the aging seems lo be more complex every

day. Hospitals have fewer beds available for a growing number of

patients. they a re more ill when admitted. and third-party payers

demand quicker discharges. Can compassionate, high-quality

geriatric nursing care survive in that kind of environmen t? KCON

alumna Ri ta LaReau. MSN. APRN, BC-GNP, thinks so.

LaReau is a geriatric clinical nurse specialist at Bronson Methodist

Hospital in Kalamazoo. A board certified geriatric nurse practitioner.

she is an educator, consultant. pracli lioner, researcher and

administrator. She is also a wife, mother and community volunteer

who enjoys running, reading and gardening.

LaReau earned her MSN a l KCON in 2000. where she was

recognized for outstanding performance as a graduate student

by Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing.

She began her career as a nurse's a ide in Milwaukee, Wis., where

she also received a BSN from Marquette Universi ty. During more

than 20 years as a nurse. LaReau has held positions as a clinical

instructor, staff nurse and leader in acute care. hospice, home

health and nursing home settings.

How did she c hoose geriatric nursing as her specially? " From some

family experiences. I became painfully aware there were gaps in

medical care for older adults," LaReau says. "I decided if I was

going for a master's degree, I wanted to be focused so I could

make a difference and help create change. When I gradua ted

from KCON, Bronson was initialing a geriatric nursing program. I

was fortunate lo gel in on the ground floor. II has been just the

professional experience I wanted."

LaReau joined Bronson in October 2001 . She focuses on care for

inpatients 65 and older, supporting the hospital's evidence-based

geriatric nursing care. One of her biggest opportunities lo create

change came immediately a fter she was hired. In early 2002,

she was chosen lo be part of a learn tha t developed Bronson's

participation in the NICHE program.

NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Heallhsyslem Elders) is a program

of lhe John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing at

New York Universi ty. Begun in 1992, the goal of NICHE is to create

systematic nursing change that will help assure hospi talized o lder

patients receive sensitive. exemplary care .

C')~!T 'JUE[> or~ PAGE 16

"... AS AN ADVANCED

PRACTIC NURSE, YOU REALLY

CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

IN PATIENT CARE."

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DAVIS RECEIVES HARTFORD FELLOWSHIP

TEAM TO STUDY WAYFINDING IN OLDER ADU LTS

Research by a KCON faculty member could someday impact how

nursing homes and assisted living centers are construc ted.

Rebecca Davis. associate professor o f nursing. has received a

two-year. $120.000 fellowship from the John A. Hartford Foundation

through the American Academy of Nursing. lo study how elderly

people navigate through familiar and unfamiliar environments.

"Some nursing homes are built like a maze," Davis says. "They have

long, while ha llways and a ll the rooms look the same. II can be

d ifficult for people lo find their way a round, often because o lder

Using a virtua l reality computer program built by researchers a t the

University o f Arizona. Davis will lest sub jects on how d ifficult ii is for

them lo find their way through simula ted rooms and hallways. Her

past research has shown tha t o lder people lend lo re ly heavily

on prominent landmarks (a distinct wall decoration, for example)

while younger people can navigate with less information.

She started this pro ject when her fa ther-in-law moved into a nursing

home. "When patients can't find their way lo the d ining room.

they' ll lend lo slay in their own rooms." Davis says. "A c reative

environment helps people stay engaged and active."

She will collect data from 150 people. ages 55 and older. lo see

if d ifferent colors and c ues help their navigationa l skills. Davis will

work with Barbara Therrien. nursing professor a t The University of

Michigan. and Margaret Calkins. an internationally recognized

leader in the field of environments for the elderly, particularly those

with Alzheimer 's d isease or o ther dementias.

"There has been surprisingly litt le research tha t looks a t modifiable

aspects of a physical environment. how ii a ffects behavior. and

how ii a ffects people 's ability lo function well. " expla ins Calkins.

According lo Calkins. w ho founded IDEAS Inc . (Innovative Designs

in Environments for an Aging Socie ty) in Kirkland , Ohio, only a

hand ful of design and architectural firms specia lize in wayfinding

systems for hospita ls and airports.

Av ry w

people don' t look a t walls. they look a t the floor." w VI Grand Volley Mogaz ne 7

LONGITUDINAL ELDER INITIATIVE

TAKING TIME FOR GERONTOLOGY

II was an elegant. simple idea . Have a nursing student follow one

client for 18 months through all clinical rolalions. not just for one

semester.

The idea emerged from the c hallenge posed by an aging

population. How do you add gerontology-related issues lo a n

already packed undergraduate nursing curriculum?

In 2004 a team of nursing fac ulty. led by Dean Phyllis Gend ler.

received a grant join tly funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation

and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Cynthia

Beel-Bales. Rebecca Davis and Susan Jensen developed a model

for threading gerontology education throughout the curriculum.

Along with changes lo nursing courses. an innovative clinical

assignment was created - the Longitudinal Elder Initiative (LEI).

In LEI. each student in four upper-level nursing classes is matched

with an o lder adult. They meet three or four limes a semester for

four semesters. Visi ts begin with a physical assessmen t and a health

history review . Additional assessments are conduc ted lo determine

any problems with depression. anxiety and other common geriatric

cond itions suc h as fa lls. The student nurse and clien t work together

lo establish health care goals. and create up lo three plans d uring

the four semesters lo achieve those goals. The studen ts also share

information about community resources that may help their clien ts

remain independent.

Par!icipanls mus! be al leas! 65 years old and not living in a nursing

home. Currently. 278 nursing students are matched with a rea

senior citizens.

Cynthia Beel-Bales. LEI project coordinator. and affiliate faculty

Susan Jarchow and Kim Lanning recrui! o lder adult volun!eers from

various senior communities throughout the west Michigan a rea .

" LEI has quickly become a powerful shared learning experience

for both our studen ts and the older adults." she says.

Miss Vivion Lee Hoon meets in the comfort of her own home with

her partner in the LEI program , KCON student Andrea Duff.

"Sometimes studen ts are turned off by working with older people."

Beel-Bales explains. "When they only see !hem in hospitals or

nursing homes. it reinforces stereo types that all elderly people

are demented or frail. In fact. only five percen! of the elderly a re

in nursing homes. We wanted lo break this stereo type for these

students and have them experience o lder adults who a re active

and enjoying life. and adapting lo living with chronic illnesses as

they age. The LEI program is doing that very well. "

A AT E E F , GVSU

ALUMNI UPDATE KCON'S RESPONSE TO THE NURSING SHORTAGE Among KCON's newest a lumni are 23 graduates of the first fu ll

accelerated nursing p rogram. KCON partnered with Spectrum

Health lo respond lo the Sla te o f Mic higan's Accelerated Health

Care Tra ining Initia tive. Grant funds were used lo develop and

implemen t a I 2-monlh in tensive adaptation of the BSN program.

Innovative teaching-learning stra tegies were implemented lo

compress the current five-semester program in to three semesters.

These included case simulations, video streaming and podcasling,

c reated through the use o f advanced techno logy, model patient

experiences and intensive clinical education. In spite o f the

demanding pace of this accelera ted program, all o f the g raduates

apprec iated their experience. In fac t. they said that ii was the best

way lo comple te their nursing education and they would do ii

a ll over again!

BEAUREGARD APPOINTED VICE PRESIDENT Kay (Carmen) Beauregard, BSN, RN, has been promoted to vice

president at William Beaumont Hospita l in Royal Oak, Mich. Her

primary responsibility w ill be lo enhance improvements in patient

flow and integrate them more closely with patien t satisfaction and

safety. Beauregard will oversee medical services, the emergency

center, capacity management. quality and safety.

Beauregard received her BSN from Grand Valley in I 980 and a

master 's degree from Centra l Mic higan University. She began her

Beaumont career in 1980 as a sta ff nurse, most recently serving

as lhe hospita l's safely officer. A published au thor and na tiona l

presenter, Beauregard received the American College of

Healthcare Executives' Dean Conley Award this year for her article

tilled, "Patien t Safely: Mind ful, Meaningful and Fulfilling ."

ALUMNI SHARE CAREER EXPERIENCES The 2nd Annual Nursing Roundlable, held on February 28, 2007,

brought together 40 students wi th six KCON alumni who shared

their expertise on topics such as finding your first nursing position

and the c hallenges of working ICU/ER. Alumni participants were

Mary Barr ('97 & '02); Hendrina Cupery ('92); Laurel Jander ('80);

Kristi Potts (' 79) ; Kerri Scholten ('97); and Pam Wilson ('94) .

Dr. Linda Bond and Sharon Etheridge ('89) were the hosts.

ALUMNI

M N B RA L U E F S

2007·2008 officers for Koppa Epsilon Chopler-ol-Lorge

(S1gmo Theta Tou lnlernolionol) include: Jeanne Roode,

MSN, CNA, CNRN 1'95). presidenl·elecl; John

Vanderlaan, MSN, CEN 1'05). treasurer;

Dionne Slager, MSN, FNP·C ('02), faculty counselo1,

Colvin College; and Debro Veltkamp, MSN ('971,

nominoling comm 1llee.

Nancy Bekken &Julie Kruilhof, MSN ('951, coauthored

o chapter, Critirally Ill Obstetrir Patients, 1n Schell & Puntillo !Eds.I

Cr11icol Core Nursing Secrets. (2006)

(2nd ed , pp 786·797). St Louis Mosby.

Kathleen Bell, MSN ('99), wrote a self·leorning compulerized

module for Radiation Oncology Nurses Enhancing Excellence

(RONEE). .4!odule 8: Kadiation The10py lo the Extremity and Benign Diso1ders,

Part 2Kadiopratectant and Sensitize1s. (2006) P111sburgh, PA: ONS

Publishing Division, Oncology Nursing Society.

Catherine Clarey-Sanford, MSN, CWOCN ('00),

received the 2007 Koppa Epsilon Chopler·ot-lorge

Excellence in Educolion Award.

Lynn Fogermon, MSN, APRN·BC, PNP ['97). was named

the 2006 Outstanding Pediolric Nu1se Proctilione1 of the

Year by the Michigan chopler of the Notional Associolion

of Ped1olric Nurse Associates and Procl1lioners.

Keri (Gilman) Gerken, BSN 1'07), is a registered nurse al

Spectrum Health 1n Grand Rapids.

Roger Groves, BSN ('04), cerllfied for chemo odmin1slrollon,

1s working al Jomes Holey Veterans Hosp1tol in Tom po, Flo.

A Magnet focilily, 11 is one of 12 hospitals in the notion

implementing TCAB (Tronsfo1m1ng Core at the Bedside).

Amy Hoffman, PhD ('91, '001, recently compleled doctoral

studies al Michigan Stole Un1vers1ly College of Nu1sing.

She was the invlled speoke1 for the spring 2007 KCON

recognition ceremony, shoring insights about heroes thol

hove offecled her life and career.

Nancee Hofmeister, MSN ('07), received two awards from

the GVSU graduate dean's office: Outslond1ng Master's

Projecl in Nursing and a c1lolion for academic excellence

1n the mojor.

Mory Koy Kempker-VonDriel , EdD, MSN 1'02). gave

the keynote address for the Michigan School Nurses 2007

Conference, "leadership & Dashboards.' Director for

Speclrum Health's Healthier Communilies, she was profiled

in the Grand Rapids Press Uul-:- 1, 2007). Her efforts hove

won 22 nolionol, slate and local awards.

Keverne Lehman, MSN, BC 1'06). received the

Outstanding Master's Degree Student Award from KCON.

Brenda (Sl inson) McCrum, BSN ('02), 1s a neonatal/

pedioli1c transport nurse for Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.

Kathryn Niemeyer, MSN, MSc, APRN·BC 1'90, '02),

earned o Mosler of Science in Herbal Med1c1ne in 2006

from the University of East Lon::lon. She olso 1ecenlly

presented research results al the American Herbalist

Guild Conference 1n Boulder Col.

John Vanderlaan , MSN, CEN ('05), hos been odmilled

lo the Michigan Stole University doctoral program in

nursing. In oddit1on, he hos been oppoinled os projecl

manager for the Culture and Women's Health Projecl run

by Dr. Denise Saini Arnouh, BSN ('80), of MSU.

Michael l. Williams, MSN 1'93). ossociale professor

ol nursing al Eoslern Michigan Univers1ly and faculty

adviser for lhe Michigan Nur&ing SI udenls Assoc1ollon,

was awarded the 2007 Leode1 Award from the Not1onol

S1udenl Nurses Associol1on.

Heather (Bollie) Wood, BSN ('07), is o registered nurse

in the cordiothorocic ICU al the Detro1I Medical Center's

Harper Universily Hosp11ol.

Thomas C. Wood, BSN 1'07). is o registered nurse in lhe

emergency room of SI. John Hospllol in Southfield, Mich.

FROM TH E P RESI D E N T

The Kirkhof College of Nursing

Alumni Chapter represents more

than 3,000 Grand Valley nursing

a lumni. II has been my privilege to

lead this g roup of professiona ls as

the chapter president since 2004.

We work as a partner wi th Grand

Valley's Alumni Relations Office,

while a lso offering specific nursing

events to enhance the connec tion

between our gradua tes, GVSU and

KCON. There's a sense of pride a nd

accomplishment a lumni describe

when they re turn lo campus for

activities. esp ecia lly Homecoming

events. I personally welcome you to

c hapter activi ties and look forward

to meeting each you.

~ Hove news for lhe next iw>e of•Alumni Briefs'?

Send It 10 1he GVSU Alumni Relo11ons Office: E·ma iI: www. 9vsu. edu / o lu m n I Phon e: 6 l 6·33 l ·3590 or 800·558·054 1 Elaine Leigh, MSN ('02)

A AT E E F , GVSU

STUDENT/SNA UPDATE SNA RECEIVES COMMUNITY HEALTH AWARD The GVSU Student Nurses Association received a Certifica te of

Commendation from the NSNA 2007 Community Health Projects

Program. The Silver Award was in recognition of the SNA's work

for the October 2006 KySS walk. KySS: Keep your children/yourself

Safe and Secure is geared toward the prevention and decrease of

psychosocial morbidities in child ren and teenagers.

Jillian Mooney and Laura Anderson were the student leaders for

this event. The SNA ra ised about $1.l 00 and donated ii to the

Children 's Resource Center. w hich focuses on child mental health.

and lo the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and

Practitioners (NAPNAP). Jean Marlin. DNSc. RN-C. PNP. assisted

the SNA with planning.

"IA I WWW

ESELEKHOMHEN RECEIVES PRATT SCHOLARSHIP Stacie Eselekhomhen. a studen t in

KCON's second-degree BSN program, is

the 2007 rec ipient of the Prall Nontraditional Nursing Scholarship.

Eselekhomhen hopes lo become a certi fied nurse midwife and

work with underserved populations, both locally and abroad.

Her husband is from Nigeria, and she is especially interested in

educating women in Nigeria so they can become midwives and

open their own clinics.

The Prall Nontraditional Nursing Scholarship was established in

2000 by Judy Pratt. BSN ('88). a KCON alumna and BSN program

advisor and recruiter.

"I attended KCON as a second -degree BSN student." says Prall .

"The program is designed for individuals w ho have earned a

previous bachelor's degree in a non-nursing major. I fell that

I received an excellent education and wanted lo assist other

second-degree students. especially because few financial aid

opportunities are available lo studen ts starling a second career. I

hope this scholarship will continue to benefit many nursing students

in the fu ture."

JONKER RECEIVES FIRST FLENTJE SCHOLARSHIP Lindsey Jonker, a student in KCON's 2007

accelerated nursing program. is the first

recipient of the Janice Flenlje Memorial Nursing Scholarship . This

scholarship was created by Flenlje's husband, Gregory. a nd their

c hildren. Abigail and Caleb, after Janice 's death in the summer

of 2006.

Flenlje. MSN. RN, an adjunct assistan t professor at KCON. is

remembered for her passions. They included her family, nursing,

her students and the less fortunate. She was a tough taskmaster.

demanding the best from both her students and herself.

In the difficult year that began with a d iagnosis of cancer and

ended with her death. she shared her illness. her treatment and

her dying with her students and her colleagues. "I'm a teacher,"

she said simply, as she used her own life lo leac h students how lo

be professionals ready lo help those in the process of dying .

STUDENTS

MAJOR SCHOLARSHIPS AT KCON KCON is fortuna te lo have strong financial support from a lumni,

ind ividuals, families and organizations tha t ore commit ted to

helping educate the next generation of nursing professiona ls.

A big "thank you" to a ll of these contributors:

• Butterworth Nursing Alumni Scholarship

• Janice Flenlje Memoria l Nursing Scholarship

• Gail and Scott Haebich Nursing Scho larship

• HRSA Nursing Scholarship Program

• Mic higan Nurse Scho larship Fund

• Eugene and Lillian Pawl

• Pra ti Nontraditiona l Nursing Scholarship

• Esther Rehm Sto tz Nursing Scholarship

• Volkhord l Family Nursing Scholarship

• Florence Cowan Word Scholarship for Nursing

• Samuel L. Westerman Founda tion Scholarship for Nursing

\J O E N T B R I E F s

Michigan Nursing S1udenls Associollon Boord members lor 2006·2007

included presidenl, Whitney l ewis; second vice president, Heolher Holl ;

and commun1colions editor, Brianna Yon Dop. Boord members for 2007·2008

ore communications officer, Timolhy "Chet" Jel inger, II, and nominations and

eleclions choir, Annie Chapmon.

Hea ther Bottle, BSN 1'07), was selected as the 2007 Lorene Fischer

Outstanding Nursing S1udent for the State of Michigan. Bottle olso received

the Thomas M. Seyko10 Award lor Outstanding Conli1bution at the GYSU Awards

Banquet and was named the 2007 GVSU/KCON outstanding BSN student.

Kimberly Porringon Syme was awarded the 2007 Kappa Epsilon Chopter-ot-large

Excellence 1n Student Performance Award.

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KIRKHOF COLLEGE OF NURSING AUGUST 2007 GRADUATES

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Todd Dale Beck Karen Lynn Meyerson

Melissa Lynn Brooks Tami Lou Nysse

Stacy Anne Dunning Kristin June Skantze

Kimberly Faith Hartman Katherine Marie VanOtteren

Eun Jin Lee Deona Jeannine Will is

l aDawn Marie l ogic Kendra Grace Worden

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

Laura Elizabeth Anderson Stacey Lynn Middendorf

Erin Nicole Andree Andrea Paula Mihajlov

Niky Angela Balahoski Jillian Margaret Mooney

Joy Renee Bamford Mary Jane Muller-Montgomery

Jennifer Lynn Blodgett Kristi Lynn Myers

Joseph F. Borowsky, Jr. Abby Renae Newton

Rachael E. Briggs Lisa Lynn Orcasilas

Elizabeth Catherine Brower Lindsay Marie Pawlik

Sarah Lynn Buehrle Pamela Anne Perry

Noelle Nicole Carter Lindsey l ee Phillips

Carrie Lynn Clute Judith Ann Pike

Erin Lindsey Colegrove All ison Marie Pline

Hilary T. Dennis Megan Terese Renkema

Maureen Catherine Duba Michelle Lynn Richter

Daniel Scott Dustin Kalie M. Roelofs

Ann Marie Finn Mark R. Roy

Michelle F. Gehrke Brianna Rae Rusniak

Ashley Nicole Hazelett Lisa Marie Schoen

Nicole Brooke Hutchc raft Emily J. Shafer

Timothy Chester Jelinger II Opal Esther Stellman

Audra Suzanne Klocko Radmilla Slevanovic

Stacie Lynne Kunkle Heather Lynn Tuilman

Pamela Renae l ampen Holly Lynn Twiest

Whitney Dawn l ewis Abbie J. Vander Lug!

Steven Norbert Marlin Cassie Jo VanDussen

Amy Lynn Martinez Kimberly Joy Vanzanten

Trekka Marie Malen Kelli Lynn Visscher

Erin Kendall McNitt Katie Marie Wieringa

Mariya Meskienyar Andrea Christy Wilkey

Julie Anne Meyer Alix P. Zacharski

A AT E E F , GVSU

FACULTY/STAFF UPDATE

REICK RECEIVES TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD Kay Reick, MSN, RN, has received a 2007 Pew Teaching Excellence

Award from GVSU. For 31 years, Reick has d istinguished herself as

an outstanding nurse educator. Her high expectations of herself

and her students have made her an exceptional role model and

mentor. She uses the case study method extremely effectively to

enable students lo design nursing care in a classroom environment.

The encouragement, caring

and compassion she shows

allows her students lo discover

their poten tial and c hallenge

themselves lo be the best

nurses they can b e. During her

career. Reick has also been

instrumental in assisting nurses

in Albania lo advance their

profession and improve nursing

care. Congratulations, Kay!

WELCOME, NEW FACULTY & STAFF Kelly Ackerson, RNC, WHNP, Visiting Instructor

Chris M. Wood, OP, RN, PhD, GNP, Assis tant Professor

Jeanne Smith, BSBA, Multimedia Instructional Design Specialist

In partnership with Spectrum Health and funded by a slate gra nt,

KCON developed a new course, "Clinical Teac hing in Nursing."

The course prepares bachelor's-level clinicians lo serve as clinical

fac ulty. Three of the nurses who completed the course recently

a re actively serving as clinical facully. Welcome to Collette Beitel,

Jessie Lewis and Julie Garnsay.

BRINTNALL APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD KCON assistant professor Ruthann Brintnall, PhD, AOCN, HPCN,

APRN-BC, has recently been appointed lo the Advisory Committee

on Pain and Symptom Management for the Bureau of Health

Professions, Michigan Department of Community Health.

This appointment recognizes Brintnall's extensive clinical and

academic experience with end-of-life (EOL) nursing. She was

chosen to attend the first national End-of-life Nursing Education

Consortium (ELNEC) meeting in 1999. She then developed an EOL

nursing course for GVSU that won a national ed ucation award from

ELNEC and the AACN in 2002. Brintnall was a founding member

and served as chair of !he EOL and Palliative Care Section of

the Midwest Nursing Research Society. She currently is a KCON

representative for the Greater Grand Rapids EOL Coalition.

RUTHANN BRINTNALL

FACULTY /STAFF

FACULTY TRANSITIONS

The following foculty were recently promoled: Andrea Bostrom, PhD, RN, CS,

to professor; Rebecca Davis, PhD, RN, to ossociote professor; Susan Jensen,

PhD, RN, CCM, to ossociole professor; and Lindo Scali , PhD, RN, lo professor.

Rebecca Davis , PhD, RN; Koy Reick, MSN, RN; ond Nancy Schoofs, PhD, RN,

were recently granted tenure.

Emily Droste-Bielak, PhD, RN, and Koy Kline, PhD, RN, hove begun phased retirements,

continuing lo leach the equivalent of one full-time semester each year.

Jeon Mortin, DNSc, RN-C, PNP, hos slapped down as d1reclor of !he RN/BSN and MSN

programs and is relurning lo !he faculty role.

Cynthia Beel-Boles, PhD, RN, foc1li1oles the GVSU Alzheimer's Support Group.

Rulhonn Brintnall , PhD, RN; Susan Mylnorczyk, PhD, RN; ond Joy Washburn, EdD, RN,

recently compleled !heir doctoral studies.

Joy Washburn, EdD, RN, received the 2007 Koppa Epsilon Chopler·ol·lorge Excellence

in Nursing Research Award.

Koppo Epsilon Chopler·ol·lorge officers 12007-20081 include Cynthia Beel-Boles,

PhD, RN, presidenl; Jeon Berr y, PhD, RN, vice president; ond Susan Jensen, PhD, RN,

and Joy Washburn, EdD, RN, GVSU faculty counselors.

A 13

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RECENT FACULTY PRESENTATIONS

Here are just a few of the presentations KCON faculty

made during 2006:

Bostrom. (2006, September) . Translating research into

practice. Presentation at RNs AIM for the Future, Holland, M l.

Brintnall. (2006, October) . Oncologic emergencies.

Presentation al the 32nd Annual Great Lakes Cancer

Conference, Grand Rapids, M l.

Coviak, Martin, e l a l. (2006, November). Perceived socia l

support for physica l activity promoting bone health among

middle school students in Texas. Poster session presented

al the Fifth Australian and New Zealand Adolescent Health

Conference, Sydney, Australia.

Davis, Beel-Bates & Jensen. (2006, November). Community

dwelling o lder adults and student nurse visits: Health of

the older adults over lime. Poster session presented a l

the Gerontologic al Socie ty of America, Dallas, TX.

Etheridge. (2006, August) . Learning lo think like a nurse:

Perspectives of new nurse graduates. Paper presented

al the Mic higan Nursing Education Summit. Livonia, M l.

Jensen. (2006, November). Cultural competence in an

increasing ly culturally diverse world : Wha l you need lo

know. Podium presenta tion a l the Michigan Rehabilitation

Conference, Traverse City, M l.

Jewell, Mupepi, et al. (2006, October). A conceptually

slrucfured human resources pracfice: A collaborative

competency model for designing effective strategies

for people management in organizations. Podium

co-presenta tion a l the Midwes t Academy of

Management 49fh Annual Conference, Louisville, KY.

Mupepi, et al. (2006, October). Opportunities lo conslrucl,

d iffuse, and distribute knowledge using c utting-edge

organization development methods and technology in

southern Africa. Presentation al the Southern Management

Association 2006 Meeting, Clearwater Beach, FL.

Schoofs. (2006, August). Student employment and

academic achievement . Presentation al the Mic higan

Nursing Education Summit, Livonia, Ml.

Scott. (2006, Oc tober) . Nurse work hours: The effecf

of fatigue on patients, nurses, and public safe ty.

Paper presented al the Wisconsin Nurses Associa tion

Convention, Paper Valley, WI.

A AT E E F GVSU

s c H 0l T Y L A Rp._ C U S H p R EC ENT GR AN TS

RECENT PUBL I CA T IONS

Algose, Yoo, Beel-Boles & Song. (2007). Theoretical

models of wondering. In Nelson & Algose (Eds.),

Evidence-hosed protocols for managing wondering behaviors.

New York: Springer Publishing.

Bolos, Scalf & Rogers. [2006). Frequency ond type of

errors and near errors repo1ted by critical core nurses.

Canadian Journal of Nursing Researc/1, 38(2). 24·4 l.

Barbo & Gendler. 12006). Educot1on/commun1ly

collaborations for undergraduate nursing gerontological

clinical experiences. Journal of Professional Nursing, 22

[2). 107-111.

Borry. (2006). The HoverMotl syslem for patient transfer:

Enhancing productivity, efficiency, and safety.

Journal of llu1sing Administration, 36, 114· 117.

Beotlie &Beel-Boles. (2007). Impact of wondering on func­

lionol status. In Nelson &Algose !Eds.). Evidence-based protocols

for managing wondering behaviors. New York: Springer Publishing.

Bostrom, Boyd &Homero. (2006, June). Medication

compliance and relapse prevention in schizophrenia.

Psychiat1ic Num Counseling Points, II 1 J.

Bostrom, Boyd & White. (2006, September). Coping with

aggressive behavior in patients with schizophrenia.

Psychiatric Num Counseling Points, 112).

Bostrom, Scholer, Dontje, Pohl, Nogelkerk &Cavanagh.

[2006). Eleclronic health record: Implementation and

outcomes across the Michigan Academic Consortium.

Computers, lnformotirs, Nursing, 24, 44·52.

Brintnall. 12006). Professional collaboration. In Nogelkerk,

Survival Guide for Nurse P1aclilione1s. Phi lodelph10, PA: W.B.

Sounders.

Dovis. 120071. Chronic confusion. In Ackley & Ludwig,

Nursing Diagnosis Handbook: An Evidence-Based Guide lo Planning Coie.

Philadelphia, PA: Mosby.

Deon, Scoll & Rogers. [2006]. Infants at risk: When nurse

fatigue 1eopord1zes patient core. Advances in Neonatal (ore, 6,

120-126.

Etheridge. 12007). learning to think like a nurse:

The perspectives of new nurse graduates.

Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 36 11 ), 24·30.

Gendler. 12007]. Did you know that we hove a nursing

shortage? Koppa Chronicle, Jonvory, I.

Jewell. (2007). Contextual empowerment: Impact of health

brigade involvement on the women of M1roflor, l\licoroguo.

Journal oFTransculturol llursi11g, 18, 49·56.

Leder, Gri nstead &Torres. 12007]. Grandparents raising

grandchildren: slressors, social support, and health

outcomes. Journal of Family liming, 13, 333·352.

Nogelkerk, Reick & Meengs. [2006). Perceived barriers

and effective strategies lo ::liobetes self-management.

Journal ofAdvanced llursing, 54, l 5 l · I 58.

Schoofs . (2007, April 9). The desert of Sjogren's

Syndrome. Nursing Spectrum, I 8· 19.

Scotl, Hwang &Rogers. (2006). The impact of multiple

core giving roles on fatigue, stress, and work performance

among hospital staff nurses. Journal of Nursing Administration, 36,

86·95.

Scott, Rogers, Hwang &Zhong. (2006). Effects of crll1col

core nurses' work hours on vigilance and patients' safety.

American Journal of (1ilicol (ore, 15, 30·37.

Bostrom, A.C. (Project Director/Pl).

(July 2007-June 2009). Slate of

Michigan, Deparlment of Labor

& Economic Growth, Bureau of

Workforce Programs, Accelerated

Health Care Career Training

Award. Kirkhof College of Nursing

& Spectrum Health Cenler.

Accelerated nursing program for

individ uals hold ing a baccalaureate

degree in another discipline;

$603,200.

Coviak, C. (Pl/GVSU Represen ta tive).

(September 2003-September 2006) .

U.S. Deparlmenl of Health and

Human Services, Adminislralion on

Aging, Improving Self-Management

of Chronic Disease in the Elderly: A

Partnership Between Managed Care

Providers and the Aging Network.

Awarded to Area Agency on Aging

of West Michigan.

Kirkhof College of Nursing &

Spectrum Heallh Cen ter. (July

2005-June 2007) . Slate of Michigan,

Deparlment of Labor & Economic

Growth, Bureau of Workforce

Programs, Accelerated Health

Care Career Training Award.

(l) Accelerated nursing program for

individ uals hold ing a baccalaureate

degree in another discipline,

and (2) program lo prepare clinical

educators to be "teacher-clinicians" ;

$1 ,204,000.

Scott, L.D. (Pl) . (February 2007).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Found ation, Preventing hospital

errors: A fatigue countermeasures

program for nurses; $94,989.

COMMUNITY

• •EARTSIDE

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

CARING FOR OLDER ADULTS AT THE FAMILY HEALT H CENTER

Al the GVSU Family Health Center, KCON students and faculty

work with the sta ff to provide nursing care tha t brings healing for

the mind and spirit as welt as the body.

The center, also known as KCON' s Academic Nurse-Managed

Health Center (ANMC), is localed in the Hearlside neighborhood

of Grand Rapids. II provides primary care to a diverse client base

and serves as a hub for community health initiatives. A clinica l

practice site for KCON students and o thers, it a lso offers faculty

opportunities in community service, administration and research.

O lder adults make up 20 p ercent of the population served by

the Family Health Center. Some of these clients a lso participate

in KCON 's Long itudinal Elder Initiative (LEI) . (See re la ted sto ry,

page 5.) In tha t case the center remains the primary health care

provider; the student obtains permission from the client lo share

information so care can be coordinated.

"The beauty of the LEI program is tha t students can visit seniors

in their homes. We don' t have the opportunity to do tha t." says

Monica Lyons, one of the center's family nurse practitioners.

n 1s

" Information provided by a student a fter a home visit is critica l lo

us as primary care providers," she explains. "For example, a patient

may felt us that she 's been taking a medication as d irected. If t

notice the number of refi lls isn' I correct, the student. the pharmacist

and I can pool our information to help her."

"To borrow a phrase, t believe ii takes a vi llage - a community of

support - to properly care for our o lder adults," says family nurse

practi tioner, Mary Koenen.

"Whether they live independently, wi th family or in assisted living,

they need more than a primary care provider," she says. "They

need a robust support system. Few seniors do welt complete ly on

their own."

Loneliness is a huge problem for o lder adults, Koenen notes.

Ano ther big issue is, "How do t still contribute to the world?"

"This is ano ther thing the studentscan do for them tha t we cannot."

says Koenen. "Our clients are proud and feet useful when they

contribute to the education of the next genera tion of nurses, even

if it 's in small ways. So the KCON students help ease loneliness and

give their clients' lives continuing meaning. They're an important

part of the 'village' tha t supports deeper healing."

2

A AT LE E F , GVSU

CO~ITI' JUED f P.OM PAGE 3

MAKING A DIFFERENCE NICHE doesn' t prescribe how hospitals should hand le geriatric

care. Instead ii serves as a resource for changing the culture in

health care facilities. II provides tools. materials and services

lo help institutions analyze their current practices and develop

pro tocols tha t fit their environment. NICHE focuses on areas under

the control of nursing practice - where nursing interventions can

make a positive d ifference in patient care.

" During the past six years al Bronson," La Reau says, "we 've

made many positive changes in our nursing practices for elderly

inpatients. We've embedded NICHE into our nursing care system.

For example, NICHE classes are now part of orientation for all new

nurses. And, as a result of the NICHE program, we have a wide

variety of patient assessment tools tha t we use every shift.

"There is a movement underway for nurses lo use evidence-based

practices," expla ins LaReau. "All of the tools we use. and the

NICHE program itself. are evidence-based practices. So we've

raised the bar for geria tric nursing care by implementing the NICHE

program."

Measurable results have emerged from the Bronson/NICHE

partnership. Accord ing lo LaReau. there has been a g radua l.

steady decrease in fa lls d uring the past six years. as well as a

reduction in the pressure ulcer role. Pa tient satisfaction is up and

overall outcomes measures a re showing improvement - a major

achievement when caring for older adults.

Re flecting on her lime al KCON. l aReau says, "Without an MSN

and my geriatric nurse practi tioner certi fication. I wouldn' I have

been in this role. I had enormous support from my family, and I a lso

have lo say Phyllis (Gendler) is part of the reason I'm here . I was

an older, mature nurse w hen I went back for my master's degree.

She gave me encouragement and helped me persist when things

got hard. Along the way I've discovered tha t. as an advanced

practice nurse, you really can make a d ifference in patient care."

KCON RECEIVES FULL REACCREDITATION The undergraduate and gradua te nursing programs al KCON

received full reaccredila lion from the Commission on Collegia te

Nursing Education (CCNE) in April 2007.

The Kirkhof College of Nursing received accredita tion for the

maximum of l 0 years and no compliance issues were identified.

accord ing lo Dean Phyllis Gendler. CCNE. affi lia ted with the

American Association of Colleges of Nursing, granted KCON initial

accredita tion in 2002.

"This renewal is a testament lo the quality educa tion nursing

students receive a l KCON," says Gend ler. " II shows tha t we are

meeting the needs of students, the community and the university."

The CCNE's on-site evaluation learn met with students. a lumni.

faculty and KCON 's Community Advisory Counc il. They heard very

positive comments and learned tha t KCON students are especially

appreciated in the community.

In its report. the CCNE accredita tion learn commended KCON

for student and faculty work in the "Gel the Lead Out" project.

They a lso recognized KCON's commitment lo the Academic

Nurse-Managed Health Center (ANMC) in downtown Grand

Rapids, where many patients a re homeless or from low-income

backgrounds. (See story on page 15.)

The CCNE's on-site team also called KCON 's physical resources

"excellent." w ith students and faculty having access lo modern

simulation labs, diagnostic equipment and a health sciences

library in the Cook-De Vos build ing.

e1

WWW x I

The mission of the Kirkhof College of Nursing is to provide quality nursing education to a

diverse population of students. Kirkhof College of Nursing strives to improve the well-being of

people through leadership in nursing education, professional practice and scholarship.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) BSN Degree Completion for RNs BSN Second Degree Accelerated BSN Second Degree Master of Science in Nursi ng (MSN)

RN lo MSN Option (for nurses with non-nursing bochelor degrees)

Combined MSN I MBA

Web Site: www.gvsu.edu/kcon Phone: 616-3 3 1-3 558

Post-Master's Degree Certificates - Advanced Practice Nursing - Nursing Education - Nursing Administration

Continuing Education Courses & Workshops

)etailed information about admission criteria can be found on !he KCON Web site: www.gvsu.edu/kcon

Fax: 616·3 31 -2 5 10 E-mail: Use · conlocl us· page on KCON's Web sile

The K1r~hof College of t'-lurs1ng 1s fully occ1ed1ted by the Commission on Colleg1ole Nursing Educol1M iCCNEJ ond recognized lor its vulslanding leothing, scholarship, service and research

WELCOME TO KCON'S NEW DEAN!

Dr. CYNTHIA McCURREN

We extend a warm welcome lo Dr. Cynthia Mccurren, the newly

appoin ted Dean of the Kirkhof College of Nursing. She succeeds Dr.

Phyllis Gendler. who is retiring as Dean in November and will return lo

leaching and research within nursing.

Since 1983. Dr. Mccurren has held various positions al the University

of Louisville School of Nursing . She was appointed Associate Dean

for Academic Affairs in 2001 and became Interim Dean in 2006. She

served as Director of Nursing Research a t the Universi ty of Louisville

Hospital from 1998 to 2003.

Dr. Mccurren holds a PhD in nursing from the Universi ty of Kentucky,

and earned her MSN and BSN degrees at the University of Missouri.

A noted scho lar in geronto logical nursing, she brings many years

of administra tive experience. a commitment lo interd iscip linary

collaborations. and an inclusive and supportive leadership style .

Under her leadership KCON is expected lo continue lo expand upon

its leading role in nursing education in West Michigan and beyond .

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY KIRKH')f • lllEGE • f IJURSIMG

IJITE 300

COO>·DEVOS CENTER FOR HEALTH 5CIENCES

301 MICHIGAt~ STREEl NE

GRAtlD PAPIDS .Ml JO~OJ JJ IJ

Dr. CYNTHIA McCURREN

NON·PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID GRAND VAllEY

STATE UNIVERSITY