Future CSI Nurse? Tara Tobin, BSN '04 graduated from Vanderbilt University's MSN Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program in August, 2007. She has recently completed a program in nursing forensics which she "thoroughly enjoyed." Tara plans to return to Louisville this fall and would love a position that combines her pediatric nurse practitioner and forensic skills.
News from Northern Kentucky Meghan Crowe Williams BSN '06 works in Edgewood, Kentucky at St. Elizabeth's (where she has been since graduation) on a TCU floor. She writes that since last October she is happily married to a "Louisville born and raised man" and makes frequent visits "to the ville." Evelyn Marrett BSN '06 and Meghan Sharp BSN '06 were in her wedding. Meghan plans to pursue the nurse practitioner program at Northern Kentucky University in a year or so.
Dr. Ruth Carrico BSN '81 Named to CDC’s National Biosurveillance Advisory Committee
Ruth Carrico, PhD, RN, CIC, Assistant Professor, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Health Sciences, has been invited to serve on the National Biosurveillance Advisory Committee. This committee will play a key role in the development and implementation of the National Strategy for Biosurveillance, and will help ensure that governmental and non-governmental partners have a formal mechanism to provide advice and substantive input to CDC regarding the next generation biosurveillance system for tracking and understanding the dynamics of routine and emerging acute health problems.
Promotion to Executive Director
Ruth Atkins BSN '88 was promoted last month from chief operating officer to executive director of the Louisville-based Passport Health Plan, She now oversees operations of Passport Health Plan and Passport Advantage, which offers health coverage to members eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Passport is a Medicaid managed-care plan that serves more than 145,000 members in Jefferson County and 15 surrounding counties.
Alum and Faculty Collaborate
Genardi, M.E., Cronin, S.N., & Thomas, L. (2008). Revitalizing an established rapid response team. Dimensions in Critical Care Nursing, 27, 104-109.
Where Are the 2008 BSN Alums?
Natalie Burt passed her boards and works on the pediatric unit at Frazier Rehab.
Tracy Miller also passed boards and is at Baptist Hospital East in the ER.
Chelsae Gatti says she is, ". . .doing great and absolutely loves" working in the Operating
Room at Baptist Hospital East. She too has passed boards.
Krista Simon accepted a position on the 5th floor at Kosair and has also passed boards.
Jessica Ochsner works nights in the ER at Norton Hospital (Downtown) and states, "I LOVE my job!" She took the NCLEX on July 7 and passed!
Brittany Cripe works at Norton Suburban Hospital in Labor and Delivery. She passed boards at the end of June with flying colors and has already received her RN license.
Brittanny Spurrier is in the Pediatric ICU at Kosair Children's Hospital and she passed her boards.
Stephanie Horner accepted a position at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in their comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation unit (one of only a few in the U.S.) and writes, "I absolutely LOVE it!! I just saw a 17 year old speak for the first time in several months yesterday."
Aubrey Alexander works in the mother/baby units at Norton Suburban and passed boards.
Julia Danzl is in the ER at Floyd Memorial and also passed boards. She writes, "I'm finding myself better prepared than some of the other new grads I'm with, so I've attributed that to BU's Nursing. I know more than I thought I did."
Laura Wolfe oriented as a med-surg float, but now works on the hematology, oncology and renal unit at Kosair. She reports she passed boards with 75 questions and has her license.
Holly Decker reports that she passed boards and works in the neuro ICU at University Hospital. She adds, "I absolutely love it there."
Susan Eason works nights on 5K at Norton Hospital downtown. She passed boards in June, received her license in July and plans to get involved with the Journal Club.
Emergency Man Eric Gocke BSN '98 was the subject of an excellent feature article in the Spring 2008 Bellarmine Magazine, which he says, ". . . was a lot of fun and very well-received." His current position is Charge Nurse in the ER at Jewish Hospital. Eric states, "We get Bellarmine students in the ER quite often. They are always great to work with and eager to learn. I've been in this job for around a year and a half and I've had a hand full of Bellarmine grads come to work with me. They are the best of the new nurses that we get! I'm a little biased, but it is true. Hands down they are the best prepared. Please accept my thanks as a first line supervisor for sending such knowledgeable new nurses." Eric served as a nurse in the U.S. Army and recalls one of his most challenging experiences was attending the Army Emergency Nursing Course, a 12 week very intense classroom residency course with extensive clinical time. The final consisted of a 3-4 hour written exam followed by another 3-4 hour of oral examination. Students took turns individually sitting across a small table from two graduate school prepared nurses (MSN/PHD types) and were drilled for four hours. He finished the course with a 90% and said it was, "One of the prouder moments of my career!" Eric also adds that he and fellow co-worker, Monica Culver BSN '97, have a lot of laughs about their experiences at Bellarmine.
Able Care Inc. A recent Courier-Journal article profiled Able Care Inc., a company that provides wheelchair and ambulatory transportation for the elderly and disabled. The company is owned by Robert Klompus BSN '96 and his wife Karen. Robert is a supervisor in surgery at Jewish Hospital but also assists with the company's staff training and fleet management. Service is available for dialysis, rehabilitation, radiation, chemotherapy, medical test, hospital discharges and regular medical appointments. For more information call 267-1911.
Alumni Updates
Lee Bratcher BSN '05 recently accepted the position of nurse manager of the new orthopedic unit at Baptist Hospital East.
Jennifer Bland BSN '07 works at Jewish Hospital in the Cardiac ICU. She writes, "I love it and am learning so much." She plans to take the GRE and begin graduate school within the next few years.
Amanda Queen Burks '07 works in the ICU at Norton Suburban Hospital.
Karen Boone BSN '04 is enrolled in the nursing PhD program at the University of Louisville.
Lori Minton BSN '03 accepted the new full-time clinical instructor position at Bellarmine in May, 2008. She is enrolled in the education track of the school's MSN program.
Linda Schaeffer MSN '90 is a Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse (CGRN) at Norton Audubon Hospital. She is the aunt of Molly Schaeffer BSN '05.
Nursing 455 Thanks Alumni Speakers A major "thank you" to the following alumni who shared their expertise during spring, 2008 with traditional students in Nursing 455 - Leadership & Management : Kim Forsythe BSN '02, MSN ''06, Melissa Fugate BSN '98, Lee Bratcher BSN '05, Michelle Gellhaus BSN '99, Dr. Mike Huggins BSN ’96, Meredith Stepp BSN ’04, Jessica Waitz Taylor BSN ’04, Jennifer Bland BSN '07, Amanda Queen Burks BSN '07, Carol Vibbert BSN '07, and Barbara Sears MSN '07.
New Medical-Surgical Text Has Bellarmine Connection The new Medical-Surgical Nursing text by Black and Hawks features chapters by Dr. Sherill Cronin, Mary Pike BSN '80 and Kim Miracle MSN '90.
Alumni Faculty Summer, 2008 Welcome home and thank you to all of our alumni who are teaching part-time for us this summer semester: Jon Binnix BSN '04, Connie Devine MSN '04, Angie Etheridge MSN '07, Hope Jones BSN '03, Lori Minton BSN '03, Darlene Moore, '03, and Gretchen Van Rude BSN '01.
Bellarmine Goes Baltic Bellarmine faculty Drs. Sue Davis, Linda Cain, and Sherill Cronin and Mary Pike BSN '80 traveled to Latvia in June, 2008. This is the second visit to Latvia for the group which is working with Stradins University in Riga on research projects and student/faculty exchanges. During their 10-day stay they toured numerous health care facilities, visited with Latvian government officials, observed student thesis defenses, consulted with hospital administrators, and attended the first meeting of the Latvian Nurses Association. While the other faculty returned to Louisville, Mary Pike traveled on to Russia to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg to plan for a May, 2009 student trip. The 16-day trip will offer Nursing 455 Leadership and Management, IDC 300 - History of Western Health Care, and independent study.
Audubon's Open Heart Unit Jeff Hafendorfer BSN ’06 has accepted the position of Assistant Nurse Manager in the Open Heart unit at Norton Audubon Hospital. He will work with Carol Vibbert '07 who is a Staff Nurse on the unit.
Alumna Co-Authors Articles for the American Journal of Infection Control Congratulations to Dr. Ruth Carrico BSN '81 who co-authored the paper, “Changing health care worker behavior in relation to respiratory disease transmission with a novel training approach that uses biosimulation,” published in the February 2007 issue of the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC). The article was recognized as a “top ten publication” in 2007 during the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America held in Orlando on April 5-8, 2008. She also co-authored a paper with Dr. Sherill Cronin, "Infection prevention and control competencies for hospital-based healthcare personnel" which has also been accepted for publication by AJIC. Dr. Carrico is on the faculty of the University of Louisville School of Public Health in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences.
Executive Nurse Fellow Lynnie Meyer BSN '88, MSN '93 chief development officer for Norton Health care has been selected for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows Program, an advanced leadership experience for nurses in senior executive roles. Lynnie is one of only 20 nurses in the country chosen this year for this prestigious program. She will have an opportunity to work with nationally known mentors to advance her skills. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Executive Nurse Fellows Program is a national program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, with direction and technical assistance provided by the Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco.
Bellarmine Grad in the Middle East Diane Presley, MSN '95 is the Regional Director of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer at the Shaikh Khalifa Medical Center - Cleveland Clinic International in the United Arab Emirates. She is currently enrolled in the PhD in nursing program at Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
Former Pediatric Professor and Paralympian Nears Completion of Doctorate Amy Verst, BSN '90 and former faculty member is nearing completion of her doctoral dissertation, a mixed methods study that includes a survey and interviews with Bellarmine "Faculty of the Year" award winners. She reports, "I may be rounding the curve, finally! Chapters 1-4 are done, save a few alterations." While in residence for the PhD program at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Amy represented the 2000 U. S. Paralympics basketball team in Australia and helped the university establish its own squad. In May, 2008 the Amy L. Verst Scholarship Award was established at Scott High School in Boone County, Kentucky. The scholarship provides $1,000 to a female athlete who is a graduate of Scott High School during her freshman year in college. After many years of being ill, Amy has been diagnosed with pandysautonomia, a terminal degenerative neuromuscular disease that destroys the autonomic nervous system. Because of complications from the illness she is not currently teaching or able to do volunteer work. She would love to hear from former students or faculty and says, "I'm in the phone book."
West Coast Grad Angel Rossi BSN '02 completed her MN at the University of Washington School of Nursing. She is a Family Nurse Practitioner. Her scholarly project is titled "Inequality, social programming, and population health: A cross-national critical comparison between New Zealand and the United States." Angel and husband Tim spent time in New Orleans working on post-Katrina relief efforts. In 2005 while living in New Zealand, she participated in tsunami relief work in Indonesia.
Put On Your Thinking Caps Vicki Lange BSN '89 called the school in early May to ask what were the width and color of ribbon worn on the Bellarmine nursing cap. Her unit at Norton Hospital planned for all of the nurses to wear their school caps in honor of Nurses' Day. She was informed that Bellarmine never had an official nursing cap because it was the newest school of nursing in the city of Louisville and wanted to distance itself from the traditional "relics" of nursing schools such as caps and pins. Various classes in both the ADN program (1983 - 1987) and the early years of the traditional BSN program purchased caps for pictures, but faculty never approved a cap and they were never a part of the clinical uniform. Students requested a pin so designs were solicited and one chosen. Some students still purchase pins each May for the recognition program held during graduation week, but it is a small number. If you remember anything about a Bellarmine nursing cap or the origins of the pin, please contact Mary Pike.
Prison Player Assistant Professor Carol Smith is the volunteer volleyball coach for the women’s volleyball team at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women in Pewee Valley. It is the only state run maximum security prison for women in Kentucky. The team is the result of the spiritual outreach program sponsored by St. Aloysius and Crestwood Baptist Church. The teams sometimes play each other for fun but games are usually very competitive and include spiritual prayers and guidance. Prison inmates with good behavior can watch the games which are usually packed with spectators. While coaching is new for Carol, playing volleyball is not. She and her co-coach played volleyball together at Angela Merici High School on the State runner-up team in 1983.
Travelin' Woman Molly Schaeffer BSN '05 now works for a travel nursing agency. Her assignments have included Orlando and Gainesville, FL; Anaheim, CA; and Phoenix, AZ. She had to cancel a job in Memphis because she broke her finger as the result of a bad landing while skydiving. She writes, "You’ll be happy (or not so happy) to know I have 138 skydives under my belt."
What A Zoo! A major “thanks” to Melody Reibel BSN '90, MSN ‘06, and Pete Kramer and Pat Ballard from the Bellarmine Alumni Office for coordinating the nursing alumni event at the Louisville Zoo on Sunday, April 27, 2008. The Gheens Room was filled with alumni and their friends and families enjoying food and drink and catching up on the most recent news from Bellarmine. Updates gathered from some of those in attendance included:
Brooke Logan Brewer Vaughn BSN ’07 works in the neuro/transplant ICU South at Jewish Hospital. She writes, “Love It, Love It, Love It.”
Jill Arntz BSN ’07 is at Kosair Children’s Hospital NICU.
An enthusiastic contingency from the Norton and Audubon Hospital Education Departments included Mary Ellen Genardi ‘MSN ’07, Kathy Toborowsky BSN ’97, MSN ’07, Suzette Schnellenberger MSN ’07 and Jo Singleton MSN ‘06.
Joan Niemczewski BSN ’06 works at Audubon Hospital on 6W, a pre/post op medical/surgical unit. She is currently in the FNP program at Bellarmine along with Evelyn Marrett BSN ’06.
Lauren Dunker Holtzman BSN ’04 works at Kosair in neonatal ICU and is cross-trained to attend high risk deliveries at Norton. She is married to Rob Holtzman BA ’02 and their children include Hannah and Robby, Jr. who is just 8 months.
Stephanie Adams Lokits BSN ’04 is currently enrolled in Bellarmine’s MSN program and works at Humana as a personal nurse. She and husband Chris Lokits have a daughter Caitlyn Louise born 12/18/06.
Meredith Stepp BSN ’04 is a nurse practitioner at Jeffersonville Pediatrics and also works in the NICU at Kosair Children’s. She and fellow classmate, Jessica Waitz Taylor BSN ’04 spoke to traditional seniors in the Leadership and Management course this semester about life as a nurse practitioner. Jessica works with University Neurologists, an outpatient faculty practice of the University of Louisville School of Medicine. She specializes in headache and neuromuscular medicine and has 4th year medical students, residents, and fellows who follow her for their neuro rotation. She reports, “It's been challenging so far, but I'm really enjoying it. I know I wouldn't have been able to get through graduate school without all of the knowledge that I gained from Bellarmine. Thanks so much for challenging me. I appreciate it more than you know!”
Joining Meredith and Jessica on the panel was Dr. Mike Huggins BSN ’96 who is coordinating the FNP track of Bellarmine’s MSN program.
Jane Lockhart BSN ’99 earned an MSN/ FNP in 2004 and now practices with Dr. Fishman at the IAAM Wellness/Spa Center. She plans to start a DNP program in the near future.
Stacy Kusman McDonald BSN ’99 opened her own nursing company, Urodynamic Solutions, PLLC in November, 2006. She travels to MD offices and performs continence and bladder function testing. In 2000 she married Matt McDonald, M.D. Their children include Alec (16), Peyton Olivia (5) and Jackson (3).
Wendi Bates Haller BSN ’99 works at Baptist Hospital East in the Cardiac ICU and Open Heart Recovery. She is married to H. Dale Haller, Jr., a pulmonary, critical care MD. They have two daughters, Alexis Paige (3½) and Addison Kate (9 months). Wendi precepts many new graduates and maintains that Bellarmine grads are “the best.”
Sherri Henninger Allen BSN ’97 is currently in the MSN (Education) program at Bellarmine and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau in April. She has two children, Caroline, 8 and Jack, 5 and works for Norton Clinical Agency Choices as a clinical educator.
Karen Meyer Voelker BSN ’94 works at Floyd Memorial Hospital in Joslin/Ambulatory Care. She is married to Bellarmine grad, Joe Voelker BA (Accounting) ’92. They have three children, Alexanda (10), Justin (8), Erica (3).
Carlisle Rhodes BSN ’91 works in the Norton PACU and is completing the MSN program at Bellarmine.
Kathy Koerner Davidson BSN ’88 is a Discharge Planner at the VA Medical Center and a Certified Case Manager.
Lois Taurman BA (Biology) ’83, ADN ’85 maintains a law practice specializing in estate and probate cases in addition to her position at the Kentucky Regional Poison Center. She is certified in Poison Control. After graduating from Bellarmine Lois earned a Master of Education and then a Juris Doctorate from the University of Louisville.
Carole Crowder BSN ’83 is a Case Manager at Suburban and husband, David Crowder BSN ’87 is a staff CRNA at Baptist Hospital East.
Current and former faculty included ’80 BSN grads Dr. Barbara Hulsmeyer and Mary Pike, Amy Verst BSN ’90, Drs. Sue Davis, Connie Cooper, Sherill Cronin and Millie Clements. Sue Biasiolli and husband, Jerry also attended.
Congratulations to Metroversity Award Winners Congratulations to Professor Dana McNeeley MSN '03 and BSN/MSN Faculty Assistant Nettie Wilson BA '92, MALS '97 who won Metroversity Adult Learner Awards. Adult learners in all Metroversity institutions were invited to nominate persons who make a significant contribution to adult student learning. Dana will receive the Faculty Award and Nettie the Staff Award at the Award Ceremony, April 24th at 430p on the Presbyterian Seminary Campus in the Winn Center.
Clinical Nurse Leader Certified Charlotte Runyon MSN '95, of Russell, Ky. has earned the Clinical Nurse Leader certification from the Commission on Nurse Certification of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. She is one of 200 certified Clinical Nurse Leaders nationwide and has served as a Clinical Nurse Leader at the Huntington Veterans Administration Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia since April 2007.
Memorial Lecture and Dedication The School of Health Sciences at St. Catharine College in St. Catharine, KY will host the inaugural Darrell Richardson Memorial Lecture on April 17th at 11 a.m. in Pettus Auditorium. During the event the Richardson Scholarship will be presented to a nursing student. On April 18th, a bench donated by Bellarmine University in Darrell's honor will be dedicated and a shade tree purchased by St. Catharine students, will be planted. All Bellarmine alumni, faculty and students are welcome. Darrell Richardson BSN ' 96, MSN '06 was an alumnus and part-time nursing instructor at Bellarmine who passed away July, 2007. He also served as an assistant professor of nursing at St. Catharine College.
Richmond Grad Update Laura Russell BSN '04 writes that she lives in Richmond, Kentucky and works at Central Baptist Hospital on the oncology floor. She is the night shift charge nurse and loves her job. Laura plans to return to graduate school in the near future to pursue a family nurse practitioner MSN program.
In Memoriam
Ann Elizabeth Robinson Houck BSN '03 passed away February 1, 2008 in Tacoma, Washington. She sustained critical injuries when hit by a bus in a crosswalk while walking her dogs. Ann graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bellarmine and was a member of Sigma Theta Tau. She was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army after completing the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She deployed with the 47th Combat Support Hospital from September 2005 - June 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After completing her time in the military, Ann worked as a staff nurse at Madigan Army Medical Center on the Mother/Baby unit. She was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and is survived by her husband, Captain Kerry Houck, her parents David and Peggy Robinson, a brother, Scott, and a sister, Karen. Contributions may be made to a scholarship established in her honor: The Ann Robinson Houck Scholarship at Archbishop McNicholas High School 6536 Beechmont Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45230. The scholarship will help fund tuition for a female student interested in a science career such as nursing.
Alumni Teaching in the School of Nursing in Spring, 2008 Welcome home and thank you to all of our alumni who are teaching part-time for us this spring semester:
Tom Barron BSN '06, Kim Berghaus BSN '00, Jon Binnix BSN '04, Erin Ridenour Carter BSN '03,
Connie Devine MSN '04, Kim Forsythe BSN '02, MSN ''06 , Melissa Fugate BSN '98, Hope Jones BSN '03, Lori Minton BSN '03, Lisa Morgan MSN '99, Gretchen Van Rude BSN "01, and Nancy Heil Wilding BSN '98.
Faculty Author Professor Carol Smith:
Lehne, TA, Worrall-Carter, L., Hammash, M., Odom-Forren, J., Roser, LP, Smith, CS,
Trupp, R., Chung, ML, & Moser, DK. (2008, Winter). Relationship of heart failure patients’
knowledge, perceived barriers, and attitudes regarding low-sodium diet recommendations
to adherence, 23(1), 6-11.
Alum Ashland Director Jennifer Carroll MSN '88 is the Health Sciences Division Director at Ashland Community College in Ashland, Kentucky.
Alum Raises Millions
Lynnie Meyer BSN '88, MSN '93, was featured in a recent Courier-Journal article that discussed how donations have nearly tripled to 11.6 million under her tenure as Chief Development Officer, Norton Healthcare and Executive Director of Children’s Hospital Foundation and Norton Healthcare Foundation. Prior to her current position Lynnie served as Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Women and Families from 1998-2004.
Wedding Bells Julia Serdenis BSN ’06 works full-time in the SICU at University Hospital and PRN in the ICU/CCU at St. Mary’s. She is engaged and planning a January, 2009 wedding in Puerto Rico.
Tennessee Update Shannon Cannon BSN ’07 lives in Tennessee just south of Nashville and works on a surgical floor dedicated mainly to orthopedics. She is scheduled to move to L&D on May 1. She relates that the medical-surgical experience has been good and that she has learned a lot. In a note to faculty who taught her at Bellarmine she writes, “I wanted to say thank you again for the great experience I had at Bellarmine. While it’s all going well, it just isn’t Louisville! “
A Busy Nabor Jessica Nabor MSN '06 is teaching full-time at Murray State University where her duties include Introduction to Nursing Concepts, Fundamentals of Nursing, and two clinicals. She lives in Almo, Kentucky (outside of Murray) with husband, Casey, an attorney, and daughter Sydney (age 3). The family is expecting a daughter, Aubrey, in April.
In The News Audria Denker, a current RN-MSN student, was featured in the article, Educators are working to address impending nursing shortage in the February 1, 2008 issue of Business First.
New Director
Jennifer Miller BSN '05, MBA '07 has accepted the position of Resident Services Director at Atria
Stony Brook.
Rocky Mountain High Alissa Mayden '05 BSN is the Nurse Manager of the Breckinridge Medical Clinic in Colorado. The community clinic offers a Level 5 trauma center for injured skiers and a family practice clinic. After working in California and Colorado as a travel nurse, Alissa decided to stay in Breckinridge and was offered the management position. She loves what she is doing and credits her education at Bellarmine for much of her success. "My education at Bellarmine prepared me so well! I would not be where I am today without it."
Grad Serves as President of Gerontological Nurses' Association Joann Clemons BSN '82 is President of the Louisville Area Gerontological Nurses' Association (LAGNA). As President she plans monthly meetings that usually provide a 1.0 CEU presentation. She invites all Bellarmine nursing alumni as well as nursing students to join the group at their meetings. LAGNA membership is only $15/year. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan 29 at the Friendship House at 960 S. Fourth Street from 5:30 -7:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served. No reservation is necessary. A speaker from KNA will discuss state and federal health legislation. Feel free to contact Joann at joann.clemons@va.gov
Graduates at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center Julie Forsthoefel Kulhanek BSN '07 accepted a position with Cincinnati Children's Medical Center in the Specialty Resource Unit (SRU), which affords her the opportunity to work on a new unit every six weeks. She reports that, "so far I love every bit of it." On November 11, 2007 she married Anthony Kulhanek.
Ashley Cato Kerkemeyer BSN '06 writes that after graduating from BU she worked on the transplant team in the operating room at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. In May, 2007 she married Kyle Kerkemeyer BSN '05. Kyle was accepted to the CRNA program at the University of Cincinnati so they relocated to Cincinnati. Ashley works at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in the operating room as a cardiac scrub and circulating nurse. She says she loves the work and also reports that Kyle is doing very well in the CRNA program.
Accel Graduate Completes Vanderbilt MSN Program Emily Wachs Accel '04 worked as a staff RN in CCU at Baptist East after graduation from BU. She states, "I was pleased with how well my Bellarmine education prepared me for the position." After working there for one year, she enrolled in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at Vanderbilt University. She graduated with an MSN in August 2006, passed boards and practices at an allergy, ear, nose and throat practice in Nashville. She enjoys her practice but hopes to get back to Louisville or Lexington in the near future, as she misses Kentucky.
A New Baby Devon Hoert Accel '07 and wife Jennifer announce the birth of their son, Donovan Patrick Hoert. He arrived at Clark Memorial Hospital on December 5, 2007 at 1:31 a.m., weighed 7 lbs. 9 oz. and was 21 inches long. Congratulations!
Sigma Theta Tau Does High School Musical, Café Lou Lou, and Spring Meetings
A good time was had by all who participated in trimming the Sigma Theta Tau-sponsored tree for the Festival of Trees and Lights. The tree theme is High School Musical and it will be available for purchase at the 2007 Festival of Trees & Lights Nov. 16 to 18, 2007 at Louisville Slugger Field. The festival will be open Friday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All Sigma Theta Tau members are invited to Café Lou Lou on Wednesday, December 12th at 5:30 p.m.. for a brief meeting and holiday dinner. Please RSVP to Dr. Bev Holland at 452-8279. Café Lou Lou is located at 106 Sears Avenue, Louisville KY 40207 (893-7776). What a delightful and delicious way to start holiday celebrations!
Spring Sigma Theta Tau meetings will be on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (1/8, 2/12, 3/11, 4/8 and 5/13) at 5:00 p.m. in Miles Hall. Spring Induction is being planned and if you would like to help with the planning please contact Dr. Bev Holland.
A New Doctor In The House Congratulations to Dr. Joan Masters who successfully defended her doctoral degree dissertation on November 8, 2008 at the University of Louisville.
News From the Class of '02 Brandy Wigginton BSN '02 is in the nurse anesthesiology program at East Tennessee State University.
Bethany Lauderdale Butler BSN '02 works in the medical/surgical float pool at Kosair Children's Hospital.
Andrea Dejesus Baker BSN '02 and husband, Tim, welcomed new daughter Sydney to the family just seven weeks ago. Andrea works in the critical care float pool at Kosair Children's Hospital after three years as
as travel nurse in Utah, California, and Indiana.
Wedding Update
Jessica Roth BSN '05 married Landgrave "Tom" Smith on June 30th in Louisville's Holy Trinity Church. She and Tom, a captain in the U.S. Army, live in Fort Riley, Kansas. Jessica is a pediatric critical care nurse.
Announcing . . . . . . . A New FNP Program in Lansing School Bellarmine University’s Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences has announced the creation of a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program. Two courses from the FNP curriculum will be offered during the spring 2008 semester. The full curriculum will begin in fall 2008.
Students will be able to complete all courses for the program within one calendar year, and graduates of the FNP program will be eligible to progress directly into the Lansing School’s planned Doctor of Nursing Practice program. Details of the new doctoral program will be announced at a later date.
Bellarmine has appointed the Rev. Michael L. Huggins, Ed.D. (BSN ’96) as the associate director of the program. Fr. Huggins, a priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville and Bellarmine nursing alumnus, holds a doctorate of education from Spalding University and is in the process of earning his PhD in nursing at the University of Kentucky.
BU Alums Engaged Kameron Allen BSN ’07 writes, “I just wanted to let you know that I got engaged to Jason Smith (Communications '08) in October. We met at Bellarmine freshman year and managed to survive college together! We plan to marry July 12, 2008.” She works in Labor & Delivery at Baptist Hospital East.
Alumni at Jewish Hospital Congratulations to Cheryl Fugatte BSN ’83, MSN ’90 on her appointment as Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President of Patient Services for Jewish Hospital and Frazier Rehab Institute. She was inducted in the Bellarmine University Alumni Gallery of Distinguished Graduates in 2007.
Lee Bratcher BSN'05 is now a nurse manager of Trager Pavilion/3 East at Jewish Hospital.
Rusty Klapeake BSN ’06 works on the Ventilator Care Unit (VCU) at Jewish Hospital and in the ICU (prn) at the VA Hospital.
Nursing Grad - Kentucky Field Hockey Coach of the Year Liz Lewis BSN ‘84 was named Kentucky Coach of the Year after she coached Sacred Heart Academy (26-0) to back-to-back state field hockey championships. In just her fourth season, she has pushed the Valkyries to the championship game in three seasons, capturing two titles and extending the school’s winning streak to 54 games.
Hamilton Named Chief Nursing Officer of the Year for 2006 Brenda Hamilton MSN ’97, Assistant Chief Executive Officer at The Memorial Hospital of Salem County in Salem, New Jersey was selected as Chief Nursing Officer of the Year for Group III Operations with Community Health Systems in October, 2006. She formerly was the COO/CNO of Three Rivers Medical Center in Louisa, Kentucky. Brenda began her career as a staff nurse in 1985 and has also worked in clinical education and administration
Caretenders Hosts Latvians
Missy Pfaadt BSN '89, MSN '99 introduced members of the Latvian delegation visiting Bellarmine to home health care in the United States with a tour and presentation at Caretenders. As Executive Director, Missy oversees offices in Louisville, Elizabethtown, New Albany, Shelbyville and Shepherdsville.
Also at Caretenders is Bellarmine alumna, Alycia Streander Hinton BSN'04. Her roles at the agency include case manager, temporary clinical manager, and urology manager.
Update from the Sunshine State John Hewitt BSN'96 writes that he and his partner, Doyle recently moved to Niceville, Florida (near Destin). He works prn in the PACU at two hospitals. He mentioned that the Community Health course he took at Bellarmine on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona was a "wonderful experience."
Congratulations
Professor Theresa Broderick successfully completed the defense of her doctoral qualification examinations in the PhD program in nursing at the University of Kentucky.
Community Health Students in the News
Senior students in Nursing 415 - Community Health Nursing and their Instructor, Karen McCoy were recognized in the Courier Journal for their "Wellness Wednesdays" at Wayside Christian Mission. Students present interactive educational experiences for the women at the shelter.
Snap Fitness Anne Marie Webb Accel '07 and husband, Paul were featured in a recent Courier-Journal article on their new fitness/health center, Snap Fitness. The center is located at 3831 Ruckriegel Parkway and has 24 hour access, 365 days a year. It offers state-of-the-art Matrix cardio and strength-training equipment with a cardio theater, as well as free weights. The center's website is www.snapfitness.com/louisville5.
New Positions Katie Reynolds BSN '07 and Devin Hoert Accel '07 work in the Emergency Room at Baptist Hospital East.
Laura Kraemer BSN '07 recently married Daniel Burford and has taken a position on the geriatric/psychiatric unit at Our Lady of Peace Hospital.
Emily Durbin BSN '07 works in the CVU at Audubon.
Melissa Receveur Accel '07 has accepted a position at Cincinnati Children's Hospital on the Hematology and Oncology Unit.
Art Installation in Miles Hall Bellarmine art alumna Paula Warden '07 has shared her work, Artificial Life with those of us in Miles Hall. It is a massive wall hanging constructed from over 3,000 hemodialysis cards, string and rosary beads representing the visits Paula has made to hemodialysis in the past 20 years. The colors Paula selected - pink, purple, and teal - represent her M, W, F dialysis regimen. It took her over 1,000 hours to assemble the work. All alumni are encouraged to stop by Miles Hall to view this poignant expression of life with renal disease. The work is for sale and may be reconfigured to fit other spaces.
Grad Working in Naperville, Illinois Christen Meko Cantos Accel '05 writes that after graduation she worked at Jewish Hospital in Louisville on the Trager Pavilion Med/Surg unit for about 10 months, got married and then moved to Naperville, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). Her first position was in an outpatient surgery center PACU. After about 8 months, she realized she wanted to go back to the hospital so in August, 2007 she started in the Cardiac Telemetry Unit at Edward Heart Hospital, a Magnet hospital with an excellent reputation. Christen relates that she has a history at the hospital because she was the first baby born there on January 3, 1981! She plans to return to school for an MSN/Nurse Practitioner program. Christen noted, "If I lived in Kentucky, I would certainly want to come back to BU! I remember my professors at Bellarmine always telling us that you have to find your "niche" in nursing and that is so true! I am still trying to figure out where I belong. But I know one thing for sure: I would not want to do anything other than nursing!"
Faculty Publications Dr. Sherill Cronin and Joy Knight of the Kentucky Hospital Association co-authored:
Knight, J. M. & Cronin, S. N. (2007). Enhancing patient care delivery systems through improved nursing engagement. KBNursing Connection, 12, 26-29.
Professor Joan Masters published:
Masters, J. C. (August, 2007). Taking the sting out of examination review. Journal of Nursing Education, 8, 384.
First Louisville RN-MSN Graduates Complete Degree Angie Ethridge, MSN '07 and Barbara Sears MSN '07 are the first two students to graduate from the RN-MSN program on the Louisville campus. Angie is with Hospice of Louisville and Barbara is Director of Nursing at Jewish Medical Center East. Angie plans to enter Bellarmine's FNP program.
Congratulations Angie and Barb!
Grad in Doctoral Studies Suzette Sewell Scheuermann, MSN '97 is completing her PhD in nursing at the University of Kentucky.
New Continuing Education Program for Bellarmine Clinical Faculty The undergraduate nursing program offered the First Annual Clinical Nursing Workshop for part time clinical faculty on Thursday, August 23, 2007. Full time faculty shared their clinical teaching expertise and presented best practices in clinical instruction. Attendees praised the program and were awarded five contact hours for professional development.
Grad Named Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow Duane F. Napier BSN '98, MSN '01 writes that he is currently the Executive Director for the West Virginia Center for Nursing. He was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellow in the 2007 Cohort. He serves as the Chairperson for the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Licensed Practical Nurses and received a Post Masters Certificate from Duquesne University in Transcultural Nursing. Duane has also had two abstracts accepted for the International Council of Nurses Conference in Yokohama, Japan in June 2007 on the topic of "Leading A Multigenerational Workforce" and a poster presentation on the "Disciplinary Process at the West Virginia LPN Board."
New Positions Lon Kaminer Accel '07 passed NCLEX and works in TCU at Audubon Hospital in Louisville.
Graduate Earns Doctorate in Public Health
Brenda Wilburn BSN '89 earned the Doctor of Public Health degree with a focus on health behavior in December '06 from the University of Kentucky. She completed her MSN (family nurse practitioner) at Marshall University and then finished post-master's requirements for school nurse practitioner. She is certified in both specialties and also as a nurse educator. Brenda has served on the faculty for the Nurse Residence Program through King's Daughters Medical Center in Ashland, Kentucky and also precepts nurse practitioner students from the University of Kentucky and Frontier School of Nursing in Hazard. She started her career as an LPN in 1979, became a registered nurse in 1986 and an advanced practice nurse in 1995. Congratulations Dr. Wilburn!
Executive Director Elected to Foundation Lynnie Meyer ADN '86, BSN '88, MSN '93, Executive Director of the Kosair and Norton Foundations has been elected to the National League Foundation for Nursing Education.
Alumna Returns To BU for Doctoral Teaching Practicum Adair Mize Campbell BSN '88, MSN ' 01 will work with Professor Joan Masters this fall to complete requirements for a teaching practicum. Adair is currently enrolled in the doctoral program at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. For the past 5 years she has held a full time faculty position at Shawnee State University in Portsmouth, Ohio. She is a former clinical instructor for Bellarmine.
Darrell Richardson - (1956 - 2007) Darrell Richardson BSN ' 96, MSN '06 and part-time nursing instructor at Bellarmine passed away on July 27th after a brief illness. He taught mental health and professional communication clinicals at Bellarmine. Students admired his advocacy for the mentally ill. Darrell also served as an assistant professor of nursing at St. Catharine College in St. Catharine, Kentucky. He was a native of Nelson County, a Mason, and a Kentucky Colonel. One nursing colleague noted, "He was a fine man with a great heart." St. Catharine will hold a Memorial for Darrell on September 10th at 11:30 a.m. in St. Catharine Hall. His smile, stories, and good nature will be missed by all of us at Bellarmine.
'02 Graduate Reports from Seattle, Washington Angel Rossi BSN '02 writes that she works at the Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington. She will complete her MN at the University of Washington in June, 2008 and plans to take boards for certification as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Angel and husband Tim recently spent some time in New Orleans working on post-Katrina relief efforts. Angel is no stranger to disaster work. In 2005 while living in New Zealand she participated in tsunami relief work in Indonesia. Email reports of her work were shared with Bellarmine students.
Praise for '01 BSN Graduate
Joan Riggert, Director of Planned Giving and Stewardship at Bellarmine recently wrote Dean Sue Davis regarding her daughter's care at Kosair: "Just wanted to tell you of the Bellarmine graduate who gave my daughter Anna the best care on the floor…Melissa Schnellenberger ' . Melissa was super!" Joan also indicated that she could see a difference in the care from Bellarmine graduates versus those who did not attend Bellarmine. Congratulations to Melissa on being recognized for the excellent care she provides to patients! Also proud of her is mom, Suzette Schnellenberger BSN '00, MSN '07.
Nursing Student Wins Scholarship Monica Key '08 (Accelerated) is the recipient of a $2,500.00 Johnson & Johnson - The Campaign for Nursing's Future Scholarship administered by the Foundation of the National Student Nurses' Association.
New '07 Grad Shares News Ann Marie Webb BSN Accel '07 writes that she started working on the Cardiovascular Unit at Baptist and is enjoying it so far. She reports that she is doing very well and that her preceptor asked her where she had gone to school. When Ann Marie answered, "Bellarmine" the preceptor replied ,". . . well that explains it, they have a great program." That is great to hear!
Report from Baghdad, Iraq Army Captain Eric Fourroux BSN '00 writes, "…if there are any ROTC nursing students in your classes tell them to study hard and remember everything, because they will use all of it in Iraq... and then some." He relates that his expanded military duties in a war zone include treating numerous gun shot and shrapnel wounds and "many, many" broken bones. Treatments he performs include closed reductions of simple fractures, reading chest x-rays, intubation, chest seals, needle decompressions, and chest tube insertions. He has also administered anthrax vaccinations to over 300 soldiers. Eric relates that Army medical personnel treat not only American soldiers, but Iraqi citizens and insurgents as well.
Eric is married to fellow Bellarmine graduate, Pamela McGee BSN '00. Pamela also served as an Army nurse but completed her commitment and is now in Fort Irwin, California, where she and daughter Audrey await Eric's return. Stay safe, Eric and know that all of us in nursing at BU are keeping you in our prayers.
Current BU Traditional Senior Students Excel at National Spina Bifida Conference Twenty-eight Bellarmine senior nursing students participated in the National Spina Bifida Conference held in Louisville, June 23 - 28 at the Commonwealth Convention Center. The students provided continence care and general health care to over 150 children and young adults who attended the conference. Many of the conference participants required attention 4-5 times per day. The nursing students not only rose to the challenge of caring for the children and young adults but performed with professionalism, integrity, expertise, confidence, organization, and a compassionate, caring attitude. They presented an extremely positive image of Bellarmine to the Louisville community and also contributed to a very positive image of Louisville for conference participants from throughout the United States.
Pat McEachron, a Bellarmine nursing instructor who coordinated the student experience writes, "I have taught pediatric clinicals for several years for Bellarmine and am not easily impressed by an entire group of students. I was so “wowed” by all of the nursing students participating in this conference and am so proud of each one of them. They did an exceptional job of representing Bellarmine and Louisville. I highly commend these students for their exceptional performance."
The Hooey from St. Louis Valerie Repking BSN '05 works on a transitional care unit at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis. She writes she has "learned a lot," loves the unit on which she works, and encourages current BU students to consider working for SSM as she has found it to be an excellent health care system. Valerie is engaged and plans to be married on October 20, 2007. While visiting Louisville for Derby she was "amazed" by all of the growth on the BU campus.
A New CWOCN… What's That? Congratulations to nursing professor, Barbara Lee who is now credentialed as a Certified Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurse (CWOCN). Last fall she attended the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing Education Program at Emory University in Atlanta and also completed an extensive clinical practicum.
Faculty Globe Trotters
Riga, Latvia In February, 2007 a team of four Bellarmine faculty, Dr. Sue Davis, Dr. Linda Cain, Dr. Sherill Cronin, and Professor Mary Ellen Pike '80 traveled to Riga Stradins University in Riga, Latvia to explore opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions. The visit allowed for exposure to the Latvian health care system, rural primary care, nursing education, health care delivery, international exchange and the hospitality of the Latvian peoples. The team determined that an exchange of teaching and learning in the areas of nursing leadership, communications, community health, and research would be of benefit to both institutions. Student and faculty travel and exchanges may begin as early as May, 2008. A team from Latvia will visit Louisville in October, 2007. If any alumni are interested in being involved in the visit or hosting members of the Latvian delegation, please contact Dr. Sue Davis.
Quito, Ecuador Dr. Liz Fitzgerald and Dr. Beverley Holland traveled to Quito Ecuador, May 17-23, 2007. They toured El Hospital Baca Ortiz (the children’s hospital), El Hospital Metropolitano (the hospital affiliated with the Cleveland Clinic), El Hospital Arturo Suarez (the public hospital), y Hospital Dermatologica (the only Dermatological Hospital in Ecuador) and also visited several cathedrals, museums and of course, the equator. The trip provided them with the opportunity to prepare for courses they will teach in summer, 2008. The courses, offered to BSN and RN-BSN/MSN students, will include: IDC 301 - Transcultural Experience: Culture and Health Care in Ecuador and Nursing 410/415- Community Health Nursing. MSN students will have the opportunity to take a nursing elective specific to their track.
London, England Professor Mary Ellen Pike '80 heads to London, England in July to teach "History of Western Health Care" for five weeks. The course roster includes five Bellarmine nursing students and six students from other majors and institutions across the U.S. The course uses sites in and around London such as the Florence Nightingale Museum, Imperial War Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Science Museum, Old Operating Theatre, and Bath, England to bring the history of health care alive.
Romania Dr. Linda Cain will offer an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate nursing students to study leadership and management concepts as part of a medical mission trip to Romania, October 2 - 10, 2007. The Bellarmine students will set up clinics in local villages, tour various health care facilities, visit social service agencies such as orphanages and experience the culture of Eastern Europe.
Graduates In The News Darla Lambdin Meredith BSN '88, MSN '00 was recently featured in the Business First article, "Committed to causes - Busy women put a priority on their various volunteer efforts." Her volunteer activities include YMCA boys basketball booster parent, Brownie troop activities, Down Syndrome of Louisville and Jane Hite Elementary School PTA.
A recent publication from The Center for Women and Families highlighted Farrah Guerrant Accel ' 02. She serves as the coordinator for Louisville's first community-based Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Clinic at The Center for Women and Families.
Gerry Sexton, Accel '05 was featured in a May 16, 2007 Courier-Journal article on the Butchertown Art Fair and annual neighborhood garden tour.
Jo Singleton MSN ' 06 authored "The Kentucky Board of Nursing: A Clinical Practicum Experience" in the latest issue of KBNursing Connection.
ROTC Graduate Reports
Arvie Wells Webster, BSN '99 writes that she has completed her commitment to the Army and is the Trauma Resource Clinician at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. After her graduation from BU Arvie worked for about a year at a small community hospital in Fort Jackson, South Carolina and became the night shift charge nurse after only one month. She earned TNCC (Trauma Nurse Core Course) certification in the Combat Casualty Care Course where she learned how to start IVs and intubate in full MOPP gear in 100 degree weather and also completed the M5/8A course, a 16 week program with 8 weeks classroom and 8 weeks clinical, to train Emergency Room and ICU nurses. She then transferred to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Army's only Level I Trauma Center, where she worked with Bellarmine grad Eric Goecke BSN '98. Arvie holds certifications in ACLS, PALS, ABLS, and TNCC and was released from active duty the week before the field hospital she was assigned to got orders for deployment. She left the Army with the rank of Captain. Arvie enjoys her current civilian position because she works with the trauma patient's families, shares in educating staff on all levels and monitors performance improvement. She is a TNCC instructor, secretary for the local ENA chapter and is working on ACLS and PALS instructor certifications. She shares that she is "constantly learning" and plans to start a masters program to be a nurse practitioner within the next two years and married a "wonderful man" back in September 2005.
Dr. Maggie Miller Retires The Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences honored Dr. Maggie Miller with a retirement dinner on Wednesday, May 16th in Bellarmine's Frazier Hall. Among the 100 guests were former and retired Bellarmine faculty Dr. Barbara Hulsmeyer '80, Dr. Nancy Howard, Dr. Maureen Norris, Joy Brands, Kathy Shireman and Pam Murphy Oshana '84. Attendees also included KNA members, faculty from other area schools of nursing, Girl Scout CEO Fran Fach, former students, friends and family. The program included comments from Dean Sue Davis and a "Roast and Toast" by Professor Mary Ellen Pike '80. Dr. Miller has taught at Bellarmine since 1983. She will continue to teach part-time and work with Bellarmine's campus ministry program.
Awards The Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences received a Certificate of Appreciation from Harbor House for their continuous service. The certificate was presented to Dr. Sue Davis at the Annual Volunteer and Donor Appreciation Event, May 17, 2007. The Faculty and Students in Nursing 415, Community Health Nursing have given direct client services and education to the participants of Harbor House for several years. Harbor House is under the direction of Maria Smith, Executive Director, and a BU MBA Alum.
Congratulations to Professor Joan Masters Congratulations to Joan Masters on having her poster presentation accepted by the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA). The poster will be presented at the APNA 21st Annual Conference in Florida, Oct. 3-6, 2007. The title of the poster is Hollywood in the Classroom: Using Feature Films to Teach Psychiatric Mental-Health Nursing.
Congratulations Erika! Erika Cecil Kravic '85, coordinator of the local Safe Kids Coalition at Kosair Childrens Hospital was recently featured in The Courier-Journal as an inductee into the Atherton High School Alumni Association's Hall of Fame. Way to go Erika!
Tennessee-Bound Graduate Chris Webb '07 accepted a position in the 26-bed MICU at Vanderbilt University Hospital.
We Want Your News . . . . What have you been up to since graduation? Please send your news to mpike@bellarmine.edu so that we may share it with nursing alumni!
Alumni Happenings Dena Greenwell, ’06 works at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and is starting orientation in Peds ICU and NICU.
Diane Presley MSN ’95 is currently working abroad and plans to apply to graduate school in Australia.
Katie Wintergerst Rogers, ARNP, RNFA ’97 discussed cardiothoracic surgery with Nursing 230 students as a guest lecturer on April 26.
Bellarmine Association of Nursing Students Wins Award
BANS won most improved RSO (registered student organization) at Bellarmine for 2006-2007. Students were involved in multiple service projects: Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk in October (raised $400); Trick or Treat at Center for Women and Families in October; Silent Auction in November for the Girl Child Education Fund, a charity for the girl orphans of nurses who have died from AIDS in Africa (raised $600); and participated in Relay for Life at Bellarmine in April (raised $1040 from donations and gift basket auction).
