We’re proud to present the third annual edition of our Alumni Newsletter. With this yearly publication, we will keep you informed on alumni, recent graduates, faculty and staff as well as news about your alma mater. Send us updates with your good news! Also, refer any RN’s who may be interested in our program. Students can enroll in the national online track from anywhere in the country!
UW-Green Bay Hosts WITECNE Conference: The Professional Program in Nursing hosted an E-Learning in Nursing Conference April 7-8 as the culminating event of a 5 year Dept. of Health & Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to enhance educational technology in nursing courses. Historic Lambeau Field, home of the Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers was the site of the conference at which participants from across Wisconsin heard international keynote speaker Dr. Badrul Kahn speak about International and Cultural Perspectives in E-Learning. Dr. Diane Skiba from the University of Colorado discussed Emerging Technologies in Nursing Practice and E-Learning. The conference featured 17 other presenters and tours of the stadium.
UW-Green Bay Assistant Professor, Dr. Janet Reilly presents Technology in E-Learning and Health in Nursing and the NFL as the opening address of the WITECNE (Wisconsin Technology Enhanced Collaboration Nursing Education) Conference.
Technology is ubiquitous in healthcare. The grant assisted faculty at all five UW nursing programs to improve their knowledge and skills with informatics and healthcare technologies so that cutting edge content can be infused into nursing courses.
Congratulations to all of our graduates:
2010-2011 Grads: Summer of 2010 –Cristin Elsing, Stephanie Fouts, Susan Holtz, Tara Lorbetske-Cunha, David Pittman, Chad Sikora and Karen Tobin. Fall of 2010 – Tracy Anderson, Kimberly Bain, Daniel Blaha, Linda Denton, Maggie Fischer, Julie Fuller, Shenandoah Greenwood, Jay Griffin, Cynthia Heiberger, Jeanette Hilary, Deborah Holden, Kristen Holm, Sara Horkman, Trisha Kamps, Sarah Kaspari, Linda Keene, Ellen Knipfer, Lacey Kuehl, Linda Maxwell, Dawn McCullough, Angela Negri, Molly O’Neill, Sarah Ohrmundt, Joan Olson, Helene Salahud-Din, Barbara Seliger, Rebecca Sickels-Wahlers, Jerilou Stiles, Deborah Trossen, Jane Weber, Georgine Wood and Matthew Woodworth. Spring of 2011 – Julie Baeten, Amy Bargander-Sullivan, Carrie Beck, Lorri Birkholz, Jessica Blahnik, Jamey Boucher, Bina Brandkamp, Rozanne Brehmer, Marcia Brodersen, Blaine Conley, Annette Dalka, Anne Earkes, Kelli Frederickson, Jennifer Friend, Amy Gatton, Sherri Glick, Erin Gorham, Dawn Gyrion, Tina Hafeman, Jennifer Hanoski, Leslie Lehrer, Heather Marker, Marci McDonald, Brenda Mroczynski, Stacie Murley, Moses Ngugi, Darcy Overman, Renee Payne, Lisa Radotich, Samantha Roche, Cortny Ruggles, Carol Sippel, Cathy Jo Strand, Marie Swartz, Ashley Topel, Brenda Vanden Langenberg, Nick Vanderbloomen, Wendy Wan, Roseanne Weber, Shelly Wickham, Amy Zabel and Cristiane Zacharias.
Congratulations to our 2010-2011 Scholarship Recipients:
Gallagher Scholarship – Kristen Wiesner; Jessica Kimps
Ruby Wolverton Scholarship – Nicole Langlois
Lorraine Noll Scholarship – Shannon Thielman
Loretta Wells Scholarship – Margaret Peterson Jewel Jamrosz
Ken & Paula Fleurant Scholarship – Shannon Thielman
Spring graduates attend nursing reception: Seated: Stacie Murley (WI), Amy Bargander-Sullivan (MN), Brenda Mroczynski (WI), Annette Dalka (WI). Standing: Andrew Phiri (MN), Brenda Vanden Langenberg (WI), Lori Birkholz (AL), Leslie Lehrer (WI), Moses Ngugi (MN), Heather Marker (MN), “Nursing Mascot Bones”.
“Must Read” Recommendations from Faculty: Dr. Janet Reilly recommends “M y Stroke of Insight” by Harvard neuroscientist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor. It’s a short read that details physiology of left and right brain function and the author’s experience with a stroke at age 37.
Dr. Derryl Block recommends a fun article about the nurse’s cap titled: “What Happened to the Cap? The Dawn of the Cap.” Click the following link (free log-in/password required): http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/741581.
Alumni Welcome to Join Travel Trip to Mexico: The third annual Study Abroad Trip to Cuernavaca, Mexico will be led by Dr. Christine Vandenhouten. Tentative dates are January 2-16, 2012. Participants will learn about the Mexican healthcare system with excursions to public, private and rural hospitals. Visits to important cultural sites will be included. Cuernavaca is a beautiful city, dubbed the City of Eternal Spring, for its temperate climate. It is located about 90 minutes from Mexico City.
There is no language requirement for this travel course. Alumni will need to complete applications as “Special Students” to take this course. All participants need to have passports. The exact cost and final details will be available soon. Contact Ruth Pearson (920-465-2826 or pearsonr@uwgb.edu) if you are interested in this exciting opportunity.
More International: Collaboration with our partner Universidad Nacional de Tumbes in Peru resulted in a real-time videoconference in March. Dr. Christine Vandenhouten led nursing students from both campuses in discussions about healthcare, nursing and nursing education. Peruvian nursing students shared that they attend classes for 5 years, followed by a 1 year internship. Their typical patient load is about 30-40 patients per one nurse, compared to 5-10 in the US. For more information, click: http://blog.uwgb.edu/inside/index.php/featured/leading-learning/04/06/global-learning-nursing-peru/.
An earlier course combining our students with the Peruvian students ran during Fall of 2010 titled “Nursing Diagnosis Across the Globe”. The course featured guest instructor Heather Herdman, PhD., Executive Director of NANDA International.
Work of BSN-LINC Students Accepted for Publication:
Mark Hunter and Tracy LaRock were notified this spring that their work in revising nursing diagnoses was accepted for publication in the upcoming NANDA International Nursing Diagnosis: Definitions & Classification 2012-2014. Mark revised the Risk for Infection diagnosis and Tracy revised the Powerlessness and Risk for Powerlessness diagnoses. Tracy and Mark were students in the Fall 2010 Nursing Diagnosis and Functional Health Patterns course instructed by Heather Herdman, Executive Director of NANDA-I and Susan Gallagher-Lepak, Associate Professor at UW-Green Bay.
Faculty News:
Dr. Derryl Block returns this summer as Chair of Nursing after serving as Interim Dean of Professional & Graduate Studies since 2009.
Lecturer Brenda Tyczkowski: Authorization to plan a new online collaborative program in Health Information Management Technology (HIMT) has been granted by UW System. Brenda Tyczkowski has taken a lead role.
Associate Lecturer Rebecca Hovarter has taken a new position as of 7-11-11 as Health Officer/Public Health Director at Shawano Co. Health Dept. Congratulations Becky!
Alumni Updates:
Mary (Podoski) Rosner (2003) has taken a position in Public Health with Marinette Co. (WI) after being with Oconto Co. for 5 ½ years. Congratulations Mary!
Carlene (Farber) Lange (2008) was recognized this past year for 25 years of employment with the State of Minnesota in adult mental health. Congratulations on this milestone!
Lorri Birkholz (2011) co-authored an article published in the Journal of Nursing Education titled “Using Distance Technology to Learn Across Borders: A Virtual Travel Course in Nursing” with Peruvian student Carlos Christian Melgar Moran, Peruvian Professor Yrene Esperanza Urbina Rojas, and UW-Green Bay Professors Derryl Block and Susan Gallagher-Lepak.
Crystal Malakar (2009) participated in the “Posters in the Rotunda” event this April at the Wisconsin State Capital. Students from UW campuses showcased their scholarship and interacted with legislators. Crystal conducted research with the team of Drs. Mimi Kubsch, Derryl Block, Susan Gallagher-Lepak and Chris Vandenhouten. Crystal’s research originated in Dr. Kubsch’s Nursing Research Course and developed into a survey of 500 plus RN’s to document the level of, and the factors which influence political involvement. Psychological engagement (political interest, efficacy, and information) and greater resources (time and money & civic skills) were most predictive of political participation.
UWGB Nursing Launches Facebook Page:
Click on the above link to the Professional Program in Nursing Facebook page which we launched this winter. It serves as a vehicle for prospective students to find out about us, a resource to existing students, and a great way for alumni to stay in touch with our program. Plus, it allows for some fun updates about our campus and community. Sign-up for Facebook, find the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay RN to BSN Program, and be sure to “Like” us!
“Bones” Dresses for the Super Bowl!
‘The Nursing Skeleton,’ normally and previously a dignified teaching device, was decked out in Green Bay Packers gear as the Super Bowl approached. His “spirit” helped to spur the Packers to victory! Bones, a plastic skeleton, is regularly on display at the Professional Program in Nursing suite on the third floor of Rose Hall and is commonly featured on the Professional Program in Nursing’s Facebook page.
We want to hear from you: Please tell us of your professional accomplishments including new jobs, publications, successes at work, degrees after graduation, etc. Please send information updates to: nursing@uwgb.edu.
