Nursing & Health Studies

The UW-Green Bay Professional Program in Nursing is one of five UW Nursing programs (also including Madison, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Oshkosh) participating in year three of a five year Dept. of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant to enhance educational technology in nursing courses.   So far, this grant has focused on integration of telehealth technology, simulation, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in health, learning activities in the virtual world program of Second Life, and podcasts. Upcoming projects will include problem focused learning and e-learning.

Dr. Derryl Block visited the Universidad Nacional De Tumbes in Tumbes, Peru. The University, Nursing School, and community partners warmly welcomed her and is excited about possible collaborative efforts. Continue reading Derryl Block visits Peru

Our Chair of Nursing and Director of BSN-LINC, Dr. Derryl Block was on a sabbatical for the 2007-2008 academic year.  Dr. Block was also a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Baccalaureate Education Task Force which revised The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. The document was endorsed by the AACN membership in October 2008 and is available at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/pdf/BaccEssentials08.pdf.  The AACN Baccalaureate Task Force is developing a tool kit for schools of nursing to use for integrating the new Essentials into their curricula.

In Memorium: Barb Sydow, our Nursing Program Assistant since 2005, passed away on October 8 after a courageous battle with cancer. Barb had been an inspiration to all battling chronic health problems for many years and always bouncing back. She was able to live life with enthusiasm and a positive disposition. She set goals and pursued them with earnest, winning 10K races as a runner well into her 60’s and evidenced by her avid love of sailing and performing with her beloved dogs in agility training programs despite being 72 years of age. Barb’s zest for life touched all who were privileged to have known her.

Ruth Pearson has joined our department as our Program Assistant this fall. Ruth has a BS from the University of Minnesota. She served as an Administrative Assistant and Nutritional Services Director for a Nursing Home and was an insurance agent in addition to running her own business.

Christine Vandenhouten joined our faculty this summer. Chris has her PhD from Marquette University; her MSN from UW-Oshkosh; and her BSN from Marian College. She most recently was an Associate Professor at Bellin College and has a background in nursing in both hospital and public health settings.

Brenda Tyczkowski also joined our faculty this summer. She has her MSN from UW-Oshkosh and her BSN from our program. Brenda most recently worked with the State of Wisconsin, Bureau of Nursing Home Resident Care and has been employed in training and nursing in hospital and resident care settings.

Our students make excellent contributions to improving health care during their time in the program as well as after graduation.  This includes:

• Receiving scholarships from the National League for Nursing (Suzanne Haines, Jason Mattson, and Donna Verville)
• Receiving a scholarship from the Loretta Wells Charitable Trust (Julie Baeten)
• Receiving the Northeastern Wisconsin Oncology Nurses Association Scholarship (Susan Holtz)

Sharon Gajeski joined us as our second Nursing Program Advisor late last year. She is a graduate of our program with her BSN and has her MSN from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.  She came to us from the Bellin School of Nursing where she was on the faculty and also served as an advisor.

Dr. Janet Reilly has completed her doctoral degree from Case Western University. Janet had her doctoral work accepted for publication:  Reilly, J. & Fitzpatrick, J (2009). Perceived stress and sense of belonging in Doctor of Nursing Practice students. Journal of Professional Nursing. To be published July 2009.