Nursing & Health Studies

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay received approval from the UW Board of Regents today (August 24, 2018) to move ahead in offering a prelicensure Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, paving the way for students to begin in fall 2020. The program will expand UW-Green Bay’s ability to fulfill unmet student demand for a high-quality BSN degree at an affordable tuition cost. According to UW-Green Bay’s Susan Gallagher-Lepak, dean of the College of Health, Education and Social Welfare, the proposed program will complement the University’s existing nursing programs, including the accredited BSN Completion program (currently offered by UW-Green Bay, on campus, collaboratively with other UW institutions in Wisconsin via distance education, and nationally via distance methods), NURSE 1-2-1 program and graduate program in nursing (leadership focus).

“We’ve received many positive comments about this new program from employers of nurses, such as hospitals, insurance companies and public health agencies,” offered Gallagher-Lepak. “Leaders at healthcare organizations have indicated that they will make clinical spots available to UW-Green Bay nursing students.”

Strong Support and High Demand

The University is receiving strong support for this program from many constituent groups within the region, including the UW-Green Bay Chancellor’s Council of Trustees Program and Initiatives Advisory Committee. Leaders of healthcare organizations in the community strongly support this program as a means to increase the number of BSN-prepared nursing graduates in Wisconsin.

“Nursing is the largest workforce in healthcare,” affirms Paula Hafeman, Chief Nurse Executive, Hospital Sisters Health System-Eastern Wisconsin. “According to a 2016 Wisconsin Center for Nursing report, it is projected that we will need more than 20,000 new registered nurses each year in Wisconsin to meet healthcare needs. More than 26,000 Wisconsin nurses will retire in the next 10 years alone. When you consider the need, and fact that healthcare continues to increase in complexity with advanced technology, treatments and an aging population, more healthcare providers are necessary. Wisconsin graduates 3,000 nurses each year. We need to support increasing nursing programs throughout Wisconsin.”

Nursing Shortage is Statewide

Of the approximately 3,000 new nurses per year (Wisconsin Center for Nursing, 2015), 55% earn baccalaureate degrees and the remainder earn associate degrees. Employers are increasingly requiring nurses to have a BSN degree (versus an associate degree in nursing) in Wisconsin and nationally.

Student demand for a nursing program at UW-Green Bay, specifically, is very high. Approximately 300 students apply to UW-Green Bay as pre-nursing majors each year. Because UW-Green Bay, until now, did not offer a prelicensure BSN, potential new freshmen choose not to enroll at UW-Green Bay, and current students who want to pursue a nursing major transfer to public, private or technical nursing programs. Further, existing BSN programs within the UW System are unable to meet student demand. Approximately 50-80% of qualified applicants to baccalaureate nursing programs are denied admission to UW System Nursing Schools, primarily due to capacity issues (Young et al., 2016). This is consistent with national trends, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

Chair of Nursing and Associate Professor, Christine Vandenhouten, said the program would provide regional opportunities that haven’t previously existed. “While UW-Green Bay is well-positioned to support a prelicensure nursing program, we look forward to working with the outstanding liberal arts and science faculty, both on the Green Bay campus and also our new branch-campus partners in Marinette, Manitowoc and Sheboygan. We expect strong interest from students taking their pre-nursing courses at all four campuses prior to applying to the UW-Green Bay prelicensure program.”

Students can apply to UW-Green Bay in pre-nursing for fall 2019. The first cohort accepted into the prelicensure program will begin in fall 2020. Didactic, skills and clinical courses in the program will prepare students for entry-level professional nursing practice in various areas. Nurses work in a wide array of settings, including hospitals and long-term care facilities, clinics and outpatient facilities, community centers, homes (homecare), schools, camps and businesses.

We are pleased to announce BSN alumni, Mark Hunter and Dr. Chris Vandenhouten are co-authors of a research article – Addressing the Silence: A need for Peripheral Intravenous Education in North America. The article, to be published in September, 2018 edition of The Journal of the Association for Vascular Access, is available in final version at: https://authors.elsevier.com/c/1Xbgq5X5TLiVDh

The article is available for reading or downloading with no registration fees.

Dr. Christine Vandenhouten, pictured here with Chancellor Gary Miller, was recognized as the recipient of the Founders Award for Excellence in Community Outreach as the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay community gathered for the Fall Convocation today marking the beginning of the 2018-2019 academic year.

Dr. Vandenhouten’s community service has been extensive and exemplary. A sampling of her involvements include:

• 2013-2018 Brown County United Way Community Investment Committee – reviewing and recommending funding allocations to organizations meeting human service needs.
• 2013 – 2017 Community Partnership for Children (CPS) – Steering committee. The mission is to ensure that all children in Brown County “are safe, healthy, and ready for kindergarten.”
• 2011 – 2018 Board of Directors, Bellin Health Systems, Inc.
• 2011 – 2018 Brown County Community Health Improvement Project – Oral Health Action Team. Dr. Vandenhouten initiated a fluoride varnish program through the Brown County Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) programs to provide oral health education and serve families receiving WIC services sustained through the support of nursing students.
• 2010 – 2018 Board of Directors, Northeast Wisconsin Area Health Education Center (NEW AHEC) – enhancing access of quality health care for underserved populations.
• 2017 Envisioning the Future – Bay Area Community Council’s Summit – examining and creating action plans related to the Life Study results for Brown County.
• 2017 – 2018 Assurance of Learning – Co-designer of the 2018 Lifesaver Wellbeing Series for Bellin Health System.
• 2011 – 2014 Elected member – Pulaski Community School District Board of Education. 

Earlier this year, Dr. Vandenhouten was recognized with the Brown County United Way Community Impact Award.

Congratulations on receiving this most deserved recognition!

Congratulations to Dr. Brenda Tyczkowski on receiving tenure and being promoted to Associate Professor by the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents during their June 8, 2018 meeting.  Dr. Tyczkowski is on the Nursing & Health Studies faculty and is the Academic Director of the Health Information Management & Technology Program.  She has been on the UW-Green Bay faculty since 2008 and has over 35 years of experience in the field of nursing and health care.

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MANAWA

School Nurse in MANAWA, Wisconsin

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required. Answer patients’ calls and determine how to assist them. Apply compresses, ice bags, or hot water bottles. Inventory and requisition supplies and instruments. Observe patients, charting and reporting changes in patients’ conditions, such as adverse reactions to medication or treatment, and taking any necessary action. Supervise nurses’ aides or assistants. Administer prescribed medications or start intravenous fluids, noting times and amounts on patients’ charts. Maintain accurate, detailed reports and records. Work with individuals, groups, or families to plan or implement programs designed to improve the overall health of communities. ***** OTHER EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree required. Valid State of Wisconsin Registered Nurse (RN) license required. Valid Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction certification in the respective classification: (DPI Code 75 – School Nurse) preferred. Experience working with school age children, including an ability to work with children who have disabilities and children with special health needs. Experience in communicable disease control. Effective written and verbal communication skills. Knowledge of community resources available for health services. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable. ***** APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Other: Interested Applicants must apply on WECAN. Qualified Applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume, transcripts and three letters of recommendation. Only completed WECAN applications will be considered. Pre-employment screenings (criminal background check, physical, TB test, and drug screen) are required by Wis. Stats. 118.25 for all school employees. The School District of Manawa does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability. Federal law prohibits discrimination in education and employment on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability. Applicants requesting a reasonable accommodation for a disability should contact the District Office by email. Apply Online: www.wecan.education.wisc.edu

Nominations are being sought for the Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award. The award is given annually to a UW-Green Bay nursing graduate (BSN or MSN). Criteria upon which nominees are evaluated include:

• Service or leadership enhancing the profession of nursing and/or community
• Achievements demonstrating a high level of professionalism and modeling values of the nursing profession (e.g. caring, altruism, social justice)
• Distinguished scholarly achievement (e.g., presentations, articles, etc.) and/or serving as a mentor/trainer in the field of nursing

Letters of nomination (including self-nomination) should not exceed two pages and be submitted in digital format to malchowj@uwgb.edu by the recently extended deadline of April 1, 2018. Nominations are reviewed by a selection committee. The award recipient will be notified by May 15, 2018.

The following nominee information must be included: First and Last Name; Last Name at Graduation; Year of Graduation; Current email address; Mailing Address (Street, City, State, Zip); Phone; Current Employer and Position Title.

Please include the name and email address of the person submitting the nomination and a current photo of the nominee.

Alumni Award recipients will receive official recognition on the UW-Green Bay nursing website and in the Alumni Newsletter, an award certificate and engraved pen.

For more information, contact Mr. Jan Malchow, Manager of Student Outreach at 920-465-2722 or malchowj@uwgb.edu .

UW-Green Bay Associate Prof. Chris Vandenhouten was recognized with the Brown County United Way Community Impact Award, March 1, 2018. She is the fourth individual winner to receive this prestigious award given to an individual or organization “demonstrating leadership and innovation to address priority human services needs on a community-wide scale” in partnership with the Brown County United Way. The award has been given seven times in the organization’s history, and was presented to Vandenhouten at the 2017 Annual Meeting and Campaign Celebration, at the KI Convention Center.

Vandenhouten (center of photo flanked by United Way President and CEO Robyn Davis and 2017 Board Chair Dennis Grusnick) has contributed to community improvement in numerous ways over 20 years. Most notable has been her contributions to the Health and Wellness Impact Council of Brown County United Way (two terms as chairperson), Brown County Community Health Improvement Project–Oral Health Action Team, Brown County United Way Community Investment Committee, Community Partnership for Children Executive Committee, and Achieve Brown County.

Vandenhouten is especially proud of initiating a fluoride varnish program through the Brown County Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) programs to provide oral health education and services to family receiving WIC services sustained through the support of nursing students. The fluoride varnish program is still going strong today, under the auspices of the Oral Health Partnership — an organization she has also supported since its inception and on whose board of directors she has served.

Currently she is consulting with the United Way to identify outcome indicators to establish baseline scores for the Brown County United Way Common Outcomes Framework.

A textbook in which Nursing & Health Studies Assistant Professor, Dr. Brenda Tyczkowski was the lead author of a chapter, has been awarded First Place in the gerontological nursing category of the American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Awards for 2017. Dr. Tyczkowski was the lead author for Chapter 19: The Gerontological Nurse as Manager and Leader within the Interprofessional Team. The book is Gerontological Nursing Competencies for Care (2018) (Ed. Mauk, K.) Jones and Bartlett. Congratulations Dr. Tyczkowski!

Philippines Native to Become UW-Green Bay BSN-LINC Graduate

Guillermo William Adao, a Philippines native, will graduate with a 3.8 gpa from UW-Green Bay’s BSN-LINC Online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) Program on Dec. 16. He became a registered nurse in the Philippines, and relocated to Wisconsin Rapids serving in the Wisconsin National Guard as a Medical Specialist from 1989 to 1997. As a member of the Guard, he worked with a clinic offering physicals for members of the community and other members of the Guard. He currently resides in Mt. Prospect, IL. Since 1993, Guillermo has been active in the Filipino organization, Paetenian Chicago Midwest, helping indigent people of Paete Laguna, a small town in the Philippines. The organization, in 20-plus years, has completed a number of projects ranging from clothes donations, natural disaster relief efforts, donations to assist with the purchase of fire-fighting equipment and musical instruments, sponsoring Christmas gifts, and sending contributions enabling food items to be distributed to the people of this impoverished area. Guillermo currently works as a dialysis nurse. He plans to join the United States Army and enroll in graduate school within a year to pursue a degree in nursing leadership, education or as a Nephrology nurse practitioner.

Guillermo transferred with an Associate Degree in Nursing from Oakton Community College in Illinois, a partner school of UW-Green Bay’s RN to BSN Program.

From a Distance
Kathryn (Kate) Donovan may be distinguished as the Fall 2017 graduate traveling the furthest to attend commencement.  Kate is flying from Connecticut with her family to Green Bay to receive her BSN-LINC diploma as well as her Kappa Pi Nursing Society Honor Cords. She will graduate with a 3.94 gpa.

Kate is a Peri-Operative & In-patient surgical nurse in the Spine Institute of Connecticut at Saint Francis Hospital & Medical Center in Hartford, CT.  She belongs to AORN, the Association of Perioperative Nurses.

Kate received her Associates Degree in Nursing from UW-Green Bay partner school, Three Rivers Community College in Connecticut.  She has a long-term goal to pursue a Masters Degree.

Congratulations and best wishes to Kate, Guillermo and all of our graduates!