Typically I use this column to tell you about things going on within the Ida V. Moffett School of Nurs-ing (IVMSON), but this month I’d like to use this opportunity to tell you about something that I am incredibly passionate about. I am involved in an exciting and important movement here in Birming-ham called Go Red for Women! This work is an ongoing educational and awareness focus of the American Heart Association here in Birmingham and across the country. You may be asking yourself “why is this important?” Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, tak-ing the life of 1 in 3 women each year. This means women you know – mother, sister, wife, friend, co-worker – are dying at the rate of one per minute! In fact, in the time it takes to read this column, another woman will die from heart disease. Did you know that cardiovascular disease claims the lives of more females than the next six causes of death combined – including ALL forms of can-cer? Fortunately, we can do something about these staggering statistics. Other key facts about women and heart disease include:

Heart disease kills about 460,000 women a year, approximately ONE PER MINUTE.

One in 3 female deaths is from Heart Disease, compared to one in 30 from breast cancer.

64% of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS.

Only 21% of women view heart disease as a health threat, even though it’s women’s No. 1 killer.

Heart disease rates in post-menopausal women are two to three times higher than in pre-menopausal women of the same age.

Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death for American women and is a leading cause of long-term dis-ability.

Stroke kills more women than men; in 2006, females represented 61% of stroke deaths.

The Go Red for Women campaign hopes to significantly increase the awareness that women (and men) have related to the risk of heart disease. By raising awareness and educating the public of these risks, we hope to inspire women to take charge of their heart health! February is American Heart Month and I urge you to share these heart facts with a special female in

your life every day throughout the remainder of the month. Encourage the women in your life to

take charge of their heart health – you may save a life!

Message from the Dean: The Golden Thread

In This Issue:

Life Without

Limits Award Rumpshaker

5k Simulation

Videos Debut Moffett Nurse

Network Call for Public

Comment HEAL Confer-

ence Faculty cele-

brated for years of ser-vice

The Pulse

“Caring is the shining thread of gold that holds together the tapestry of life." Mrs. Ida V. Moffett

Follow Us Online!

To stay up to date on IVMSON news between issues of The Pulse, be sure to follow us on our social media sites!

Dr. Mary Karlet, Dr. Margie Findlay, Dr. Cyndi Cortes, Dr. Arlene Hayne and Amy Snow with Dr. Gary Edwards, UCP CEO

IVMSON E-NEWSLETTER February 2011

IVMSON Honored at Life Without Limits Celebration

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The Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing received the 2011 Life Without Limits Outstanding Program Part-ner Award from United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Greater Birmingham at its annual awards program Jan. 25. The award recognizes the nursing school’s “outstanding efforts to support individuals with dis-abilities” through a partnership that helps UCP to pro-vide medical care to individuals with disabilities, ac-cording to UCP chief executive officer Gary M. Ed-wards. The nursing school partnered with UCP to use IVM-SON’s mobile wellness van to provide health clinics

for children and adults with developmental disabilities in Moody, Ala., and Tuscaloosa, Ala. The clinics offered free screenings, primary care services and referrals. In ad-dition, the clinics provided education about proper nutrition, exercise and sun protection. The mobile wellness van meets two primary goals—combating barriers to care that individuals with developmen-tal disabilities often face, such as transportation, and teaching others how to care for this special patient popula-tion, noted Dr. Jill Cunningham, project director for the Mobile Health Services for Children and Adults with De-velopmental Disabilities and associate professor at the nursing school. The clinics also help to ensure that Samford nursing students are prepared to care for individuals with develop-mental disabilities by providing experience in the field. “Many do not realize that there is a national shortage of healthcare providers educated to care for persons with developmental disabilities,” said Dr. Margaret Findlay, project coordinator and professor in the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing.“The nursing school strongly believes in the importance of providing students with the oppor-tunity to refine their ability to deliver quality health care to this population.” In addition to the van program, IVMSON’s Nurse Anesthesia Department sends student volunteers two days a week to assist UCP with group assignments and activities, feedings and a weekly outing to a bowling alley. “We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with clients at UCP and have appreciated the blessings they bring,” said Amy Snow, director of clinical services for the Nurse Anesthesia Department. “The clients have opened our eyes to the challenges some of our patients face and made us more comfortable when communicating with those that have special needs. This opportunity has also provided a way for Samford’s Nurse Anesthesia commu-nity to serve others.”

Want to learn more about the Mobile Health Clinics? Click here to view video from our latest clinic in Tuscaloosa.

To learn more about UCP, visit www.ucpbham.com.

Alright everyone - it's that time again! Time to shake your rump! Make plans to join IVMSON for the 3rd Annual Rumpshaker 5k on Satur-day, March 26, at Sloss Furnaces. Proceeds from the race benefit colon cancer awareness and portions of the proceeds go to support several Bir-mingham GI labs and diagnostic centers. This race is highly attended and is one of two races that the school of nursing supports annually. All are welcome to join the IVMSON team, "Your Worst Enema." To regis-ter click here; registration is $20 for the 5k or $18 for the 1 mile Fun Run/Walk. Please note that only registrants for the 5k will be included in the team roster. You do not have to run to participate in the 5k, many partici-pants actually walk the 5k and that is great too. When registering, be sure to click on the team registration and choose “Your Worst Enema” as your team. Once you have registered, or if you prefer to attend and cheer on the team without participating in the race, please contact John Lundeen at jdlundee@samford.edu to ensure that you stay informed of plans and t-shirt ordering.

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Join IVMSON for the Rumpshaker 5K!

IVMSON E-NEWSLETTER February 2011

Nursing Honor Society Inducts New Members

On December 16, 2010 the Gamma Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International inducted ten new members. IVMSON would like to congratulate the following individuals on their induction.

Holly Brown Kylie Coyne

Lindsey English Lauren Fritz Ava Grant

Joseph Briggs Macon Aubrey Stoner McLendon

Jessica Anne Rogers Anne Meredith Rutledge

Rae Smith

Updates from SUANS

The Samford University Association of Nursing Stu-dents (SUANS) would like to invite students to at-tend the monthly meetings this semester. Meetings will be held on : March 4th, April 1st, and May 6th. Mark your calendars! SUANS will participate in two community service events this semester:

Rumpshaker 5K on March 26th. March of Dimes Walk on April 30th

Students should look for emails from the SUANS Community Service Officer regarding ways to get involved in these events and other SUANS activities. Alumni and friends of IVMSON are always welcome to participate as well. If you have any questions about SUANS or how you can get involved, please contact SUANS President Bryan Wimbish at 334-701-6386.

Drs. Jane Martin and Margie Findlay presented a poster “Innovations and Challenges in Doctoral Nursing Educa-tion: Examples of Successful Facilitation of DNP Capstone Projects” at the AACN Doctoral Education Conference in San Diego, CA, January 26-29. Drs. Sharron Schlosser and Gretchen McDaniel presented “DNP Capstone Projects: Pathways to Evidence-Based Clini-cal Excellence” at the AACN Doctoral Education Conference 2011 in San Diego, CA, January 26-29. Co-authors were Drs. Arlene Hayne, Margie Findlay, and Jane Martin. Debbie Duke was selected to serve as a member of the advisory board for the new Birmingham chapter of the Save A Leg, Save A Life Foundation. Debbie Duke’s paper, “Save A Leg, Save A Life” was selected for publication on the organization’s website and she has been invited to present her paper at the Save A Leg, Save A Life Foundation’s national conference in Orlando later this year. Dr. Jane Martin was honored by the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) with the Making the Difference

Award in February 2011. Martin was a part of the ribbon cutting for one of the new centers that was planned and

worked on while she was on the board. One of the classrooms in the center is named for her. Martin recently retired

from the ECMHSP board after nine years of service, including serving as president for the last three years.

Margaret Diana (Hunter) Decker, Diploma 1974, earned her BSN and MSN from the University of South Florida in De-

cember. Her area of specialty is Clinical Nurse Leader. She also was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau and Phi Kappa Phi. Benjamin Davis "Davy" Campbell, ASN 1983, had an article published in the December 2010 Clinical Advisor entitled,

"Chest Pain: When Should I Be Worried?" The article can be accessed online.

DNP student Paul Ropp’s article, "Excessive Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department: A Quality of

Care and Financial Issue" was recently accepted for publication in the Nursing Management journal.

Accolades, Honors, and Acknowledgments—Alumni and Students

IVMSON E-NEWSLETTER February 2011

Accolades, Honors, and Acknowledgments—Faculty and Staff

Simulation Center Videos Debut

Curious about what really happens

during a patient simulation? Click

here for a first-hand look at how

IVMSON utilizes human patient

simulation.

The extended video can be seen by

clicking here.

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IVMSON E-NEWSLETTER February 2011

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Nurse Anesthesia Students Support Local Charities

Throughout the holiday season nurse anesthesia students from the classes of 2011 and 2012 and faculty and staff collected items for King’s Ranch and Hannah Home. After learning that all of the children would be receiving gifts for Christmas, the stu-dents chose to purchase gifts for the women who are often over-looked during the holidays. In addition to these gifts, students also donated food, toiletries and other household items that are always needed. At the con-clusion of the drive the students personally delivered the gifts and goods.

Katie Schneider and Sara Crowe, Class of 2011, nurse anesthesia students, picking up gifts and goods to be delivered

IVMSON Introduces the Moffett Nurse Network

IVMSON recently unveiled its newest alumni initiative—Moffett Nurse Network. The Network is designed with alumni in mind. IVMSON’s rich tradition has proved that Moffett Nurses share a special connection and through the Network the school hopes to provide alumni with meaningful and convenient ways to connect with their alma mater and fellow Moffett Nurses. Through the Moffett Nurse Network alumni no longer have to live or work in close proximity to IVMSON to partici-pate in alumni activities and network with fellow graduates! With the help of alumni volunteers, IVMSON is organizing Moffett Nurse Network events in cities throughout the U.S. The event may be a coffee, a breakfast, a lunch, a dinner, or a social, but regardless of the format, the purpose remains the same—to reconnect alumni with IVMSON and their classmates! The launch events will be the kick-off for what will hopefully evolve into self-sustaining clusters of IVMSON alumni across the country. IVMSON will help leaders facilitate a variety of activities to keep alumni plugged in to the Network. IVMSON still needs alumni volunteers to help ensure that these events are convenient and relevant Alumni, please take a few minutes to tell us what you’d like to see from the Moffett Nurse Network by completing our brief survey here. Additionally, if you are willing to help us facilitate an event in your area, please contact Katie Stripling at kstripli@samford.edu or (205) 726-2265. You will not be asked to finance or singularly plan the event, but you will serve as a vital connection point between IVMSON and alumni in your area.

Don’t wait—act today to help get the Moffett Nurse Network off to a great start!

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IVMSON E-NEWSLETTER February 2011

Accreditation Review: Call for Public Comment

In spring 2011, the Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing will seek initial national accreditation of our Doctor of Nursing Practice Program from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). CCNE, which is an autonomous accrediting arm of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, will perform an on-site evaluation of the DNP program on April 4 – 6, 2011. The CCNE evaluates the effectiveness and quality of nursing programs based on standards related to the follow-ing four areas:

Mission and Governance Institutional Commitment and Resources Teaching-Learning Practices Student Performance and Faculty Accomplishments

You can find additional information related to the standards for accreditation on the following website – http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Accreditation/ As part of this review, interested parties (i.e. students, alumni, faculty, advisory board, employers, and the practice community) are invited to send comments about the School of Nursing’s DNP program to CCNE. These comments must be received by CCNE no later than March 4, 2011 and only signed comments (include the name, address and telephone number of person providing the comments) will be accepted. Please note that while CCNE shares third–party comments with members of the CCNE evaluation team prior to the visit, at no time are these comments shared with the School of Nursing. The CCNE evaluation team considers these third–party comments as they relate to the program's compliance with accreditation standards.

Please direct comments to:

Amanda Brownbridge – Accreditation Assistant Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) One Dupont Circle NW, Suite 530 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-887-6791 x252 Fax: 202-785-8320

Save the Date—10th Annual HEAL Conference

On Friday, April 8, the Healthcare Ethics and Law (HEAL) Institute will host its 10th Anniversary Conference. In com-memorating the 10th anniversary, the conference “Eliminating Healthcare Delivery Disparities: An Ethical Quag-mire?” features a particularly impressive slate of speakers including Joseph O. Dean, Jr., Ph.D.; Edmund Pellegrino, M.D.; Gregory E. Pence, Ph.D; David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.; and Robert Veatch, Ph.D. Visit the HEAL website for speaker bios. Advanced registration is encouraged as seating is limited. Registration for guests is $99 per participant and includes handout materials and lunch. There is no charge for Samford faculty, staff and students who wish to attend all or part of the conference. If you would like to attend the entire conference, including the luncheon, please e-mail lbbatema@samford.edu to register. For additional information about the conference and to view the agenda, visit www.samford.edu/heal.

Faculty Honored for Years of Service

IVMSON E-NEWSLETTER February 2011

Six members of the IVMSON faculty and staff were recently honored for their years of service to the university. IVMSON is proud of these individuals’ commitment to fulfilling the mission of IVMSON and Samford University.

Dr. Sharron Schlosser

Dr. Sharron Schlosser is a

professor of nursing in the

IVMSON and coordinator of

the Nurse Educator Track in

the M.S.N. program. She

was one of the first three

nurses in Alabama to

achieve the certified nurse

educator designation from

the National League for

Nursing. Schlosser provided

leadership in the develop-

ment of both the M.S.N. and D.N.P. programs in the

school. Schlosser has been vital in innovations in IVMSON

including online delivery of instruction, problem-based

learning, portfolio development and an innovative cur-

riculum for R.N. to M.S.N. students.

Schlosser serves as a champion for nursing education

through her influence as an officer for a variety of profes-

sional organizations. She strives to ensure excellence

among nursing programs across the country.

Schlosser frequently serves as a mentor to faculty and

students. Regardless of where she serves her profession,

her hard-working, forward thinking expertise always dis-

tinguishes her as a leader.

Faculty Spotlight—Celebrating 35 Years at IVMSON

Page 7

Dr. Joy Whatley

Dr. Joy Whatley is associ-

ate dean of the Under-

graduate Program and

professor of nursing in

the IVMSON. Throughout

her years of service to the

school, she has displayed

a calm leadership that

has been instrumental in

the development of a

strong undergraduate

program that produces nurses who are highly sought after

in the health-care arena. For graduates of the IVMSON

undergraduate program, obtaining a 100 percent pass

rate on the NCLEX-RN is the rule, not the exception.

Whatley’s clinical focus has been in the areas of prenatal

care, adolescent health care and adolescent pregnancy

care. She has shared her knowledge in these areas

through publications and presentations at the local, state

and national levels.

Service to the profession is part of Whatley’s professional

life. As a site visitor for the National League of Nursing she

ahs reviewed nursing programs nationally to help ensure

the continuation of strong nursing programs.

Thirty Five Years Twenty Years Five Years

Dr. Sharron Schlosser Jan Paine Dr. Jill Cunningham

Dr. Joy Whatley Dr. Wendy Kendrick

Vicki Rochester

Dates To Remember

If you have any student, fac-ulty, or alumni awards, presen-tations, conferences, scholar-

ships, photographs or any other announcements, etc.

that you would like posted in the next edition of The Pulse,

please send them to kstripli@samford.edu or call 205-726-2265

...to all who participated in providing information for this newsletter.

“Caring is the shining thread of gold that holds together the tapestry of life.” Mrs. Ida V. Moffett

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SPECIAL THANKS

Share Your News!

February 25: IVMSON Ad-visory Board Meeting March 4: SUANS Meeting March 14-18: Spring Break March 26: Rumpshaker 5k April 1: SUANS Meeting April 8: HEAL Conference May 6: SUANS Meeting

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Remember to Follow Us!

Katie Stripling kstripli@samford.edu 205-726-2265

800 Lakeshore Drive

Birmingham, AL 35229

Phone: 205-726-2872

http://nursing.samford.edu

Interested in supporting a particular fund or program at IVMSON? Visit

http://www.samford.edu/giving/nursing.aspx for a list of ongoing

IVMSON needs as well as links to make a gift online.

Thank you for your consideration!

Congratulations to

Ka’Trevia Kirk! Her

boyfriend proposed just

after the pinning

ceremony.

Best wishes to the

newly engaged couple!