Skip to main content

School of Nursing Newsletter - April 2011

<< Back

School of Nursing Newsletter - April 2011

April 2011
Forward to a friend
Dean's Message
Dean Eleanor Howell, PhD, RN
Collaboration with quality clinical partners is vital to achieving our teaching mission. On March 28, we had the opportunity to celebrate one such collaborative effort when the Hastings Chamber of Commerce recognized the School of Nursing, Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital (MLMH) and Hastings College for 25 years of partnership in providing excellent nursing education in Hastings, Neb. (See "Anniversary Celebration" item at right.)

The Hasting-based campus is the direct result of the vision of two nursing leaders, Dr. Sheila Ciciulla and Leota Rolls, and their exceptional collaborative skills. The partnership filled an important role in providing baccalaureate nursing education in central Nebraska. Carol Howsden Hamik, one of the first graduates of the Hastings campus program and the current manager of pediatrics at MLMH, attended the celebration.
 
The legacy of Dr. Ciciulla continues in the partnership and in the Sheila Donahue Ciciulla Endowed Scholarship, which has provided scholarships to many Creighton nursing students.
 
Congratulations also are in order to the many preceptors and clinical partners who are engaged with Creighton faculty and staff in preparing our MSN graduates. Once again, our MSN program ranked among the nation's top 100 nursing graduate programs in the country, according to the new U.S. News & World Report survey released March 23. Creighton tied for 64th place among 467 master's degree programs in nursing included in the survey.
 
There is much to celebrate as we welcome the beauty of spring and the upcoming 2011 May commencement. 

-- Eleanor Howell, PhD, RN
Dean 
Serving the less fortunate
Nursing student Tess Hiller of Tucson, Ariz., (pictured above) administers an injection at Project Homeless Connect. This annual event, held on Creighton's campus, connects individuals in the community who are homeless with various social service agencies, employment opportunities and health care services. With more than 1,000 volunteers, including more than 40 Creighton nursing students and staff, Project Homeless 2011 was a huge success.
student news
A Scholar-Athlete
When it comes to balancing the demands of nursing school and Division I athletics, sophomore center fielder Christa Ruf is not afraid to step up to the plate. Ruf recently was named a conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week.
Read More
Nursing leaders
The following students were elected to leadership positions in the Nebraska State Student Nurse Association: Sarah Farley, president (pictured); Tami LeMaster, first vice president; Megan Lane, second vice president; Colleen Jordan, community service chair.
Learn More about CUSNA
Presidential Scholars
Presidential scholars are those students who carry a grade-point average of 3.85 or above. A number of freshman nursing students received this honor after their first semester at Creighton.
Read the List of Students
Faculty Notes
honored for excellence
Lori Rubarth, Ph.D., APRN, assistant professor, received an "Excellence in Nursing 2010-Top 25 Nurses" award from the March of Dimes; served as a guest editor for Newborn and Infant Nursing Reviews (NAINR) Journal; and had an article published in the journal.
healthy living project
Congratulations to nursing faculty members Ann Laughlin, Misty Schwartz, Barb Synowieki, Megan Potthoff and Amy Yager. Their research on the Healthy Living Project was selected for presentation at the Sigma Theta Tau International Conference in Mexico.
alumni updates


on the rise
Over the past five years, there has been a 75 percent increase in the number of nurse practitioners working in the U.S. Creighton alumna Elizabeth Belmont is one such professional. (Photo courtesy of the Fremont Tribune.)
Read Her Story
School news
Patient safety day
Dr. Evelyn McKnight presented "A Case of Hepatitis C, Real World Case Applications" at the Patient Safety Day Event on March 24. The event promoted interdisciplinary work among health care professionals to provide safe, high-quality care for patients.
anniversary celebration
Dean Howell celebrates the 25th anniversary of Creighton's Hastings Campus with Dean Emeritus Sheila Ciciulla and Leota Rolls, former senior vice president of Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital. Ciciulla and Rolls were instrumental in developing the partnership between Creighton, the hospital and Hastings College.

Focus on Leadership
Nationally recognized health care consultant Cy Wakeman has been meeting with Dean Howell's leadership team since September. Wakeman's unique programs help to develop and build successful leaders and teams.

Message ID: 3f8170956571eaccabd07e44bf88c323