Envision Nursing Regional Update
Please visit the Envision Nursing Web site to follow our progress around the nation as we continue to engage alumni, parents, and friends in a conversation about the future of the School of Nursing. The feedback and comments we have received remains extremely valuable. Future dates and locations:
November 6, 2003 - Chicago, IL
November 8, 2003 - Atlanta, GA
February 28, 2004 - Fort Worth, TX
Please remember - this list-serve is also meant to be a two-way conversation. There are now more than 140 subscribers, all who are interested in the future of the school. if you'd like to post a message to the entire group, e-mail envision-nursing@uvason.net.
Research in the News: The Value of a Baccalaureate Nursing Education
AACN APPLAUDS NEW STUDY THAT CONFIRMS LINK BETWEEN NURSING EDUCATION AND PATIENT MORTALITY RATES -- BACCALAUREATE-PREPARED NURSES ARE KEY TO PATIENT SAFETY, PREVENTING DEATHS
September 23, 2003 - The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) applauds a landmark new study released today which finds that surgical patients have a "substantial survival advantage" if treated in hospitals with higher proportions of nurses educated at the baccalaureate or higher degree level. In the study, Dr. Linda Aiken and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research found that patients experienced significantly lower mortality and failure to rescue rates in hospitals where more highly educated nurses are providing direct patient care.
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/NewsReleases/newslist.htm
(The original article by Dr. Linda Aiken, published in JAMA, is attached to your e-mail as a .pdf file).
Response to the news from Pam Cipriano, Chief Clinical Officer, UVA Medical Center
" As you may know, based on self-reported data by almost 1193 of our 1600 registered nurses, our percentage of nurses with baccalaureate and higher degrees in nursing is as follows:
BSN = 56%
MSN = 15%
Another 17% have bachelor degrees in other fields, and 5% have master's degrees in other fields. This bodes well for our patients."
Follow-up from the AACN
The recent study published in the September 23/30, 2003, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by Dr. Linda Aiken and her colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania has generated considerable interest within the nursing community and the national media. This article, titled "Educational Levels of Hospital Nurses and Surgical Patient Mortality," identified a clear link between higher levels of nursing education and better patient outcomes. In the interest of patient safety and improving care, the study's authors call for renewed support and incentives from nurse employers to encourage registered nurses to pursue education at the baccalaureate and higher degree levels.
Though most of the health care community understands the benefits of having a highly educated nursing workforce, some groups have challenged Dr. Aiken's research findings and have attempted to impugn the validity of this important work. AACN has asked Dr. Aiken to respond to some recent challenges, confirm her research findings, and discuss the implications of her study.
Talking points are available online at
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Media/TalkingPoints2.htm
School of Nursing Receives Significant Federal Grant, Collaboration the Key
U.VA. SCHOOL OF NURSING TO LEAD LOCAL COLLABORATION AIMED AT INCREASING, DIVERSIFYING POOL OF NURSES
Virginia is currently experiencing a 10 percent shortage in its nursing workforce, and that figure is expected to rise to 36.4 percent by 2020, threatening access to health care across the Commonwealth, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The University of Virginia has received a three-year, $651,153 federal grant to fund a collaborative, two-pronged effort aimed at deepening and diversifying the local pool of professional nurses. The funding, from the Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration, will go mostly toward increasing faculty resources at both the U.Va. School of Nursing and Piedmont Virginia Community College.
http://www.nursing.virginia.edu/dean/release.asp
UVA HAS RECEIVED A $650,000 GRANT TO HELP SOLVE A MAJOR LOCAL AND NATIONAL PROBLEM - TOO FEW NURSES
By Dave Vagnoni for Channel 29 (Aired on 10/15/03)
The University of Virginia has received a $650,000 grant to help solve a major local and national problem - too few nurses. Officials say the grant money will be used to improve facilities and faculty resources at UVA's School of Nursing. The money will also fund night nursing classes at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Dean JEANETTE LANCASTER of the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA stated, "We saw a need, we pulled all of the possible responders together and people really dropped what they were doing to write a grant that would go through a competitive review and be successful".
SCHOOL OF NURSING RECEIVES LARGE GRANT FOR RECRUITMENT (Cavalier Daily)
http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=17255&pid=1060
U.VA. SCHOOL OF NURSING TO LEAD LOCAL COLLABORATION AIMED AT INCREASING, DIVERSIFYING POOL OF NURSES
From The Charlottesville-Albemarle Tribune
Virginia is currently experiencing a 10 percent shortage in its nursing workforce, and that figure is expected to rise to 36.4 percent by 2020, threatening access to health care across the Commonwealth according to figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The University of Virginia has received a three-year $651,153 federal grant to fund a collaborative, two-pronged effort aimed at deepening and diversifying the local pool of professional nurses.
(Not online)
CCNE Accreditation Visit Successfully Completed
On October 1-3, 2003 the School of Nursing was reviewed by the CCNE and the Virginia Board of Nurses. At the completion of the visit the visitors read their report to our faculty and staff. We were in compliance with all four standards. We were praised in many areas including our committed and enthusiastic faculty, our excellent students and graduates who speak clearly of their positive experience with us, our history of listening to student concerns and making changes, and our strong and positive relationship with the Medical Center and our faculty involvement in the university. Our faculty and staff extended the CCNE and Board of Nursing teams the most cordial welcome and worked to anticipate any need. The students were eloquent in explaining the curriculum and their learning. The areas which they expressed concern over are exactly the ones we are keenly aware of -- not enough full time faculty, and insufficient space.
U.Va. Nursing Specialties Rank in Top Ten
In its 2004 ranking of America's best graduate schools, U.S. News & World Report (April 2003) ranked the University of Virginia School of Nursing master's degree program as one of three programs tied for the twenty-sixth spot in the nation, placing it in the top ten percent of nursing schools surveyed. Neither undergraduate nor doctoral nursing programs are included in the ranks.
Three specialties within the School of Nursing graduate programs were ranked in the top ten nationally: Clinical Nurse Specialist - Psychiatric/Mental Health (5th up from 8th in 2000); Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult/Medical-Surgical (6th up from 10th in 2000); and Nurse Practitioner - Pediatric (9th ).
Master's programs in nursing are ranked every three years by the magazine. For schools of nursing, rankings consist of "reputation scores" submitted by nursing deans, and do not rely on any quantitative data. The University of Virginia School of Nursing's reputation score has gone up every year, from 2.8 in 1995 to an all-time high of 3.8 today (on a 5-point scale). This reputation score has gone up, despite the fact that the nursing school was ranked #21 in the 2000 survey.
When compared only to public institutions, U.Va.'s graduate nursing program is now 18th in the nation.
Several graduate schools at U.Va. were ranked lower this year than in the past, yet still rate among the nation's best. The general consensus is that the decrease in Virginia state funds has influenced these declines. State appropriations per student to U.Va. lag considerably behind those at peer institutions, such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Maryland at College Park, and the University of Michigan.
" We remain persistent in our efforts to maintain strong academic and research programs; to raise private funds; and to increase our visibility so others will appreciate the high quality and caliber of our programs," commented Dean Jeanette Lancaster. "We continue to do all we can to build on a rich tradition of educating nurse leaders who influence every level of life and society. Our graduates prove we are successfully achieving that goal."
Nursing Student in the News
Duty in Iraq Gives Nurse New Sense of Mission
http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/nurse_iraq.html
Reunion Year - Save the Date
If your undergraduate degree class year ends in a '4 or '9, then save the dates of June 4-6, 2004 for your class Reunion. Visit the UVA Alumni Association Web site at http://www.alumni.virginia.edu/reunions/2004 to watch the plans unfold, and (in time) to register your attendance.
More Grant Activity
While the school was busy preparing for the CCNE visit there was much research activity. Five proposals were sent out to meet October 1 deadlines. Dr. Courtney Lyder is to be commended for sending in three proposals. Dr. Lyder was the Principal Investigator on a R01 application submitted to NIH on "Clinical Indicators of Erythema in Darkly Pigmented Skin in Elders." He was a co-investigator on two other proposals with investigators from other universities, including ones on: "Development of Diabetic Foot and Pressure Ulcer Healing Rate Databank" and "In-Home Monitoring of Selected Independent ADLs in Elders: Feasibility, Validation and Impact Assessment Study."
Dr. Arlene Keeling and Charles Fisher RN, MSN, PCSM (Department of Care Management/Clinical Care Service) submitted a proposal to the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses on "Implementation of a long-term mechanical ventilation Outcomes Manager Program data management project using a personal data assistant platform."
Dr. Rick Steeves and Dr. Beth Merwin joined Principal Investigator Richard Merkel, MD, PhD in submitting a RO1 to NIH on "A Culturally Based Study of Rural Suicide in Virginia." This study represents an interdisciplinary collaboration among psychiatry, health evaluation sciences, anthropology and nursing.
Dr. Rick Steeves and Dr. Barbara Parker have received funding for their R01 study, "The Lasting Experiences of Domestic Homicide." Their study will be funded for $766,000 by the National Institute of Nursing Research. This study will begin immediately and will extend for three years. This national study will include interviews with adults who experienced the homicide of one parent by the other parent during their childhood.
Dr. Hyekyun Rhee has been selected to receive funding for her study on "Living with Asthma: Focus Group Study of Adolescents" from the American Nurses Foundation. She will be an ANF 2003 Glaxosmithkline/ANF Scholar. She has received this prestigious award just one year out of her PhD program.
For more on the incredible faculty research activity going on just this year, read the Fall 2003 issue of the Virginia Legacy, also found on-line at http://www.nursing.virginia.edu/alumni/Virginia_Legacy.asp
University News
U.VA. TUITION COULD RISE
By The Associated Press from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Tuition at the University of Virginia could increase anywhere from 11 percent to as much as 22.5 percent for in-state undergraduates next year, depending on how much state money U.Va. gets. An increase will come despite what officials say has been remarkable growth in the school's endowment.
WARNER REVEALS PLAN FOR COLLEGES / HE WANTS TO CLOSE GAP IN FUNDING, DOUBLE SPENDING ON RESEARCH
By Michael Hardy of the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Gov. Mark R. Warner promised yesterday at least to begin plugging an estimated $700 million hole in funding for the state's system of higher education. Warner also said he would push to increase by 2010 universities' annual spending for research and development from about $600 million to $1 billion. As for boosts to research and development, Warner said Maryland and North Carolina spend two to three times as much as Virginia on the critical funding. The University of Virginia, which spent $277 million on research last fiscal year, accounts for almost half the state's annual spending.
Find your Friends at HoosOnline
HoosOnline.com is the official U.Va. online directory of all 150,000+ living alumni. This is a free service to alumni, provided by the University Alumni Association, School of Nursing Alumni Association, and the University of Virginia. Join the 29,000 alumni who have already registered to use this valuable resource, created exclusively for U.Va. graduates.
Available to all alumni, and only alumni.
- The Directory - a searchable directory of all U.Va. alumni. Real-time profile management. Includes phone numbers, addresses, and other information that you may want to share, such as U.Va. activities, affiliations, organizations, honors - even the dorm you lived in! Only that information that you choose will appear, your privacy is protected.
- E-mail Forwarding Service - this is not an e-mail account, but a permanent forwarding address that lets you show your affinity for U.Va. and keep the same user name for years to come, wherever you use or purchase your e-mail service. Your new address will be "your name"@alumni.virginia.edu.
- University Career Assistance Network (UCAN) - do you need a mentor? Would you like to be a mentor? HoosOnline will connect you with this valuable network of U.Va. alumni.
Find it on the Web at http://www.hoosonline.com
H EADLINES@UVA Service
To become a subscriber of Headlines@UVA, a daily e-mail with the latest news from UVA, go to http://www.virginia.edu/topnews/subscribe.html
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