ELDNP Students Receive Grant Funding for Program Proposals

Mary Lynne Knighten's proposal to support smoking cessation programs will be funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Jian Zhang's Hepatitis B program will be funded funded by Gilead Science.

Congratulations to Mary Lynne and Jian!

SONHP is the Answer, #9

Which School of Nursing and Health Professions has a student who received a "2011 Heroes in Healthcare" award?

You bet -- The USF School of Nursing and Health Professions!

We are very pleased and proud that one of the 2011 "Heroes in Healthcare" for Fresno, California is DNP student and USF faculty member Debbie Zamora!

Please see heroesinhealthcare.com for the announcement.

The SON Guatemala Women's Health Project

USF Guatemala Immersion Project from carina johnson on Vimeo.

The Answer is the School of Nursing, #7

Which School of Nursing has launched the first executive-level Doctor of Nursing Practice program in the United States? That's right, the USF School of Nursing!

The ELDNP program is a dynamic and engaging 6-semester academic exploration that prepares the nurse executive for the multiple dimensions of administrative responsibilities within varied healthcare environments. Content is structured in an innovative hybrid format, integrating the best practices of classroom and computer-assisted instruction.

This program is designed specifically for current nurse executives at the division level or above with supervisory oversight of a group of essential services or functions. This degree extends and enhances the knowledge, skill and performance of these healthcare system leaders in a wide variety of clinical and administrative environments. The curriculum for executive leadership is based on the AACN Essentials for DNP, in addition to the AONE core competencies for nursing executives. The curriculum also conforms to the standards and expectations set forward by Council on Graduate Education for Administrative Nursing (CGEAN), the American Nurses Association, and the National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) Health Leadership Competency Model.

Effective executive practice requires substantial knowledge of business, finance, labor relations, strategic leadership, organizational development, and healthcare policy, and the ELDNP is an advanced-level practice degree that emphasizes application of research to clinical nursing practice at the highest administrative levels.

The second cohort of the ELDNP program will begin in January 2012. Applications will be collected in Fall 2011.

EL-DNP program starts February 2011!

Looking to enhance your leadership skills without pausing your career? Want to learn alongside other nurse executives in a challenging and innovative environment? If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to the inaugural cohort of the Executive Leadership Doctor of Nursing Practice (EL-DNP).

This dynamic six-semester doctoral program enhances the skill, knowledge, and performance of current healthcare systems leaders. The EL-DNP is an advanced-level practice degree that emphasizes application of research to clinical nursing practice at the highest administrative levels.

Our program provides hassle-free accommodations during teaching intensives. We know that our executive students lead very busy lives. So we’ve included a hotel guest room, most meals, books, and transportation from the hotel to the USF campus into the program cost. Be a part of a groundbreaking program, and apply today!

Nursing in the Jesuit Tradition

University of San Francisco (USF) freshman Tom* used to cross the street to avoid homeless people. That was before he started the school’s nursing program, which made him realize he never considered what circumstances brought them to be homeless in the first place, such as substance abuse or a mental illness.

Another freshman nursing student, Michelle, says that her nursing class opened her eyes to the plight of women in Africa and India, many of whom have little to no access to health care. Before she started the program, Michelle says, she wasn’t even aware of the issue, and now she is considering volunteering in Africa or India as part of her class work.

Both Tom and Michelle are part of an innovative new program at USF’s School of Nursing called Nursing in the Jesuit Tradition.

Read the full article...

The Answer is the School of Nursing, #6

Which group of students were diverted from their original program providing prenatal care to a disaster relief effort in Guatemala?

Could it be USF nursing students?? You bet!! Join us in congratulating our students who are being honored for their disaster relief efforts this past summer:

San Francisco County Heroes Breakfast
Join the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter and San Francisco County civic leaders in recognizing those in the community who have shown courage, dedication and character through acts of kindness and heroism. The San Francisco County Heroes Breakfast will be held on September. 23, 2010.

2010 community heroes:

Lifesaving Heroes
Paramedic Captains Bob Kuzman and Andy Zanoff, San Francisco Fire Department

Act of Courage Heroes, Individuals
Deputy Zaldy Ralleta, Deputy Robert Rood and Deputy Christopher Sheriff, San Francisco Sheriff's Department

Act of Courage Hero, Organization
USF School of Nursing Prenatal Care Program

Act of Kindness and Philanthropy Hero
Little Wishes

Public Safety Hero
Senior Deputy Fabian Brown, San Francisco Sheriff Department

Community Service Hero, Organization
Veterinary Street Outreach Services - Ilana Strubel, DVM

Animal Rescue Hero
Gabriel Johnson and Jennifer Tacy

Nursing Students Provide Disaster Assistance

A University of San Francisco School of Nursing immersion trip to San Lucas Mission in Guatemala to provide prenatal care quickly became a disaster relief effort after Tropical Storm Agatha came ashore May 29, turning roads into rivers, causing landslides, and killing dozens.

Read the full article here...

Upcoming Orientations

It's that time of year again! We are thrilled to welcome continuing students and faculty back to the foggy USF campus, and we extend a warm welcome to our new students.

New Undergraduate Student Orientation starts at move-in this weekend!

New MSN student orientation in Fresno is scheduled for August 17th at 5:30 pm.

New DNP student orientation is scheduled for August 20-21st.

New MSN student orientation in San Francisco is scheduled for August 24th at 3:00 pm.

New MSN student orientation is Santa Rosa is scheduled for August 24th at 3:00 pm.

Nursing in Belize

Project Learn Belize is excited to announce a new joint initiative with the School of Nursing at the University of San Francisco. The first phase of the SON Health Advocacy Program's participants traveled to Belize in May 2010, as part of a team to explore opportunities for ongoing collaboration between the community of Dangriga and the USF School of Nursing.

During this first trip, participants presented educational modules related to health and wellness to students, faculty, and families of Sacred Heart School in Dangriga. Outside of these presentations at the school, participants had several opportunities to engage in dialogue with health & civic leaders of the wider town community. As in all other ventures, reflective of its name, participants in programs sponsored by Project Learn Belize are exposed to, and hopefully transformed by, the realities of cultural diversity, tradition, and challenges of education, health, and governance in this developing country in the Caribbean Basin.

Contact Dr. Mary Lou De Natale for more information.

The Answer is the School of Nursing, #5

Which Bay Area nursing school is partnering with California Institute for Nursing & Healthcare to provide a program for newly licensed RNs who cannot find employment in our current economy? USF, of course.

New RNs are having a difficult time securing a job with the economic downturn. This new initiative at the USF SON gives new grads the opportunity to work as an RN to gain RN job experience. We start our first group on September 10th. RNs in the program will work as nurses with a preceptor in clinic and school settings with clinic and school nurses throughout the bay area. The RNs in the program will work
20 hours/week in the clinical agency and have 4 hours on Friday mornings at USF working on skills and simulation.

The is a processing fee of $30.00 for those who are accepted into the program. No other tuition or fees will be required. For more information about the program please visit our webpage New RN Transition Program for Professional Development.

Funding for FNP Students

Loan Repayment

Now Accepting Applications: $200 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will double the NHSC field strength this year.

• Full-Time Service: Apply by July 29
• Part-Time Service: Apply by May 25
• Help with the Application Conference Call: May 20, 2:30 to 4:30 pm ET, 1-888-889-0974, passcode 8360318

The National Health Service Corps recruits primary care medical, dental and behavioral and mental health clinicians who are dedicated to providing care to the Nation's underserved people. In return, they can reduce or eliminate their health professions student debt by providing care at a National Health Service Corps-approved site.

The Full-Time Program starts with an initial award of $50,000 for 2 years of service. The new Half-Time Pilot Project starts with an initial award of $50,000 for 4 years of service. Participants may apply to extend their service until their debt is paid.

When you join the National Health Service Corps, you become part of a network of more than 10,000 dedicated clinicians and sites caring for the most medically underserved people in the U.S.

Am I Eligible?

• U.S. citizen or national [+]
• Trained and licensed in one of the following primary care disciplines:
• Allopathic (MD) or Osteopathic (DO) Physician [+]
• Primary Care Nurse Practitioner [+]
• Certified Nurse-Midwife [+]
• Primary Care Physician Assistant [+]
• Dentist [+]
• Dental Hygienist [+]
• Health Service Psychologist [+]
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker [+]
• Psychiatric Nurse Specialist [+]
• Marriage and Family Therapist [+]
• Licensed Professional Counselor [+]
• Working or applying to work at a site that is approved by or has applied to become approved by the NHSC
• Unpaid government of commercial loans for school tuition, reasonable educational and living expenses that are not consolidated with non-educational debts

What is the Service Commitment?

NHSC loan repayors are committed to serve 2 years (full time) or 4 years (part time) at an approved site in a designated Health Professional Shortage Area.

You can apply if you are already working at an approved site or seeking employment at a site that is either approved or meets site eligibility requirements and plans to become approved by applying for Recruitment and Retention Assistance (for more information, see Communities).

Many types of health care facilities are approved NHSC sites. About half of NHSC clinicians fulfill their service commitment at federally-supported health centers. Health center clinicians can be granted medical malpractice liability protection through the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Other types of NHSC approved sites include rural health clinics, Indian Health Service clinics, public health department clinics, hospital-affiliated primary care practices, managed care networks, prisons, and U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement sites.

Loan repayors negotiate their salaries with the employing site.

Questions: CallCenter@hrsa.gov or 1-800-221-9393 (TTY: 1-877-897-9910), Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays), 9 am to 5:30 pm ET.

Health Professions Education Foundation

The Health Professions Education Foundation is pleased to announce the
next application deadline - March 24, 2010 - for its scholarships and
loan repayments. Eligible professions include allied health, vocational
and registered nurses, mental health providers, physicians and other
health professions.

Scholarships (awarded to current students) range from $4,000 to $13,000
and loan repayments (awarded to current health professionals) range from
$8,000 to $105,000. Applicants awarded a scholarship or loan repayments
are required to provide direct patient care in a medically underserved
area for a specified period of time.

For more information, please visit our website at
www.healthprofessions.ca.gov.

We also encourage you to participate in one of our upcoming Technical
Assistance Calls (TAC). During these calls, Program Officers will
review the Do¹s and Don¹ts of applying and you will also be able to
ask questions on how to complete a successful application. Program
Officers will also be available to answer all other questions regarding
these. programs and their eligibility.

The schedule for the TACs is:

All calls will be from 12:00 - 1:00 P.M.

Feb. 11 and Mar. 1
Scholarships:

**Bachelor of Science Nursing

Feb. 8 & Mar. 4
Loan Repayments
**B.S.N.


Space is limited so please RSVP early to calmazan@oshpd.ca.gov or by
calling 1-800-773-1669 or 916-326-3640.

*Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program Now Accepting Applications*

The Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting applications for the Nursing Education Loan Repayment Program, which helps alleviate the critical shortage of registered nurses. Registered nurses (who have completed training) working at least 32 hours a week at certain non-profit health care facilities may be eligible to have some of their qualifying student loans repaid in exchange for service. The deadline is 5:30 PM ET, March 4, 2010. More information, as well as the application instructions, are available at http://www.hrsa.gov/loanscholarships/repayment/nursing/

USF CNL Students Chat with Mary Wakefield of HRSA

Clay Hooper, RN, MSN(c), CNL(c), University of San Francisco, School of Nursing
Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, HRSA Administrator, U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services
Lilly Fung, RN, MSN(c), CNL(c), University of San Francisco, School of Nursing
January 23, 2010 at the San Diego, CA, CNL 2010 Summit

The University of San Francisco had a very strong presence at the National Clinical Nurse Leader Summit in San Diego last week, with close to 20 CNL faculty and students in attendance at the conference.

Students Clay Hooper and Lilly Fung had a chance to meet Mary Wakefield after her keynote address at the Summit.

According to the HRSA website, Mary Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N., was named administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) by President Barack Obama on February 20, 2009. HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

HRSA works to fill in the health care gaps for people who live outside the economic and medical mainstream. The agency uses its $7 billion annual budget (FY 2008) to expand access to quality health care in partnership with health care providers and health professions training programs.

Congratulations Graduates!

Today the School of Nursing confers 47 Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, 44 Master of Science in Nursing degrees, and 4 Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.

We are very proud of our graduates, and we are full of confidence that they will promote quality, equity, and compassion in healthcare, and will serve as moral compasses for Bay Area, California, and national health professions!

Fall Fest 2009

The Inaugural Decade Reunion for School of Nursing Alumni:

In addition to soccer, volleyball, and basketball games, campus tours, a 5K fun run/walk, and much, much, more for alumni, families, and friends, the committee is planning events for the School of Nursing Classes of 1960–1969, as part of Fall Fest 2009.

Friday, November 6th
5:30-7:30 pm Reception for Alumni and Guests
Gather in Kalmanowitz (formerly Campion) Hall for no-host cocktails and hors d’oeuvres…mingle with alumni, faculty, and staff…then plan an evening in San Francisco if you like.
Cost: $20 per person

Saturday, November 7th
10:00 am Mass
Followed by brunch for all SON alumni of the ’60s
Cost: $40 per person


2:00 – 3:30 pm: Miniversities followed by a dessert/meet-the-deans gathering in Fromm Hall

Gather to meet the deans and faculty of your school/college. Have a mini lesson on current hot topics and enjoy some refreshments.
School of Nursing: The deans and faculty plan to feature two Clinical Simulation sessions at the labs.
Arts & Sciences: Jeffrey Paris, Philosophy and Chris Thompson, Exercise and Sport Science will highlight new and exciting facts.
Business and Professional Studies: Moira A.Gunn on speaks on biotech; Rich Puntillo and Dan Blakely on the credit crisis.
No charge for this event, RSVP requested.

School of Nursing 1960’s Reunion Committee
Mary Anne Bailey Anderson ’66
Deci Deck Dugan ’66
JoAnne de la Torre Cahill ’66
Georgeanne Feroah Hulbert ’67
Linda Hodgskiss Loftesness ’69
Joanne B. Martin ‘66
Kathe McDonnell Farrell ’62
Janet Nemechek Saalfeld ‘65
Marcie Noltner Leach ’65
Maureen O’Hara ‘72
Terry O’Keeffe Kelly ’67
Veronica Pack Feehan ‘69
Lisa Sabatini ‘83

This Week in the Skills Lab....

This week in the SON Skills Lab, Sophomore 2s have just completed the Risk and Harm Reduction Clinical Simulation. They currently are practicing injections and Foleys.

Junior 1 students have just taken their first mid-term skills evaluation. All students had to perform skills in the lab as part of their midterm grade for their course on Principles and Methods of Practice.

Junior 2 students are busy taking care of 3 patients in simulation, practicing medication and central lines.

All in all, over 200 students completed check-offs this week.

Bay Area CNL Program Graduates Reach 100-mark

This month, The USF School of Nursing will graduate 19 more Clinical Nurse Leaders into the Bay Area Nursing workforce, bringing the number of local Clinical Nurse Leaders to 118!

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) is a new role developed in response to the Institute of Medicine's 2000 Report, "To Err is Human." The CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. This clinician puts evidence-based practice into action to ensure that patients benefit from the latest innovations in care delivery. The CNL collects and evaluates patient outcomes, assesses cohort risk, and has the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. This clinician functions as part of an interdisciplinary team by communicating, planning, and implementing care directly with other health care professionals, including physicians, pharmacists, social workers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners.

Record Year for Nursing Applications

Applications to USF's Graduate School of Nursing are up 56% this year over last year, while undergraduate admissions is showing almost a 10% increase.

Although job markets have softened this past year, the nursing shortage remains critical over the long term. Our applicant pools grow stronger each year as more and more students express an interest in the advancement of nursing education, a development which reflects the increasing complexity of the healthcare system.

Master's-prepared nurses can be key players in the shift toward evidence-based practice which is characteristic of the Magnet Journey, or preparation toward seeking Magnet status awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to hospitals that demonstrate excellence in nursing services and patient outcomes.

USF students are prepared from day one to skilled and sophisticated consumers of research, and are encouraged by our faculty to explore concrete ways to implement findings in their daily practice.