May 2007 Volume 9, Issue 2
Monmouth University
Marjorie k. Unterberg
School Of Nursing and Health studies
N o t e s o n N u r s i n g
“Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.”
Dale Carnegie
From the Dean’s Desk
-Marilyn M. Lauria, R.N., Ed.D.
Another academic year comes to a
close. Graduation was held on May 16,
and the predicted storms held off long
enough for the graduates and their
families to enjoy the entire ceremony
before the rains came. We had
thirty-seven MSN and thirteen BSN students
earn degrees. On behalf of the entire
School of Nursing and Health Studies,
I extend congratulations to the
graduates!
At this time it is usual to reflect on the
past year and review the plans for the
coming year. We have achieved many
milestones and met several long term
goals during the past academic year.
The School of Nursing received a two
million dollar donation from the Hess
Foundation to endow a Chair in
Nursing Education to meet the special
needs of adults and senior citizens in a
variety of settings.
The Health Studies program will
officially begin in the Fall. We have had
a greater response than expected, with
many students coming forward to
declare a major or add a second major
in Health Studies. There has also been
interest in this degree from students
with an associate’s degree in allied
health specialty areas such as
laboratory technician, X-ray technician
and respiratory therapy. The
undergraduate Gerontology Certificate
is in place and is an option for any
student who would like to study this
field from a multi-disciplinary
approach.
The School also became more involved
in community outreach; we have held
numerous successful continuing
education programs for healthcare
providers and for the first time two of
them were also open to the public. We
also supported the Healthcare
Education Action League (HEAL). This
organization sponsored a major expo
for students in middle and high school
who are interested in learning about
health related professions. We are
planning our third nurse camp and at
least 35 of the students who attended
the first two camps will return to the
campus for a two day alumni “mini
camp” in July.
I extend congratulations to Professor
Jim Konopack who successfully
defended his dissertation for his
doctoral degree from the University of
Illinois and to Professor Sue Polito who
completed a post master’s certificate
in Gerontology from the University of
Virginia.
Congratulations to the Marjorie K. Unterberg
School of Nursing and Health Studies
Graduates 2007
School Nursing Certificate
Debra Ann Eckel
Stacy Esposito
Gail J. Hall
Barbara Protasenia
Stacy Fretta
Joal Nisler
Antonina Shriver
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Janet M. Appel
Catherine M. Menck Leslie A. Shephard
Michele D. Demeo Christine M. Mizrahi
Jacqueline Dwyer
Dawn M. Oliver
Pamela J. Egnatovich Ann Margaret Painter
Kimberly Anne Franzo Rebecca A. Pepe
Donna L. Hawley
Dawn M. Peterson
Master of Science in Nursing
Kim H. Annasenz
Sharon M. Fallon
Anne-Marie Mercadante
Louise A. Balligan
Stephanie P. Giles
Nancy L. Merwede
Geraldine Barber
Colleen M. Goeller
Lisa Morrell
Jennifer L. Bayles
Bernadette Guerriero
Joal Nisler
Rachel E. Behrendt Marissa S. Guzman
Nancy A. Noaz
Mary E. Blackborow Gail J. Hall
Margaret T. Querec
Cheryl Bontales
Deborah A. Jacoby Lita
Abrazaldo-Richards
Kathryn A. Brady
Bridget K. Koch
Noreen M. Schifano
Katherine L. Britton Cassandra P. Leahy
Kathleen M. Sullivan
Michele E. Casey
Diane D. Lynch
Patricia M. Taylor
Kathleen S. DeMarsico Patricia A. Marcelle Pamela W. Weis
Catherine A. Dillon Laura H. McKenna
Roselyn Young
Post Graduate Certificates
Paula O’Shea
Donna Maitland
Epifania P. DelaCueva
G r a d u at i o n 2 0 0 7
Monmouth University
The Marjorie K. Unterberg
School of Nursing and
Health Studies
PNC Arts Center
May 16
thLambda Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
The following Students and Community Leaders were inducted into The
International Honor Society of Nursing on May 9, 2007.
Undergraduate
Doreen Clark Rex David Gido Sharron Griffith Susan Karl Graduate Deborah Bisogna Eileen Eccleston Beverly Gerberich Stephanie Giles Laura Hess-Sacks Deborah Jacoby Anne Marie Manfredi Brenda Mergenthaler Bernard Nosanchuk Jasmine Osol Donna Pleus Jaime Rohrbach Kay Scala Angela Suvarna Patricia Taylor Susan Tellone Nancy Wagner Jauri Wheelock Erika Whetzel Barbara Wyczesany Nurse Leader Patricia Zweier
Dr. Cira Fraser, Associate Professor - Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies received the Hannelore Sweetwood Mentorship Award at the Sigma Theta Tau Induction.
The 17th Annual Nursing Research Day of the Lambda Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
International was held on April 27, in Bey Hall, at Monmouth University. Twenty-six posters were presented this year.
First Place: Marissa Guzman, Kay Scala and Barbara Wyczesany – “The Experience of Transition for an Individual with Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patient Receiving Chemotherapy.”
Second Place: Margaret Querec, Patricia Taylor and Pamela Weiss – “The Experience of Chronic Sorrow in the Mother of an Autistic Child.”
Third Place: Maureen Bowe – “The Experience of Hope-Fostering Intervention in Individuals with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Requiring Hemodialysis."
Student Awards
Janet Appel (BSN ‘07) - Received the Nursing Scholarship Award from the Marjorie K.
Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Louise Balligan (MSN ‘07) – Received the Nursing Leadership Award from the Marjorie K.
Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Rachel Behrendt (MSN ‘07) - Received the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Data-Base
Recognition Award.
Kathy Brady (MSN ‘07) – Received the Nursing Leadership Award from the Marjorie K.
Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Kathy DeMarsico (MSN ’07) - Received the Nursing Scholarship Award from the
Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Cassandra Leahy (MSN ‘07) - Received the Nursing Scholarship Award from the Marjorie K.
Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Ann Margaret Painter (BSN ‘07) – Received the Nursing Leadership Award from the
Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Noreen Schifano(MSN ‘07) - Received the Nursing Scholarship Award from the
Marjorie K. Unterberg School of Nursing and Health Studies.
Notable – Students and Alumni
Eileen Allen (MSN ‘04) – was elected treasurer of the International Association of Forensic
Nurses, was recently appointed to the board of the Regional Perinatal Consortium of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and is currently working as an adjunct faculty member at Monmouth University, teaching Forensic Pathology.
Rachel Behrendt (MSN ‘06) - Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist at Robert Wood Johnson
University Hospital provided a presentation titled “Deciphering Health Information:
Understanding Cancer Screening Recommendations for Men and Women” at the meeting of Sigma Theta Tau International March 2007.
Rachel Behrendt (MSN ‘06) Heather DellaCroce (current student) and Lisa Falcon (MSN
‘06) – gave a podium presentation at the 17th Annual Research Day at Monmouth University
on “Critical Care and Oncology Nurses’ Coping Styles and Attitudes Toward Death”.
Arthur Braxton (BSN ‘96) – has been recognized as US Air Force Preoperative Nurse of the
Year and has achieved the rank of Captain in the USAF – 96th Surgical Operations Squadron. He was assigned to the Kirkuk Regional Air Base in Northern Iraq where he provided
preoperative and frontline emergency surgical treatment. You can read more about his nursing career in the spring issue of the Monmouth University Magazine.
Heather DellaCroce (current student) – had an article titled "Aortic Dissection" published in
RN magazine, March 2007.
Christene DeWitt-Parker (current student) - received a grant from the Brielle Education
Lisa Haug, Christine Dewitt-Parker, Susan Tellone, Betty Ann Nixon and Barbara
Shrumback – current MSN Studentsin theSchool Nursing track received scholarships from
the Monmouth County School Nurses Association.
Joanne McGurl (BSN ‘03 & MSN ‘06) co-authored with Dr. Cira Fraser – the results of their
research study “Psychometric Testing of the Americanized Guy’s Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS) published in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience Nursing.
Karen Pleva (BSN ‘01 & MSN ‘04) – has relocated to North Carolina and is the Assistant Vice
President of Patient Care Services for the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, in Wilmington.
Noteworthy Accomplishments - Faculty
Cira Fraser, PhD and Sue Polito, APN-C – had an article published in the Journal of
Neuroscience Nursing titled “A Comparative Study of Self-Efficacy in Men and Women with Multiple Sclerosis” in April 2007.
Laura Jannone, EdD – gave a poster presentation on the “Process of Smoking Cessation in
Adolescents Attending Quit 2 Win, A Teen Smoking Cessation Program”at the 44th annual Isabel Stewart Conference, Teachers College, Columbia University.
Laura Kelly, EdD - has received a grant for her study, “Sexual Intimacy and Relationship
Negotiation between Lesbians during the Menopausal Transition” from the Dibble-DeJoseph LHRC Awards committee, UCSF Institute for Health and Aging.
Jim Konopack, Ph.D – has successfully defended his dissertation for his doctoral degree from
the University of Illinois, May 2007.
Janet Mahoney, Ph.D - gave a poster presentation entitled, “Nursing and Social Work
Student Attitudes toward Older People of African American and Hispanic Ethnicities” at the 8th Annual Evidence-Based Practice Conference – Translating Research into Best Practice with Vulnerable Populations, February 2007, in Phoenix, Az.
Sue Polito, MSN, APN-C – received a post masters certificate as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
from the University of Virginia in May 2007.
Patricia Reineke, MS, RN, CSN – received the Erline Perkins McGriff Award College of
Nursing, New York University; Research Award, Lambda Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International; and the Research Award, Upsilon Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau.
Mary Ann Troiano, RN, MSN, FNP and Bojana Beric, Ph.D. - received a Research Award
Take Note
June 5 NJ Immunization Training Workshop - for school nurses to be held at McAllan Hall, Monmouth University. Contact Laura Jannone for more information at 732-263-5457.
June 14 NJSNA Region 6 Annual Dinner - 6-10 pm at the Quality Inn, Toms River. Buffet Dinner and Fashion Show. For information contact Sharon Stark at 732-583-3462.
June 25-July 3 Nurse Camp - For students in middle school interested in nursing to be held on campus at Monmouth University.
July 11 & 12 Alumni camp – For participants of the nurse camp from 2005 & 2006.
September 4 Classes begin – Fall semester
Continuing Education Programs – Summer 2007
June 11-15 - Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Program, McAllan Hall, room 328, fee $650.00. 42.7 contact hours will be awarded.
June 25 - Substitute School Nurse Workshop, McAllan Hall, room 328, 11:30am–4:00pm, fee $65.00. 4 contact hours will be awarded.
August 21 - Writing Workshop - Research Papers, McAllan Hall, room 226, 3:00-6:00pm, fee $40.00/$35.00 for MU students.
Preview of Fall Programs - We have the following programs planned and more will be added. Look for the Fall brochure in mid-August. Tips for Testifying, The Pharmacology of Drug Induced Disease, Pediatric Physical Assessment, Pediatric SANE, Advanced
PowerPoint, Public Speaking for Health Professions, Providing Culturally Competent Care/Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Clients and The Aging Population (SANE will be offered in January 2008.)
Continuing Education Registration - There are limited seats available for the summer programs. If you would like more information, or would like to attend, please contact the School of Nursing.
Monmouth University, School of Nursing and Health Studies Attention: Barbara Paskewich, Special Projects Coordinator West Long Branch, NJ 07764 Phone: (732) 571-3443
The Marjorie K. Unterberg
School of Nursing and Health Studies Newsletter – Summer 2007
Look Inside:
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Dates to remember
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Student and alumni news
•
Continuing education
•
2007 Graduates!
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