Don’t Go! Keeping Nursing at the BedsideFeature

Don’t Go! Keeping Nursing at the Bedside

The news of a nursing workforce shortage is everywhere, but reality is complicated. Keeping nurses at the bedside in communities where they’re needed is crucial—and knowing how and why the problems exist (and can be fixed) is just as important.

DNP Project Showcase

Promising Approaches

Influencing health care and health care workplaces through leadership, policy implementation, and patient care takes incredible skill and thoughtfulness. Penn Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program is an example of how to do it right.

Sidebar: A Look Inside Penn Nursing DNP Programs

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Can a $50 donation really make an impact?

Penn Nursing’s Annual Fund changes lives and helps develop the next generation of bold nurse leaders. The Fund provides additional financial aid, faculty resources, student experiences, and lifelong learning opportunities for students and alumni. But can a $50 donation really make an impact?

  1. Lucy, due to earn her DNP in Executive Leadership from Penn Nursing in May, receives an email, asking her to consider a gift to the Penn Nursing Annual Fund. 
  2. When Lucy interned with a nursing expert in New York City last year, taking the train back and forth was a financial hardship.
  3. Lucy’s gift arrives at Penn Nursing Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Her $50 is added to the Annual Fund, along with several other donations that arrive that day.
  4. Penn Nursing’s Business Office allocates funds, including Lucy’s donation, to the simulation lab in the Helene Fuld for Innovative Learning and Simulation.
  5. The Pavilion Director prioritizes funding from the Annual Fund to enhance realism in simulated clinical scenarios by hiring content experts to act in the role of patients.
  6. The Director hires Gina to act as a patient; Gina is a clinical provider with 20 years of experience providing care to intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors.
  7. ABSN student Christopher is scheduled for a simulation session where Gina plays the role of a pregnant woman who arrives at the emergency department (ED). During the scenario he practices therapeutic communications that reveal the patient was pushed down the stairs by their partner.
  8. During Christopher’s clinical rotation in the ED a few days later, a woman comes in with a black eye and bleeding. Christopher had the confidence and tools to care for this challenging clinical scenario and was able to implement a safety plan for his patient.

Class Notes

  • Joan Segal Trachtenberg, Nu’65 GNu’81 and Jill Sheridan Slattery, Nu’65

    Joan, writes, “Recently, my dear classmate Jill, and I got together to celebrate our longtime ‘Penn pal’ friendship and her 80th birthday.”

  • Laura Lucia Hayman, HUP’68, Nu’70, GNu’75, GR’82

Laura, was honored by Nurses With Global Impact, Inc. at a ceremony commemorating International Nurses Day at the United Nations on May 12, 2023. Nurses With Global Impact recognizes and honors nurses in front line roles who demonstrate exemplary practice by impacting the global delivery of health care, celebrating their work, and supporting their programs. Dr. Hayman is a full professor in the Manning College of Nursing & Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Boston and an Adjunct Professor of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, at the University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine in Worcester, Massachusetts.Abi Schnapf, GNu’11

  • Paula Resnick Colb, Nu’70

    Paula, is a volunteer docent in archeology and judaica at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. She says, “I’ve been there now for 22 years and love it.”

  • Barbara Sheer, Nu’71

Barbara received the Fellow of American Association of Nurse Practitioners (FAANP) Legacy Award for a lifelong career that has had a profound and enduring impact on the profession and the Nurse Practitioner role. Dr. Sheer is professor emeritus at the University of Delaware and continues to be involved with the International Council of Nursing (ICN) Advanced Practice Network and the history committee of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

  • Lillee S. Gelinas, GNu’79

Lillee serves as the Editor-in-Chief of American Nurse Journal. Dr. Gelinas has over 30 years of experience as a nursing and health care executive. She currently holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor and Patient Safety Section Director at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she designed, developed, and implemented the only Patient Safety Course in the United States being taught to medical students and university faculty resulting in certification as a Patient Safety Professional.

  • Kathleen Brewer-Smyth, GNu’85, GR’01

    Kathleen who serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Delaware, authored a book titled Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Neuroscience of Trauma, Resilience and Healing throughout the Life Course, published by Springer Nature 2022.

  • Michelle Larkin, Nu’90

Michelle serves as the Vice President of Program Management at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. With more than 27 years as a leader in health policy and practice and as an attorney committed to using law and policy to improve health, she provides leadership to the executive vice president, senior management team, and staff on strategy and all program, policy, communications, research, evaluation, and learning activities. In this role, she helps shape the Foundation’s vision to build a Culture of Health in America, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity for health and well-being.

  • Linda Stolte Steinkrauss, Nu’92, GNu’97

Linda is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Endocrinology at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. She is also the President of the Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society and volunteers at Innocence Project Delaware.

  • Dawn Nair, GNu’94

Dawn is a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner at Yale University Hospital

  • Allison Squires, Nu’95

Allison founded the Global Consortium of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, an international research consortium focused on research capacity building and collaboration, especially with low- and middle-income country researchers. To date, 70 countries have joined the consortium. Their current study is examining the long- term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nursing and midwifery workforce. Dr. Squires also received the outstanding mentoring award from the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues of Academy Health at their annual research meeting in June of 2023.

  • Margaret Curtis Berreth, Nu’00, GNu’01

Margaret was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Nurse Midwives at their annual meeting in May. This honor has been bestowed to only approximately seven percent of nurse midwives. Meg has worked to improve women’s health care throughout her 21- year career. She has worked at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the Department of OB/GYN for the past 14 years, during which she established the Centering Pregnancy program.

  • Cypress LaSalle, GNu’00

Cypress is a Senior Nurse Practitioner at University Health KC.

  • Benjamin Katz, Nu’02, W’02

Benjamin serves as Chief Executive Officer at Happy Head, the online leader in prescription hair loss medicine. Ben shared that Happy Head is his first return to health care since his time at Penn, and he uses his nursing education and experience in his everyday work.

  • Angela Amar, GR’03

Angela was named the new dean of NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing. She began her new role on August 1, 2023. Dean Amar joins NYU from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) School of Nursing, where she had been dean and a tenured professor since 2018. Prior to her tenure as dean of the UNLV School of Nursing, Dean Amar joined the faculty of Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in 2012, where she served as an assistant and then associate dean between 2013 and 2017. She developed forensic nursing programs for Emory, Boston College, and Georgetown, establishing an educational model on forensic nursing for nursing schools nationwide. Dean Amar’s scholarship on sexual and partner violence focuses on improving care and support for survivors of violence and trauma when they enter the health care system.

  • Bridgette Brawner Rice, GNu’05, GR’09

Bridgette, has been named Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at Villanova University M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. Dr. Rice is also the Richard and Marianne Kreider Endowed Professor in Nursing for Vulnerable Populations at the College of Nursing.

  • Sandra Rodgers, GNu’05

Sandra is a Nurse Practitioner at Nemours Children’s Health.

  • Jessica Savage Jones, Nu’08

Jessica is the CEO & Founder of the non-profit Stand Up 2 Breast Cancer, Inc. The mission of the organization is to provide education regarding breast cancer and awareness about clinical trials for women with breast cancer who lack access and resources. In her current role, she works with individuals who are in various stages of their cancer diagnosis, from those who are newly diagnosed to those with metastatic breast cancer.

  • Samantha Wood, Nu’08, GNu’12

Samantha is a Nurse Practitioner at Jefferson Health.

  • Mary Daley, GNu’10

Mary is the Chief Director and Compliance Officer at Envision.

  • Amelia Cataldo, Nu’11, GNu’15, GRN’22

Amelia presented her work “Development of an Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center” at the 2023 American Association of Nurse Practitioners in New Orleans. Amelia (right) is pictured with her colleague Sincere McMillian.

  • Jenna Rae Perkins, Nu’11, GNu’14

Jenna founded DiscovHER Health, which opened its doors in Old Town Alexandria in February 2022. She is aboard-certified Women’s Health and Gender- Related Nurse Practitioner specializing in complex urology, urogynecology, sexual health, and pelvic floor disorders, with almost 15 years of experience. For more information on Perkins’ practice.

  • Saumya Ayyagari, Nu’13, GNu’18, GR’18

Saumya is a Nursing Workforce Development Manager at National Nurse Led Care Consortion.

  • Grace Eckels, Nu’18, GNu’22

Grace recently began a new job as a Neurology Nurse Practitioner at Lenox Hill Hospital after graduating with her Family Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Pennsylvania in December 2022.

  • Christina Hartwell, GNu’19

Christina serves as a Clinical Director at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Systems.

  • Yamslee Vega, GNu’19, GNu’21

Yamslee is a Trauma Nurse Practitioner at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

  • Patricia Abiog, Nu’20

Patricia is a Registered Nurse at Baylor Scott & White Health.

  • Kallie Brown, GNu’20, Nu’20

Kaillie is a Registered Nurse Emergency Department at University Health KC.

  • Alyssa Loftus, GNu’20

Alyssa is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Delaware Behavioral Health.

  • Angela McNulty, GNu’20

Angela is a Nurse Practitioner at Christiana Care Health Services.

  • Tatjana Muwwakkil, GNu’20

Tatjana is a Midwife at Los AngelesCounty+USCMedical Center.

  • Kim Wanner, GNu’20

Kim is a Nurse Practitioner at Christiana Care Health Services.

  • Charvette Shumaker-Kirk, GNu’21

Charvette is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at City of Hope Medical Center.

  • Alyssa Aboff, GRN’22

Alyssa is a DNP-Anesthesia at Temple University Health System.

  • Natalie Olender, Nu’22

Natalie is a Registered Nurse at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

  • Nia Akins, Nu’20

Nia finished sixth in the 800-meter distance race at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, her first global championship. She ran a personal- best of 1:47:73 and finished under two seconds behind the winner.

Featured Alumni Story

 

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In Memoriam

  • Vivian Piasecki on July 10, 2023

Vivian was a devoted member of Penn Nursing’s Board of Advisors for over 20 years and helped raise it to prominence through her leadership as Chair from 1991 to 1999. She also co-Chaired Penn Nursing’s Dean’s Council, served on the Penn Nursing Campaign Committee, and led Friends of Penn Nursing in its efforts to raise scholarship funds for future nurses. In gratitude for her many years of service and advocacy, Penn Nursing gave Vivian its Honorary Alumni Award in 1999. The Vivian Weyerhaeuser Piasecki Room at Claire M. Fagin Hall was dedicated in her name in 2019, connecting current students to her rich support of Penn Nursing. Even beyond her dedication to Penn Nursing, she was a committed health care advocate. She served on several Penn Medicine boards, including as a longtime Trustee of the Health System and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Institute on Aging. Vivian’s support of Penn Medicine and Penn Nursing led to her commitment to a wide range of priorities and projects, including providing support for Penn Medicine, but also for faculty support, lectures, and research. Vivian was predeceased by her husband—Frank Piasecki, ME’40—in 2008; Frank was a Penn alumnus, helicopter industry pioneer, and National Medal of Technology winner. Vivian and Frank’s philanthropy touched every corner of Penn Nursing, from annual giving and the Dean’s Fund to capital improvements and facility renovations. Their generosity helped create endowed professorships as well as academic scholarships for students at Penn Nursing.

  • Esther Colliflower, HUP’46, on February 22, 2022

  • Betty Jane Haddock Weikel, HUP’46, on March 23, 2021

Betty was in nurses’ training during WWII and was in the Nurse Cadet program. She was honored to be a nursing student at the “U of P” (University of Pennsylvania). She valued the excellent education she received there and cherished the many lifelong friendships made with her fellow nursing students. Among her keepsakes were her HUP pin and nurse’s cap. Betty was an experienced operating room nurse throughout her career.

  • Dorothy Turner, HUP’48, on April 22, 2023

  • Dolores Akin, HUP’50, on February 14, 2023

  • Virginia Peterson, HUP’52, on January 5, 2023

  • Alma Peterson, HUP’53, Nu’59, on June 4, 2022

Alma attended the School of Nursing at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania—where she was known by all as “Sparky”— receiving her RN in 1953 and her BSN in 1959. While a nursing student, she met and fell in love with Penn medical student David M. Peterson; they would marry in 1959.

  • Elsa Spiegel, HUP’54, Nu’54, on February 18, 2023

  • Marie Heinz, HUP’55, on February 9, 2023

  • Joann Majetich, HUP’55, on May 7, 2023

  • Dorothy Swope, Nu’55, on February 5, 2022

Dorothy graduated with her BS in Nursing from Penn in 1955. She worked in various nursing roles with Lancaster School District. Within that period, she earned a M.Ed. from Millersville University in 1971 and made many friends working as a counselor and while teaching ESL at the IU13 Adult Enrichment Center. A life-long learner, she was taking PhD classes at Temple University in her fifties.

  • Glora Diehl Farbstein, Nu’56, on May 11, 2023

Gloria was the first person in her family to graduate from high school; she attended a one-room schoolhouse. Her older brothers, Charles and George nicknamed her “Nursie” because she was fervently protective of her younger brother Alvin. Gloria lived up to her nickname, earning her BSN from the University of Pennsylvania in 1956. Following her graduation she dedicated her career to children, serving as a Public Health Nurse at various schools throughout Fairfax County. After 25 years in public health, Gloria retired at the age of 70, devoting herself full-time to gardening, baking, and travel.

  • Alice Thomas, HUP’56, on February 24, 2023

  • Jean Monka, HUP’57, on February 26, 2023

  • Elaine Kemmerer, HUP’57, on March 15, 2023

  • Ann Bliss, Nu’60, on December 7, 2022

Ann was instrumental in the formation and early success of the Yale Physician Associate Program. She earned her BS from the University of Pennsylvania in 1960. She worked as a medical writer for McNeil International Pharmaceuticals from 1960 to 1961, received a master’s in social work from Bryn Mawr College in 1963, and served as a Professor of Mental Health Nursing while at SUNY Buffalo and at Niagara University, 1963-1970. In 1970 she joined the faculty at the Yale School of Medicine, at the inception of the PA Program. Ann served on the Yale faculty from 1970 to 1996, teaching behavioral medicine and psychopathology for 25 years, fostering students’ development and providing mentorship and support that many alumni recall with fondness.

  • D’Etta Tracy, Nu’61, on April 1, 2023

  • Winnifred Gillette, Nu’61, on April 19, 2023

  • Gail Zapp, HUP’64, on April 1, 2023

  • Laura Griffin, Nu’69, on March 29, 2023

  • Kathryn Matthews, GNu’76, on April 17, 2023

In high school Kathryn aspired to become a medical missionary and volunteered as a “candy striper,” providing care to residents of the county nursing home. Her work there and the guidance of a school nurse inspired Kathy to pursue a career in nursing. With a Navy Nurse Corps scholarship, Kathy earned a BSN from Keuka College in 1968 and served in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps until 1973. After completing her military service, she completed the Family Nurse Practitioner master’s program at the University of Pennsylvania.

  • Rosalie Mirenda, GNu’79, on May 13, 2023

  • Mary Moore, GNu’79, GRN’87, on January 4, 2023

  • Jeanne Gelman, GNu’80, on January 12, 2023

  • Mary Folkerth, GNu’82, on March 22, 2023

After high school Mary earned a BSN from Villanova University and then graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with her master’s degree. She had a love for nursing and a love for teaching and spent much of her career in higher education. She began her teaching career at Temple University and accepted a position as an Associate Professor of Nursing at Indiana University East, where she spent nearly 30 years inspiring and equipping the next generation of nurses with the skills, compassion, and competency to take care of their patients.

  • Dennis Farrell, GNu’88, on March 22, 2023

  • Nicole Price, Nu’02, on February 26, 2023

Nicole was an exceptional student at Philadelphia High School for Girls and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Pennsylvania in 2002. Nicole worked at first at the University of California Los Angeles Mattel Children’s Hospital. She returned to Philadelphia after she met Fisher, became a nurse and then nurse manager at CHOP, and served most recently in the hospital’s pulmonary unit. Caring for her patients seemed more like a calling than a job for Nicole. Creative, friendly, and talkative once she got to know you, she focused on people’s emotional health as well as the medicine they took. She sought young people in distress, especially those like her who struggled with sickle cell anemia, and showed them how to plan for a fulfilling future.