2016 spring nursing lantern final

AUSON

LANTERN SPRING 2016

Nursing Exceeds $13.6M Campaign Goal With gifts and commitments totaling more than $14 million as of Dec. 31, 2015, the School of Nursing has raised nearly 104 percent of its $13.6 million goal for Because This is Auburn – A Campaign for Auburn University. The university’s $1 billion comprehensive fundraising effort is its largest and most ambitious campaign to date.

While donors’ support has exceeded the school’s original fundraising goal, Shelley Grider, the school’s development officer, noted that the need for additional support remains.

“It is an exciting time for the school and we are grateful to everyone who has joined with us so far to shape and transform the future of Auburn nursing,” Grider said. “For the school to fully fund all of its campaign priorities, we continue to seek the support of the school’s alumni and friends, as well as the business and healthcare communities, so our ultimate goal of

Aubie, Auburn’s beloved mascot, was a surprise guest at a recent faculty meeting. His appearance helped celebrate the school surpassing its campaign goal. transforming student learning and preparing the nursing workforce of the future is met.”

Continuing campaign priorities include faculty support for endowed professorships and their research initiatives. In addition,

opportunities exist to underwrite construction of the school’s new building, currently under construction in Auburn’s newly developing Health Sciences Sector.

Nursing by Design: New Building for School of Nursing Designed to Maximize Educational Experience The new building for the Auburn University School of Nursing will be large enough to accommodate more students and faculty than the school currently has, and its design will offer the ideal environment for preparing students for healthcare practice now and in the future.

Miller Hall has housed the School of Nursing since Auburn began offering a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1979. The Harrison School of Pharmacy occupied part of the building as well until 2009.

As undergraduate enrollment increased year after year, the School of Nursing simply outgrew Miller Hall. Currently, it

only houses faculty and administrative offices, and skills and simulation labs.

Students must attend classes across campus, including Haley Center and Cary Hall.

“If we were to stay in this building two more years, faculty would be doubling up in offices,” said Dean Gregg Newschwander. “It’s not ideal to send our students all over campus; we don’t want our faculty strewn about either.”

A new 89,000-square-foot building – located on the southwest corner of South Donahue Drive and Lem Morrison Drive – will offer space to accommodate cohorts of up to 160 undergraduate students and 40 faculty members.

“We had to get out of thinking ‘this is how we’ve always done it.’ We had to think far beyond the near future. We’re designing a building for now and years from now.”

– Jean Dubois, Clinical Professor and Director of Outreach for Auburn University’s School of Nursing

“We had to get out of thinking ‘this is how we’ve always done it,’” said Jean Dubois, clinical professor and director of outreach for the school. “We had to think far beyond the near future. We’re designing a building for now and years from now.”

Newschwander said it was a challenge to anticipate, to even fathom, what it would be like to provide instruction to 120, 140, and 160 students, whether it be five years from now or 30.

“We won’t have 160 people in a classroom now, but someday, we will,” he said.

“Some offices have place holders because the people who fill them don’t exist yet,” added Dubois. “They may not exist for a while, but conceptually, this is where we think nursing is going at Auburn University.”

Newschwander, Dubois, Assistant Professor Caralise Hunt, Business Manager Linda Watkins, and Assistant Clinical Professor Karol Renfroe have been working with the architects, Stacy Norman Architects of Auburn and Ayers Saint Gross of Baltimore, MD, for a year now to ensure every space – classrooms, labs, offices, and areas for meetings, studying, and relaxing – would be designed to maximize the educational experience.

“Learning spaces are functional and diverse. Each space is meant to enhance learning by utilizing various teaching and learning methods,” explained Hunt.

“The new building will have two lecturestyle classrooms and one active learning classroom. The lecture halls can be used for traditional lecture, as well as collaborative learning and group work space like the active learning classroom.

“The active learning classroom is designed to allow students to engage in collaborative learning with faculty serving as a facilitator.

It will be technologically rich in order for this type of teaching/learning to occur.”

“The old way of teaching was to bombard students with facts that they memorized and repeated back on a test, but we’re done with that style of teaching,” added Newschwander. “The paradigm has shifted to active learning – to the flipped classroom – where students process the information, rather than just memorize it. Faculty can lecture if they want, but they need to have options.

“It is all about moving nursing content from simple to complex, individual to

populations, and our current classroom spaces make this style of teaching difficult.”

Spaces for the simulation lab and skills lab, which together exceed the square footage of Miller Hall, were designed to allow for optimal student learning outcomes. The labs were purposely located on the same wing of different floors to be efficient for students and faculty.

“The skills lab will allow for student instruction, practice, and evaluation of essential nursing skills,” said Renfroe.

“Learning spaces are functional and diverse.

Each space is meant to enhance learning through the utilization of various teaching and learning methods.”

– Caralise Hunt, Assistant Professor Auburn University’s School of Nursing

“Simulation space will be used to replicate clinical situations that students will face in daily practice. The goal is to provide realistic situations in order to increase student confidence, decrease errors, and promote quality and safety in nursing clinical practice.”

Faculty offices are also on the same wing of two floors, as an efficient means for students to interact with faculty.

A private access between floors will facilitate increased communication and collaboration among faculty.

“It will help the students get to know more of the faculty,” said Newschwander. “And it will help the students get to know me better.”

The dean has begun hosting pizza parties with each cohort, so he has at least one chance to meet each student.

“It’s not a good thing for them to meet me for the first time when they shake my hand on the stage (at graduation),” Newschwander said.

A large commons area is an integral part of the new building as the space – 90 feet long and three floors high – will hopefully foster a sense of community, where students and faculty can interact outside the classroom.

Considering the rigors and demands of the nursing program, Newschwander and others

wanted to include dedicated spaces, like the commons area, specifically for students who will be spending all day in this building.

“When students aren’t in class, some will want to go study and some will want to just hang out,” said Hunt. “We needed to meet all those needs.”

A number of spaces in the new building will have multiple purposes or be large enough to accommodate collaborations with undergraduate and graduate students, as well as students from other disciplines.

The active learning classroom, for instance, will have the ability to open up into the commons area, which can also be opened to an outside courtyard for events.

Additional space in the simulation lab will allow nursing students to practice alongside students from the pharmacy school and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in a mock hospital setting.

Not only will nursing be a neighbor to VCOM’S Auburn campus, but pharmacy is adding a pharmaceutical research building next to nursing in the near future. Auburn has dubbed the corner as its Health Sciences Sector.

“We deliberately planned spaces for our students, as well as for interdisciplinary collaborations,” explained Dubois. “On most hospital units now, you have a pharmacist, hospitalist, and nurse on site together. This gives us the flexibility to provide that practice for our students and their students.”

For graduate students on the Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track, a designated area in the simulation lab will function like the exam rooms of a clinic with patients.

Dubois said these standardized patient rooms will allow nurse practitioner students to rehearse an actual patient encounter – and through faculty feedback – make improvements in individual practice.

As the cornerstone of the Health Sciences Sector, the new home for the School of Nursing will represent stateof-the-art teaching and learning, and will complement all that Auburn has to offer in recruiting and retaining the best and brightest students and faculty.

“So many companies and hospitals already praise the Auburn graduates they hire,” said Newschwander. “This is going to make us more competitive than we’ve ever been before, and it will help make our graduates even better prepared to enter a challenging and complex workforce.”

From the Dean’s Desk: Hitting Our Developmental Milestones As a pediatric clinician, I was trained to look for certain accomplishments by a certain age: patterns of physical growth, cognitive development and increased psychomotor abilities, and the development of interpersonal skills. These typically move from the simple to the complex, from the center to the periphery. I’m happy to report that the school is continuing to meet and surpass its expected developmental milestones.

Physical growth: Our new building, at the corner of South Donahue and Lem Morrison, an 89,000-square-foot contemporary learning environment is about to start coming out of the ground. The growth in our programs and enrollments made this new home both necessary and possible.

Cognitive development: In

recent months, we have modified the undergraduate curriculum to better reflect the knowledge, decision-making skills, and problem-solving abilities our students will need in the new healthcare system. Our active learning classrooms, small group study areas with wireless display technology, and opportunities for interdisciplinary study and practice, reflect how students learn today and how they will learn in the future.

Offering the RN-to-BSN program online will help those nurses who are seeking more education and more opportunity for professional development and career advancement. In the coming months, we will be exploring new offerings in the graduate program that will directly

impact access to primary care services and the availability of clinical faculty as enrollments continue to grow.

Psychomotor skill: In the new building for the School of Nursing, students will benefit from two state-of-the-art clinical learning environments: the skills labs and the simulation suite. Both will offer the very best in equipment and technology to enable students to become proficient in patient interaction, skill performance, and efficient and effective patient care. We’ve come a long way from putting needles into oranges.

Interpersonal skills: Within the simulation suite, there is space specifically designed for inter-professional instruction and practice. The future of healthcare will be built around care teams focused on the patient. As students learn to work together while in school, the inclination to do so once in practice will be enhanced.

From the center to the periphery:

Rest assured, the students and faculty will not be cloistered in the new building.

The school will continue to reach out across the state, the region, and around

the globe to provide outreach services and service learning opportunities for students and faculty. Through programs like the women’s health clinics in Ecuador, our diabetes research, and the care we provide in the primary care clinics, the Auburn School of Nursing will continue to impact, directly, the health and well-being of citizens here in Alabama and abroad.

Watching children grow and accomplish their developmental milestones is exciting and gratifying to parents. Watching the school progress is equally exciting for the students, alumni, faculty, and administration. Just as when a child takes its first steps, or rides a bike for the first time, there may be a few bumps and bruises as we move forward. In the Auburn Family though, there is always someone to help us up and get us moving forward again. You’re part of that Auburn Family, and I hope you’ll be actively engaged in our growth and development, and that you’ll share the satisfaction we all feel with every step.

Thanks for all you do, Gregg E. Newschwander Dean and Barbara S. Witt Professor

Outreach Remains a Priority at Auburn School of Nursing Service learning and outreach activities are integral to the Auburn University School of Nursing’s mission and goals, as well as the Auburn University Strategic Priority related to public engagement. Access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Americans is not only an international problem, but also a local one.

One opportunity to address disparities in healthcare is to offer free services to the uninsured or underinsured. Numerous health initiatives were implemented by Auburn faculty, students, and community shareholders in the past year.

In 2015, close to 50 clinics, screenings, or activities were provided for approximately 2,700 individuals in a five-county area surrounding the Auburn campus, as well as other underserved target populations in the U.S. and abroad. These outreach efforts focused on health promotion, preventive screening, and education, and involved more than 600 Auburn undergraduate and graduate students, 20 faculty, and three graduate assistants.

Collaborating with the Harrison School of Pharmacy, the nutrition program and other health disciplines, as well as

student and university organizations, helped to increase the public reach and effectiveness of these efforts.

Individuals of all ages were served by these outreach activities.

Funding for nursing’s outreach activities comes from the school, faculty, students, community partners, grants, and fundraising activities. Outreach activities are already under way for 2016 and will continue to be a mainstay at the Auburn School of Nursing.

School Embraces Commitment to Research, Scholarship The Auburn University School of Nursing faculty shares a commitment to the nursing profession to strengthen the scientific basis of healthcare knowledge, as well as integrate such evidence into practice. Whether it develops into a structured research proposal or sharing experiences from clinical and teaching activities, scholarly inquiry is an important part of the school’s mission.

Bonnie Sanderson, associate dean of research, St. Francis Hospital Endowed Professor, and chair of the school’s research committee, recently led efforts in developing a strategic plan in nursing related to research and scholarship. The team identified three priority topics that aligned with community health needs and the current faculty’s expertise and

interests. The strategic priority areas are community-based outreach and addressing health disparities, interdisciplinary collaborations to improve health and health services, and innovation in teaching.

Nursing Dean Gregg Newschwander has committed a full-time position from the school to the university’s new Health Disparities Strategic Cluster Hire. The university-wide initiative was launched in the fall to advance interdisciplinary collaboration in conducting health disparities research and preparing the next generation of health disparity scholars.

The School of Nursing joins the Harrison School of Pharmacy, the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management in the College

of Human Sciences, and the Department of Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts in committing faculty positions to the area of health disparities research.

Faculty searches are ongoing for all five positions. To learn more about the initiative, visit http://www.auburn.edu/ academic/provost/healthdisparities.html.

The School of Nursing recently added a section to its website devoted to recognizing faculty members who have been actively involved in pursuing research/ scholarship. The new feature at https://cws. auburn.edu/Nursing/pm/ausonresearch provides an overview of faculty research interests, plus current research highlights.

It also highlights undergraduate and graduate student scholarly projects related to evidence-based practice.

Raises Support For Therapy Area In New Building The scores were low, but the Dean’s Golf Outing was anything but subpar on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Grand National in Opelika.

More than 50 people participated in the event on March 11 to support the alternative therapy area in the School of Nursing’s new building, currently being constructed on campus.

The specialized area will serve the school’s animal-assisted therapy program, Canines Assisting Rehabilitation and Education, better known as CAREing Paws. Assistant Professor Stuart Pope started the program four years ago as a way for students to learn about animal-assisted therapy through classroom teaching and hands-on clinical experiences.

CAREing Paws works with two dogs, Miller, a golden retriever and Choa, a yellow Labrador retriever. Both dogs attended the golf outing.

Aubie played around with Miller and Choa at the Dean’s Golf Outing on March 11.

Results from this year’s outing include: • Rich Street, Chris Todd, Glenn Sisk, and Mike Herron were the Top Team for Low Gross • Ted Wilson, Greg Smith, Bucky Ayers, and Don Dement won Top Team for Low Net • Greg Smith made the “Longest Drive” • Rich Street won “Closest to Pin” Aubie, Auburn’s beloved mascot, made an appearance before tee-off, posing for pictures with participants, as well as Miller and Choa.

Jim Purdy, left, and Ernie Baker, right, met Miller and Choa, and Assistant Professor Stuart Pope, center, before the Dean’s Golf Outing.

Faculty Highlights Assistant Clinical Professor David Crumbley co-wrote the chapter on “Traumatic Wounds: Assessment and Management” for the textbook, Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society Core Curriculum: Wound Management, published late last year.

Assistant Clinical Professor Stuart Pope, Assistant Professor Caralise Hunt, and Jenny Schuessler, former associate dean, wrote a chapter for the National League for Nursing’s publication, Innovations in Nursing Education, volume 3. The chapter describes a teaching strategy for mental health nursing that integrates the content across the curriculum.

With this strategy, students begin learning about mental health nursing through emphasis on therapeutic communication. In subsequent semesters, they move into acute then chronic mental health conditions. The main advantage to this pedagogy is that students learn they will encounter mental health patients in all areas of nursing, not just mental health facilities.

Assistant Clinical Professor Tanya Johnson presented a poster, “From Academia to the Clinical Environment: Strengthening Nursing Leadership Through Simulation,” at the Nursing Management Congress 2015.

St. Francis Hospital Endowed Professor and Associate Dean for Research Bonnie Sanderson, EAMC/Dr. Bill Lazenby Endowed Professor Kathy Jo Ellison, and Betty

McLendon Fuller Associate Professor and Associate Dean Francine Parker presented at the Southern Nursing Research Society annual conference on “Differentiating and Clarifying Scholarly Expectations for Tenure and Clinical Faculty Tracks.”

Assistant Clinical Professor Kelley Noll presented “Scaffolding Reflective Writing in a Nursing Curriculum,” and Assistant Clinical Professor Erica Kierce presented “Integrating a Conceptual Approach to Undergraduate Mental Health Nursing Education” at the Alabama League for Nursing’s annual conference.

Assistant Professor Mary Peterson attended the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s 45th Critical Care Congress and presented a poster, “ICU Patients Receiving Prolonged Life-Sustaining Treatments.”

Jean Dubois, the school’s director of

outreach, has been promoted to clinical professor, becoming the first faculty member with this distinction. Dubois presented on “CHIP: Community Health Investment Program – Mobile IPE Clinics” to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Assistant Clinical Professor Laurie Harris created a poster on “Improving Student Performance on Maternity HESI Specialty Exams” with Assistant Professor Mary Peterson. Harris presented it at the Elevate Outcomes with HESI conference.

Auburn faculty, including Assistant Clinical Professor Ann Lambert, Assistant Professor

Caralise Hunt, Assistant Clinical Professor Laurie Harris, Assistant Professor Mary Peterson, Assistant Clinical Professor Valarie Thomas, and Assistant Clinical Professor Margot Fox, along with 15 students, presented

on various topics at the Alabama State Nurses Association’s clinical education sessions.

Assistant Professor Lynn Brown presented a poster on “Empowering Nursing Students to Succeed” at the Nurse Educator Institute.

Assistant Clinical Professor Ann Lambert and Assistant Clinical Professor Valarie Thomas presented a poster on “Using a Simulation Activity to Impact Students’ Empathy in a Maternal-Child Nursing Course,” at the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners conference.

New Hire Meghan Jones,

an Auburn native, is a new assistant clinical professor and coordinator of the Nursing Resource Center. After earning a BSN from Auburn in 2010 and working as an RN in Nashville, Jones returned to Auburn in 2013. She earned an MSN from UAB in August 2015 and joined the Auburn nursing faculty in November. Jones is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Theta Tau.

Auburn nursing faculty and fifth-semester students participated in “Nurses Day at the Capitol” in Montgomery Feb. 10, and helped advocate for a culture of safety and quality healthcare for everyone in Alabama.

Aubie stopped by Miller Hall to meet the nursing students before they traveled to Bethesda, MD, during spring break to participate in Project SERVE at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The students spent the week working with Walter Reed staff to learn best practices for providing care for veterans.

Nursing’s Associate Dean: Meet Francine Parker What drew you into the field of nursing in the first place?

In high school, when I began to have serious conversations with the guidance counselor – and my parents – about picking a college major, I gravitated toward nursing as a career I knew would be fulfilling. At the time, my dad was a pharmacist, my sister was in nursing school, and my brother-inlaw was in medical school. I simply knew I wanted to be in some area of healthcare and nursing seemed to be the best fit for me.

How did you make it to Auburn?

Francine Parker, Betty McLendon Fuller Endowed Associate Professor, was recently named the school’s associate dean. She has been on faculty for more than 20 years, transferring from Auburn Montgomery to Auburn in 2006.

She teaches nursing leadership and professional concepts to senior students and a graduate course in health promotion and quality. In 2012, Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Parker to a four-year term on the Alabama Board of Nursing, which promotes the safety and welfare of the public. Parker was the first Auburn faculty member to receive such an appointment. She served as president in 2015. In December, Parker was reappointed by Bentley to a second term, and reelected president for 2016.

Parker earned a BSN from Troy University Montgomery, an MSN from UAB, and an EdD from Auburn.

My first faculty position was with the Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing where I enjoyed a wonderful tenure. In 2004, I experienced a life transition and moved to Auburn. After two years of commuting, which I decided was not for me, I joined the School of Nursing at the Auburn campus, where I will be until retirement.

Why have you stayed at Auburn?

What is not to love about Auburn? It’s a vibrant, progressive community with a world-class university in which to share my love of teaching and learning with excellent students and incredibly talented faculty. An academic career in higher education has suited me very well.

What kinds of classes do you teach?

Over the course of my 22 years as faculty, I have taught health assessment, ethics and legal issues in nursing, health promotion, and medical surgical content. For the last 10 years, my primary focus has been on leadership and management and transition to professional nursing courses.

You were recently named the associate dean of the school.

Why did you want that role?

This administrative position allows me to utilize my leadership skills. I believe I have a talent for fostering positive relationships and creating a healthy work environment.

Fundamental to everything we do here in

the School of Nursing is preparing nursing students who demonstrate critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and professional values.

I believe this goal is best achieved with a stable, highly motivated, and driven faculty who strive for excellence in the classroom and beyond. My role is to support faculty with a spirit of teamwork to maximize the potential of achieving shared goals.

Did you expect your career to lead to this kind of administrative role?

Honestly, at this stage of life and career, I did not expect to assume an administrative role, but when the opportunity presented itself, after much serious thought and consideration, I was eager to accept the challenge.

Besides all your duties at Auburn, you serve on the Alabama Board of Nursing.

How do you think that role helps you at Auburn?

Serving on the Board of Nursing is a great privilege and honor. In December, I was appointed for a second term by the governor and was reelected president of the board. The board carries great responsibility as we make important decisions about licensure and nursing programs that ultimately affect the citizens of Alabama. My role on the board keeps me informed on the most current issues regarding education, nursing practice, and political topics, which have the potential to affect our practice and healthcare. It is important for students to have role models who are dedicated to lifelong learning and service, which my service on the board accomplishes.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Besides spending time with my husband, my children and their spouses, and five precious granddaughters, my favorite place to be (in Auburn) is in my kitchen, cooking. Beyond Auburn, I really love the lake, the beach, and Italy, where I plan to spend much more time in retirement.

Nursing’s Director of Outreach: Meet Jean Dubois What kinds of classes do you teach?

Jean Dubois, associate clinical professor, was recently named the director of outreach for the School of Nursing. Before joining the Auburn faculty in 1999, she had taught at the University of Arkansas-Monticello and Mississippi University for Women. As a nurse or nurse practitioner, Dubois has worked in acute care, critical care, community education, and primary care. She holds a BSN from Pittsburg State University, an MSN from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and an EdD from Auburn.

What drew you into the field of nursing in the first place?

I have always been interested in the sciences and the human body. Those interests led me into a pre-nursing program, but it was the direct patient interactions in the BSN program that convinced me that I had chosen the best profession for me as a person and scientist.

How did you make it to Auburn?

My husband took a faculty/extension position in the School of Forestry that brought me and my family to Auburn in 1994.

Why have you stayed at Auburn?

Once you have been a part of the Auburn community, it is hard to leave. The first five years I was in Auburn, I worked full time as a family nurse practitioner and became well connected in the community as a healthcare provider. Before moving to Auburn, I had held nursing faculty positions in Arkansas and Mississippi. I missed teaching so when I was approached by Auburn’s School of Nursing, I applied and was offered a faculty position. I started my career here in fall 1999 and have never looked back.

During my tenure, I have taught a variety of courses in the undergraduate program including medical/surgical, leadership, pharmacology, community health, critical care, and preceptorship. I have also been a clinical instructor in these courses. Since Auburn expanded its MSN program to include a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner track, I have become more involved and currently serve as the NP coordinator. I teach the didactic and clinical courses, and continue to practice as an NP on a part-time basis.

What are your research interests?

My research interests are health promotion, innovative teaching strategies, and Parkinson’s disease/caregiving. My health promotion interest comes from a strong belief in a preventive approach to healthcare, engagement of the patient in their own health, and improved health outcomes for patients that participate in health promoting behaviors. Innovative teaching is a must if you are going to be able to engage our ever-changing nursing students. Nursing is a dynamic profession in so many ways and the education of future nurses has to be as well.

My final research interest is a personal one.

My husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 44 and lost his battle to the disease 15 years later. Our journey was rough, but out of it came an in-depth knowledge of the disease, treatments, and especially how the patient and caregivers could and should receive support.

You were recently named the school’s director of outreach.

How did that come about?

I have always been involved with preventive screening, health promotion and outreach efforts. The director of outreach within the school facilitates outreach of faculty, staff, and students. Outreach is one of the core missions of Auburn University and the school. As we transition into a new building and continue to increase student and faculty involvement, I am hoping that this position will help me make connections and provide more inter-professional outreach opportunities with other health science departments on campus.

Did you expect your career to lead to this particular role?

When I took my first staff nurse position in 1976, I don’t think I had any idea where I was going, but I knew I was going to enjoy the ride. Over the past 40 years, I think certain job and educational decisions did bring me to my current passion for nursing and outreach. Outreach is important because it can reach patients that may not show up in a traditional healthcare setting until permanent damage to their health has occurred.

Preventive screening, health promotion, and education in non-traditional healthcare outreach sites are essential to improve health and drive healthcare costs down.

Why do you think it’s important for nursing students to participate in outreach?

Over the next couple of decades, healthcare will be provided less to patients in traditional acute care facilities. Therefore, it is important for our undergraduate and graduate students to understand the impact that outreach activities can have on the health of individuals, families, communities, and populations. Providing nursing services through outreach has been shown to significantly improve the health of individuals and groups. That is what I want the students that leave Auburn to understand.

Do you have a favorite Auburn memory?

My favorite Auburn memory is currently in process and will be complete in August 2017. I didn’t think I would see the day that Auburn nursing would have a state-of-theart building. We have done so much with so little for so long, all while maintaining excellent student and faculty outcomes. I am excited about being present when we get the much needed space and resources that will help us carry on our legacy.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I like to spend time with my family, grandchildren, work in my yard and garden, create stained glass pieces, and travel.

Nursing’s Associate Dean for Research: Meet Bonnie Sanderson Department at UAB Hospital and a research appointment in the division of cardiovascular medicine, preventive cardiology section.

How did you make it to Auburn?

Our boys went to Auburn University, so we developed strong ‘War Eagle’ ties when they were in college. When my husband retired from Boeing, we moved to Auburn to be closer to our grandchildren, since our oldest son lived here. Since I wasn’t quite ready to retire when I left UAB, I wondered if it was time to return to my roots as a nurse and explore a path in nursing education.

Bonnie Sanderson, the St. Francis Hospital Endowed Professor, recently assumed the role of associate dean for research for the school. She joined the Auburn faculty in 2009 and has more than 25 years of clinical, academic, and research experience in preventive and rehabilitative cardiology. Sanderson teaches evidence-based practice in the graduate nursing program. She holds a BSN from the University of Central Florida and an MSN and PhD from UAB.

What drew you into the field of nursing in the first place?

So many of my nurse colleagues knew they wanted to be a nurse from early childhood, but that was not the case for me. Since I did not have any firm convictions and my sister was already in a nursing program, the school offered a special scholarship for a second family member in nursing school. Even if it was a ‘default’ choice many years ago, I’ve never regretted a moment. Just as my entry into the field of nursing was unconventional, my career path was nontraditional. I never acclimated to the acute-care, hospital environment and found my niche in more prevention-focused outpatient- and community-based settings. My advanced degrees included exercise physiology and health promotion/health behavior in public health and my clinical and research focus was preventive and rehabilitative cardiology. I was at UAB for 15 years and had a split position where I served as manager of the Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Why have you stayed at Auburn?

We are here to stay. As I mentioned, my husband is retired, we have children and grandchildren here, and we couldn’t have asked for a better place to live, both before and after retirement.

What kinds of classes do you teach?

Currently, I teach evidence-based practice courses to our graduate nursing students. It’s extremely rewarding to help them learn and grow and be able to value the research process as they apply the latest science and the principles of scholarly inquiry to ‘real world’ settings in a feasible and practical approach.

What are your research interests?

I have maintained my interest and research/ scholarly interests in preventive and rehabilitative cardiology. I continue to be active in the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation and currently serve as the research committee chair and as an associate editor for its journal.

You are the school’s associate dean for research.

What does that mean?

This is a huge honor to be the first person to assume the position of associate dean for research at the School of Nursing. While there was a previous role of research coordinator, the commitment from the dean, the school, and the university to officially establish

the position communicates the dedication to research as just as important as the teaching and outreach/service mission.

The Auburn School of Nursing continues to strengthen its infrastructure and faculty research interests. While it takes time and resources to grow an established research enterprise, we are on the right path. The new nursing building has dedicated space for research activities, and we are in the midst of recruiting tenure track faculty with a special interest and expertise in health disparities. I feel we are just beginning, and the potential is great for continued growth.

Did you expect your career to lead to this particular role?

Absolutely not. I was one of those in my early career who thought ‘research’ was some isolated area where only those who had specific talent or expertise participated. Every nurse – and person – has inquisitive thoughts and questions; they just need to be explored and developed through a process that leads to solutions, whether it relates to individual health issues or global, public health concerns.

Do you have a favorite Auburn memory?

You just can’t beat football season.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Personally, I love to quilt. My husband and I love to travel – local, regionally, and internationally. Spending time with our grandchildren both in Auburn and Tennessee is very special to us.

The Story Behind The Student: Meet Jeremy Ellis “Whatever you can think in your mind, you can hold in your hand.”

– Steve Harvey, Comedian

The quote has served as an inspirational foundation for one particular Auburn nursing student who, only a few years ago, didn’t hold much more in his hands than a pair of tattered tennis shoes.

Jeremy Ellis, a junior from Birmingham, said three years ago he never would have dreamed he’d be where he is now. Knowing he had no financial support other than what he could earn or obtain through student loans, Ellis was advised to attend community college.

But he couldn’t.

He couldn’t limit himself.

He didn’t want to limit himself.

After a brief encounter with Ellis, it’s evident he’s a people person. He is charismatic, positive, hardworking, and extremely genuine – qualities perhaps best suited for a business career.

But Ellis is also the type to follow his heart. And his heart – actually an experience because of his heart – led him to pursue nursing.

Larry Watkins, Libba Bowling, June Watkins and Bill Bowling met Jeremy Ellis, center, at a lunch in Auburn.

Ellis, who had open heart surgery as a child, was hospitalized during his senior year of high school as a result of reoccurring complications. The experience opened his eyes to the impact nurses make every day.

“I just saw nurses as superheroes,” said Ellis.

Today Ellis is healthy and medication-free, which he sees as a remarkable blessing.

He may have thought he wouldn’t make it past the first semester of college, but he excelled at it, earning a perfect 4.0 gradepoint average his freshman year at Auburn.

He plans to graduate from Auburn’s School of Nursing in May 2017, and become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, or CRNA. A college education wasn’t always a top priority for Ellis, simply because of the

lack of resources. Fortunately, he was the recipient of the Bertha L. Watkins Endowed Scholarship. Without it, he said he had little faith that he would be where he is today.

Ellis said he is trying to show his family the importance of college and that they too can be successful.

“Nursing is not easy, but you figure out what kind of work you have to put in, and you do it,” he said. “It’s like that for anything.”

Not only is Ellis extremely grateful and appreciative of the opportunity families such as the Watkins provide, but he is also inspired.

“This has helped me, and I want to help someone else,” he said. “I will never forget who gave me this opportunity. As soon as I get my first paycheck as a nurse anesthetist, I’m going to start giving back to Auburn.”

Giving to Auburn Nursing: Meet Glenn and Suzanne Morris

Glenn and Suzanne Morris live in Chattanooga, TN, with their daughters, Emma and Sydney.

Suzanne, an Auburn School of Nursing alumna, credits much to her education, including her desire to give back.

“We give because I truly believe in Auburn and love it,” she said. “I have loved Auburn all my life. If someone else has the opportunity to be at Auburn like I was given, then I want to share that with them and with others.”

Glenn did not graduate from Auburn – he is a Tennessee alumnus – but giving to Auburn is a heartfelt privilege for him too.

“Helping a student go to Auburn is beyond satisfying,” he said.

Glenn added that it is humbling to be considered part of the Auburn Family, despite his own collegiate roots.

“Seeing how the faculty and others who are involved in the school are student centered, I think it became really easy to get involved in supporting what Auburn is doing,” he said.

Glenn, like his wife, is honored to be able to help support Auburn nursing students.

“Knowing that a college student really wants to pursue something and can’t afford to pay for it is hard to accept,” said Glenn.

“Telling your children ‘no’ for something that’s bad for them is very easy. One of the most heartbreaking things parents have to do is deny their children something that will change their life for the better.”

The Morris’ relationship with Auburn holds a special place in their hearts.

They love being a part of the annual Blue Jean Ball and strive to help support the school in multiple ways.

For more information on how you can give to Auburn School of Nursing, contact Shelley Grider at (334) 844-6753 or gridesw@auburn.edu.

A Show of Support: Meet the Alumni Advisory Council

The Alumni Advisory Council consists of Auburn nursing alumni who work to establish and foster relations with individuals in the community to support the educational and cultural interests of the school, and to help build a strong communication network among alumni through events, and by encouraging alumni to be active and aware of the school’s activities and growth. Current members are: Mrs. Micki Mullins, ’81 Mrs. Kathy Roby Simmons, ’82 Mrs. Catherine C. Clark, ’83 Mrs. Claudia Cargile Henderson, ’83 Mrs. Karen C. Humphrey, ’85 Mrs. Margot W. Fox, ’86 Mrs. Sarah Trovillion Gray, ’86 Dr. Angela Penry Green, ’86 Mrs. Lisa Anne Neel Morris, ’86 Mrs. Tanya Crane Sommers, ’86 Mrs. Kristine A. Morrell, ’87 Mrs. Laura Curry Zelinski, ’87 Mrs. Karen Bennett Everitt, ’88 Mrs. Kimberly Ann Sell, ’89 Mr. Trevis Deron Hawkins, ’90

Mrs. Janeen Stephens Amason, ’91 Dr. Caralise Weeks Hunt, ’91 Dr. Jan Louise McAlister, ’91 Ms. Donna Denise Pilato, ’91 Ms. Mary Kay Burdette, ’92 Mrs. Gina Sampson Grant, ’92 Mrs. Melinda Rogers Gibson, ’93 Dr. Pamela Lea Johnson, ’93 Mrs. Lisa W. Greenhaw, ’94 Ms. Lisa Brand Smith, ’94 Mrs. Latricia Lavon Stone, ’95 Mrs. Sarah Nell Sinyard, ’96 Mr. George Oliver Sneed Jr., ’96 Lt. Col. Bettina Days Wright, ’96 Ms. Alisa Gordon Remshik, ’97

Mrs. Brooke Bailey, ’99 Mrs. Leigh Ann Barbaree, ’99 Mrs. Heather Howell Trimm, ’00 Mr. Joseph Dale White, ’02 Mrs. Johanna Curtis, ’04 Ms. Ashley Nicole Ashkouti, ’05 Mrs. Tanya Looney Johnson, ’05 Mrs. Taylor B. Zabala, ’05 Ms. Nicole Bridget Namken, ’07 Ms. Ashley M. Boon, ’08 Mrs. Laurie Harris, ’08 Ms. Leslie Franks Thompson, ’09 Mrs. Naomi Louise Crouse, ’10 Mrs. Samantha Fetner Baggett, ’11 Ms. Anna L. Hutchinson, ’11

Ms. Whitney E. Bailey, ’12 Ms. Caitlin Miller Moore, ’12 Ms. Emily Jane Westerhouse, ’12 Ms. Allison Hayley Carnes, ’13 Ms. Kelsey Noelle Hausfeld, ’13 Mrs. Jessica Anderson Ostberg, ’13 Ms. Amy E. Bumpas, ’14 Ms. Laura J. Gilbert, ’14 Ms. Amy Marie Youngblood, ’14 Ms. Kinsey Love Crow, ’15 Ms. Emily Nichole Bianchi (current student) Ms. Alexandra Ciaccio (current student)

The council has yet to name representatives from the classes of ’84, ’98, ’01, ’03, and ’06. If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Christy Tanner at christy.tanner@auburn.edu or call (334) 844-7390.

Have you considered supporting the School of Nursing through a charitable IRA Rollover to the Auburn University Foundation?

How it Works:

If you are 70 ½ and have an IRA, you are required to take a minimum distribution each year, which is taxable. If instead you elect to make a charitable IRA rollover, the distribution (up to $100,000) is paid directly to the Auburn University Foundation and can be designated to benefit the School of Nursing. The amount of the charitable IRA rollover is not included in your taxable income for that year.

Donors must arrange a direct transfer from their IRA to the Auburn University Foundation by Dec. 31 of each year to offset their Required Minimum Distribution for that year.

Requirements:

• Must be 70 ½ or older • $100,000 limit per year • Rollover must be from IRA (other retirement plans are not eligible) • Rollover must be made directly from the IRA account to the Auburn University Foundation • Donor Advised Funds and supporting organizations are not eligible

Benefits:

SAVE THE DATE: October 21, 2016 The 16th annual Blue Jean Ball is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 21.

Stay tuned for more details about how the School of Nursing plans to be “Reelin’ in the Years” at Crooked Oaks this fall!

Connect with us!

AUSON is on Social Media!

The School of Nursing is now on Twitter and Instagram!

Add us on Twitter: @AUnursingschool Follow us on Instagram: aunursingschool Be sure also to “like” our Facebook page: Auburn University School of Nursing Check out our pages for photos and updates about events, students, committees, and the new building!

• Donor is not taxed on the Required Minimum Distribution for the year in which the gift is made • Easy to complete – simply complete the IRA investment company’s rollover form • Your gift will have a positive impact on nursing students, faculty, and staff • Your gift will help the school and Auburn reach its campaign goal To learn more about how an IRA rollover might benefit you and your specific financial situation contact: Auburn University Office of Gift Planning Phone: (334) 844-7375 Email: plndgift@auburn.edu Web: www.auburn.edu/plannedgiving

THIS IS AUBURN.