The Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society Newsletter

N

r e t t e l s w e The Glen Taylor Nursing Institute

for Family and Society at Minnesota State

University, Mankato is dedicated to providing leadership

and expertise in family and societal health at local, state,

national and international levels. The Institute, Taylor Visiting Scholars and Becky Taylor Doctoral Fellowships are made possible by a

$7 million endowment established by Glen and Becky Taylor.

Spring 2016 • Issue 6

From the Director Sharing the message of our education, practice and research initiatives is an onging path of the Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society and the School of Nursing. We are energized and encouraged as we launch projects and then disseminate our findings locally, nationally and globally. Faculty who are partnering with the Institute spread their knowledge of research Dr. Sandra Eggenberger

findings, practice changes and educational innovations to partners in health care and education systems. As

Director of the Institute, I have been invited to guide educators and practitioners throughout the United States to more fully understand evidence related to family nursing practice and move to family-focused nursing education. Local and global communities continue to partner with the Institute. We now have faculty coming from all parts of the world to Minnesota State University, Mankato to collaborate with the Institute. Our big idea of becoming a community of scholars that serves as leaders in nursing practice with families and society is making a real-world impact on students, families and nurses.

The New Normal: Implications of Prejudice, Culture and Religion on Nursing September 23, 2016 Centennial Student Union Ballroom Minnesota State University, Mankato Details about the annual Nursing Forum and a schedule of event are available at:

http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/forum

Taylors Honored as Distinguished Partners in Health Care Glen and Becky Taylor received the 2015 International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) Distinguished Partner in Health Care Award for their sustained investment and excellence in advancing family nursing and family focused health care. The Taylors made the Institute possible with a $7 million gift to the School of Nursing in 2008 and have remained active partners in the years since then. The generous support of Glen and Becky Taylor has provided unprecedented opportunities for family nursing to grow exponentially and internationally.

The IFNA nomination letter recognized that over the past five years, The Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society has been a major force for good in the international growth of family nursing and in the development of family nursing practice knowledge.

Dr. Janice Bell, IFNA Awards committee representative stated, “Never before has the field of family nursing been offered the sustained financial investment and the sincere personal interest and cheerleading that has been shown by Glen and Becky Taylor. Their generous and heartfelt gifts to grow our family nursing community and advance the scholarship of family nursing practice deserve to be recognized and celebrated.“

Sponsored in part by:

Presentations on Family Nursing

Dr. Sandra Eggenberger, director of the Institute, recently delivered presentations at universities and health care systems in Minnesota and the southern United States. These speeches aimed to communicate family nursing science knowledge that could guide other nursing educators, administrators, and practitioners in transforming nursing practice with families.

Eggenberger’s approach to constructing presentations aligns with her thinking that evidence related to family nursing science and the family experience with More than 450 people from 31 countries attended the 12th International health and illness have potential to Family Nursing Conference, Aug. 18 -21, in Odense, Denmark. The motivate others to view the family global meeting of nurses focused on families and family health was filled as the recipient of care. with multiple opportunities to engage and learn from one another: three keynote addresses, six pre-conference workshops, five expert lectures, Educators and practitioners who three special sessions, 243 podium and 165 poster presentations. To attend presentations continue to see the list of presentations by Minnesota State Mankato faculty, visit share accolades for the Institute Dr. Sandra Eggenberger http://ahn.mnsu.edu/nursing/institute/ifna.html. The Glen Taylor and the School of Nursing. As one Nursing Institute for Family and Society and the College of Allied Health participant recently wrote, “We greatly appreciate your willingness to and Nursing at Minnesota State University, Mankato were sponsors of share your research with us and the stellar work of your faculty. It was the event and involved in several presentations and workshops. inspiring to hear your experience as a faculty member, researcher and family member. You energized our faculty to revise our courses to be more focused on families and society…”

IFNA Conference

Theresa Zimanske: Be the Change

When Theresa Zimanske spoke to nursing students at Minnesota State Mankato last fall, she provided a unique perspective about the importance of familyfocused nursing. Her presentation was based on her experience as the mother of a child who Theresa Zimanske The Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society’s pre-conference was diagnosed with a rare form of workshop at the IFNA conference focused on the importance of ingraining leukemia and the impact his treatment and death had on her family. family nursing care concepts within the undergraduate curriculum—and Her advice to students was heartfelt. how that is being done at Minnesota State Mankato.

“Take time to get to know your patients and their families, both Family simulation scenarios are embedded sequentially to examine family medically and personally,” she said as she concluded her 45-minute health experiences throughout the lifespan and in various care settings. speech. “Believe the patient and the patient’s family. Offer them more Those simulations are accompanied by a new electronic health records compassion and more understanding.”

(EHR) tool known as Maverick Virtual Family, which was created by a team of students, faculty and staff at Minnesota State Mankato. Maverick Zimanske had plenty of experience working with doctors and nurses during her son’s illness as well as surgeries for her husband and Virtual Family is an integrated database that helps standardize electronic herself. She had both positive and troubling experiences of care as health records for families and documents family data in simulation she sat in clinics and hospitals—and she turned those experiences experiences. It also includes a genogram and ecomap that provides into a mission to encourage those working in health care, especially students and educators with a visual image capturing family data. nurses, to be changemakers.

Participants in the pre-conference workshop were able to experience Her words inspired nursing students. “You can make a big difference Maverick Virtual Family EHR firsthand on supplied iPads during the workshop, so they could see how to use family scenarios to enhance their for your patients and their families. You can be the changemakers.” teaching as well.

Showcasing Maverick Virtual Family

Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society

The Value of Family Nursing: Student’s Perspective Editor’s note: Recent graduate Emilee Kuechl wrote a personal essay about her experience at Minnesota State Mankato's School of Nursing, including her trip to Denmark last summer.

Emilee Kuechl

Last summer, I was selected to be the nursing student representative for our collaboration with B507 on the Maverick Virtual Family, and to travel to Odense, Denmark, for the IFNA conference.

Minnesota State Mankato has a familyfocused nursing program. The curriculum recognizes the health of not only the patient, but their family and society as well. One of the main lessons I took away is that family is defined by the patient. Before I started the nursing program, I often viewed family as people you are blood-related to. After my first semester, I began to appreciate and respect the fact that everyone has a different definition of family. As nurses, we need to understand this so that we can properly care for the patient and family as a unit.

The second lesson I will never forget comes from the Family Systems Theory. It states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. My interpretation of this is that the family as an entire unit is stronger than the individual members. What affects one member has an influence on the other members as well.

Simulation was always an exciting, yet challenging, experience. It gave us the chance to practice skills in a safe and controlled learning environment.

This is also where we cared for the members of the “Maverick Family.”

I found it very beneficial to follow the family throughout the entirety of the nursing program, because it resembled real-life events and families.

Simulation became more difficult as we progressed throughout the program. For example, with each semester, we’d receive less information to utilize for simulation preparation and the “patients” became more complex. I appreciated this approach, because it helped me develop and refine my critical thinking skills.

Experiential learning gave me the opportunity to utilize my nursing skills in practice. It also helped me develop an awareness to always be mindful of the family. I achieved this by making it a priority to assess everyone’s feelings, emotions, questions and concerns. I also addressed the entire unit during education and hourly rounding.

The Maverick Virtual Family project with B507 offered the chance to work with various students, including nurses, engineers, designers, and programmers. I served as the nursing student representative who bridged the gap between the different areas.

Working with B507 provided me with lifelong skills such as teamwork, communication and inter-professional collaboration. I think the best part about the Maverick Virtual Family project is that it was developed by students for students. Everyone contributed their time, skills and strengths to this project in order to help future students receive a better education. I’m grateful I could be a part of something so innovative and work with such a passionate and hardworking team. I know the Maverick Virtual Family electronic health record will have a positive impact on future nursing programs.

Now that I have passed my nursing boards and accepted a job as a registered nurse, I can begin to see the impact my education and experience will have on my career. I am extremely thankful for the knowledge and skills I’ve received over the past few years, because it has served as the foundation for my beliefs and how I plan to practice as a nurse. Caring for the family and implementing family-nursing science will be a normal part of my career. I am eager to begin this amazing journey into the world of nursing.

The Mayor of Odense welcomed conference participants at the City Town Square with characters from Hans Christian Andersen stories. Odense is Andersen’s birthplace.

Nursing student and alumna Emilee Kuechl participated in the International Family Nursing conference

Minnesota State University, Mankato

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School of Nursing Alumni:

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A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling 507-389-1165, or 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY). NURS108NE 04-16

We Stand with Madelia

The Glen Taylor Nursing Institute and the School of Nursing have had several opportunities to partner with the community of Madelia, so when a fire devastated downtown Madelia in February, we knew we needed to do what we could to help. As the community begins the process of rebuilding and healing, we ask that you consider reaching out to help as well. There are several ways to give; to learn more, visit one of the sites below or go to visitmadelia.com.

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Greater Mankato Growth “Madelia Strong” fund: https://greatermankato.com/madelia (donations are tax deductible) Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation to support Madelia Fire Relief: http://smifoundation.org/philanthropy/community-foundation-giving/ (donations are tax deductible) Rebuild Madelia’s Main Street: https://www.gofundme.com/4mmwbyyc Krystal & Daniel Rebuild after Fire (La Plaza Fiesta): https://www.gofundme.com/krystal_daniel Restoring Hope in Hope & Faith: https//www.gofundme.com/gwmzmj5a Together with Tressa Veona by Melissa: https://www.gofundme.com/tressaveona

Mental Health in Madelia

A new initiative aimed at addressing mental health issues was launched last spring as part of the ongoing community-based collaboration with the city of Madelia. Since May 2015, Amy Hedman, an associate professor of community health education at Minnesota State Mankato, has been working to train school district staff and community members to recognize mental health problems through QPR—question/persuade/refer.

Amy Hedman

Like the other collaborations with Madelia, the goal is to empower the residents of Madelia to be the experts and maintain the program. The Institute and the School of Nursing are planting the seeds and then allowing the community to sustain the project.

Currently, monthly meetings are being convened and various topics related to mental health are being discussed.

Glen Taylor Nursing Institute for Family and Society • Minnesota State University, Mankato