Spring 2021
NURSING
Checking in with Penn State Schuylkill’s
INAUGURAL BSN COHORT
In this issue 4
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Infographic: Enrollment College of Nursing Taps Karyn Holley for DEI Advisory Role Nursing Student’s Leadership Brings Hope
College of Nursing Dean Laurie Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN Editor/Designer Morgann McAfee
Marketing and Creative Services Manager
Writers Brooke Killmon
Public Relations Specialist
Annalise Mara
Marketing and Communications Intern
Morgann McAfee
Marketing and Creative Services Manager
Photography Morgann McAfee Marketing and Creative Services Manager
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Alumna Supports Nursing Students with Charitable Gift Annuity
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Nurse Practitioner Program Launched at Doctoral Level
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Four-time Alumna Serves Scranton Community and Nursing Students
Penn State Cover image: Dekka Studios iStock Provided by featured individuals Office of Development and Alumni Relations Susan Kukic Director of Development and Alumni Relations
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Fick and Hill Honored with Distinguished Gerontological Nurse Educator Award Age-Friendly Care, PA for Older Pennsylvanians
Tatum Risch
Assistant Director of Alumni Relations and Programs
Julie Conner
Development and Stewardship Coordinator Penn State Nursing is a biannual publication. Articles may be reprinted with permission and proper credit. To make a reprint request email Morgann McAfee at mes44@psu.edu. The University is committed to equal access to programs, facilities, admission and employment for all persons. It is the policy of the University to maintain an environment free of harassment and free of discrimination against any person because of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, service in the uniformed services (as defined in state and federal law), veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, marital or family status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, physical or mental disability, gender, perceived gender, gender identity, genetic information or political ideas. Discriminatory conduct and harassment, as well as sexual misconduct and relationship violence, violates the dignity of individuals, impedes the realization of the University’s educational mission, and will not be tolerated. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policy to the Affirmative Action Office, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-5901, Email: aao@psu.edu, Tel (814) 863-0471. This publication is available in alternative media upon request. U.Ed. NUR 20-37
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Dear Alumni and Friends, As I’ve reflected over the last several months, I’ve been moved by the dedication of our students, faculty, alumni, staff, and friends. Our college as a whole has demonstrated Penn State spirit beyond my wildest imagination. Adaptability and perseverance are in no short supply and it swells me with pride.
Laurie Badzek,
LLM, JD, MS, RN, FNAP, FAAN
I am thankful every day for the nurses and health care providers who continue to show up en masse for vaccination and testing clinics, while also continuing to be a guiding light for our students and society. The future of Penn State Nursing and nursing as a whole begins with each of us showing up and I’ve been blessed to watch our college, alumni, and friends make genuine impacts on their communities. As we know, now is not the time to let our fatigue get the best of us - we must rally! The college has a tremendous year ahead, as vaccinations increase so does the prospect of herd immunity and the possibility of an exciting return to in-person gathering over the summer and into fall. Nursing and the greater University community have been planning our return to campus and all that will entail, provided COVID trends continue downward. We are hopeful for a smooth transition to in-person classes and in-person events to soon be on the calendar. Our alumni and friends are among our most treasured resources, we thank you for your continued support! We hope your time spent perusing the pages of our magazine revitalize your Penn State pride and serve as a reminder that you are part of one of the greatest networks across the country! Be well, Laurie
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Infographic
BSN (Pre-Licensure)
Pre-Licensure BSN Program Enrollment 1251
2020 NCLEX-RN First-Time Pass Rate
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1486
1080
96%
Data based on 4-Year General Nursing and Second Degree Fal l 2016
MSN ProgramMSN Enrollment 160
Fal l 2017
Fal l 2020
100%
149 142
Fal l 2017
Fal l 2019
2020 Certification Pass Rate for FNP, AGPCNP, and AGACNP
160
156
Fal l 2016
Fal l 2018
Fal l 2018
Fal l 2019
Fal l 2020
Doctorate Programs Enrollment
Doctorate Program Enrollment COMING SOON! New Doctorate Program
DNP-NP
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Fal l 2016
17 13
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Fal l 2018 DNP
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PHD
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Checking in with Penn State Schuylkill’s
INAUGURAL BSN COHORT In 2019, the College of Nursing and Penn State Schuylkill announced the delivery of the college’s four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the commonwealth campus. Fast forward to early 2021 and the first cohort is poised to begin the curriculum’s highly structured sequence of nursing courses. So, now, with the face of healthcare being shaken up courtesy of the pandemic, how are the soon-tobe-nurses doing?
coming to Penn State is palpable, pairing that pride with her education bolsters her hope for the future. A future where she helps her community and does what she loves.
One of the sixteen students wrapping up their anatomy coursework and prepping for fall semester, Mia Raguso, offers her Image provided: Mia Raguso thoughts on why Penn State Nursing, why Penn State Schuylkill, and ultimately, why nursing is her calling today, more than ever.
“For me, nursing isn’t just helping other people, it also helps me grow because I find it so interesting,” said Raguso. “I love learning new things about the human body and I hope to one day, not only be able to help sick and injured patients in the hospital, but that, as I grow it helps me become a better person and hopefully be able to spread that knowledge and message to other people too.”
Raguso is a first-generation college student, who shares her love for all things health care related started when she was young. Her parents, like most parents of first-generation students, celebrate their daughter’s accomplishments but not without hesitation spurred by the threat of future pandemics. Raguso believes the pandemic has reinforced the value of nurses and her nursing education is the key to a healthier world, so she worries less about future pandemics. The pride Raguso exudes when she talks about
True to the very core of nextgeneration nurses, Raguso shares she is energized by the prospect of someday not only caring for her direct patients but also the outward impact she could have on her communities.
Raguso earned her Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) when she was 16 and ultimately plans to become a nurse practitioner
Image: Dekka Studios
because she knows the potential as an NP is great, not only for her career prospects but the opportunity to help others. Penn State Schuylkill offers the only four-year nursing program in the county. A four-hour drive for New York native, Raguso, but she touts the small class sizes and individualized attention as a driving force for her move to Schuylkill’s on-campus living. Raguso values the opportunity to ask questions, and feels her smaller classes are ideal for those who share her learning style. The future of nursing and public health is fortified in the passion of students like Raguso and her classmates. Raguso is joined by 15 other aspiring nurses, all who share a common commitment to caregiving and find value in the vision of One Penn State 2025, the University’s plan to create a fluid, personalized, and collaborative environment that enables students, faculty, and staff to achieve their goals regardless of their location in the world.
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Nurses Rising As an African American woman, Holley has undeniably experienced the inequities of racial discrimination. In addition, her experiences as a Penn State student give her better insight as to how the University and College can provide a more welcoming and inclusive environment for each community member.
COLLEGE OF NURSING TAPS
KARYN HOLLEY FOR DEI ADVISORY ROLE
The continued advocation for diversity, equity, and inclusion across the nation has motivated the University and the College of Nursing to pursue a more inclusive culture that supports all educational initiatives, workplace well-being, and a constructive environment for all individuals no matter race, color, nationality, sex, religion, or age. To aid in this advancement, associate dean for equity and inclusion and research professor, Sheldon D. Fields, appointed Karyn Holley as an inaugural member of the new College of Nursing’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) alumni advisory committee. “With the Office of the Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion being new, the involvement of accomplished alumni such as Karyn Holley is vitally important as we begin to advance DEI initiatives. I welcome her willingness to serve as an advisor to my office and look forward to working with her,” stated Fields.
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Holley began as a nursing student in the College of Human Development, now known as the College of Health and Human Development, at University Park after transitioning from Philadelphia in 1983. But despite the obstacles an African American woman would experience at that time, the 1987 nursing graduate remained positive and commends current communities for continued efforts and improvements in the name of inclusion. “I believe people are more understanding and appreciative of diversity and inclusion today, because not every person is going to be a certain race or sex. We have to be able to speak for everyone in the organization, as well as the people you're serving,” Holley stated. “If my voice can be heard, then there can perhaps be improvements in nurse recruiting from all backgrounds for any qualified individual interested in starting a nursing career.” Holley seemed to always have an inclination for health and science, and according to her mother, was always looking to help out those in need. It was also a seemingly natural progression and almost immediate draw to nursing since she knew that if she were to become a nurse, she would never be without a career.
“I knew that nursing would put me in both the health and science area. At the same time, being able to make a difference in people's lives is very important to me,” said Holley. “When you’re taking care of patients, you’re taking care of their families too, and that has always been something special for me.”
competency in all areas of healthcare management.
Holley proudly expressed that her experiences at Penn State and affiliated clinicals and internships were overwhelmingly positive, meeting many of her good friends Image provided: Karyn Holley and future colleagues from across the country, even that I didn’t experience during her husband and father of her clinicals. There's so much to learn children, who was an engineering on the nursing floor that you just major at the time. don't pick up during classes.” “He and I both had a positive experience at Penn State. And although I felt a little isolated at times with the transition to Hershey and being away from my central group of friends, it was still a great and positive place to experience nursing clinicals.” Holley happily explained. After graduation, Holley relocated back to Philadelphia to begin her nursing career at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, working as a medical-surgical nurse in the oncology unit – a unit specifically for chemotherapy and cancer patients, and occasionally surgical patients. “Medical-surgical nursing was a great start for me. I came to better understand the aging process, disease process, medications, and other things
Holley expressed.
Although Holley loved her time as a nurse, she decided to transition into healthcare management, returning to graduate school for health administration at St. Joseph's University. Upon earning her master’s, Holley moved to Connecticut and began working on a high-risk maternity unit, and later began working as a manager at a federally qualified health center in the pediatric clinic. Over the coming years, she obtained her certification as a legal nurse consultant and professional certifications in healthcare risk management and healthcare compliance. She later became board certified as a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives – a designation among leaders designed to demonstrate
“Being able to obtain this high level of expertise in quality healthcare management as an executive enables potential to run a nursing home or a large healthcare facility,” said Holley. “That was something that I wanted for myself; to be able to lead in healthcare and have enough management knowledge to step up.” Holley currently works as a corporate compliance officer for Visiting Nurses Association Health Group, leading the organization in ensuring all federal and state regulations are being followed and making sure quality of care is prioritized, otherwise getting cited, penalized, or closed down for things such as fraud, waste, and abuse is likely. She also presents on multiple occasions to the Health Care Compliance Association National Conferences and is an annual guest speaker for the Penn State Mont Alto Campus Business Ethics Undergraduate Course, presenting on topics like fraud, waste, and abuse and how some pharmaceutical companies and health care providers have been involved with committing fraud against the government. While the DEI alumni advisory committee and their missions are still in the early stages of development and execution, more information can be found at www.nursing.psu.edu/diversityinclusion/
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Nurses Rising
Nursing Student’s Leadership
BRINGS HOPE The unknown is scary, but who is more suited to conquer an unknown than nurses, the professionals who are trained to deal with real-life, ever-changing situations. Because navigating pandemics is full of uncertainty, a leader who is flexible and determined even through the lowest points is crucial. Leaders like Alyssa Tygh keep the hope alive within the community and beyond.
Image provided: Alyssa and Nacho
Tygh is a current junior BSN major who has put her desire to serve as a leader in the healthcare industry into action. Tygh currently serves as the President of the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) and the Vice President of the Student Nurses Association at Penn State Hershey (SNAPS). Not only do her efforts to connect nurses expand across the Penn State community, but also throughout greater Pennsylvania.
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Getting involved immediately her freshman year, Tygh has been a part of the development and growth of these organizations over the past three years. She was selected to attend a state convention with SNAP and went on to co-author a resolution that was passed at both the state and national levels. She then went on to serve on the Resolutions Committee with the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA). “Even before I decided to become a nurse, I knew I wanted a promising career where I would love to go to work and help individuals daily. Not only does being a nurse accomplish this, but having leadership roles in these organizations allows me to do this on an even larger scale. Every time I go to clinicals or work, I help someone’s loved one through my care, but when I assume my leadership roles, enacting policies, holding community events, or putting on leadership workshops, I’m helping out hundreds of people’s loved ones.” stated Tygh. Now, within her roles both as President and Vice President with SNAP and SNAPS respectively, she oversees organization and voice. Being a representative for the state, her role in connecting the Penn State and greater Pennsylvania communities of nurses is nothing short of
inspiring. Her focus on policy and resolution means that she’s not only making an impact hands-on in her clinicals, but throughout the inner workings of connecting nurses. One day, Alyssa wishes to attend NSNA’s conference at Capitol Hill in person. To be in the same room together is something very impactful to her, and she knows she will not take it for granted when the time comes. Being a part of such a prevalent community, especially amidst a worldwide health crisis, Alyssa feels confident and proud of the path she is on. She hopes to impact both her roles and her organizations by upholding one of the NSNA’s major goals, the encouragement of minority students to pursue nursing in the hopes of creating a more inclusive profession overall.
Image provided: Alyssa and Nacho
Nursing Faculty Utilizes Epidemiology Expertise in Contact Tracing and Screening Efforts Cara Exten, assistant nursing professor, spends most of her time working behind the scenes as an infectious disease epidemiologist – one who studies the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases in populations over time. For most individuals, the thought of an impending global pandemic hadn’t even crossed their mind, but for Exten, COVID-19 was an opportunity to put nearly 20 years of epidemiology experience to the test. As an experienced and respected public health, STD and HIV mitigation expert, and nursing faculty member, she was recruited by the University to lead in the formation and execution of the COVID-19 testing and contact tracing initiatives, as well as other University-affiliated initiatives. “I felt an ethical obligation to do anything I could to help my immediate community, but also to contribute to the worldwide effort in minimizing the impact of COVID-19. This is what I was trained to do and is why I wanted to be an epidemiologist, to stop infectious diseases from impacting health” said Exten. “As an epidemiologist, I think we all collectively understood it was all hands on deck - we will all do whatever we have to do.” In March of 2020 when the pandemic first started emerging in the United States, Exten joined a contact tracing initiative that was developed by Christopher
Sciamanna, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Penn State and former Penn State College of Medicine assistant professor, Ping Du. As part of this program, 122 medical students, 14 public health students, and 7 nurse practitioner students joined in the contact tracing fight. “It [contact tracing] was an enormously successful program. We were very effective in getting people to actively participate and comply with our contact tracing program,” said Exten. “Ultimately, we had 65% of cases and 80% of contacts agree to comply, which is 20% higher than published rates elsewhere in the United States.” In the fall of 2020, Exten began as a co-investigator on Pennsylvania’s Regional Response Health Collaborative Program with Nicole Osevala, assistant professor in the College of Medicine serving as Principal Investigator. As part of that program, which was funded by Pennsylvania's Department of Health, Exten and her team were tasked with conducting the contact tracing for nursing home and long-term care facility employees in the south-central region of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Exten has developed a strong collaborative relationship with John Hayes, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Food Science at Penn State, on his latest research endeavor – a sniff test for rapid COVID-19
screening. This research leverages recent evidence that sudden smell loss is a highly specific symptom of COVID-19 infections, including in people who are otherwise asymptomatic. With funding awarded from the National Institute of Health, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Florida and Arizona State University, Hayes and Exten are developing several different sniff cards to figure out which type of card is best at predicting if an individual has COVID-19, all without having to leave their home. Exten hopes to use all of these experiences to add to the field of knowledge about COVID-19, contact tracing, and pandemic preparedness. She hopes to eventually see her work and research inform future clinical and public health practices.
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Philanthropy Spotlight
Alumna Supports Nursing Students with Charitable Gift Annuity Penn State alumna Catherine Louise Frazier had a deep appreciation for education and the opportunities one could achieve with it, particularly with respect to a nursing degree. Frazier’s admiration motivated her to give to the Penn State College of Nursing in the form of a charitable gift annuity.
Image provided: Frazier’s parents Image provided: Frazier’s military headshot
Frazier’s value and commitment to education began to take shape on January 15, 1923, when she was born to parents Charles and Lulu Frazier. Growing up in Lamar, Pennsylvania, Frazier had exposure to mostly rural farm country and limited educational opportunities. Despite the modest resources available to the family, Frazier watched her mother navigate and overcome educational disparity barriers by becoming a nurse.
Image provided: Frazier’s graduation, photographed with her father and sisters
Image provided: Frazier’s cooking show
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Many of our donors take advantage of the benefits of this popular way to give back to Penn State. A charitable gift annuity provides fixed income for the life of the donor and a loved one as well as immediate and future tax benefits. The donor directs use of the remainder of the charitable gift annuity to the Penn State program of their choice, like Frazier did.
While Frazier greatly admired her mother’s commitment to becoming a nurse, she chose to pursue an academic path of
her own. Frazier received her bachelor’s degree from Penn State in 1949 and her master’s degree from Ohio State in 1952, both in home economics and nutrition. In addition, Frazier took classes in apparel and costume design from Columbia University and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City in the late 1950s. “My aunt greatly valued education and was a strong believer in the importance of family. She wanted to fund this scholarship as a way to leave a legacy for her parents,” said Diane Holcomb, Frazier’s niece. “Penn State was always near and dear to her heart, growing up close to the University and being an alumna. For her, the University represented a higher level of education, important to achieving knowledge and success in life, and something not always readily available to everyone.” On October 7, 2020, Frazier peacefully passed in her assisted living home. The remainder of her charitable gift annuity established the Charles Kryder Frazier and Lulu Pearl Glossner Frazier Memorial Nursing Scholarship, honoring her mother’s dedication to the field of nursing. “I came to learn so much about my aunt - her humanity and humility, generosity and respect for others, commitment to friendship and family, her incredible stories of purpose, strength, intelligence and determination,” Holcomb said fondly. “I am so grateful for the time that I was able to spend with her and understand who she truly was, a wonderful, witty, quirky, caring, loving, and eccentric woman.”
Consideration for the scholarship will be given to full-time undergraduate students who are majoring or planning to major in nursing within the college and who have a demonstrated need for funds to meet their necessary college expenses; and who have achieved superior academic records or who manifest promise of outstanding academic success, and will benefit nursing students in perpetuity. Supporting nursing students in need was deeply meaningful to Frazier. “The college is incredibly appreciative of Louise’s generosity,” Dean Laurie Badzek said. “This gift provides invaluable support that will aid and develop some of our top students in need with the monetary assistance to become exceptional future nurse leaders.” Frazier wasn’t only a woman of academics. Frazier enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1943, serving as an enlisted member during the second World War. She then re-enlisted and went on to attend officer training, serving as a public information officer over the course of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Frazier continued to serve, moving up as a commanding officer of a Marine communications platoon, achieving the ranks of sergeant and second lieutenant, and finally completing her service as a major in 1983. Following her active service, Frazier worked for the Army Times magazine, created her own Cookie Candy House mailorder business, traveled as the Martha Logan Cooking Theater School representative, and hosted her own radio cooking show in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and TV cooking shows, “A Women’s
Window” and “Nancy’s Kitchen.” She was also an avid supporter of the disadvantaged, volunteering with a local latchkey program and supporting the civil rights movement. “Louise was a remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life. Visiting with her, whether for a chat in her living room or for lunch at the Marine base nearby, was always fun and inspirational,” said Susan Kukic, College of Nursing’s Director of Development and Alumni Relations. “Louise respected the unsung contributions that military nurses made every day and decided that she wanted to do something meaningful to support nursing students. We are so grateful for her legacy.” Gifts like Frazier’s will advance “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” a focused campaign that seeks to elevate Penn State’s position as a leading public university in a world defined by rapid change and global connections. With the support of alumni and friends, “A Greater Penn State” seeks to fulfill the three key imperatives of a 21st-century public university: keeping the doors to higher education open to hardworking students regardless of financial wellbeing; creating transformative experiences that go beyond the classroom; and impacting the world by serving communities and fueling discovery, innovation, and entrepreneurship. To learn more about “A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence,” visit greaterpennstate.psu.edu. To plan your gift, visit https:// pennstate.planmygift.org.
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Preparing Nurse Leaders
Nurse Practitioner Program Launched at Doctoral Level If there is one thing the coronavirus pandemic has underscored, it’s the importance of well-educated, well-trained nurses and health care providers. Doctorally prepared Nurse Practitioners are uniquely positioned to fulfill a myriad of needs throughout communities and health systems. To meet this need, Penn State’s College of Nursing is launching a Doctor of Nursing Practice - Nurse Practitioner (DNP-NP) program. Aiming to enable future nurse leaders to enhance patient care, positive health outcomes, and the functional autonomy of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in clinical spheres, DNP prepared NPs are the industry goal. The program currently offers three options for specialization: geriatric primary care, geriatric
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acute care, and family/individual across the lifespan care. With over 450 already established clinical site partners, students can take advantage of our robust network of options while also receiving the individualized attention and mentorship Penn State Nursing faculty are known for providing. “The College is well-positioned to transition our already successful NP program to the doctoral level, and this speaks to the quality curriculum, faculty, and students in our graduate programs,” shared Mariya Tankimovich, DNP Program Director. “Current NP certification pass rates of 100% are a clear marker of our successful program, moving this program to a terminal level is the natural next step and we are thrilled to launch the new DNPNP.”
Delivered through the World Campus, students can take courses online in either full- or part-time status. Students can enroll with a BSN or MSN, and clinical experience is not a requirement, rather it is incorporated into the curriculum to ensure a seamless transition for current BSN undergraduates. The curriculum has been developed by expert clinical faculty within the College of Nursing and meets the American Academy of Colleges of Nursing’s (AACN) DNP Essentials guide and aligns with the official position of the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). With the industry goal and expectation being that entry-level NPs have a DNP by 2025, now is the perfect time to begin pursuing a DNP-NP. With only an extra semester or two beyond master’s level nurse practitioner programs, depending on full or part-time status, students can complete their final clinical degree and be prepared for high-quality patient care, administration, and a variety of other career paths. As with all DNP programs, the new Penn State DNP-NP program will culminate in a project. The goal of the DNP project is quality improvement, and frequently, these projects seek to enhance experiences already in place. For example, current DNP-Leadership student Glenn Pascual’s project titled “Supporting Caring Efficacy in Nurses through Standardization of Communication” aims to empower nurses with a toolkit that aligns their communication and respective behavior, thus making them more effective overall.
Pascual presented his project at the 7th International Nursing Conference in December 2020 and will present it again at the International Conference and Exhibition on Nursing in London in 2021. The poster associated with his project is nominated for Best Poster at the International Conference of Nursing, and he’s presenting at a variety of other outlets. “I’m blessed to have completed my second doctoral degree at Penn State, where I can really make an impact on the health Image: Glenn Pascual and wellness of the future,” says Pascual. “The manner in which we communicate today impacts one’s health tomorrow and my DNP project is enabling me to make strides toward what I believe is a healthier tomorrow on an impactful scale.” Another stellar student example, Jane Hoff’s DNP project titled “Substance Abuse Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment: Teaching Frontline Nurses” earned her the 2021 American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) Substance Use Disorders Evidence-Based Practice Training
Award. Hoff will deliver the project’s findings in a presentation at the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Convention also in October 2021. She’s previously presented at the Eastern Nursing Research Society (ENRS) annual meeting and Beta Sigma’s Research Day. Hoff’s project will culminate in the development of an educational mini-series podcast that uses the project’s findings to teach frontline nurses how to best treat patients with substance abuse disorders. The final grant project proposal will be presented April 27-28 at the annual NIDACTN meeting and then again, when completed, at the NIDA conference in January 2022. “Penn State College of Nursing provided incredible support and encouragement that enabled Image: Jane Hoff me to achieve my goals of a DNP degree,” shared Hoff. “This achievement proves that it does not matter your age, your dreams can become reality even at 58 years old.”
Learn more by visiting nursing.psu.edu/dnp-degree-program PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Nurses in Action
Allyson Favuzza is no stranger to Penn State and the advantages that the University’s degrees provide. Favuzza is one of few to receive an associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctorate all from the College of Nursing within 10 years. Favuzza first began her collegiate journey at the University of Scranton in 2008, and then transferred to Penn State Scranton in 2010. Because Favuzza was both a full-time student and a fulltime waitress at a local Scranton restaurant, she had to adjust her class schedule, often taking night classes. This prompted Favuzza to take her required statistics class at night, which coincidently was the same statistics course all nursing majors were required to take.
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This one class undoubtedly altered the entire course of her life, as the stories she heard from her nursing classmates inspired her to switch her major and pursue a career of caring and fulfillment.
science in nursing while working full-time as a waitress in 2012. Immediately after receiving her associate’s, she returned and earned her bachelor of science in nursing while working full-time as a registered nurse in 2013.
“Just hearing about their experiences in the hospital and their hands-on work even in their education was what drew me to nursing,” said Favuzza. “The two-year associate's program was very appealing. Because I had to support myself through college, the ability to have a license that I could practice with and then continue to further my education in two years was very important to me.”
“The programs were a great experience. It was really nice to have that continuity and have some of the same professors multiple times. I had a lot of inspiration from the professors at Penn State Scranton, especially Mike Evans.” Favuzza revealed.
After transitioning to nursing and while still at Penn State Scranton, she earned her associate of
Favuzza credits Evans, now assistant dean for undergraduate nursing education at the commonwealth campuses, for encouraging her to apply for the master's in Family Nurse Practitioner program, which she admits wasn’t even on her radar.
at the time. Favuzza secured complete funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and earned her master's of science in nursing in 2015, once again working fulltime as a registered nurse. “At that point, I fell in love with nursing. What's so great about nursing is that although you're a nurse, there are so many things you can do with it. You could work in a hospital, home health, nursing homes, primary care, the OR, or medical billing and chart auditing.” Favuzza explained.
This past January, Favuzza opened her own primary care clinical practice, Hometown Health Care of NEPA located near Scranton, Pennsylvania. But, opening a new practice didn’t come without its struggles, especially during a global pandemic health crisis.
The clinic recently launched two large vaccination clinics, where they immunized over 1,000 members of the Scranton community and had 22 Penn State nursing students assist in the entire patient process, including administering vaccine injections.
After 10 long years of nursing school and full-time work hours, Favuzza earned her doctor of nursing practice degree online through Penn State World Campus in 2018. “She is a wonderful, kind, and intelligent nurse and one that I'm proud to call a friend and colleague.” Mike Evans said fondly. Since her graduation, Favuzza continued working as a primary care nurse practitioner and director of youth services for the Scranton-based Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, which serves students, staff at the school, and the outside community. “I wanted to continue to progress to become a nurse practitioner, which is when I fell in love with primary care,” said Favuzza. “In primary care, it's about building the relationship with the patient and being with them throughout their life, and that's something I've really enjoyed.”
“I wanted to expose the nursing students to primary care and advanced practice nurses who function at the master and doctorate level, hopefully piquing their interest in having them further their education,” explained Favuzza. “It's a wonderful experience for the students, especially since clinical sites have become very limited given the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The clinic has since been inundated with COVID-19 patients and recently vaccinating as many community members as they can. To aid in the fight, Favuzza opened the clinic's doors for Penn State Scranton nursing students in their last semester and nurse practitioner students to get hands-on clinical experience as well as important insight into COVID-19 work they will likely experience once they graduate.
“I think it's so important that we support the next generation of nurses as they navigate through being a new nurse amidst a global pandemic,” Favuzza said. “It's incredibly rewarding to see how excited the students get when they do something for the first time, and to be the reason they’re able to grow and learn as young professionals.” Despite her busy 90-hour work week, Favuzza remains positive and motivated to keep her community safe and continue to build her practice through providing COVID-19 care and immunizations.
Visit Hometown Health Care of NEPA on Facebook: @hometownhealthNEPA PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Faculty & Student Awards
Fick and Hill Honored with Distinguished Gerontological Nurse Educator Award
Image: Donna Fick
Image: Nikki Hill
Donna Fick, Penn State College of Nursing Elouise Ross Eberly Professor and director of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, and Nikki Hill, assistant professor and associate director of education of
the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, have been honored with the Distinguished Nurse Educator in Gerontological Nursing award. The award is presented by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE). The Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Program is an NHCGNE initiative that aims to recognize the leadership of nurse educators working with students, faculty, providers, and older adults in diverse settings.
Fick and Hill are among several nurse educators that lead the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE) and its efforts to improve the lives of older adults in positive and personcentered ways. Among the many resources the center provides, they also offer a multitude of research-backed programs and projects, such as the Researching Efficient Approaches to Delirium Identification (READI) – an identification protocol that helps detect delirium in hospitalized adults age 70 and older.
Nursing Scholars Recognized for their Focus on Gerontology The Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE) has officially announced their first-ever cohort of gerontological scholars. The scholars were awarded the distinction for their academic excellence and commitment to gerontological nursing. The CGNE Scholars Program, like so many of the center’s important initiatives, is funded annually through one of the endowments established by friends of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Each scholar receives a $4,000 scholarship plus up to an additional $1,000 in funding to attend a scientific conference.
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Lindsay Calvert, an MSN student with an Adult-Gerontology Nurse PractitionerPrimary Care focus at the University Park campus, has a special interest and passion for the subject of trauma in the older adult population. Lauren McNally, a senior BSN student at the Hershey campus, decided the CGNE Scholars Program was a beneficial avenue because of her interest and passion for ensuring the older adult population receives necessary healthcare attention.
Sanga Jung, a FNP certificate program student at the University Park campus, has clinical and research interests in primary prevention for older adults and elder-friendly technology. To learn more about the program, visit: www.nursing.psu.edu/ center-of-geriatric-nursingexcellence-cgne-scholarsprogram/
Age-Friendly Care, PA for Older Pennsylvanians Age-Friendly Care, PA (AFCPA) is a Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program funded through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. AFC-PA is a collaboration between the College of Nursing, the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence (CGNE), and the Primary Health Network (PHN), and aims to bring age-friendly care to Pennsylvania health systems, communities, individual care providers, and older Pennsylvanians themselves in support of optimizing the experience of aging, especially in the face of lockdowns. “We’ve tweaked our approach to match the needs of older adults in the PHN network during this pandemic, specifically around technology,” said Associate Dean for Research and Innovation and professor, Judith Hupcey. “Using the ECHO model (Extension for Community Health Outcomes), we are putting iPads with cellular service into the hands of PHN community health workers who can then connect patients in digitally challenged situations with health care providers using telehealth.” In 2019, College of Nursing researchers received a $3.75 million grant to implement a curriculum that educates and
supports healthcare providers and caregivers, while also providing valuable resources in medically underserved regions in Pennsylvania. The coronavirus pandemic spurred additional challenges for older adults and AFC-PA is poised to guide clinicians and caregivers as they navigate the post-COVID era.
What is Age-Friendly Care, PA? AFC-PA specializes in age- and dementia-friendly care and works to facilitate the implementation of the Age-Friendly Health Systems framework into current curriculums and health systems throughout Pennsylvania. An initiative of John A. Hartford Foundation and Institute for Healthcare Improvement in partnership with the American Hospital Association and Catholic Health Association of the United States, the evidence-based framework, known as the 4Ms, what matters, medication, mentation/mind, and mobility, ensures older adults receive quality care they are satisfied with. “The 4Ms Framework is transforming how we care for older adults, and we are humbled and excited to work with the Primary Health Network using an evidence-based approach that recognizes the voice of older adults, the need to stay physically
active, and the importance of brain health and medication use,” said Elouise Ross Eberly Professor of Nursing and Director of the CGNE, Donna Fick.
Caring for older adults with technology-based solutions Being that Pennsylvania is home to more than 2.2 million adults aged 65 and older with 18% of them living in rural locations, educating them on how to protect themselves from COVID-19 has been a top priority. AFC-PA pivoted to overcome challenges spurred by the pandemic with telehealth technology, giving clinicians iPads to continue caring for older adults in accordance with each older adult’s unique goals based on the 4Ms. In summer 2021, AFC-PA will launch free and open to the public learning modules for the community, having tailored learning objectives and content for clinicians and older adults or their caregivers. This outreach initiative will be an invaluable resource for older Pennsylvanians to help ensure their priorities are reflected in the care they receive. If you want to learn how to bring age-friendly care to your organization visit:
agefriendlycarepa.psu.edu.
PENN STATE NURSING MAGAZINE • SPRING 2021
Outreach
appointments, as well as a reminder on the importance of keeping up with the annual flu vaccine – a reminder to help listeners protect themselves from other health issues that might seem less important compared to the current crisis but are necessary to support ongoing health needs.
When it comes to health, there are so many ways we should be caring for ourselves, from nurturing our mental well-being to maintaining our physical health. With daily life throwing countless curveballs, simply remembering all the things we should do to best care for ourselves can pose a challenge. The Health Minute, in collaboration with Penn State’s College of Nursing and WPSU, the public media for Central Pennsylvania, serves to ensure listeners are being reminded to self-assess, with the overarching goal being to preserve good health and wellness. Thanks to the donation from Dr. Carline Crevecoeur and Dr. Michael Feffer, as well as support from WPSU producer and director, Cheraine Stanford, this healthrelated tips and best practices program covers a wide range of topics, from up-to-date COVID-19 pandemic news, health communications, and vaccine awareness. “We designed the Health Minute to reach a diverse and wide-spread audience by leveraging the digital [radio and internet] capabilities of WPSU. This is year two of our efforts to present timely, useful,
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and accurate information to thousands of Pennsylvanians” said Kelly Wolgast, Assistant Dean for Outreach and Professional Development and associate teaching professor. “This continues to be a strong partnership with WPSU.” An impactful Health Minute aired on January 6, 2021, on the topic of keeping connected during the pandemic, giving a prime example of how the program is covering pertinent health topics from all areas of health. This specific Health Minute helps to not only address physical health reminders but also suggests actions for mental health. Some of these tips included using video calling, social media, writing letters and sending care packages, or an online “coffee break” with co-workers, friends, and family. January 6th episode: radio.wpsu. org/post/health-minute-stayingconnected-during-covid-19-0 Another Health Minute from March 16, 2021, recaps the importance of keeping up to date with routine appointments during the pandemic. The episode recommends that you still make your typical doctor, dentist, and other annual health
March 16th episode: radio.wpsu. org/post/health-minute-routineappointments-during-pandemic No matter where you are or what you do, everyone feels the impacts of overwhelming busyness. Especially for college students, juggling academics, jobs, internships, and clubs can make self-care and health-related knowledge fall to the wayside. In short, getting swept up at work or school is not uncommon so short reminders are useful and impactful. The Health Minute spans one minute to share principal information, making key tips and actions easy to remember and integrate into your routine. WPSU Penn State is a PBS and NPR member station and a service of Penn State Outreach, supporting the community as a trusted source for news, information, and education. WPSU-TV and WPSU-FM reach 24 and 13 counties, respectively. In a primarily rural service area, WPSU maintains an over-the-air, cable, satellite, and digital delivery to ensure free and broad access for Pennsylvanians. Tune in on Tuesdays at 7:31 A.M. and 4:32 P.M. to get a minute’s worth of health information that will stick with you for longer than 60 seconds!
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