Outcomes, Volume Seven

outcomes Volume Seven, 2014

SETON HALL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF NURSING

Seton Hall Nurses:

A Force in Health Care for 75 Years

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contents 14 New College of Nursing Faculty

Alumni in Print 15 Faculty Achievements 16 Seton Hall Nursing: A Family Affair

With six of its members either currently enrolled or having graduated from the College of Nursing, the Schneider Family shares how the College has changed their lives – both professionally and personally.

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17 A Message from a College of Nursing Student

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A Message from the Dean

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Nursing News

4 Sister Rosemary Donley: The Natural

The College’s newest honorary degree

J amilyn Brierly Foundation for Anorexia Awareness

The Brierlys commemorate their daughter Jamilyn in the most selfless of ways.

recipient shares her surprising story of how she decided to pursue nursing – and why she never looked back.

5 Creating a Synergy

Take a look at some of the strategic new

partnerships that the College has formed in response to the IOM Report.

FEATURES 6 Diamond Jubilee: Celebrating 75 Years of Nursing Excellence

More than seven decades of leadership in nursing education culminate in a pair of exciting commemorative events.

10 Seton Hall Nurses as a Force

College of Nursing alumni are making

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Magazine credits: Editorial Staff: Phyllis Shanley Hansell, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, Dean; Christine Aromando, M.A. ‘06, Senior Account Manager/Editor-in-Chief; Judith Caruso, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE, Associate Dean; Kristyn Kent-Wuillermin, J.D., Director of Strategic Alliances, Marketing and Enrollment; Mary Yenesel, M.B.A., Director of Administrative Operations; Design: Juan Carvajal, M.A. ‘06, Graphic Designer; Lorraine Joyce, Associate Director of Publications.

Seton Hall University College of Nursing is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the New Jersey State Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

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a world of difference in such areas as vulnerable populations, the military, the aged, humanitarianism and even Seton Hall University’s own Board of Regents.

A Message from the Dean

Dear Alumni and Friends,

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ealthcare reform and the profession of nursing have embarked upon transformational journeys along parallel tracks toward a common goal of improved health care and the elimination of healthcare disparities. Since the days of Nightingale, nursing has focused on the promotion of health, the prevention of disease, the care of the sick and the comfort of the terminally ill. Although these basic precepts form the profession’s scope of practice, they do little to illuminate the general public’s understanding of the critical nature of the role of the nurse.

Although the nursing profession — with 3,000,000 practicing nurses — forms the backbone of the healthcare delivery system, the general public recognizes nurses for their exceptional expertise in providing care and comfort for their patients. What the public seems not to credit us with is the in-depth scientific foundation that undergirds the critical analysis and problemsolving skills that are the hallmark of the practice of nursing.

During the past decade, research has validated that the educational preparation of the nurse is tied to patient morbidity and mortality quality or, more simply, whether a patient lives or dies or develops a complication. Analogous to the barometer that monitors changes in the atmospheric pressure and changing weather patterns is the nurse’s ability to monitor changes in the patient’s condition. More often than not, it is the nurse who determines that the patient’s condition has taken a turn for the worse. Typically it is the nurse who is in the position to rescue the patient regardless of the care setting.

In tandem with healthcare reform, there is a call to action for the nursing profession that is focused upon the educational preparation of the profession at large. It is time that we unite for the greater good of the patient and health care. With nurses in such pivotal positions to monitor patients and implement patient rescue, the profession must address and embrace the B.S.N. as the minimum for practicing nurses along with the transition to the D.N.P. for advanced practice nurses. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has defined where we need to take the profession and it is now up to us to respond for the greater good of our mankind.

The College of Nursing at Seton Hall University is responding to the IOM call through the deployment of its alumni and its innovative, cutting-edge programs — from the B.S.N. to the D.N.P. and the Ph.D. I hope that you will be there to answer the call as we join together to advance healthcare reform and eliminate healthcare disparities.

Phyllis Shanley Hansell, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN Dean and Professor, College of Nursing

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NURSING NEWS

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BY MARY YENESEL, M.B.A.

C.N.L. Graduate Heads National Association Robert LaPointe, M.S.N. ’10, C.N.L., R.N., is now president of the national Clinical Nurse Leader Association, 2013-15.

According to its website, “the Clinical Nurse Leader Association (CNLA) was created from an identified need to provide a national forum for Clinical Nurse Leaders (C.N.L.) to support, collaborate and celebrate our unique and evolving role in all practice settings.

Through the CNLA, we will provide an opportunity to highlight the impact of the C.N.L. on quality, safety, patient and family satisfaction, and cost reduction. As a national organization, the CNLA will offer a collective voice to establish the C.N.L. within the microsystem as the solution of choice to ultimately link evidencebased practice to the point of care.”

LaPointe works in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia. He has presented at

two C.N.L. conferences on neurologic assessment and served on the Association’s Evidence-Based Practice and C.N.L. Conference Planning Committees. His other professional areas of interest include seclusion and restraint reduction, systems of care reform and statewide coalition building.

He received his certification as a C.N.L. after completing his entryinto-practice M.S.N. from Seton Hall and his M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University. He and his wife Lauren reside in South Jersey with their three children.

Seeing Red On February 1, 2013, the College of Nursing’s faculty, administrators, staff and students observed National Wear Red Day®, a day sponsored by the American Heart Association to call attention to heart disease, the number one killer of women. A presentation on heart disease and women, a heart-healthy buffet lunch with dishes brought in by participants and a heart-healthy activity were among the ways in which the day was observed.

Nursing Students Receive Mental Health First-Aid Certification In January 2013, the College of Nursing was pleased to announce its first cohort of students who were certified in Mental Health First Aid. Mental Health First Aid consists of a 12-hour course that offers an overview of mental illness and substance abuse issues. Students learn about warning signs and risk factors, as well as possible consequences and common treatments available.

Students in the program learn a five-step action plan that is key to providing assistance to someone in crisis. These steps include assessment, listening, providing reassurance and information, encouraging that person to seek professional help, self-help and other support strategies.

Leah Johnston-Rowbotham, M.S., APRN, BC, who facilitated the class for the Seton Hall nursing students in Fall 2012, noted that mental health assessment is a part of all nursing students’ curricula. Rowbotham said, “Mental health and physical health are inextricably linked, and I am so proud that our students have this additional certification that will strengthen their professional knowledge base.”

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Seton Hall Nurses Serve on New Jersey Action Coalition Subcommittee

Community Leaders Complete Healthcare Literacy Training

Several nurses with College of Nursing connections are serving on the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) Residency Subcommittee of the New Jersey Action Coalition.

College of Nursing associate dean Judith Caruso, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE, chairs the subcommittee, which includes among its members College faculty member Eileen Toughill, Ph.D., R.N., APN, C.N.L.; adjunct faculty member Barbara Smith, M.S.N., R.N.; and August 2012 C.N.L. program graduate Heather Heil. Additionally, faculty member Maryanne Barra-Schneider, D.N.P., FNP-BC, R.N., served as a former member of the subcommittee.

The subcommittee has stated its goal as “to facilitate the transition of APRNs into complex practice environments thereby improving the quality of care and increasing nurse retention by recommending a residency training program for action, implementation and evaluation.”

To reach its goal, the subcommittee has the following objectives: to expand the depth and breadth of APRN clinical training and volume of visits to handle complex patients; to accelerate the clinical skills and judgment, confidence, productivity and job satisfaction of novice APRNs to serve complex patients and contribute to employer satisfaction and work force retention; and to develop competencies needed for APRNs of the future.

The subcommittee reports back to the Education Committee of the New Jersey Action Coalition, which is one of 48 coalitions throughout the country that were created in response to the 2010 Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.

Since its formation in June 2011, the subcommittee has undertaken many efforts, including the development of an APRN residency program in primary care, the identification of health centers in New Jersey that are interested in piloting a program and the drafting of a grant application aimed at seeking funding for the program’s implementation.

Developed by College of Nursing faculty and students, training aimed at making community leader volunteers disseminators of health information to their constituents was completed in Fall 2012 at the College.

Ten sessions were conducted by College of Nursing professors Eileen Toughill, Ph.D., R.N., APN, C.N.L., and Mary Ellen Roberts, D.N.P., R.N., APN, C, FAANP, FAAN; associate dean Judith Caruso, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE; and other faculty. As many as 18 leaders attended each twohour session.

Health topics covered at the sessions included diabetes, respiratory and heart diseases, cancer and healthy eating.

This training initiative is part of a partnership between the College and Salerno Medical Associates to improve health care in the community (see Outcomes, Volume Six, for more information). The partnership also is designed to support patients’ abilities to direct and improve their own health.

On evaluation forms regarding the training, one leader identified nutrition and exercise as the topics that were most helpful, commenting, “Being ‘considered’ obese because of my BMI rating, it was helpful to learn how to maintain a healthy weight and encourage others to do the same.”

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SPOTLIGHT

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BY CHRISTINE AROMANDO, M.A. ’06

Sister The Rosemary Donley Natural Photos by Laurie McCoy-Foster

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he stood up as her name was announced. Beaming with pride, she walked toward the altar, ready to accept the honorary degree that was being bestowed upon her.

That day — Friday, November 30, 2012 — the College of Nursing community had gathered at Seton Hall’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception to celebrate as Sister Rosemary Donley, S.C., Ph.D., APRN-BC, FAAN, added a Doctor of Humane Letters to her already impressive list of achievements. From her work as a Sister of Charity of Seton Hill, to her accomplishments as past president of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society, to her current position as holder of the Jacques Laval Endowed Chair in Justice for Vulnerable Populations at Duquesne University School of Nursing, Sister Donley has dedicated her career to serving those in need and advancing the nursing profession.

Sister Donley’s natural tendencies toward nursing appeared unexpectedly as a young girl, when her sights were set on a completely different goal. “I wanted to be a teacher,” she recalls. “If anyone had asked me, I would have liked to teach English or be a librarian. I love books!” Thus, she spent her first year as a Sister of Charity teaching second grade, followed by a canonical year serving back at the motherhouse. It was then that she was assigned to bring trays of food to Mother Rose Genevieve, a superior within the Sisters of Charity who was elderly and chronically ill. Sister Donley did more than bring and collect her trays; she would stay with her and make sure she was eating and feeling well. By the time her canonical year was up, Sister Donley had made such an impression on Mother Rose Genevieve that she was encouraged by the mistress to pursue nursing instead of teaching. It was a decision that would change her life. “I went to nursing school, and after about two days, I knew this was what I wanted to do. I was enthralled by it,” says Sister Donley.

After completing her B.S.N., Sister Donley embarked on a career that would lead to her M.N.Ed. and her Ph.D.; to Catholic University of America, where she would serve as dean of nursing and, later, executive vice president; and to Seton Hall University College of Nursing in 1976. At that time, the College had big plans to start its own chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. “There was a whole set of procedures for how you would do that. One involved a visit by a national officer to see how you were

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interpreting the guidelines. So, I went to Seton Hall,” Sister Donley explains. There, she played a critical role in developing and officially installing the Gamma Nu chapter, then returned over the years to give lectures and presentations. Decades later, in 2005, she helped secure approval for the College’s Ph.D. in Nursing program, which is now fully enrolled with 45 students.

Five years ago, Sister Donley obtained what she calls her “dream job” at Duquesne University School of Nursing. The Laval Chair — named after Jacques Laval, a Spiritan priest who dedicated himself to helping newly freed African slaves on the island of Mauritius — blends ethics with Sister Donley’s three research interests: health policy, clinical decision making and healthcare literacy.

“I work with the faculty to infuse social justice into the curriculum, and I run our annual Rita M. McGinley Symposium,” she says. “I also teach courses in social justice and health policy. This is my perfect job.”

“I’ve had wonderful opportunities,” she continues.

“I love nursing just as much now as I did on day two of nursing school. And I always look forward to what’s going to be next for me within this profession.”

Creating a Synergy

By Judith Caruso, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE

Continually striving to meet the goals of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, Seton Hall University College of Nursing has initiated some exciting, new, strategic partnerships.

The IOM Report is calling for 80 percent of R.N.s across the nation to be prepared with baccalaureate degrees by 2020, as evidence has indicated a correlation between more positive patient outcomes and a B.S.N.prepared nursing staff. In addition, the report is seeking to double the percentage of nurses prepared at the doctoral level from the current one percent (to two percent), paving the way for more doctoral-prepared faculty to meet the nursing faculty shortage. Since the College of Nursing has an R.N.-.to-B.S.N. program, as well as numerous graduate programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, the College is well positioned to meet these goals.

The College is now in the process of establishing relationships and contracts with several healthcare facilities to provide an R.N.-to-B.S.N. program, as well as graduate programs, to their students at 25 percent discounted rates. Several of these healthcare facilities, including Meridian Health System, Atlantic Health, Somerset Medical Center and Valley Hospital, have very active employee/student participation.

Sister Donley (left) worked closely with the first Gamma Nu president, Francesca (Mimi) Champion (right), to install the Sigma Theta Tau chapter at Seton Hall.

Students themselves have reported the positive synergy and outcomes they have experienced when they have attended classes online or face-to-face with their colleagues from work. Graduate student and Meridian employee Michael Rupp recently spoke about how the discounted tuition enabled him to pursue his master’s degree at Seton Hall University, “a prestigious university with a notable graduate nursing program.” Several employees from Somerset Medical Center have also completed their B.S.N. degrees and then have continued on to complete their M.S.N. degrees in Health Systems Administration, stating that the camaraderie and support they received from each other as they were all “going back to school” gave them great encouragement.

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FEATURE

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BY JUDITH CARUSO, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE

DIAMOND JUBILEE:

Celebrating

75 Years

of Nursing

Excellence

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s stated by Seton Hall University President A. Gabriel Esteban, a “diamond” anniversary truly befits one of “Seton Hall University’s crown jewels.”

Indeed, the College of Nursing has left an indelible mark on both the University and the nursing profession throughout its 75 years of nursing excellence.

Since its humble beginnings in 1937 on Clinton Street in Newark as the first baccalaureate nursing program in New Jersey, the College has emerged as a recognized leader in nursing education, offering a full array of nursing programs at the baccalaureate through the doctoral level. More than 8,000 students have successfully completed these programs and are now making a difference in patient care around the world.

To celebrate this prestigious anniversary, the College of Nursing held a pair of commemorative events during the later months of 2012. The festivities began with a White Mass celebration at the University’s Chapel of the Immaculate Conception on November 30. During this celebratory mass, Sister Rosemary Donley, S.C., Ph.D., APRN-BC, FAAN, was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters to recognize her years of professional nursing achievements.

The remarkable accomplishments of Seton Hall nursing alumni were recognized at the College’s Diamond Jubilee Gala, held at the Pleasantdale Château in West Orange, New Jersey, on December 2. More than 220 College faculty, administration, staff, alumni and friends were in attendance. Dean Phyllis Hansell, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, welcomed those who attended with an address, stating, “The College of Nursing has grown to include a student body of approximately 900 undergraduate students and more than 200 graduate

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Photos by Laurie McCoy-Foster

for the Meridian Health System. The award was accepted by his wife Christine, as Richard was, at the time, too ill to attend the event. Hader leaves behind a long legacy of national recognition for outstanding contributions in nursing administration, leadership and research. He was the former editor-in-chief of

students. Our graduate programs are ranked among the top graduate nursing programs nationwide by U.S.News & World Report.” She also noted that the master’s degrees and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) degree are all offered online. She then discussed the development of the Ph.D. program, which was established in 2006 and is fully enrolled with 45 students.

Ten of these students received full funding from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) grant, with another student funded by the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence. As of this year, eight Ph.D. students (five RWJF scholars) have graduated, along with the first D.N.P. graduate.

“The College’s legacy of professional development is just one aspect of its remarkable story,” said President Esteban.

Nursing Management, and among his many awards, he was named the New Jersey Hospital Association Healthcare 2011 Professional of the Year.

Two young, dynamic alumni were honored with the Elizabeth Ann Seton Young Alumni Awards. Jeffrey Booth ’04, M.B.A., R.N., CPA, CPH, was a second-degree nursing student who had studied accounting, finance and business. After graduating as valedictorian in 2004, Booth went on to practice nursing at Jersey Shore University Medical Center. His expertise in performance improvement endeavors and cost-saving initiatives, coupled with

President Esteban then took the podium, noting, “The College of Nursing’s celebrated history provides countless examples of alumni leadership in the healthcare industry, which accounts for almost 20 percent of our economy. The College’s legacy of professional development is just one aspect of its remarkable story. Among its faculty, administrators and more than 8,000 alumni, we see a commitment to the sick, the suffering and the dying that is shaped by the University’s Catholic mission to prepare servant leaders steeped in selflessness and compassion.”

Recognizing Professional Service Accomplishments The Margaret C. Haley Distinguished Alumnus Award went to the late Richard Hader, M.S.N. ’87, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, CHE, NE, BC, CPHQ, senior vice president and senior nursing officer

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FEATURE

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Photos by Laurie McCoy-Foster

The Nelson Aquino Humanitarian Award was named after Nelson Aquino ’97, M.S., CRNA, and was first presented to him in 2011 in recognition of his humanitarian work. Aquino, a nurse anesthetist at Children’s Hospital Boston, spent time in Haiti after the January 2010 earthquake providing anesthesia

his nursing expertise, served as a strong foundation for his current role as operating room manager. Varsha Singh, M.S.N. ’09, APN-C, is currently the manager of employee health/ adult medical clinic at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Rahway, New Jersey. Singh’s past healthcare experiences in India, Trinitas Hospital and Trinitas School of Nursing, as well as her past position as a stroke coordinator, demonstrate her extensive clinical background. She has been recognized as the Education Hero Finalist for the sixth NJBIZ Health Care Heroes Award for making a significant contribution to quality health care in New Jersey. As a constant learner and leader of excellence, Singh is now enrolled in the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. program.

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Since its humble beginnings in 1937, the College has emerged as a recognized leader in nursing education. for surgeries and post-anesthesia care in tents and emergency medical units. The 2012 recipient of the Nelson Aquino Humanitarian Award was Laura Tauscher ’00, R.N., CHPN, in recognition of her work as a nurse liaison for Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center. Tauscher works each day to assist families in negotiating difficult decisions regarding endof-life care and serious illness. Having been in hospice nursing for over 10 years, Tauscher has firsthand experience assisting patients and their families with the frustration felt by many when they are faced with difficult end-of-life decisions within the current healthcare system. She credits her Seton Hall education with the motivation to be a servant leader in her professional career path.

Celebrating Professional Excellence: Expanding the College of Nursing Hall of Honor The College of Nursing Hall of Honor dates back to 2000 with the first 18 inductees recognized for their professional achievements in nursing as well as in the broader healthcare arena. In 2005, 13 awards were created for additional inductees into the Hall of Honor. At the Diamond Jubilee Gala, 21 new inductees were honored, bringing the current number of members to 52.

The evening spanned a wonderful 75 years of nursing excellence, with new honorees and previous honorees celebrating together.

2013 Hall of Honor Inductees

Susan Salmond, M.S.N. ’77, Ed.D., R.N., CNE, FAAN

2000 Hall of Honor Inductees

Mary Boland, M.S.N. ’78, Dr.P.H., R.N., FAAN

Patricia Tabloski, M.S.N. ’78, Ph.D., GNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN

Elizabeth Baumgartner ’55, M.S., R.N.

Catherine Cassidy ’65, Ph.D., R.N., APN-C Mary Ellen Clyne ’87/M.S.N. ’93/Ph.D. ’12, R.N., NEA-BC Bernadette Countryman, M.S.N. ’84, R.N. Marc DeMoya ’93, M.D., M.Ed.

Colonel Lisa Toven ’91, M.S.N., M.A.A., M.M.A.S., M.S., R.N. Nelson Tuazon, M.S.N. ’94, M.A.Ed., M.B.A., R.N., NE-A, CPHQ, FACHE

Mary Ann Christopher, M.S.N. ’83, R.N., FAAN Sara M. Errickson ’46, R.N. Alice Rennick Ettinger, M.S.N. ’85, R.N. Ruben Fernandez ’75, M.A., R.N.

Barbara Frischman ’94, R.N., CCRN

2005 Hall of Honor Inductees

Judy Honig, M.S.N. ’85, Ed.D., D.N.P., R.N., CPNP

Virginia Burggraf, M.S.N. ’79, D.N.S., R.N., FAAN

James Fletcher Lawrence, Jr. ’96, Ph.D., APRN, BC, FAANP, CPS

Francesca Champion ’60, M.A., R.N.

Jean D’Meza Leuner ’75, Ph.D., R.N., CNE, FAAN

Catherine Georges ’65, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN

Alice McGill ’62, Ph.D., R.N. Ann Scanlon McGinity ’72, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN

Richard Hader, M.S.N. ’87, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, CHE, NE, BC, CPHQ

Mary D. Miller ’75, M.S., R.N., GNP-BC, ANP-BC

Catherine Hanley ’62, R.N., FAAN, FACHE

Lucille A. Joel ’63, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN

Betty Foronda Miranda, M.S.N. ’00, R.N., M.A.E., FAAN

Sister Teresa Harris ’58, M.S.N., R.N.

Jean R. Marshall, M.S.N. ’89, R.N., FAAN

George Hebert ’75, M.A., R.N.

Dorothy M. Ozimek ’50, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN

Anne G. Peach ’76, M.S.N., R.N., CNAA, BC

Nancy Holocek ’83, M.H.A., R.N.

Nancy Schmieder Redeker ’80/M.S.N. ’85, Ph.D., R.N., FAHA, FAAN

Mary Ann Rizzolo ’64, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN

Rita Marie John, M.S.N. ’80, D.N.P., Ed.D., R.N.

Laurie Sherwen ’70, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN

Veronica Rempusheski ’75, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN, FGSA

Muriel Shore ’61, Ed.D., R.N.

Mary Ellen Roberts, M.S.N. ’90/M.A. ’90, D.N.P., R.N., APN-C, FAANP, FAAN Phyllis Russo ’61/Ed.D. ’86, R.N.

Nora Corcoran ’57, M.S., R.N.

Jill Schilip ’68, M.A., R.N.

Dorothy Flemming ’78, M.S.N., R.N. Carol German ’62, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN Robert Hess, M.S.N. ’88, Ph.D., R.N., FAAN Annette Hubbard ’58, R.N. Ruth Hutchison ’63, Dr.P.H., R.N., APRN-BC Josephine Iorio ’58, M.Ed., R.N.

Toni Sullivan ’62, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN

Mary Ann Scoloveno ’65, Ed.D., R.N.

Music for the Gala was provided by Denise Black and The Black Magic Swing Band in memory of Black’s cousin, the late Racquel “Rae” Spinelli McNeil ’58.

The Gala raised over $20,000 for nursing scholarships. Additionally, with Hurricane Sandy causing widespread devastation throughout parts of New Jersey, the College of Nursing donated money to Governor Christie’s New Jersey Relief Fund to aid families in need.

The College of Nursing is very grateful to its many benefactors and supporters over the years. Looking ahead, the College will continue to rely on its faculty, alumni and supporters to maintain its position as a leader in nursing education and excellence, preparing servant leaders in a global society.

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Nurses as Seton Hall

A FORCE Vulnerable Populations: Big Investment, Tremendous Rewards

As part of a Catholic University, the College of Nursing ensures that students work with vulnerable populations.

Vulnerable populations are broadly defined as those at risk for health disparities and may include certain racial or ethnic populations, or populations related to socioeconomic status, geography, gender, age, disability status or risk status related to sex and gender. After graduation, our alumni continue to work with vulnerable populations throughout the world.

Romelia Freydel ’08, R.N., who currently works at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center - Barnabas Health, recently enrolled in our Pediatric Nurse Practitioner M.S.N. program. Freydel began her career at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Newark Beth Israel, working with critically ill newborns; she now works in their Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), where she works with critically ill infants, children and teenagers.

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From the College’s home state of New Jersey all the way to the Gaza Strip, from patients with mere minutes of life to those with nearly a century, Seton Hall nurses work every day to improve health care all over the world in a variety of ways, like Major Kristine Broger ’02, M.S.N., R.N., M.H.A., CCRN (above, right).

Although it is sometimes a challenge to work with this vulnerable population, the benchmarks that occur when a patient is improving are very rewarding. “The hardest part of my job is when parents have to visit their sick child every day, but that is where I help make a difference. My happiest moments are getting to witness our patients’ milestones, whether it’s drinking from a bottle or holding a pacifier on their own. When a parent finally gets to take their child home, it is extremely gratifying,” says Freydel.

Freydel generally meets a child for the first time when they are admitted to the PICU. She notes, “The progression from sick child to well child is incredible; it is like watching a child come back to life.”

Special Needs Children The Morris-Union Jointure Commission is a regional collaborative public school district that provides services and programs to meet the special needs of its 29 constituent school districts, and the three school nurses who work there

Photo of Broger by Ben Bloker. Used with permission from Stars and Stripes. Copyright 2007,2013, Stars and Stripes.

FEATURE

are all Seton Hall alumni. Elizabeth Donzella ’83, R.N., and Angela Valerio ’80, R.N., both earned certificates in school nursing from Seton Hall in 1998 and 2008, respectively. Laura Sgalia ’10, R.N., is wrapping up courses at the College of Nursing to complete her certification.

The commission educates 240 children who have been diagnosed with varying stages of autism. As school nurses, Donzella, Valerio and Sgalia have to assist those students, as well as staff; a good percentage of their patients are actually staff who have been (unintentionally) injured by students. Sgalia notes that an objective of the commission is to integrate students, many of whom have co-morbidities, into the community, which presents a special challenge for the nurses.

She says, “As part of the program, students use the pool, and we have to be present and prepared if they experience a seizure or multiple seizures.”

Valerio adds that “children with unmet health needs have a difficult time engaging in the educational process. Therefore, maximizing a student’s health status will increase their ability to learn.”

Still, they all enjoy working with this population.

Sgalia states, “I have always been a huge believer in the power of therapy, from my work at Kessler working with patients who have brain injuries, to what I experience every day here. Working continuously to get students and patients to the highest level of functioning possible is what I adore most about this field.”

By Kristyn Kent-Wuillermin, J.D.

Perpetual Optimism is a Force Multiplier As an increasing number of soldiers are discharged from the armed forces, Seton Hall University provides new opportunities to help veterans pursue an education in nursing. Veterans enroll through multiple points of entry, and the College of Nursing continues to streamline the application process, as well as improve the educational experience for them, to ensure they can meet their academic and professional goals.

Edward Cuza ’12, R.N., joined the U.S. Air Force immediately after high school and served for five years, becoming an emergency medical technician along the way. When researching nursing programs, he was interested in Seton Hall, but wasn’t sure he had the necessary financial resources. Nonetheless, while serving in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he contacted the College — setting his alarm for the middle of the night so he could speak with Linda Ulak, Ed.D., R.N., associate dean of student affairs, learning outcomes and assessment, who helped Cuza with the application process.

To fund his Pirate education, Cuza took advantage of the Post9/11 G.I. Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program through Seton Hall. What appealed most to him about the program was the clinical immersion for students in the first semester. “Working with patients has always been the most exciting aspect of nursing to me. I had just come back from the UAE, where I had been helping sick and wounded military personnel. I really wanted to build my knowledge base by continuing hands-on care of patients,” said Cuza, who received general credits for his military experience.

Cuza presented at a national conference for the American Assembly of Men in Nursing and became the founding student of New Jersey’s only AAMN chapter.

Kristine B. Schwartzkopf, M.S.N., APN-C, is enrolled in the post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the College of Nursing. As the first generation of a Filipino family, Schwartzkopf has always felt lucky to be a U.S. citizen and believes in giving back. She initially planned to enlist in the U.S. military while in high school, but her family encouraged her to attend college first. She earned her B.S.N. and then joined the Air Force.

She spent more than 11 years in the Air Force and was deployed to Qatar during Operation Enduring Freedom.

She was one of only four people in the Air Force selected for a scholarship, which enabled her to earn an M.S.N. degree as a family nurse practitioner from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.

Freydel has made a rewarding career out of helping to nurse ill infants, children and teenagers back to health.

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FEATURE

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Schwartzkopf was drawn to Seton Hall University because it is a Catholic university, and because her mother, also a nurse, had started an M.S.N. program here but did not complete it. “I felt a responsibility to come to Seton Hall and finish my D.N.P. degree, to complete a circle for my mother,” she said.

With the benefits of the Montgomery G.I. Bill and the Yellow Ribbon Program, Schwartzkopf will complete her terminal degree fully funded as a veteran.

Schwartzkopf plans to complete the program within 36 months. Meanwhile, she and her husband are thrilled to be first-time parents. Discharged as a Major in the Air Force, Schwartzkopf is appreciative of the benefits she received in the military, but has been excited to welcome her new child as a civilian. “We couldn’t wait to meet this baby!”

By Kristyn Kent-Wuillermin, J.D.

Caring for the Aged Those getting dangerously close to being considered “old” (including the author of this article) tend to shy away from words like “aged” or “the elderly.” Regardless of semantics, nurses, as this country’s primary caregivers, are the primary force in the care of the millions of aging Americans. Such care must be evidence-based, compassionate, professional and innovative.

Seton Hall University College of Nursing is fortunate to have Mary Ellen Roberts, D.N.P., R.N., APN, C, FAANP, FAAN, as one who not only teaches such care but has also been directly involved in such efforts as the Senior Healthcare Outreach Program (SHOP), which brings a medical team to senior buildings in the greater Essex County area. According to Roberts, “each team is made up of a nurse practitioner,

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a medical assistant and a pharmacist. It is like bringing the medical office itself right into their building.” Such programs make preventative care accessible, more affordable and often more palatable for many seniors who might not otherwise be able to keep up with their own health care.

Roberts has also been a pioneer in the effort to increase the visibility of nurse practitioners across the country and states that she is extremely proud of her seminal white paper for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners in favor of the D.N.P. degree. “This paper continues to stand as the voice for more than 50,000 nurse practitioners,” she said.

When asked what was needed from nurses to increase quality services to seniors, Roberts said that “a team-based approach without limitations to our practice will help give seniors the ability to choose their care.” With champions like Roberts leading the charge for improved care for seniors, such a goal appears to be just within reach.

By Leah Johnston-Rowbotham, M.S., APRN, BC

Humanitarianism at its Finest “The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away.”

- Joy J. Golliver This quote is the essence of being a humanitarian and embodies two of the College of Nursing’s most selfless alumni: Nelson Aquino ’97, M.S., CRNA, and Laura Tauscher ’00, R.N., CHPN – two of the recipients of the College’s Humanitarian Award, which was established in 2011.

Aquino is a nurse anesthetist at Children’s Hospital Boston. He provides anesthesia for a wide variety of pediatric cases, including heart disease. Aquino found his “gift” in becoming an R.N.; he discovered the “purpose of life” through his volunteer work with organizations like Heart Care International, which organizes mission trips to deliver quality health care to children with life threatening diseases in developing countries. He has traveled to the Dominican Republic, Ramallah, Gaza Strip and El Salvador.

In 2010, Aquino volunteered in Haiti to care for victims of the earthquake.

Tauscher is now community liaison for BHHPCC/program development. Part of her work is the difficult challenge of meeting with families to discuss hospice and palliative care. This can be very challenging as families are often in crisis about the health and decline of their loved ones. Tauscher’s gentleness, compassion and empathy assist these families at this difficult time when it is crucial for healthcare personnel, patients and families to work together.

By Linda Ulak, Ed.D., R.N.

Members with a Purpose Aquino was part of the Haiti Disaster Relief in 2010. A year later, he served on a mission in Grozny, Chechnya, participating in surgeries with humanitarian surgeon Khassan Baiev, author of The Oath: A Surgeon Under Fire. Aquino is a member of the American Assembly of Men in Nursing, Society of Pediatric Anesthesia, Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society and American Association of Nurse Anesthetists. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Association of Nurse Anesthetists and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Gamma Nu Chapter. For his outstanding humanitarian efforts, the College of Nursing chose to name its Humanitarian Award after Aquino.

Like Aquino, Tauscher also found her “gift” through nursing and discovered the “purpose of life” through her work in hospice care. Tauscher came to Seton Hall University after several stops along the road of life. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in English Literature. After 10 years of life experiences as a front office manager, concierge and administrative assistant in South Africa and Dallas, Texas, Tauscher was back in New Jersey, completing her prerequisites and entering the College’s second-degree nursing program.

She went above and beyond in her studies, graduating as the valedictorian of her class.

Since then, Tauscher has been busy expanding her nursing career. Until 2006, she was the nurse case manager for Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center (BHHPCC). Her duties included home visits, nursing home visits, on-call visits, on-call telephone triage and coordination of care for hospice patients with interdisciplinary team members.

Seton Hall University’s 35-member Board of Regents is proud to have the expertise of two College of Nursing alumnae. Anne (Touhill) Cantine ’11 has been a board member since her graduation in 2011. Mary Ann Christopher, M.S.N ’83, R.N., FAAN, brings her expertise as a healthcare leader and president & CEO of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Cantine stated, “It has been a remarkable opportunity to be on the Board of Regents, which provides me with a ‘behind the scenes’ look at the integrated processes required to run a successful organization. The exposure and interaction with so many talented and dedicated Board members has greatly influenced my perspective and career path.” Cantine is the youngest member on the Board. She believes that Seton Hall has a specific responsibility and role as a Catholic institution to integrate both academia and mission, to equip future nurses not only for a career, but rather a vocation in servant leadership.

Christopher reflects on her contribution to the Board of Regents, stating, “As a member of the Board of Regents, I have the opportunity to participate as a steward of the mission and purpose of Seton Hall University. As an alumna of the University, I have been the beneficiary of the Setonian values, relying on them to guide my ministry as a nurse and as a leader of mission-driven health care. I integrate the educational foundation I received at Seton Hall with the experience I have gained as a nurse leader to partner with the administration and colleagues on the Board of Regents to drive the vision, support the strategy and shepherd the direction of this great University.”

By Judith Caruso, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE

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NURSING FACULTY NEW

COLLEGE OF

Afua Yeboah Ampiaw, M.S.N., R.N., joined the Undergraduate Department in 2013 as an instructor with a specialty focus in adult nursing. Ampiaw holds a bachelor of arts from the University of Ghana and an M.S.N. in Health Systems Administration from Seton Hall University, where she received the Catherine Denning Award and the Experiential Education Student Award. She also holds a post-master’s certificate in nursing education from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a preceptor certificate from St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center. Her nursing experience includes six years of clinical experience for the Ministry of Health in Ghana and eight years of experience as a staff nurse at various units at St. Luke’s Roosevelt.

Afua Yeboah Ampiaw

Photos by Milan Stanic

Minnie Campbell

Luz-Patricia Torres

Alumni in

PRINT

By Bonnie Sturm, Ed.D., R.N., and Marie Foley, Ph.D., R.N.

Minnie Campbell, D.N.Sc., R.N., joined the Undergraduate Department in 2013 as a visiting professor. Campbell recently retired from Kean University, where she served as faculty member, department chairperson and executive director of the nursing program. At the time of her retirement, she held the rank of professor with tenure. Prior to her appointment at Kean, she held faculty positions at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, for 13 years. Her specialty area is community health nursing. Her clinical nursing experience includes positions at Bellevue Medical Center, Martland Medical Center, Visiting Nurse Service of New York and the Department of Health in New York City. Campbell holds a B.S. in Nursing from Hunter College, M.Ed. in Nursing Education/Community Health Nursing from Columbia University and a D.N.Sc. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Luz-Patricia Torres, M.S.N., R.N., joined the Undergraduate Department in 2013 as an instructor with a focus in maternity nursing. Torres holds a B.S.N. and M.S.N. from the College of St. Elizabeth. Since 2002 she has practiced as a staff nurse in labor and delivery at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. A member of Sigma Theta Tau International and the American Nurses Association, she has one publication in review. Torres is certified as an inpatient labor and delivery nurse and is a neonatal resuscitation program provider.

The academic year 2012-13 proved to be a productive year for students and recent alumni of the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. and D.N.P. programs.

The College’s recently published doctoral students include: • Patricia Sciscione, who published an article in NASN School Nurse titled “Bed Bugs: They ARE Back!

The Role of the School Nurse in Bed Bug Management” • Lisa Heelan, who will soon have an article in the Journal of Perinatal Education on fetal monitoring, safety and informed choice • Kathleen Zavotsky, who co-authored an article with her colleagues in the Journal of Emergency Nursing related to early pregnancy loss and bereavement in the emergency department, as well as an article with L. Martino on implementing the CIWA tool • Diane McClure, who co-authored an article in Nursing Management titled “Practice Models: A Concept Analysis”

The scholarship of these students is quite impressive, considering they all either work full time or are full-time students pursuing their doctoral degrees.

Additionally, 2011 alumna Mary Jo Bugel had an article accepted for publication in Pediatric Nursing on her dissertation, which examined the experience of school-age siblings of a child with traumatic injury, as well as an article in the American Journal of Nursing related to the role of the clinical nurse leader.

Currently, there are 45 Ph.D. and 22 D.N.P. students actively pursuing their degrees at the College of Nursing.

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faculty achievements

College of Nursing faculty members continue to showcase their dedication to and expertise in the healthcare industry through a variety of achievements and publications. The following are just a few notable examples of what they have accomplished.

Grants Caruso, J. and Clerkin, V. Received Robert Wood Johnson Foundation New Careers in Nursing scholarship funding, 2013-2014.

Halley-Boyce, J. Received Faculty Innovation Grant from Seton Hall University, Information Management, for project titled “A Virtual World Case Study for Graduate Nursing and Health Administration Students: Analyzing Hospital Patient Flow and Revenue Capture,” Academic Year 2011-2012, $5,000. $3,000 was given to Teaching, Learning and Technology Center to develop the design in Second Life. Each Principal/FIG awardee was given $1,000 for financial support to promote the Virtual Hospital in the Greater Healthcare Community outside of Seton Hall University at conference presentations or in scholarly papers.

Honors Byrnes, M. Mariology Scholarship, Seton Hall UniversityCatholic Studies Institute, Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, Rome, Italy, June 2013.

Caruso, J. Fellowship Award, American College of Healthcare Executives, 2012.

Caruso, J. Professional Nurse Award, ONE of NJ, 2012.

Clerkin, V. Certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader, Commission on Nurse Certification, an autonomous arm of AACN, and governed by the CNC Board of Commissioners, 2012.

Clerkin, V. NLN Ambassador Award, National League of Nurses, 2012.

Foley, M. Outstanding School Nurse Educator Award, National Association of School Nurses, 2012.

Galehouse, P. SERPN Jeannette Chamberlain Award, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, San Antonio, Texas, April 19, 2013.

Roberts, M. Fellowship Award, American Academy of Nursing, 2012.

Sternas, K. Researcher of the Year, Seton Hall University, 2012.

Toughill, E. An article, “Celiac Disease: A Medical Puzzle,” which was written, in part, by Toughill and which appeared in the American Journal of Nursing’s October 2012 issue, won a Clarion Award, an industry award across all disciplines.

Wall, M.P. Innovation in Biobehavioral Research Award (Faculty Category), Research! Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, 2012.

Presentations Delivered Byrnes, M.; Kutzin, J.; Rosenthal, M. “Everyone’s a Winner — An Interprofessional Education Workshop for Health Professional Students: Building an Academic Service Partnership,” 2013 International Nurse Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Byrnes, M. “QSEN Nursing Student Exemplars,” Presentation to SHU Student Nurse Association, 2012.

Byrnes, M. “QSEN Faculty Workshop,” Presentation to Seton Hall University College of Nursing Faculty, 2012.

Clerkin, V. “Facilitation of the CNL Role Through Successful Collaboration Between Practice Partners; the University and Acute Care Setting,” Clinical Nurse Leader Summit, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2013.

Foley, M. (2012). “Health Service Management.”

In Janice Selekman (Ed.) School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text, 2nd Ed., pp. 1190-1215.

Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co.

Dellert, J. and Johnson, P. “Interventions With Children and Parents to Improve Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: A Meta-Analysis,” Journal of Health Promotion, 25th Scientific Session of the Eastern Nursing Research Society, Boston, Massachusetts, 2013.

Foley, M. and Selekman, J. (2012). “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Disabilities.”

In Janice Selekman (Ed.) School Nursing: A Comprehensive Text, 2nd Ed., pp. 840-871 Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Co.

Galehouse, P. and Baxter, C. “Writing Abstracts and Objectives,” in B. Hart (Coordinator), “From a Thought to the Podium: Lessons for Professional Presentations,” 15th Annual Conference of International Society of Psychiatric Nurses, San Antonio, Texas, April 18, 2013.

Fortier, M. (2013). “Predictors of Success on the NCLEX-RN.” The Journal of the New York State Nurses Association.

Galehouse, P.; Yearwood, E.; Hines-Martin, V.; HortonDeutsch, S.; Minarik, P.A. & Shirk, M. “Together: Exploring Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Preventing Exclusion in our Personal and Professional Lives: Part 1,” 15th Annual Conference of International Society of Psychiatric Nurses, San Antonio, Texas, April 18, 2013.

Halley-Boyce, J. “Constructing a Virtual Healthcare Environment,” Chi Eta Phi Sorority 61st Northeast Regional Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 18, 2013.

Lothian, J. “The Experience of Prenatal Care for Women Who Plan Home Birth,” Normal Birth Conference, Grange-over-Sands, UK, June 2013.

Lucas, J.; Bowblis, J.R.; and Straker, J. “LTC Staff Issues and Practices: The Effect on Quality, Gerontological Society of America,” 65th Annual Scientific Meeting, San Diego, California, 2012.

Roberts, M. “Drugs Don’t Work in Patients Who Don’t Take Them: Countering Non-Adherence,” American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2013.

Roberts, M. “Cardiovascular Disease Affects Women Differently: Are you Prepared,” American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2013.

Roberts, M. “Call to Action: Shaping the Future for Nurse Practitioners,” American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2013.

Roberts, M. “The National Nurse Practitioner Research Agenda,” International Conference of Nurses-APN, London, England, 2012.

Publications Byrnes, M.; Kutzin, J.; Rosenthal, M.; Mal, F.; PaparellaPitzel, S. & Lo, V. (2012). “Sepsis in Postpartum Patient: A Simulation Scenario for Inter-Professional Education.”

MedEdPortal. Retrieved from https://www.mededportal.org/publication/9236 Dellert, J. and Johnson, P. (2013). “Interventions with Children and Parents to Improve Physical Activity and Body Mass Index: A Meta-Analysis.” American Journal of Health Promotion. (In press) DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.4278/ajhp.120628-LIT-313 Foley, M. (2012). “Using Evidence-Based Practice to Manage and Advance School Nursing Programs.”

In Carol Costante (Ed.) School Nurse Administrator: Leadership and Management. Silver Springs, MD: National Association of School Nurses.

Fortier, M. (2013). “So, You Want to Get a Doctorate...”

American Nurse Today, 8(5).

Fortier, M. (2013). “No Drugs Down the Drain.”

American Nurse Today, 8(2).

Gardner, M. (2012). “Preparing Nurses to Care for People with Developmental Disabilities: Perspectives on Integrating Developmental Disabilities Concepts and Experiences into Nursing Education.” Nursing Clinics of North America, 47(4).

Hansell, P.S. (2012). Book Review. Law for Nurse Leaders: A Comprehensive Review. By P.D. Grant and D. Ballard. New York: Springer, 2011. In Nursing Education Perspectives, 33(6), p. 419.

LoGrippo, M. (2013). “Teaching the Business of Health Care” Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 44 (2), pp. 57-58.

Lothian, J. (2013). “Top Ten: Tips for Teaching Lamaze Classes.” Journal of Perinatal Education, 21(4), pp.

248-52.

Lucas, J.; Bowblis, J.R.; Crystal, S. & Intrator, O. (2012).

“Response to Regulatory Stringency: The Case of Antipsychotic Medication Use in Nursing Homes.”

Health Economics, 21(6), pp. 977-993.

Lucas, J.; Gerhard, T.; Huybrechts, K.; Olfson, M.; Schneeweiss, S.; Bobo, W.; Doraiswamy, M.; Devanand, P.; Huang, C.; Malka, E.; Levin, R. & Crystal, S. (2013).

“Comparative Mortality Risks of Antipsychotic Medications in Community Dwelling Older Adults.”

British Journal of Psychiatry.

Roberts, M. and Davis, L. (2013). “Cardiovascular Disease in Women: A Nurse Practitioner’s Guide to Prevention.” The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 9(10), pp. 679-685.

Seides, R. (2012). “Personality Traits Predict Compliance with Type 2 Diabetes Regimens.” Audio Podcast retrieved from http://www.optimalclinical. com/s?s=Richard+Seides. Diabetes Television and Radio Internet Program. Original source: Journal of Diabetic Nursing, 16(295).

Sturm, B. and Linz, S. (2013). “The Phenomenon of Social Isolation in the Severely Mentally Ill.” Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, DOI: 10.1111/ppc. 12010.

Toughill, E.; McCabe, M.A.; Parkhill, A.M.; Bossett, M.S.; Jevic, M.S. & Nye, M.L. (2012). “Celiac Disease: A Medical Puzzle.” American Journal of Nursing, 112(10), pp. 34-44.

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Seton Hall Nursing:

A Family Affair

By Kristyn Kent-Wuillermin, J.D.

When Brian Schneider ’08, M.S.N. ’11, of Holmdel, New Jersey, decided to transfer into the College of Nursing, it was a decisive victory for him, his family and for the College. Initially a business student, Brian decided that nursing was his true calling. He enrolled in anatomy and physiology, where he met Jenna Sabatino-Schneider ’08, M.S.N. ’12, NP-C — who, coincidentally, also resided in Monmouth County. Their paths crossed one night while on a break, and they realized that they only lived five miles apart. As Jenna notes, “the rest is history.”

That “history” includes a romantic relationship and six members of the Schneider family enrolling in nine programs (so far) at the College of Nursing — an endorsement that speaks volumes about the educational quality offered at the College.

Jenna’s faith is what initially brought her to South Orange. “I knew that I wanted to continue my Catholic education at Seton Hall University. On top of that, I also recognized that Seton Hall has one of the most well respected nursing programs in the country,” says Jenna.

Brian’s mother Maureen Schneider, M.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, CPHQ, FACHE, senior vice president of clinical program development and chief nursing officer at Somerset Medical Center, soon decided to return to school for a doctoral degree and chose the College of Nursing’s Ph.D. in Nursing Research program. “I was struck by the faculty’s commitment to students and the support system in place to help us achieve our goals,” notes Maureen.

When Maureen’s other two children, Steven and Kathryn, began to research their educational options, they both decided on nursing — and, like their mother and brother, they both chose Seton Hall. Steven Schneider ’12, R.N., now works at New YorkPresbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and Kathryn Schneider is a member of Seton Hall’s Class of 2015.

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Not wanting to be outpaced, Jenna’s brother, Anthony Sabatino ’11, R.N., inspired by a desire to work in health care, enrolled in Seton Hall’s Accelerated Second Degree B.S.N. program at the College’s satellite campus in Lakewood, New Jersey. He currently works at Meridian Health’s Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Brian went on to continue his education and completed his M.S.N. in Health Systems Administration in 2011, while working at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Like mother, like son: Brian is now pursuing his Ph.D. in Nursing Research at Seton Hall, having begun the program in Fall 2012. Jenna became licensed as an advanced practice nurse, having earned her M.S.N. as an adult nurse practitioner in 2012.

Jenna and Brian were married in 2012, a relationship that resulted from their fortuitous choices back in 2003 and which is steeped in Catholic values and grounded by love and family. And of course, the College is waiting to hear when the next Schneider family reunion is scheduled so that the University can recruit more nurse leaders!

Notes Maureen, “My family is committed to Seton Hall, its values and its traditions of an excellent education. We are very proud to be a part of the tapestry of the College of Nursing.”

The Schneiders (from left to right: Kathryn, Steven, Maureen, Jenna, Brian and Anthony Sabatino) have made the College of Nursing an important part of their family.

A Message from a College of Nursing Student Dear College of Nursing Supporters, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the alumni, friends and family of Seton Hall University College of Nursing who have invested their time, talent and treasures to support the greater good of the College.

My name is Anthony Nickele, and I am currently a junior in the traditional B.S.N. program. I hail from Michigan and am here thanks to a generous scholarship made possible by donors like you.

Without my academic scholarship, I could not even dream of attending a university like Seton Hall.

When looking at my nursing education options, I was drawn to Seton Hall because of its intimate class sizes, the direct-entry option and the obvious dedication and support of all members of the Seton Hall community to their students. I had never been to New Jersey before I came to college. On a wing and a prayer I packed up all of my belongings, set forth to South Orange and before I knew it, I was welcomed as a full-fledged Pirate!

The College of Nursing community has already blessed me with so many opportunities that have helped me grow personally and professionally. I have made lifelong friends, found many staff members to be my mentors and role models and even landed a job through a contact that I made with a College of Nursing alumnus.

Scholarship recipients like me and many of my fellow classmates are being taught the foundations of a nursing vocation that will change the lives of countless patients. Your donation does not only support scholarships for students, it also supports the many patients that will be cared for by us future Pirate nurses. On behalf of all of us scholarship recipients, I thank you for your consideration and for continuing to provide so many opportunities for the future nurses at Seton Hall.

Warmest Regards and GO PIRATES!!

Anthony Nickele ’15

Photo by Laurie McCoy-Foster

Jamilyn Brierly Foundation for Anorexia Awareness

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By Judith Caruso, D.N.P., M.B.A., R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE

hen Jamilyn Brierly, a second-degree nursing student at Seton Hall University College of Nursing, lost her battle with anorexia in 2006, the Brierly family was heartbroken. To remember Jamilyn in a positive way, the family founded the Jamilyn Brierly Foundation for Anorexia Awareness to help others in need. In addition, the family made the generous decision to donate to another nursing student at the College of Nursing. In December 2012, the Jamilyn Brierly Foundation worked with the College of Nursing in selecting a senior student to receive its $10,000 scholarship. Jamilyn’s mother Lynn Brierly expressed her sentiments about awarding the scholarship: “I am able to keep my daughter’s memory alive and help another young girl fulfill her dream of being a nurse, as it was Jamie’s dream.”

Kelsey Stoveken, the selected awardee, wrote a thoughtful essay upon receiving the scholarship. In it, she reflected on how the award has changed her life:

Jamilyn’s (center) legacy lives on through her family’s generosity.

Words cannot express how blessed I feel to have received the Jamilyn Brierly Scholarship. I am extremely grateful to the foundation not only for helping me pay my student loans in a significant way, but also for changing the way I feel about being a future nurse. After meeting Jamilyn’s family and hearing her story, I was able to get a taste of who she was and understand how great a nurse she would have been.

Unfortunately God had a different plan for her, but through her strength, I have been inspired to be the best nurse I can be. I can’t say “thank you” enough to Jamilyn’s family for giving me such a generous scholarship and for helping me to always remember that everyone has a story to tell.

The Jamilyn Brierly Foundation for Anorexia Awareness plans to continue its annual fundraiser to further expand its initiatives in Jami lyn’s memory, raising higher awareness about anorexia and supporting future nurses.

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Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Permit No. 356 Newark, NJ

400 South Orange Avenue South Orange, NJ 07079

I am

TRUE

BLUE

Mary Ann Christopher, M.S.N. ’83, R.N., FAAN

for Seton Hall

President and CEO Visiting Nurse Service of New York

Are You? Seton Hall’s new alumni loyalty recognition program — True Blue.

It’s about Pride. It’s about Connection. It’s about Love for Seton Hall.

Become True Blue Today.

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www.shu.edu/go/trueblue