The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Nursing undergraduate Honors Program continues to thrive with nine students completing an externship during the summer 2010 semester. Undergraduate students participating in the Honors Program must meet stringent criteria to be selected. They are among the brightest and best of their class. During their undergraduate program, they completed 10 hours of master’s coursework. Courses such as master’s level Research Methodology and Nursing Theory replace similar courses on the undergraduate level. These 10 hours of coursework allow Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates to have a jump start on their Master’s of Nursing Science degree. During the 2010 Summer Externship, four students were selected to participate in the UAMS Hartford Center for Geriatric Nursing Excellence program. This group of students worked with geriatric scholars and traveled throughout the state to gain knowledge in health policy and geriatric care in Arkansas. Two honors students were involved in direct patient care at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. They had excellent opportunities to explore pediatric nursing and worked in a preceptored role with a BSN-Registered Nurse in areas such as the Burn Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and in Pediatric Intensive Care. Two honors students worked with a BSN-Registered Nurse in UAMS Medical Center in areas such as women’s health and cardiovascular nursing. One honors student was selected as a participant in
PATHWAYS • 2010
the Veterans Administration hospital’s VALOR program. This is a highly competitive role open to applicants throughout the state. The student was able to rotate to multiple units in the VA system for direct patient care opportunities preceptored by a BSNRegistered Nurse. During the summer externship program, honors students participated in a seminar course that requires several class meetings and journals, a written paper and podium presentation. In addition, they are enrolled in a master’s level course focused on professional practice. The College is very proud of the work these students accomplished. Linda Calhoun, MNSc, RN, coordinator of the BSN Program on the Little
Rock campus and director of the Honors Program, says the importance of the program cannot be overstated. “The summer externship experience is a life-changing event for these students,” Calhoun said. “They have a very rigorous schedule as they meet the challenges of working as a nurse and completing two additional courses at the same time. They move into the fall semester prepared to excel in their senior coursework because of this opportunity. I am honored to serve as the director of the Honors Program and to watch these young nurses grow so tremendously both personally and professionally during this short 10week timeframe.”
(First row, left to right) Candice H. Baker, Deborah Witonski, Carol Ann Meadors, Linda Calhoun, (Back row, left to right) Ben White, Ashley Hunter, Sarah Gray-Staples, Elizabeth Mitchell, Angela Harris and Adam Boone
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