Pulse Points Winter 2012

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Vol. V Issue 2

Winter 2012

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GOING GREEN: In keeping with our Green Initiative, Pulse Points will become an exclusive e-newsletter in the future. To receive these e-versions, please sign up at sf.edu/pulsepoints.

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The Joy of Giving Simple Gifts First-year Radiology students experience joy in giving to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child.

In November, the first-year Radiology students participated in Operation Christmas Child, filling shoeboxes with gifts for children. Operation Christmas Child is an international project of Samaritan Purse.

Students filled the boxes with small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, jump ropes, pens, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, markers, writing pads, paper, coloring and picture books, and hard candy and lollipops, as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste, wash cloths, bar soap, combs, T-shirts, socks and hair clips. All items were donated by first- and second-year students, faculty, family and friends. Students organized items and filled boxes, according to children’s age and gender. Each student wrote a personal note to their child and included a picture of themselves in their box.

The students and faculty donated the $7 per box required for shipping, and after students completed the wrapping and labeling, the 19 boxes were taken to Sonrise Church in Fort Wayne where they were loaded onto one of three semi trucks filled with shoeboxes.

According to Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child delivers millions of boxes to various countries, distributing them among local churches and ministry partners. Then, the boxes are distributed to the children. Wherever appropriate, children are offered a copy of “The Greatest Gift of All” booklet (in their own language) by local churches and ministry partners. As described on the Samaritan Purse website, “the Greatest Journey is the exciting follow-up discipleship program

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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS

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>> The Joy of Giving Simple Gifts continued from previous page used by Operation Christmas Child to help children become faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

“Operation Christmas Child has delivered more than 85 million gift-filled shoeboxes to needy boys and girls in 138 countries worldwide since 1993. These simple gifts demonstrate God’s love to children in a tangible way and provide volunteer national leadership teams, local churches, and ministry partners with the opportunity to share the Good News of Christ.”

After participating in Operation Christmas Child, the students were required to compose a reflection of the activity. Most expressed their desire to continue participating in the ministry. For more information about Samaritan Purse, please visit samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/OCC_Impact.

Mari Sanders B.G.S., RT (R) (M); Radiologic Technology Faculty

What a DNP Degree Can Do Assistant Professor Mindy Yoder explains the benefits of a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree.

Nursing research takes approximately 17 years to be put into practice. Our healthcare system’s complexity and financial cost is increasing. Healthcare disparities are evident. Our population is aging. Millions of people lack access to healthcare services. Although there is no simple answer to these problems, graduates of Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs will be prepared to make a significant impact. (For more information on the DNP degree, visit the American Association of Colleges of Nursing website at aacn.nche.edu/dnp.)

From personal experience, my skill set as a nurse practitioner expanded after completing a DNP to include expertise in process improvement, program evaluation and outcome performance measurement, and development of evidence-based practice solutions. I am now more prepared as a nurse to effect systems level change to improve patient care outcomes. Since I am already an advanced practice nurse with a master’s in primary care, required coursework for me was different than for those with a bachelor’s in nursing. Courses included Interprofessional Healthcare Informatics, Evidence-Based Practice, Program Evaluation, Science of Nursing Intervention, Epidemiology, Health Innovation and Leadership, Economics of Healthcare, Health Policy Leadership, and Teaching and Learning in Nursing. For me, the most valuable experience during my education was planning, implementing, and evaluating an evidence-based quality improvement initiative with Parkview Health System nurses.

Eligible candidates for a DNP are bachelor’s-prepared and advanced practice. But, with more than 150 schools nationwide enrolling DNP

Contact Us: School of Health Sciences

students, how do you decide on a program? Programs offer much variety in content, credit hours, course format (online, on ground or mixed), and time to completion.

I asked myself the following questions: 1. What are my career goals? Why am I seeking a DNP degree?

2. How much time can I devote to completing a degree?

3. What financial resources are available? How much money am I willing and able to spend?

4. What type of educational format do I desire?

5. What kind of support do I have from others (family, friends, work)?

Once I thought through these questions, I went to the website aacn.nche.edu/dnp/program-schools. This website has a state-by-state listing of accredited institutions that currently offer a DNP. Links to each school are provided. I compared programs via their websites, then called or emailed questions to the administrator or faculty of schools that I felt might meet my criteria.

The best fit for me was an out-of-state, hybrid, full-time, 12-month program (36 credit hours). I traveled to the University of Minnesota nine times for three-to-four-day weekends. The full-time program truly required full-time attention: I spent 40-50 hours per week on school. In retrospect, as I have asked myself if I would do it again, my answer is a resounding “YES!” Mindy Yoder DNP, FNP-BC, RN; Assistant Professor BSN/Graduate Nursing Program Director, University of Saint Francis

Nursing

Physician Assistant

Amy Knepp (Chair) 260-399-7700, ext. 8515 • aknepp@sf.edu

Dr. Dawn LaBarbera (Chair) 260-399-7700, ext. 8559 • dlabarbera@sf.edu

Dr. Lorene Arnold (Director of Strategic Initiatives) 260-399-7700, ext. 8505 • larnold@sf.edu

Dr. Mindy Yoder (BSN, MSN) 260-399-7700, ext. 8510 • myoder@sf.edu

Radiologic Technology

Dawn Mabry (Director of Simulation Lab) 260-399-7700, ext. 8521 • dmabry@sf.edu

Nancy Davenport (ASN) 260-399-7700, ext. 8511 • ndavenport@sf.edu

Beth Shutt (Administrative Assistant) 260-399-7700, ext. 8501 • bshutt@sf.edu

Physical Therapist Assistant

Dr. Nancy Nightingale Gillespie (Dean) 260-399-7700, ext. 8504 • ngillespie@sf.edu

Mary Kay Solon (Chair) 260-399-7700, ext. 8547 • mksolon@sf.edu

Donna Lyke (Chair) 260-399-7700, ext. 8567 • dlyke@sf.edu

Surgical Technology Betsy Slagle (Chair) 260-399-7700, ext. 8577 • eslagle@sf.edu sf.edu

A Journey Through Time USF Nursing history comes alive through a unique display on campus.

To preserve history and stories from Lutheran and St. Joseph Hospital schools of nursing, Lutheran College of Health Professions, and Saint Francis College, a task force was convened in Fall 2008 to begin exploring ways to express the schools’ contributions to USF nursing today. A monetary gift from the Ida Shaw Trust provided support financially and in artifacts for the development of a history display. Four USF faculty served on this task force, including Cheryl Erickson, Jennifer Richard, Meg Wilson and me. After three years of planning, the display opened October 15, 2011 with an open house and dedication/blessing ceremony in the Doermer Building, Nursing Commons. Alumni attendance at the event confirmed the importance of preserving memories and artifacts.

Artifacts on loan from The Lutheran Foundation include dolls displaying student nurse uniforms from the early nineteen hundreds through the 1980s. The dolls will be on display through February 2012. Among many other artifacts are pictures, a lamp used for graduation ceremonies and early educational materials. Permanent to the display are cabinets with

various nursing school uniforms and a beautiful wall mural designed by School of Creative Arts faculty member Alan Nauts. Alumni interviews and class composites are also available for viewing on the 52-inch flat screen TV with interactive programming. We encourage alumni and the community to visit the display. There is no cost to visitors, and groups can be accommodated with advanced reservations.

The history display denotes a beginning as well as the past. While we wish to preserve the past, we also value the way in which it has contributed to the beginning of USF nursing history. We welcome information, stories, uniforms, or any other artifacts that will complete the display for alumni from all the schools. We are in need of class composites from St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, and we are interested in having alumni representatives assist with the display’s oversight and maintenance, in collaboration with nursing faculty.

Amy Knepp, NP-C, MSN, RN, Chairperson for the Department of Nursing

A Clinic for Charis House Nurse Practitioner program faculty help develop and open in-house clinic for homeless shelter.

USF Nurse Practitioner program faculty were approached in Fall 2010 about developing a health clinic at Charis House, a Fort Wayne homeless shelter for women and children. As Nurse Practitioner faculty, we felt the needs of Charis House aligned perfectly with USF’s Franciscan mission and values. We realized that a clinic would reduce the healthcare disparity often seen in this population by eliminating long wait times for healthcare, screening for disease, providing health education and health promotion services, and linking Charis House residents with community services. The clinic would also benefit the community by reducing the unnecessary costs of ER visits.

The clinic opened August 1, 2011. Dr. James Arata Sr. serves as medical director and nurse practitioners staff the clinic. USF Nursing faculty and BSN and MSN students also assist in staffing. Residents sign up for appointments at their weekly residential meetings and walk-in appointments are accepted as the schedule permits. Residents are very appreciative for the services provided, and over 100 clinic visits have now occurred.

The Allen County Board of Health provides supplies to administer Tb

screening of all new residents. The clinic also received a grant from the Saint Joseph Community Health Foundation and private donations to assist with start-up equipment and supplies. The clinic’s goal is to provide healthcare education and care until a resident can obtain a primary care provider through Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), Matthew 25 or Neighborhood Health Clinic, and provide urgent care for minor health problems. The Charis House Health Ministries Advisory Board will assist in providing insight and direction to meet future goals for the clinic. Plans include expanding clinic services to men’s shelter residents.

We also want to continually increase health promotion and disease prevention education activities for the residents. Classes on smoking cessation, nutrition, weight management, prenatal care and prevention strategies related to chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia are areas that need to be addressed.

If you have an interest in supporting this endeavor either monetarily or by volunteering, contact us at cerickson@sf.edu or kpenland@sf.edu.

Kim Penland, PhD, RN; Assistant Professor

October Trip to Haiti

Surgical Technology “Twins”

Dr. Diane Martin and Dawn Mabry travel to Haiti to provide medical care.

Two Surgical Technology students discover they have more than a little in common.

In October, we traveled to Mission of Hope in Titayen, Haiti, near Portau-Prince, as part of a 21-person mission team from Fort Wayne organized through The Chapel. The team’s goals were to deliver typhoid immunizations, work with construction of new homes and provide physical therapy to the many amputees treated through the prosthetics clinic located at the Mission.

Although we were returning for our second trip since the earthquake, this was our first time together.

Diane: During the earthquake many Haitians lost an arm or leg due to crushing injuries from collapsing buildings. On this trip, I worked daily to instruct amputees in how to walk with their new or recently revised artificial legs. The prosthetics clinic at the Mission is one of only three on the island to serve the thousands of Haitians who have lost their limbs. The highlight of my trip was to work side by side with two Haitian men who were hired on my first trip – one who was a patient, the other the father of an 18-year-old man who lost his leg trying to save his sister who perished, also a patient. I traveled with the prosthetics team on the last day to a remote camp near the Dominican to serve a village of amputees who are living together and starting a new life.

Dawn: I had been to Haiti many times before the earthquake. This time I worked with a team that immunized nearly 2,000 children against typhoid through a program sponsored by the Haitian government. Typhoid is responsible for thousands of deaths each year. The children walked from their classrooms to the medical clinic and waited in lines, some for an hour, to receive their shots. They were given an immunization record booklet, the shot, a Band-Aid and Tylenol and also many hugs by the team. It was the first immunization for many of the children; most were scared but cooperative.

One example of the positive changes occurring in Haiti since the earthquake is a group of six amputee women who have started a business called “3 Cords,” located at the Mission of Hope. They create headbands and purses that are available for purchase and are hoping to bring their products to the United States someday. Contact dmabry@sf.edu to see some of the items for sale.

The Mission of Hope has been in existence for 25 years, started by a family from the Fort Wayne area. For more information on Mission of Hope, go to www.mohhaiti.org.

Dr. Diane Martin PT, DPT, Assistant Professor in PTA Program Dawn Mabry, Director of the Simulation Lab

Every surgical technology class has its own personality, but two students in the Class of 2012 have remarkable similarities. James (J.D.) Shultz and James Wright not only share the same first name and are nearly the same age but also did tours of duty in Iraq as members of the Army National Guard. In fact, they recently discovered they were stationed at the same air base in Baghdad in 2003. Now they are classmates, each pursuing a career in surgical technology.

J.D. is a 20-year veteran who served as a staff sergeant in the infantry. He was deployed three times, once to Bosnia and twice to Iraq.

James served as military police for 12 years and was deployed to Iraq once. He was hit twice by roadside bombs, resulting in nerve damage to his neck, back and legs.

James came to USF by way of Columbus, James (J.D.) Shultz Ohio; Kentucky; North Carolina and Chicago. He had been working as a policeman in the Chicago area when he decided to go back to school in healthcare.

He says, “As I drove over the Spring Street bridge and I saw the campus for the first time, I knew this was my school.” Born and raised in Geneva, Indiana, J.D. worked in computer inventory control when not deployed with the National Guard. He was originally interested James Wright in mortuary science, then discovered surgical technology. Both men are enthusiastic, committed students, finding satisfaction in their newfound profession.

J.D. and James agree that serving in the military was excellent preparation for their work in the operating room. “You learn how to deal with stress in your own way,” J.D. says. “And you have to be disciplined and organized in the OR,” added James. “Believe me, we learned that in the army!”

After he completes his degree in surgical technology, James plans to continue his education, working toward a bachelor’s degree. He would ultimately like to enter the Physician Assistant program or attend medical school. J.D. knows he will continue his education as well. “I’m not stopping now,” he laughs. “Maybe I’ll be teaching here someday!”

After serving our country, James and J.D. now serve patients in surgery. Thank you, gentlemen, for your service!

Betsy Slagle RN, CST Associate Professor, Department Chair

Going Green Dawn Mabry giving an immunization injection Haiti

In keeping with our Green Initiative, Pulse Points will become an exclusive e-newsletter in the future. To receive these e-versions, please sign up at sf.edu/pulsepoints.

PTA Program Announces Donations and New Faculty Member The PTA program receives Matthew 25 Physical Therapy Clinic donations and welcomes Mary Jo Tirpak.

PTA Program Secures Large Donations for Matthew 25

Mary Jo Tirpak Newest PTA Program Faculty Member

In December, the PTA program received over $650 worth of reproducible exercise cards and related resources from Visual Health Information, Incorporated (VHI) for Matthew 25 Physical Therapy Clinic. The Tacoma, Wash. company is known for its easy-to-use instructional cards that meet patients’ specific home exercise instruction needs. As chair of the PTA program, I worked with Tracy Swift of VHI to provide the requested documentation about this much-needed resource.

On August 15, 2011, the PTA program welcomed new faculty member Mary Jo Tirpak, PT, MSEd. Tirpak received a B.S. in Physical Therapy and a Master of Science in Education with a focus in Allied Health Education, both from Indiana University. She has practiced in Indiana and Ohio and brings many years’ experience to the PTA classroom and laboratory from the following practice settings: home care, acute hospital, outpatient orthopedics and the school system. For the past 16 years, Tirpak has provided physical therapy examination, evaluation, treatment and consultation for Southwest Allen County School System students. In this setting, she directed and supervised her colleague, a physical therapist assistant who graduated from the USF PTA program. Tirpak has long supported the PTA program, serving on its Curriculum Committee as the PT community constituent from 1996 through August 2011. Tirpak’s teaching responsibilities include coordinating and teaching the lecture and laboratory sections of Patient Care Skills I and II. Additionally, she serves on PTA program committees, advises students and represents the PTA program on the School of Health Sciences Simulation Committee.

Matthew 25 Medical and Dental Clinic is the only not-for-profit agency in the region that provides ongoing pro bono physical therapy services, and there has long been a connection between the PTA program and Matthew 25. Former faculty member Cindy Ruich, PT, MS, CHT, coordinates physical therapy services and the volunteers for the PT Clinic, open two nights per month. Volunteers come from many sources, including the USF Service Learning course taught by Diane Martin and me, the PT Studies Club, PTA program alumni and practicing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in the American Physical Therapy Association’s Indiana NE District.

In October, PTA faculty successfully advanced a motion for the NE District to support the Matthew 25 PT Clinic with $800 to be used to buy exercise equipment, treatment tools and educational models. Ruich will spend the funds for the PT Clinic on a long list of supplies and equipment that she has.

Tirpak was born and raised in Fort Wayne, where she lives with her husband, Ron. She has two married children who, with their spouses, also reside in Fort Wayne. Tirpak is anticipating the arrival of her first grandchild during the spring semester. Welcome, Mary Jo! Mary Kay Solon PT, MS; Professor, Department Chair

Physician Assistant Program on the Go The PA program reports on its past accomplishments and future plans.

Class 2012 Plans Mission Trip to Haiti The PA Class of 2012 is traveling to Haiti to provide medical care, March 10-17, 2012. Students will travel with Haiti Outreach Ministries. If you are a practicing physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or physician and would like information about joining this mission, please contact Andrea Moll at amoll@sf.edu. If you are interested in making a monetary contribution, you can write a check for your tax-deductible donation to the USF PA Student Society (put “Haiti” on the memo line) and send it to the PA department in care of Connie Chapman.

Research Posters Presented At the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 2011 Research Poster Session, Amanda Jordan, PA Class 2011, presented her poster co-authored with faculty member Dawn LaBarbera, PhD, PA-C, entitled: Keirsey Temperament Sorter Personality Types of PA Students in a Midwestern Physician Assistant Program. LaBarbera also presented the poster in November at the Physician Assistant Education Conference (PAEA).

The second poster at AAPA represented the efforts of PA Class 2010 students Jennifer Gorst and Kathryn Hoipkemier, with updates by USF undergraduate student Natalie McPeek, under the direction of co-author LaBarbera. The work is entitled: Retrospective Analysis of Urinary Excretion Levels of Deoxypyridinoline and Suppressed TSH Levels from Thyroid Hormone Supplementation. The PA Program has had posters accepted for every PA Class since 2007.

100 Percent First-Time Board Pass Rate for PA Class 2011 The PA Class of 2011 received 100 percent First-Time Board Pass Rate, as did the classes of 2010 and 2008, giving the program this accolade three times in the last five years. Since the inception of the master’s program in 2004, 174 graduates have taken the PANCE and 168 have passed on the first attempt (96.6 percent). The aggregate USF First-Time Board Pass Rate runs above the national average.

Successful Admissions Cycle Admissions interviews are almost completed for Class of 2013 applicants.

Thanks to everyone who helped with the interview process.

Alumni Opportunities The PA program invites alumni to share their skills and expertise by participating as clinical preceptors, advisory board members, lecturers, PBL facilitators, etc. If you are interested in serving your PA program, please contact Connie Chapman at cchapman@sf.edu or 260-399-7700, ext. 8502.

Dr. Dawn LaBarbera, Ph.D., PA-C; Associate Professor, Department Chair

School of Health Sciences 2701 Spring Street Fort Wayne, IN 46808 sf.edu

Going Green In keeping with our Green Initiative, Pulse Points will become an exclusive e-newsletter in the future. To receive these e-versions, please sign up at sf.edu/pulsepoints.

MSN-FNP Top Ranked U.S. News & World Report ranks the FNP track in USF’s MSN program as among the best graduate nursing programs in the nation.

The family nurse practitioner (FNP) track in the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program at the University of Saint Francis has been ranked among the best graduate nursing programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, a recognized leader in college, graduate school, hospital, mutual fund and automobile rankings.

The nursing program ranking was based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools. Respondents rated programs’ academic quality on a five-point scale: outstanding (5), strong (4), good (3), adequate (2) or marginal (1). Only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period are ranked. Schools with the highest average scores appear.

USF’s FNP program ranked 99th. In Fall 2010, surveys were conducted for 2011 rankings of schools with various graduate programs and accreditations in healthcare, including master’s programs in nursing

Eldercare Conference:

accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the USF program’s category. The USF nursing program’s quality and desirability reflects in its enrollment, pass rate and high employment rates, said Amy Knepp, assistant professor and chair of the USF Department of Nursing.

“We are over capacity this year in enrollment,” she said. “Our pass rate in the past five years tops 95 percent, and 98 percent of our graduates seeking jobs are employed.”

“We are pleased with this ranking for our excellent FNP graduate program,” said USF President Sister M. Elise Kriss, OSF. “That peer nursing education administrators rate our university’s program among the nation’s best indicates the high quality of our faculty and facilities, and our dedication to graduating nurses of skill and compassion.”

Wendy Clark, MSN, RN, CNE; Assistant Professor

Join us Friday, April 20 from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., when USF hosts a Proactive Elder Care Workshop at the North Campus.

Caregivers, aging loved ones, employed caregivers and employers will learn about interactive planning for the care of the elderly from experts in finance, law, healthcare, housing, community service and bioethics. Making informed decisions and being a more efficient caregiver and productive employee while caring for an aging loved ones are the workshop’s goals.