Community Partner Awards 2020

Basic BSN Community Partner Award: Johnson County Healthcare Center, Buffalo, Wyoming

Basic BSN (on-campus BSN program option) faculty at UWFWWSON are pleased to recognize Johnson County Healthcare Center as their 2020 Community Partner. Here’s why— Kimberly Raska-Miller, Pre-Licensure Programs Director, wrote the following glowing nomination: “Mary Litzel, Chief Nursing Officer at Johnson County Healthcare Center (JCHC), is always willing to offer student placements. Even though a small facility, JCHC is usually the first to say ‘yes!’ to student placements, regularly taking two of our capstone students for the semester. Staff are always welcoming, and nurses have an incredible knowledge base to share with our students. The nurses are experts in everything, and students are impressed and amazed by the myriad of patients they see on the Medical/Surgical floor or in the Emergency Room on any given day. The nurses handle each patient adeptly and patiently, explaining thought processes to student nurses—which helps to increase their clinical judgement and critical thinking skills.” Raska-Miller continues her praise for JCHC and its nurses: “Not only do the nurses help educate our students, but they also take the student nurses under their wing by offering housing and engaging students with the community. The Johnson County Healthcare Center placement is much more than a clinical experience for our students: The experience shows our students the importance and need for access to quality healthcare in rural communities, and also shows the power and significance of a commitment to the community. The Fay W Whitney School of Nursing is very fortunate to have such a strong community partner to help in educating and graduating quality nurses.”

BRAND Community Partner Award: Teton County Public Health, Jackson, Wyoming

BRAND (accelerated second bachelor’s BSN program option) faculty choose to recognize Teton County Public Health in Jackson, Wyoming as their 2020 Community Partner.

Teton County Public Health in Jackson partnered with the BRAND program last spring to introduce students to community health nursing. Students were exposed to the many aspects of community nursing, including immunization and STD clinics, home visits for vulnerable patients, educational programs in the K-12 schools and community events, and disaster management. Students actively participated in providing immunizations, assessing patients and taking histories during clinic visits, attended home safety assessments, and witnessed the motivation

and striving for clients to improve their overall health and wellness with full support of the public health staff. The staff at Teton County Public Health graciously shared their time and expertise with each BRAND student throughout the rotation. They took special care to explain the role of public health to the community in times of uncertainty, which was especially valuable to students, as they attended their rotations in the early phases of the COVID crisis. The Teton County Public health nurses are a strong voice in helping seek needed resources for the community, and our students greatly appreciated the opportunity to share and learn from a team that represents the heartbeat of a community. “(l-r): Brenda Burnett, WYPCA Clinical Quality Consultant, and Jan Cartwright, Executive Director, WYPCA, would be receiving the BSNC Community Partner Award in person in any other year but 2020!” BSNC Community Partner Award: WPCA BSN Completion (online BSN program option) faculty are pleased to recognize Wyoming Primary Care Association as their 2020 Community Partner. David Bodily, BSN Completion program director, wrote the following nomination: “The Wyoming Primary Care Association (WYPCA) has been instrumental in development of meaningful practice experiences for Wyoming’s ReNEW ADN students and graduates. We are grateful for their dedication to health in Wyoming through contributions to the nation’s only 100% shared baccalaureate nursing curriculum. “WYPCA has helped design a context where students can apply their learning and understanding to real-world situations. These ‘Practice Experiences’ have benefits not only for students, but for the agencies that participate.” DNP Community Partner Award: Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (CRMC)

The DNP Program at the University of Wyoming Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing is pleased to recognize Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (CRMC) as its 2020 Community Partner. “For many years, Cheyenne Regional Medical Center (CRMC) has been a strong and committed partner of the DNP program,” says program director Ann Marie Hart. “In particular, CRMC’s Behavioral Health Services and Cheyenne Regional Medical Group have consistently welcomed our students for clinical rotations. Their providers have arranged amazing clinical experiences and provided personalized mentorship for students. Additionally, leadership from CRMC’s Performance Improvement Department has worked with our students to help them lead quality improvement projects required as their final project in the DNP Program. Furthermore, CRMC embraces nurse practitioner (NP) providers, and over the years has hired numerous graduates from both our DNP program and former Master’s NP program. UW’s DNP program values its relationship with CRMC beyond measure. We could not produce high quality NPs

without CRMC’s support.”

“I absolutely loved my rotation at the Cheyenne Children’s Clinic! says Kristin Kapeles, DNP student. “Not only did the staff welcome me with open arms, but they fostered a learning environment for me where I could advance my clinical and critical thinking abilities. Collin Prince was my primary preceptor last spring, and I am fortunate to have spent time with such a passionate, intelligent, and empathetic provider. His love for pediatric care was palpable each clinical day, which contributed to my enthusiasm to learn and step into the nurse practitioner role. I am so grateful for CRMC’s willingness to mentor UW nurse practitioner students, especially during these uncertain times. Supportive clinical sites, enthusiastic preceptors, and welcoming staff members are integral components of successful DNP training.”