News Digest| December 2017
Meet Your New President - Elect!
We got to sit down with the newly elected President - Elect, Janet Mentes PhD, APRN, FGSA, FAAN from UCLA, and she told us more about her experience with NHCGNE and her career in geriatric nursing.

How did you first get involved in NHCGNE?    I was in the first cohort of Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) post-doctoral fellows in 2001-03, the original program before we became the NHCGNE. Over the 10 plus years that we provided scholarships and fellowships to nurses who committed to academic geriatric nursing, I was honored to be invited back to our annual Leadership meetings on several occasions. So it was natural that I would choose to remain involved in the center as a member-at large of the board starting in 2015 as we became an autonomous organization.
What do you think the most valuable thing is about our organization?    There are several aspects of the NCHGNE that are valuable but the most important is that NHCGNE provides a vehicle to bring together international scholars, educators and clinicians who are devoted to improving the care of older adults.

Why did you go into Geriatric nursing?  I was very close to my maternal Swiss grandmother and that peaked my interest in older persons. I remember writing an essay about her and including a picture of her for a class I had in the 7th grade! My teacher was impressed that I chose to write about her. So it felt natural for me to enter geriatric/gerontological nursing, therefore when I was completing my master’s degree in psychiatric nursing, I decided to take all of the newly developed courses in geriatric nursing. My career trajectory in geriatrics was cemented at that point.

What career advice do you have for young NHCGNE members?  Career advice for members of NHCGNE beginning his/her careers, would be don’t lose sight of your passion for gerontological nursing, look for opportunities to collaborate with colleagues in and outside of nursing in your research and teaching. Especially consider colleagues outside of health care, like engineers or in the arts, I think this helps us to think “outside of the box” and come up with innovative ideas. Last, consider the influence of culture n aging as we as a nation are becoming much more ethnically diverse and we as nursing leaders need to take the lead in educating the next generation of nurses to care for an increasingly diverse older population—we can’t rely on what we have always done.
NHCGNE Is Coming!
Social Media: Try This!
To Tweet or Not To Tweet: A Place for Twitter in Scholarship
Joel G. Anderson, PhD, CHTP
Associate Professor, College of Nursing, University of Tennessee
Twitter is a social media platform that can be harnessed for maximizing and expanding your scholarship. Given that 6000 tweets are generated every second of every hour of every day, it is a way to amplify ideas and efforts for which you are passionate, like your scholarship. 

Wendy Looman, an Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of Minnesota, wrote about the benefits of tweeting in this editorial that can  be found here.

Getting started:
You can find resources for getting started on Twitter on Simon Stones’ blog which you can learn more about by  clicking here.
The 4 C’s of Tweeting:
  • Curate: Find things on Twitter that inspire you, make you think, or that might be useful to colleagues or students. Tie these to your scholarship.

  • Connect: Engage in conversation and dialogue with folks you follow or who follow you. Participate in a Twitter chat on a topic related to your scholarship. Connect with your colleagues on Twitter by following them.

  • Collaborate: Use Twitter to highlight your collaborations in teaching, writing, presentations, and service. Be sure to tag your colleagues.

  • Create: Generate new content with your tweets related to your scholarship. Tweet about a new paper you just published or a conference you’re attending. Or share a bit about yourself.
Additional Resources:
The February 2017 issue of the Journal of Family Nursing has special section on social media in nursing.  Read more here.

Convinced of Twitter’s value but afraid you’ll get sucked down a time sink? Use the Pomodoro Technique to manage your time on social media. Set a timer for 25 minutes and when it goes off, put the social media away. Find out more about the   Pomodoro Technique here. 
Do You Have an Abstract?
Special Collection on Aging and Diverse Race and Ethnic Populations. 

Deadlines for abstract submissions: January 1, 2018

The Special Collection will be published in Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, a SAGE Publishing journal.
 
Drs. Tamara Baker (Lead Guest Editor), Chivon Mingo, and Amber Books (Co-Guest Editors) would like to invite you to submit an abstract, to be considered for a Special Collection on Aging and Diverse Race and Ethnic Populations, to Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine (a Sage Publishing journal). 

With the growing number of adults from diverse race and ethnic populations nationally and globally, there is an urgency in producing and disseminating information to professionals and lay persons on issues surrounding the well-being among this adult population. This organized collection of scholarship is needed focusing on advances in the science of diversity, while underscoring important conceptual and theoretical models of aging. 

This collection is intended to attract junior, mid-career, and senior scholars from multiple disciplines such as sociology, psychology, public health, nursing, medicine, and social work. Topics may include, but are not limited to: Medicare, SES, work and retirement, cognition, stress, mental health, personality, sexuality, religion, neuroscience, discrimination, long-term care, genetics, nutrition, health interventions, and end-of-life care.

More information about this special collection can be found  here
University of Tennessee College of Nursing Hosts Inaugural Dementia Conference
The College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee, a member of the NHCGNE, hosted a conference November 10th titled “Aging and Dementia in the 21st Century: Insights and Innovations in Care” in Knoxville, Tennessee. This inaugural dementia-focused conference was held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the International Dementia Scholars Collaborative (IDSC). IDSC is an international group of researchers whose research, practice, and policy interests are focused on the issues of persons with dementia and cognitive impairment. Founded by the late Lyn Buettner, this research group has met consistently for more than a decade, with members having affiliations with NHCGNE either through their institutional memberships, Hartford Centers, or pre- and postdoctoral Hartford fellowships.
Dr. Roberto Fernandez, the medical director of the Pat Summitt Clinic at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, was the keynote speaker for the conference. The Pat Summitt Clinic is dedicated exclusively to the care, family support, and advancement of new treatments for those with Alzheimer’s disease. The clinic serves 3,000 patients and their families but projects that number will double to 6,000 in the next five years.

The event focused on non-pharmacological approaches to the care of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, as well as support of their family caregivers. Speakers included Drs. Marian Roman, Sue McLennon, Carole Myers, and Joel G. Anderson from UT’s College of Nursing, Dr. Fayron Epps from Georgia State University, Dr. Ruth Palan Lopez from the MGH Institute of Health Professions, Dr. Valerie Gruss from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Rebecca Lorenz from the University of Buffalo, and Dr. Ingelin Testad, Ms. Martha Gjestsen, and Ms. Ellen Svendsbø from the University of Stavanger in Norway.
2018 TigerPlace AIP Institute!
What : TigerPlace Aging In Place Institute 
When : February 1 & 2nd, 2018 
Where : Columbia, Missouri

The TigerPlace Aging In Place Institute was created to share our innovations and facilitate the many requests we have for tours, education, and information on replicating this specific model. Although different environments and organizations will contribute to variances in programming, we believe that the core principles of our care model can be successfully applied across the continuum of care.

Please contact  info@agingmo.com   for more information and to register. Registration is limited. Contact us today! 

Future dates are June 13 & 14, 2018 and October 17 & 18, 2018
In Case You Missed It
NHCGNE partnered with University of North Carolina School of Nursing and their Center for Lifelong Learning to produce a series of three webinars. We had the opportunity to talk with Mary Anne Berzins about her experience with Leveraging Your Leadership in the Space(s) that You Are In. She was able to give us some insight information about what she found most interesting on her topic as well as the greatest thing she learned.  

"Many people are engaged in tasks and activities which might be described as leadership of some kind. While some are performing leadership activities as part of an administrative appointment, others are doing so in research, teaching, clinical work as well as other domains of their lives. In multiple spaces and roles the work of leadership is being done on a daily basis. This context has led me to reflect on the reality that leadership is continuous and that we can acquire, develop or enhance our personal development through engaging in multiple channels as well as participating in formal programs. We are also time pressured so leveraging the opportunities and resources we have – professionally and personally – is both practical and efficient. It may also be helpful to shift our mindset away from viewing leadership development as another thing we have to fit into our already time pressured day to viewing everything we do as an opportunity to hone our own leadership, contribute to the development of others and mutually enrich our relationships."
There are many actions we can take so that we are not passively waiting for others to notice what we need. Get clarity about what is important- pay attention to how organization leaders talk about priorities and issues, regularly scan organization and professional association communications to build internal and external intelligence. Engage actively in organization processes such as annual performance reviews and be specific about what you need. Connect with a professional coach if one is made available to you at work. Pay attention to relationships to build (or enhance) your collaborative reputation – hone listening skills, invite and engage the perspectives of others, develop the ability to ask great questions as an opportunity to gain insight into different thought processes. Tactically, identify learning opportunities and participate on committees, project teams or task forces to deepen knowledge, build new relationships and expand your mentor network. Engage with, not run away from, the feedback others share with you – whether you like or don’t like what you may hear; it is still valuable information. When it comes to professional association meetings and conferences, move a little out of your comfort zone and attend at least one talk that is outside of your own discipline, not only does this give us potentially new insights, it connects us with people who may not be in our usual circle of contacts (another way to expand your mentor network). Leverage different mentors – same role, step ahead, peers and senior colleagues – to help inform the activities that will be most beneficial and provide check-in points for us.
f we view leadership development as continuous and integral in everything we do, we are not waiting for someone else to make this happen for us. Our colleagues have many wonderful qualities although telepathy may not be one of them! Waiting for someone else to notice and, provide access to what we need, could be a long wait. Leadership is not necessarily a solo journey, it is composed of many relationships – the organization we work (or study) in, the work we do, the people we work with, the professional associations we are part of and the bigger life we engage in. So be proactive, leverage the work, resources and people in the spaces that you are in!
Are You A Leader?
What better way to practice your leadership skills, than by joining an NHCGNE committee. We have active committees that welcome new members. Email  Laura Albrecht for information to get started. 

The Membership Committee is actively soliciting members. If you are interested in expanding your network of contacts in the gerontological nursing field, this is the committee for you. The membership committee reaches out to schools to learn about their programs and educate them about NHCGNE. There is no better committee to practice your leadership and communication skills. Contact  Laura Albrecht  to sign up.
Current NHCGNE Membership Committee Members
  •  Alyce Ashcraft, NHCGNE Secretary/Membership Chair
  • Claudia Beverly, NHCGNE President
  • Virginia Burggraff-- Virginia
  • Pam Cacchione-- GAPNP
  • Victoria Foster--Georgia
  • Cynthia Jacelon— U Mass
  • Janet Mentes-- UCLA
  • Diana Gray Miceli— Florida Atlantic (represents Legacy Affliates)
  • Barb Resnick— Univ of Maryland
  • Janet Specht— Univ of Iowa
  • Kristine Williams— Univ of Iowa
  • Lynn Woods-- Azuza
NHCGNE Wants YOU!
If you are interested in joining NHCGNE -  Click here to access our printable application . If you need an electronic copy - please email  info@nhcgne.org 
Do You Know Someone Who's Not Getting Our Newsletters? 
Let us know of people who are not already receiving the New Directions mailing list for non member schools. If you are a member school and know of faculty or PhD students that are not receiving this - email us at  info@nhcgne.org  with their name and email address. 
Say it with "Got Content"!
Positions Available!
Swoop into Utah Nursing
The University of Utah Wants YOU!   The University of Utah College of Nursing seeks an established, visionary nurse scientist to fill the   Helen Lowe Bamberger Colby Presidential Endowed Chair  in Gerontological Nursing. The endowed chair will advance the discovery, organization, transmission and/or application of knowledge to improve the unique health care needs and well-being of older adults. 

The Endowed Chair is a 5-year appointment, renewable upon successful review. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications. This tenure line faculty position is a full-time, 12-month appointment. 

Click here   to read more on this position. 
Become a Terp!
The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) is currently recruiting for a full-time, tenure track or tenured associate professor or tenured professor. 

We seek a faculty member with research interests that align with those of members of our organized research centers (ORCs) and who will collaborate with members of these centers: UMSON ORC: Biology and Behavior Across the Lifespan, UMSON ORC: Center for Health Outcomes Research, UMB ORC: Center to Advance Chronic Pain Research.

Sinclair's Got Talent!
Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri  is seeking a talented and motivated postdoctoral fellow to join the research team of Gregory L Alexander PhD, RN, FAAN. This full-time fellow will be actively involved in an AHRQ R01 study with aims to: 1) develop and test a national nursing home IT maturity and staging criteria model; 2) To conduct a national assessment of nursing home IT maturity; and 3) Assess relationships between stages of nursing home IT maturity and quality measures. The fellow also will have dedicated time and resources to advance their own research in these areas.  

Interested applicants should contact Dr. Alexander at alexanderg@missouri.edu   and include their CV, statement of research and contact information.
Nursing with the Lions
The College of Nursing at Penn State has a 50-year history of excellence in the education of nursing students on which to build the future. The college has four academic programs: baccalaureate (first-year admission and second degree), RN to B.S.N., master’s degree (academic and professional), and doctoral degree (Ph.D. and D.N.P.), providing education to approximately 2,800 full-time students on 13 campuses throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There is a strong focus on distance education in both the RN to B.S.N. and graduate programs; the online doctor of nursing practice (D.N.P.) program is the first professional doctoral degree to be offered by Penn State’s World Campus. U.S. News & World Report ranked the college in the top 20 for overall nursing master’s degree programs in their 2018 Best Graduate Schools rankings. 

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. To apply, submit a cover letter, curriculum vita, and contact information for four references to David Monk, chair of the search committee, at  PSUSearch@psu.edu.
Jump into a Career with GSU
The School of Nursing (SON), located in the downtown Atlanta campus of Georgia State University (GSU), currently provides a premier multicultural learning experience to more than 555 undergraduate and graduate students.  

The SON offers collaborative opportunities with many GSU centers and institutes focused on urban health, health 
disparities, health policy and law, and 
gerontology. We invite applications for the following six full-time faculty positions. 
Envision Yourself a Sooner!
The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center seeks exceptional candidates for the   Ziegler Palliative Care Endowed Chair in Nursing Science.  The Ziegler Endowed Chair will be awarded to a nurse or health related scientist with an earned doctorate and possessing a program of clinically focused research in palliative care or related field.

The Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, invites applications for a  Program Director in the PhD Program.   This administrative Director assumes responsibility for providing leadership, guidance and direction for the PhD program.
Support NHCGNE
You can now donate to the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE)  online . Your generous donation will be instrumental in the development of new programs, products and services that will enable us to sustain our efforts in strengthening gerontological nursing faculty development and leadership. 

The importance of your contribution cannot be overstated. In addition to all the work that you already do on behalf of older adults, this gift further demonstrates your personal commitment to prepare our country with a competent gerontological nursing workplace.