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December 2023

Fall 2023 Pinning and Commencement Ceremonies

Faculty, staff, friends and families will gather to celebrate the fall graduates of the Boca Raton and Davie BSN programs at the traditional pinning ceremonies. The pinning ceremony for Boca Raton students will take place on Thursday, Dec. 14, at 2 p.m., and the pinning ceremony for part-time BSN Davie students at 6 p.m. Both ceremonies will be held in the College of Nursing Auditorium on the Boca Raton campus.


Florida Atlantic University will host its fall commencement ceremony for part-time BSN students on Friday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m., in the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, located in the Student Union on the Boca Raton campus. The ceremony will be webcast live at https://www.fau.edu/webcast/. The live webcast generally begins 10 to 15 minutes before the event. Read More

Annual Sigma Iota Xi at-Large Chapter Fall 2023 Research Day

The Sigma Iota Xi at-Large Chapter, in collaboration with the College of Nursing, hosted Research Day on Nov. 30, in the college's Atrium on the Boca Raton campus. The events highlighted the scholarly projects and innovative research conducted by students and faculty.


During the program, the following DNP student awards were presented: Excellence in Leadership Awards – Nika Philips and Nicole Graziano; Clinical Excellence Awards – Abigail Oliver, Abigail Klein and Sophie Lanter; and the T. Touhy Caring in Gerontological Nursing Award – Karrah Barrett. Read More

CHC

FAU/NCHA Community Health Center Receives Three HRSA Awards

The Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing's FAU/Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center (FAU/NCHA Community Health Center) was named the recipient of three awards by the U.S. Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA). The Center received awards in the areas of increasing access, health information technology and health disparities reducer.


The FAU/NCHA Community Health Center is designated by HRSA as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike. The purpose of FQHCs is to serve communities that may have financial disadvantages, language barriers, geographic barriers or other specific needs. 

West Palm Beach Residents Surveyed About Health Care Needs

College of Nursing faculty, students and the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center performed door-to-door neighborhood assessments on Nov. 11 and 12. Residents in West Palm Beach were surveyed about their health care needs and priorities. Community health assessments can be an invaluable resource for mapping and analyzing public health needs across a population, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

Annual 'Keep Memories Alive'

Walk-in-the-Mall Fundraiser a Success

The Caring Hearts Auxiliary of FAU’s Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center within the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing raised more than $85,000 during the 17th annual “Keep Memories Alive” Walk-in-the-Mall on Nov. 5. Approximately 100 walkers participated in the event held at the Town Center in Boca Raton.


Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer and Council member Fran Nachlas were in attendance at the walk. Together, they presented a proclamation and named the day in honor of the center. Thank you to the Caring Hearts Auxiliary and to all who contributed and participated in the event! Read More

College of Nursing Teams Up to Support American Heart Association's Heart Walk

Faculty and staff from the College of Nursing teamed up to support the 2023 Palm Beach County Heart Walk on Nov. 11 in West Palm Beach, hosted by the American Heart Association. The group joined more than a million people in over 300 cities across America to take a stand against heart disease and help save lives. Read More

Student News

Registration for spring 2024 classes is open. Don't delay! Sign up early to ensure you get the classes you want. Spring classes begin on Jan. 6, 2024. Check the schedule and register here.

Join the Graduate College for a Virtual Graduate Information Session on Thursday, Dec. 21 from 5 to 6:15 p.m. This hour-long session will include information regarding financial aid, test preparation and graduate admissions. Learn more and register for the event here.

The FAU Career Center can help you discover the keys to unlocking your professional potential! Their award-winning staff is always ready to share valuable resources, expert insights, success stories and engaging activities to help you navigate your career journey. Make an appointment today or view the latest jobs in Handshake.

Florida Atlantic University offices will be closed, and no classes will be held beginning Monday, Dec. 25 and ending Tuesday, Jan. 2 for winter break. Enjoy a safe and happy holiday season!

Congratulations to Amnah Jambi, MSN, BSN, BS, RN, on successfully defending her thesis, “The Relationship Between Stigma and Level of Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Within the Saudi Culture.” Jambi, an international student from Saudi Arabia, is a faculty member at King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences. She was awarded a scholarship to pursue her Ph.D. degree in nursing. 

The College of Nursing joined the university-wide event, Explore FAU, on Nov. 18, to welcome prospective high school juniors, seniors and transfer students to the FAU community. 

Nursing student Alejandro Castro (Alex) collected donations in response to an empty food pantry he learned about during clinicals. He gathered an impressive amount of donations from one nursing unit, including $200 in gift cards for under-resourced folks at his place of work, Memorial West.

FAU nursing students performed individualized health assessments at the Belle Glade Library on Nov. 21 as part of the college’s “Caring-based Community & Academic Relationships for Excellence (CARE): Nurse-led Mobile Health Unit” grant.

FAU College of Nursing fall graduates participated in Broward Health’s Graduation Luncheon on Nov. 29 in recognition of the academic achievements of the Class of 2023 in South Florida. The practical knowledge and skills our students have gained at Broward Health will enhance the next phase of their journey in the nursing field.

Save the date! The College of Nursing Career Fair will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 7. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the College of Nursing Atrium, Boca Raton campus. The fair is a great opportunity for students to practice answering interview questions, network with college clinical partners and meet with FAU Career Center advisors. There will also be a photo booth set up to take professional photos. 

A Day in the Life of an FAU Nursing Student

A Day in the Life of a FAU Nursing Student

Follow Camila Goizueta, a junior from West Palm Beach, to see what a typical day in the life of a nursing student looks like, and learn why Florida Atlantic has one of the best Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. Watch Video



News and Events

The Southern College Health Association (SCHA) Annual Meeting Program Planning Committee is accepting program proposals for the 2024 Annual Meeting at the beachfront Westin Fort Lauderdale. The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, Dec. 11. Read More

Calling all alumni! Join us for Toast to the Grads on Wednesday, Dec. 13, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. We'll celebrate the December graduates at the Marleen and Harold Forkas Alumni Center and enjoy food, drinks, music and fun. After the event, stay for the Alumni Network watch party. We'll be cheering on the FAU men's basketball champions as they take on the FIU Panthers. Spots are limited, so RSVP here today!

On Monday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m., the College of Nursing will proudly host the grand opening of the new high-fidelity Advanced Nursing Simulation and Clinical Learning Laboratory on FAU's Davie campus. FAU leadership, students and faculty will join supporters of the college for the event.

The College of Nursing hosted a Relax, Rejuvenate and Recharge Wellness event facilitated by the Initiative for Intentional Health, on Dec. 2. Activities included a vision board workshop, a labyrinth workshop, an introduction to chakras, as well as various healing vendors. Weekly virtual wellness sessions are being offered. Check your emails for details.

College of Nursing students and faculty spent the week of Nov. 6 treating patients in the remote village of Chirramos, Guatemala, as part of the college's study abroad program. Read More

FAU's Sigma Theta Tau, Iota Xi at-Large chapter, received the Chapter Key Excellence Award from Sigma Nursing International Honor Society during its 47th Biennial Convention in San Antonio, Nov. 11 to 15. Dr. Armiel Suriaga, chapter president (2021-23) for this biennium, and Dr. Barbara Lovell-Martin, current chapter president, accepted the award. The chapter also received recognition from the Sigma Region 7 for its exemplary efforts and service during the biennium. Read More

The College of Nursing is collecting donations for children ages 5 to 16 for its holiday gift drive benefiting Boca Helping Hands.Unwrapped gifts can be dropped off in the College of Nursing Atrium on the Boca Raton campus now through Friday, Dec. 15.

Several faculty attended the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Transform conference held Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in Orlando, Florida. The College of Nursing was among the exhibitors for the event.

Nursing is more than a job – it’s a calling. The Lamplighter and While Coat scholarships were created to help our aspiring students afford the extra costs required to study nursing. Supporting these students will help them achieve their full potential for academic success. To support scholarships in nursing, contribute here!

The College of Nursing is accepting applications for its accelerated BSN track on FAU's Davie campus for the fall 2024 admission cycle. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing Accelerated track (BSN) is specifically designed for the student with a baccalaureate degree in another field who wants to become a Registered Nurse. Learn More

Research: Student Spotlight on Antonio Rull

Antonio Rull

Senior Freshman Direct Admit nursing student Antonio Rull will participate in an important study led by Dr. Rebecca Koszalinski, associate professor in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, as a research assistant.


Among his job responsibilities are to help Dr. Koszalinski prepare for and assist with Research Day, an event where BSN, PhD and DNP students and faculty present their research and clinical projects held each fall. Next semester, he’s eager to join her research team that is performing a first-of-its-kind evaluation of both the short-term and potential long-term health effects of harmful agal blooms among Florida residents. Read More



Faculty and Staff

College of Nursing Professor Dr. Shirley Gordon will retire at the end of the fall semester. Her many years of teaching and research will be celebrated at the college's annual holiday party on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Madea Shoff recently joined the college as a Visiting Simulation Coordinator and Instructor. Her nursing career began at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. She received a Master of Science in Nursing Education in 2014, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice in 2020, at Chatham University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has devoted the last 10 years to nursing education by teaching nursing students in pre-licensure ADN and BSN programs.


Syvonne Terrel, MSN, RN, joined the College of Nursing as the Nursing Workforce Development Coordinator/Instructor.

Dr. Jacqueline Marshal began working for the College of Nursing this December in her role as Director of Assessment, Evaluation, and Student Success.

Dr. Lisa Wiese was an invited speaker at the 2023 Professional Development Symposium, hosted by the Diabetes Coalition of Palm Beach County on Nov. 3.

Several College of Nursing faculty attended and presented at this year's Gerontological Society of American's annual Scientific Meeting, Nov. 8 to 12, in Tampa.

As part of the FAU Health triad, Dr. Louise Aurelien Buie joined representatives from the Schmidt College of Medicine and the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce: Perspectives on Florida’s Healthcare Awards Luncheon, on Nov. 9.

On Nov. 11, Dr. Rita Gengo presented the e-poster, "Prodromal Symptom Cluster is Associated with Length of Hospital Stay after Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation," at the 2023 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia.

Dr. Armiel Suriaga virtually presented his research titled, "Mitragynine Drug Intoxication is Associated with Fentanyl Use," at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Scientific Meeting held in Washington, D.C., Nov. 11 to 15.

In the Media

Dr. Sareen Gropper contributed as an expert to Women’s Health article, “How Much Protein Do You Really Need? Experts Say It's Probably More Than You Think” (Nov. 2). Read More

Dr. Louise Aurélien-Buie was interviewed by Jacksonville radio station WJCT, an NPR member station, about the college’s newly launched certificate program, “Compassionate Care of Older Adults at Risk For or Experiencing Dementia” (Nov. 9). Listen Here

In the American Academy of Nursing’s Edge Runner Giving Tuesday announcement, Dr. Maria Ortega’s research with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) was highlighted as an exemplar. Read More

The Boca Raton Tribune included coverage of the 17th annual “Keep Memories Alive” Walk-in-the-Mall (Nov. 5). Read More

Faculty Publications

BOOK CHAPTERS


#Gordon, S. C. (2024). Management of head lice (pediculosis). In C. Resha & D. Taliaferro (Eds.), Legal resource for school health services, 2nd Ed. (pp. 387-403). SchoolNurse.com.

 

PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS:


*Reif. J. S, Stockley, N. Harvey, K. McFarland, M. Gordon, S.C. and Schaefer, A. M. (2023). Symptom frequency and exposure to a cyanobacteria bloom in Florida. Harmful Algae, (129), 1-8.


*Suriaga, A., Tappen, R.M., & Hain, D. (2023). Deaths in four opioid categories among the older population during the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida. Journal of Pain Management & Medicine, 9(5), 1-7.


*#Tappen R., Newman D., Rosselli M, Jang J, Furht B, Yang K, et al. (2023). Study Protocol for “In-Vehicle Sensors to Detect Changes in Cognition of Older Drivers.” BMC Geriatrics. In Press.


*#Tappen R. M., Wolf D., Southard K., Worch S., Sopcheck J. Nursing Home Use of a Resident and Family Decision Guide to Reduce Hospital Readmissions: A Quality Improvement Project. (2023). ESMED. https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v11i11.4525.


*#Park, J., Kirk, L., Holt, J. (2023). Online Chair Yoga and Digital Learning for Rural Underserved Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, Clinical Gerontologist, DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2023.2277333


(* = data-based, # = Caring Science)

Employment Opportunities


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