Ready to Celebrate: Fall 2025 Pinning and Commencement Ceremonies | |
Faculty and staff will gather with Fall 2025 Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates and their families for the college's traditional pinning ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m., in the College of Nursing Auditorium on the Boca Raton campus. The ceremony signifies the completion of the nursing program and the official initiation into the profession.
Florida Atlantic University will host its fall commencement ceremony for College of Nursing students on Thursday, Dec. 11 at 1 p.m., in the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, located in the Student Union on the Boca Raton campus.
The live commencement webcast will begin approximately 10 to 15 minutes before the event: https://www.fau.edu/webcast/.
| | Year-end Giving: Help Transform a Student's Life | | |
Support from our generous Florida Atlantic donors is transforming lives every day. Before the year ends, help the next generation of nurses with their educational journey and contribute to the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing’s Annual Scholarship Fund.
Please consider donating to the combined Lamplighter and White Coat Scholarship Campaign. Gifts of any amount can make a difference in helping students achieve their academic goals. Give Here
| | FAU/NCHA Community Health Center Receives HRSA Look-Alike Designation | The Florida Atlantic University Northwest Community Health Alliance (FAU/NCHA) Community Health Center’s designation as a “Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike,” was granted by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently after meeting Health Center Program requirements. The designation is now effective through 2027 for the two clinics in West Palm Beach. FQHC clinics provide comprehensive primary, behavioral health and preventive care to patients of all ages in under resourced areas. The purpose is to serve communities that may have financial disadvantages, language or geographic barriers, and other specific needs. | | Sharing the Spirit of Giving: Turkey Dinner Giveaway | | With the season of giving underway, the Florida Atlantic University Northwest Community Health Alliance (FAU/NCHA) Community Health Center clinics in West Palm Beach distributed turkeys, fresh vegetables and groceries to families at both the Westgate location and U.B. Kinsey Educational Community Center. The event, held on Nov. 18, was supported by the County’s Office of Community Revitalization, The Salvation Army of Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office and the Professional Firefighters/Paramedics of Palm Beach County. | | |
The fall semester’s study abroad trip to remote areas of Guatemala resulted in students and faculty conducting screenings for more than 500 primary care patients, children and adults in the villages of Los Jometes, Chimaltenango and San Martín Jilotepeque. The trip, led by Drs. Nancy Harris and Caroline Hardy, was in partnership with Nursing Heart, Inc., a health organization serving rural and Indigenous communities. View Photos
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Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner students from the Davie, Boca Raton and Harbor Branch campuses conducted Pediatric Cardiac Screenings on Nov. 8. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Tara King, APRN, a 2025 graduate, identified two aortic bicuspid abnormalities in two young patients. She also received the "superhero" award.
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The Aesthetics in Caring Science exhibition spanned four days in November, across the Boca Raton and Davie campuses, and highlighted the creativity of Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Freshman Direct Admit (FDA) students. They expressed their understanding of caring in nursing through projects that included spoken word, pottery, origami, pumpkin art, drawings, songs, baked goods, and more. View Photos
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College of Nursing students enjoyed a special visit with campus K9 therapy dog Nala on Nov. 20. The event was made possible thanks to the Florida Atlantic Police Department and the college's Initiative for Intentional Health.
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The fall semester ends on Wednesday, Dec. 10, and registration for spring 2025 classes is now open. Spring classes begin on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. Learn More
| | Fall Graduate Spotlight: Patricia Velez | | |
RN-to-BSN student and veteran Patricia Velez has overcome many challenges to complete her studies and join the graduating class this semester. After proudly serving in the U.S. Navy from 2000 to 2004 as an Aviation Electronic Technician on the P-3 aircraft (the submarine hunters), she discovered her passion for service and healing. When she considered the Navy as a career choice, she aspired to be a Hospital Corpsman with a goal of eventually becoming a nurse. With no openings in that position, she went into aviation instead, managing the electronics inside the P-3.
In addition to her work, Velez’s responsibilities included caring for her mother, grandmother and younger sister, which required her to leave the Navy after her contract expired. Despite this transition, she said her calling to nursing remained strong.
“It took me a long and twisted path to get here, but I finally had the opportunity to obtain my bachelor's degree in nursing,” shared Velez. “I am and will forever be thankful to Florida Atlantic University for helping me fulfill my dream to serve and heal in the nursing profession.”
| | Student Spotlight: Natasha and Tatiana Wooding-Sansberro | | |
Identical twins Natasha and Tatiana Wooding-Sansberro share a journey that is both unique and inspiring. Although they may pursue different nursing paths in the future, their bond as sisters has guided them through every challenge and triumph. From late-night study sessions to hands-on clinicals, Natasha and Tatiana are facing the demands of nursing school side by side. The Freshmen Direct Admit (FDA) students chose the program because of the opportunity it gives high school graduates to jump-start their nursing careers.
“We liked that we could just go straight into the nursing program and straight into helping people after graduation,” the twins shared. Read More
| Alumna Spotlight: Emily DeJonge, BSN '04, MSN '12 | |
Two-time alumna Emily DeJonge graduated magna cum laude from Florida Atlantic in 2004, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. After six years working in a local emergency room, her passion for patient care and advocacy inspired her to advance her education. In 2012, DeJonge completed her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) in the college’s Clinical Nurse Leader program. She took a job with West Boca Medical Center (WBMC), where she quickly advanced into leadership roles. Today, DeJonge serves as WBMC’s associate chief nursing officer. As a leader, she aims to provide the next generation of nurses with a sense of purpose.
“In all the nurses whom I lead, I strive to instill in them that both compassion and competence are non-negotiable requirements in nursing,” said DeJonge. Read More
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The College of Nursing's DNP project presentations will take place on Monday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 6:30 p.m., in the Atrium and Rooms 201 and 202. DNP students will present their scholarly projects and explain how findings can influence nursing practice, policy or education.
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The Innovation Exchange, a research event hosted by the College of Nursing in partnership with the Colleges of Engineering & Computer Science, Medicine, Science, Social Work & Criminal Justice, was held Nov. 13. The event fostered collaborative research, sparking the next wave of health-sciences research across the five colleges. The half-day event was attended by 50 researchers exploring opportunities to expand interdisciplinary projects at Florida Atlantic University.
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The Nursing Consortium of Florida conference on Nov. 14, focused on the theme, "Leadership Across Generations: Advancing Nursing Practice and Academia in a Changing Health care Landscape." Several faculty members attended and engaged in discussions about building resilient teams, supporting workforce development and promoting nursing excellence in an evolving health care environment. View Photos
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The College of Nursing is collecting unwrapped gifts for children ages 5 – 16 for the Boca Helping Hands holiday gift drive. The gifts will be distributed at the organization’s Christmas Day Feast at Boca Town Center on December 25. The free event is by invitation only and families must register in advance to attend. Learn more here.
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Advance your education! The College of Nursing offers a range of professional development courses, all based in the caring philosophy of our college, which are designed to fit your schedule and your life. Learn more about our certificates including Caring Science, Telehealth and Telemetry/Progressive Care here.
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Explore a new approach to healing! Our new Advanced Holistic Practice & Nurse Coach certificate program offers those with a BSN degree or higher the tools to care for others and themselves. The fully online, 12-credit course is open to non-degree seeking students and upon completion, students are eligible to apply for board certification. Apply by April 15, 2026 for Summer 2026! Learn More
| | Dr. Ruth Tappen Honored with 2025 Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award | | Dr. Ruth Tappen received the 2025 Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award at the Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting in Boston, Nov. 12 to 15. She was recognized for her contributions to the field of geriatrics and gerontology health care. The meeting focused on cutting-edge scholarship, research and continuing education. | | |
Dr. Armiel Suriaga and undergraduate student Hien Do delivered the podium/paper presentation, “Fatal drowning in older adults with alcohol, opioids, cannabinoids, and other exposures,” during the November GSA conference in Boston. Dr. Suriaga also presented the poster presentation, “Death circumstances of older adults with cannabinoid exposures.”
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Dr. Rita Gengo presented the moderated poster, "Heart Failure Symptom Cluster Phenotypes and Their Influencing Factors Vary Across Population Groups: A Secondary Data Analysis from the All of Us Research Program," at the American Heart Association's 2025 Scientific Sessions on Nov. 9 in New Orleans. College of Nursing Ph.D. student Judyta Kociolek and Dr. David Newman co-authored this work.
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Florida Atlantic celebrated its local and campus military veterans during the Homecoming football game against Tulsa on Nov. 8. Dr. Candy Wilson served as the Honorary Team Captain, a Hometown Hero, as part of the Veterans Appreciation festivities. She was also recognized as a special Veteran Faculty/Staff Member of the Game.
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Dr. Terry Eggenberger has been elected as Chair-Elect of the National Academies of Practice (NAP) Nursing Academy, effective March 2026. In her new role, she will serve a two-year term. The NAP Nursing Academy's collective expertise is demonstrated by over 240 distinguished fellows who are recognized as nurse scientists, practitioners, educators and leaders committed to interprofessional practice and education to improve patient outcomes.
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WPTV's Hollani Davis visited the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center at the U.B. Kinsey Educational and Community Center in West Palm Beach, which offers comprehensive primary care and behavioral health services for children and adults. (Nov. 17). Read More
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The Palm Beach Post featured coverage about a Florida Atlantic University study that shows training service dogs slows biological aging in female veterans. The project was led by Cheryl Krause-Parello, Ph.D., first author, associate vice president for FAU research, associate executive director, FAU I-Health, and director of C-PAWW™ (Oct. 28). Read More
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The December issue of South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report features the college's Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF) student organization and the community activities of members. Read More
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PEER-REVIEWED PAPERS:
#Chukwuere, P. C., & Horne, C. (2025). Acculturation, cultural marginalization & culturally responsive mental health care for immigrants: Reimagining caring presence practice amid sociopolitical challenges. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 1–14. Online Print. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2025.2572032
Levarity, B., Longo, J., & Liehr, P. (2025). Post-traumatic growth and ease following a trauma cluster of Hurricane Dorian and the coronavirus disease pandemic in the Bahamas. Journal of Holistic Nursing. Online Print. https://doi.org/10.1177/08980101251380316
*#Martinez, A. J. S., Wiese, L. A. K., & De Oliveira, G. C. (2025). Cultural influences of alcohol use among Latino farmworkers: A literature review. International Journal for Human Caring 29(3): IJHC-2025-0008.R1
*Newton, M., Brammer, S. V., Chang, Y., Hain, D., Herbert, W., Kverno, K., Mumba, M., & Schimmels, J. (2025). Improving engagement for enhancing social capital in the older adult: An AAN consensus paper. Nursing Outlook, 73(6), 102555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102555
*Nitichai, N., Harnirattisai, T., & Hain, D. (2025). Effects of Realistic Acceptance Enhancing Program on Self-Care Behaviors and Foot Health in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Thailand. The Journal of Behavioral Science, 20(3), 45-60.
Uddeen, A., Lopez, J., Komalasari., R., Petcharat, M., Decker, V., Orozco, T., & Thiamwong, L. (2025). Mindfulness, Depression, and Fall Risk in Low-Income Older Adults: Original Research. Research in Health and Medicine, 5(1):1-7. https://doi.org/10.53520/rdhs2025.104164
(* = Data-based, # = Caring Science)
| | Invest in our nursing students today to prepare for Florida’s health care needs tomorrow. | | | | |
