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May 2023

FAU College of Nursing Master's Program Moves Up 16 Spots in 'U.S. News' Rankings

Several Florida Atlantic University graduate programs are included in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Programs” for 2023-24. Each year, U.S. News’ ranks professional school programs in business, education, engineering, law, medicine and nursing, including specialties in each area.

 

Among the FAU programs listed in the 2023-24 “Best Graduate Programs” is the nursing master’s degree program at No. 38 (up from No. 54). Read More

Most Nurses Attribute Well-Being Struggles to Staffing Shortages

Cross Country Healthcare, Inc., a market-leading, tech-enabled workforce solutions platform and advisory firm, in collaboration with FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, recently announced the results of its annual survey of nursing professionals and students.


The study found that although nurses are passionate about doing meaningful work and earning a good income, only one-third of nurses plan to remain in the profession for the foreseeable future, and about one-fourth plan to leave in just one to two years from now. Additionally, more than half of nurses claim there is insufficient staff to meet demand, which they regard as the worst part of the profession, resulting in burnout and feeling overworked.


“Despite the many challenges and stressors that have contributed to burnout and nurses being on the brink of a breaking point in their professional careers, nurses and nursing students remain overwhelming satisfied with their career choice,” said Safiya George, Ph.D., Holli Rockwell Trubinsky Eminent Dean and Professor, FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. “Nurses have endured and thrived over the years. The profession as a whole will need a lot more investment of human capital as well as fiscal and other supportive resources moving forward. This national survey has helped to identify innovative ways to improve quality of work and life for current and the next generation of nurses.” Read More

Spring 2023 College of Nursing Pinning and Commencement Ceremonies

Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing hosted the spring pinning and commencement ceremonies on May 4, on the Boca Raton campus. The annual pinning ceremony symbolizes the start of their nursing careers, which students' celebrated with friends and families. Over 190 new graduates will join more than 9,000 College of Nursing alumni who have graduated from FAU since the establishment of the first nursing degree program in 1979. View Photos


Congratulations to the following spring semester award winners:

Scholarship

Graduate: Amanda Glynn, Caroline Boudrias

Undergraduate: Barbara Difruscio, Sarah Lowe

 

Leadership

Graduate: Kelsey Hickson, Marla Mygatt, Trisha Goulet

Undergraduate: Stefan Sapiano, Breanna Trigona

 

Clinical Excellence

Graduate: Ebony Thomas, Joshua Duran, Marlon Hinds

Undergraduate: Megan Thurlow, Allyson Kifer


Caring Award

Grace Standifer

Hannah James

 

Daisy

Graduate: Crystal Carrick

Undergraduate: Mariah Cretella

Spring 2023 BSN CARE Scholars


Christie Ambroise

Perzya Addison

Kayli Chan

Riona Clarke

Corrina DeJesus

Anna De Leon

Barbara DiFruscio

Karen Dorsainvil



Hannah James

Vishnie Joseph

Roselyn Louis

Karen Marius

Tanishia Marques

Desiree Rull

Camila Santana

Stefan Sapiano

National Nurses Day

Happy National Nurses Week!

National Nurses Week is celebrated worldwide and begins each year on May 6 – also National Nurses Day – and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingale's birthday. It recognizes these remarkable medical professionals and the incredible work they do for others in the health care industry. At Florida Atlantic University's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, we are grateful for the opportunity to educate the next generation of nurses. Thank you to all of our students and nurses who answer the call to care for our local community! Watch Video

Study Compares COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among College Students

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University, Ariel University in Israel, and the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, Czech Republic, are the first to perform a cross-cultural comparison to investigate factors that influenced the decision to get the COVID-19 vaccine in an international sample of college students from the United States, Israel and the Czech Republic.

 

The study explored associations between vaccine hesitancy and the Health Belief Model (HBM), a tool that helps researchers better understand motivations to health-related behavior. Results of the study were published in INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision and Financing.

 

“Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic has been a substantial global challenge,” said Joy Longo, Ph.D., co-author, associate professor and interim associate dean, academic programs, FAU’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. “The different predictors of vaccine hesitancy we found in our study further raises the need for culture specific campaigns and policies implemented by the local government of countries. Rather than a global model for dealing with a virus, governments should consider their own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in creating an effective model to mitigate the virus.” Read More



Student News

Congratulations to three College of Nursing Ph.D. students who successfully defended their dissertations this semester! Well done!


  • Erin Ethridge-Bagley: “The Lived Experience of Families who Donate Their Neonate’s Organs: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study” (above left)
  • Marla Mygatt: “Adolescents' Experiences with Equine-assisted Learning Through a Unitary Caring Perspective” (above middle)
  • Shirley Conrad: "Nurse Coaching and Power as Knowing Participation in Change in the Process of Health Patterning" (above right)

The Graduate College regularly hosts hour-long information sessions to provide prospective students with an overview of FAU and the graduate admissions process. Most sessions are held virtually. View the upcoming schedule here.

Registration is open for Summer and Fall 2023 semesters. Register early to ensure you get the classes you want! Read More

Summer is a great time to polish your resume and practice interviewing. The award-winning staff at FAU's Career Center is ready to help you land your dream job. Make an appointment today or check out the hottest jobs in Handshake.

We are so proud of our undergraduate students who participated in FAU's Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (OURI) Symposium on April 7Read More

On April 11, the College of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau, IOTA XI At-Large Chapter, hosted a hybrid research symposium titled "Function, Health and Wellness: Understanding Contexts of Patient Experience.” The event included informative presentations from keynote speaker Dr. Leorey Saligan, senior tenured Investigator, National Institute of Nursing Research, and his team. Read More

Congratulations to our student and faculty researchers who presented an impressive array of projects at the College of Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau, IOTA XI At-Large Chapter's 2023 Research Day on April 19. Read More

FAU College of Nursing faculty and students conducted brain health, hypertension, BMI and diabetes screenings on April 29 in Belle Glade, in collaboration with the following College community partners: Healthier Glades, the Diabetes Coalition and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Glades Alumnae.

The FAU College of Nursing Dermatology Nurse Practitioner Specialty Post Graduate Certificate Program held free skin cancer screenings on May 3, on the Boca Raton campus as part of Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month. Program Director Dr. Debra Shelby, founder and president of the National Academy of Dermatology Nurse Practitioners (NADNP), and students conducted the screenings.

Student Spotlight: Aleksandra Fitzgibbons


Graduate student Aleksandra Fitzgibbons is currently enrolled in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing’s Master of Science in Nursing program with a concentration in Nursing Administration and Financial Leadership.


A passionate advocate for public health, Aleksandra has worked in health care management for over 10 years. Currently, she serves as the Immunizations Program and Refugee Health Director/Community Nursing Consultant for the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County.


“I was raised to be a nurse because my grandmother was a psychiatric nurse," explained Aleksandra. "She was my inspiration and role model as both a professional and as a woman.” Read More

News and Events

The Anne Boykin Institute will offer a Summer Academy on Aesthetics: Re-presenting Caring Values Through Art. The academy will be held at FAU's College of Nursing in Boca Raton on June 21, 22, and 23, with an option to attend either in person or virtually. For more information or to register, click here.

Congratulations to Herard LaFrance, DNP-FNP, for being recognized as a 2023 distinguished alumnus by the FAU Alumni Association! Every year before spring Commencement, outstanding alumni from each of FAU’s colleges are honored for their accomplishments, exceptional service and commitment to their profession and community. Read more.

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous foundation in Broward County, FAU received a major grant to support students enrolled in the College of Nursing’s program at FAU’s Davie campus. The gift will create expanded opportunities for students through a renovated, state-of-the-art simulation center, which will provide enhanced training technologies for both adult and pediatric care. Read More

Dr. Cheryl Krause-Parello presented her research during the May 11 "Paws of Freedom" event hosted by the Nursing Professional Development Council.

Happiest of birthdays to Christine E. Lynn, our beloved namesake and long-time friend and supporter of the College!

This year's Kay Carpenter Scholarship program and pinning ceremony took place on April 25.The unique "Pay it Forward" scholarship was established at the College in 2018, where, after graduation, students repay their scholarships over a 10-year period, creating a never-ending cycle of philanthropy and caring. Many thanks to longtime benefactor B.G. Carter for his continued generosity and support. Read More

Dean George spoke during the grand opening of the Center for SMART Health at FAU's College of Engineering and Computer Science. The center is the result of a three-college partnership between the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, the Schmidt College of Medicine and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Learn more at fau.edu/smart-health.

The College of Nursing is pleased to announce the release of a new website for the Florida Atlantic University/Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center (FAU/NCHA Community Health Center and the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center. View Here

FAU celebrated its 2023 President’s Gala in April. The signature event was at capacity, attended by more than 700 friends of the university, including College of Nursing supporters and Dean Safiya George. Read More

Earlier this month, the university honored Horizon Society members who provide gifts that leave a legacy for future FAU students, faculty and programs at its annual luncheon. Dean George spoke during the event, and College supporters Holli Rockwell Trubinsky and Joseph Trubinsky were recognized at the luncheon, among others.

Dean George and Director of Development Marcie Hall attended the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation golf tournament, along with Christine E. Lynn, Terry Fedele and Holli Rockwell Trubinsky and Joseph Trubinsky, on April 24 at the Boca West Country Club. All proceeds benefit the Ron and Kathy Assaf Center for Excellence in Nursing.

Research News

On April 25, the College's Office of Nursing Research and Scholarship hosted Research Renewal 2023 at its Boca Raton campus. The in-person, interactive research event offered College faculty members the opportunity to attended informative sessions presented by fellow faculty and guest speakers from Memorial Healthcare System. The program concluded with a luncheon and the presentation of Challenge Coins to College faculty who have been awarded grant funding this year. Read More

Faculty and Staff

On May 2, students, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the rich career of Dr. Kathryn Keller who retired at the end of the spring semester. In 1998, Dr. Keller began teaching courses for both undergraduate and graduate programs. She served as the Graduate Coordinator for the Nurse Educator concentration in the master's program and is credentialed as a Certified Nurse Educator (CNE). She was also an advisor in the Ph.D. program.

Congratulations to Dr. Rita Gengo and her team for a grant award from the Association for Common European Nursing Diagnoses, Interventions and Outcomes (ACENDIO)ACENDIO is committed to the development of nursing practice through the use of standardized nursing languages and nursing information systems.

Dr. Tarsha Jones has been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor and granted tenure in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University. The promotion becomes effective with her appointment for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Dr. David Newman has been promoted to the rank of Professor in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. The promotion becomes effective with his appointment for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Dr. Beth Pratt was selected by a panel of faculty members from the College of Nursing as the 2023 “Future of Nursing Research Scholar.” 

Dr. Shirley Gordon has been invited to speak at the Florida Blue-Green Algae State of the Science Symposium II, May 15 to 26, to present her grant work from the Florida Department of Health on the “Long-term Effects of Exposure to Harmful Algal Blooms” study.


On June 17, Dr. Gordon will be inducted into the Global Academy of Holistic Nursing. This prestigious recognition supports her commitment to transforming health care communities through holistic nursing praxis, education, research, policy and engagement.

Dr. Nancy Harris was honored at the Department of Health's Annual Volunteer and Partner Appreciation Luncheon in Port St. Lucie, for serving "Above and Beyond" during Hurricanes Ian and Nicole with the St. Lucie County Department of Health.


Additionally, Dr. Harris was a panelist for the Community Leadership Luncheon on Health Disparity, presented by the National Forum for Black Public Administrators of the Treasure Coast on April 21.

Dr. Armiel Suriaga delivered a presentation as a guest lecturer at Yale University School of Nursing on April 6. His research presentation titled "Substance Use Disorder in the Older Population" was well received at Yale West Haven campus.

Dr. Cheryl A. Krause-Parello, Ph.D., associate dean for research and scholarship and the Schmidt Family Distinguished Professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, is among 22 honorees worldwide who will be inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing’s (Sigma) “2023 International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame.” Read More

Matt Patterson joined the College of Nursing in May as an Academic Advisor II. Matt is excited to return to the College after helping stand up a Veteran Center of Excellence and programs at Indian River State College (IRSC). Prior to IRSC, Matt worked at FAU's College of Nursing as an advisor for graduate and certificate programs. He is a U.S. Army disabled veteran with a master’s degree in Business Administration. Matt lives in Palm City with his wife Anisley, daughters Isabella and Olivia, and their dachshund Jack. 

Charles Owens III is new to the College of Nursing. He brings over a decade of educational and real-world entrepreneurial experiences. A native of Florida, he earned his B.S. in education from the University of West Florida and his M.Ed from Barry University. He is a member of various community and religious organizations. His effective interpersonal skills, openness to network, community engagement and IT skills make him a great fit as a clinical coordinator.

New faculty member Olufunmilayo Akinpelu joined the College of Nursing as a Visiting Instructor of Pediatrics in May. She is a nurse practitioner with 12 years of varied nursing experience including adult telemetry, HIV/AIDS, critical care/medical-surgical, pediatrics, aesthetics, and academia.

Kristen D. Beauchesne, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is the new Family Nurse Practitioner at the Community Health Center. She joins the team on the Caring-based Community Academic Relationships in Excellence: Nurse-led Mobile Health Unit HRSA Grant and the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center. Kristen is a 2006 graduate of FAU’s BSN program at Port St. Lucie and 2012 (FNP, MS) program. She brings 10 years of experience as an FNP, and she has expertise in caring for adults, older adults, women’s health, risk assessment, Medicare guidelines, underserved populations and telehealth.

Wislaine Bazile Herard will step down from her position as a Visiting Instructor this spring and become an adjunct faculty member of the College.

FAU will retire use of WebEx on June 30, 2023. The WebEx platform will no longer be available for use in meetings after this date. Read More

In the Media

The May issue of the South Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report highlighted Dean Safiya George and Dr. Joy Longo in a front-page education article, "FAU College of Nursing Adds New Programs, Pathways to Success." Read More

On April 14, the College of Nursing was featured in an Inside Higher Ed article, "How Florida Atlantic University is making a major difference in health care." Read More

Medical Xpress showcased research from a joint FAU study that spanned the globe to compare COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among college students (April 18). Read More

Faculty Publications

Costa, A. C. D., Conceição, A. P. D., Butcher, H. K., & Butcher, R. C. G. E. S. (2023). Factors that influence health literacy in patients with coronary artery disease. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 31, e3878. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.6211.3878

 

Costa, A.C., Conceição, A.P., Butcher, H.K., & Butcher, R.C.G.S. (2023). Factors that exert an influence on health literacy in patients with coronary artery disease. Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem.31; e3879, https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.6211.3879

 

Jan, M. T., Moshfeghi, S., Conniff, J. W., Jang, J., Yang, K., Zhai, J., Rosselli, M., Newman, D., Tappen, R., & Furht, B. (2023). Methods and Tools for Monitoring Driver’s Behavior (Version 1). arXivhttps://doi.org/10.48550/ARXIV.2301.12269

 

Rivera, A. (2023). The social process of caregiving in fathers: A grounded theory study. Family & Community Health. https://doi.org/10.1097/FCH.0000000000000364

 

Sopcheck, J., & Tappen, R. M. (2023). Nursing Home Resident, Family, and Staff Perspectives on Hospital Transfers for End-of-Life Care. Omega, 86(3), 1046–1068. 

https://doi.org/10.1177/0030222821997708

 

Tappen, R.M. (2023). Advanced Nursing Research: From Theory to Practice (3rd Ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.

 

Tappen, R. M., & Sopcheck, J. (2023). Nursing Home Resident, Family, and Staff Perspectives on Achieving Comfort at End of Life: A Qualitative Study. Journal of hospice and palliative nursing: JHPN: the official journal of the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association,

10.1097/NJH.0000000000000953. Advance online publication. 

https://doi.org/10.1097/NJH.0000000000000953

Dr. Shirley Gordon and Professor Emeritus Nancey France will release a new book this summer. Deeply grounded in unitary caring science, Co-Creating a Holistic Healing Environment in Nursing Practice introduces readers to the Holistic Healing Environment Framework and guides future and practicing nurses on the why and how of co-creating a holistic healing environment.


The forward is written by Jean Watson and the epilogue is written by Professor Emeritus Marlaine Smith.

Employment Opportunities

Adult Day Center Registered Nurse, Memory and Wellness Center, Boca Raton

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Westgate

Professor, Boca Raton

Invest in our nursing students today to prepare for Florida’s health care needs tomorrow.

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FAU/NCHA Community Health Centers

Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center

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