University of Kansas School of Nursing

KU Medical Center has been awarded a four-year, nearly $4 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes in rural Kansas.

Karen Weis, Ph.D., Christine A. Hartley Rural Health Nursing Endowed Professor at KU School of Nursing-Salina and director of research at the Kansas Center for Rural Health, is the principal investigator on the HRSA grant.

“Because Kansas is very rural, access to obstetrical care is a really pressing issue," she said. "And some critical access hospitals (typically rural hospitals with no more than 25 beds) are either closing entirely or closing their obstetrical care, and it’s creating an issue with access to maternal health care."

The grant will fund the creation of a sustainable model of obstetrical services and care at a network of hospitals in three rural Kansas counties.

KU School of Nursing researcher receives HRSA grant to improve maternal and neonatal health in rural Kansas The grant, which includes researchers from KU School of Nursing and KU School of Medicine, will fund the creation of a sustainable model of quality obstetrical services and care at a network of hospitals in three rural Kansas counties.

📣 Calling all KU School of Nursing alumni and friends! We hope you'll join us for several events at the 2024 Alumni Reunion Weekend on Sept. 26-29. Don't miss the chance to reconnect at these exciting events:

🔹 School of Nursing Reception & Reunion
🔹 School of Nursing Class of 1974 Reunion
🔹 School of Nursing Class of 1994 Reunion
🔹 Distinguished Nursing Alumni Lecture with Christine Pabico, Ph..D’19, RN, NE-BC, FAAN

Enjoy campus tours, the annual Alumni Awards luncheon and more. Check out the full schedule and secure your spot soon!
https://bit.ly/3A8dGDH

Karen Weis, Ph.D., Christine A. Hartley Rural Health Nursing Endowed Professor at KU School of Nursing-Salina and director of research at the Kansas Center for Rural Health, is a featured speaker at the Kansas Rural Maternal Symposium on Oct. 4 in Salina.

The symposium, hosted by the Kansas Center for Rural Health, will explore the latest and most pressing issues in maternity care across the state. Participants will be able to hear from experts in the field and dive into topics like the rising perinatal population, the challenge of OB deserts and navigating insurance coverage and reimbursement complexities. Learn more and register online today: https://bit.ly/480tllh

The Kansas Nursing Workforce Center, based at KU School of Nursing, has issued its first official report, pulling together data from 17 different sources about the state of the nursing workforce in Kansas. Nurse leaders hope the report will serve as a vital resource for decision-making, program development and the formulation of public policy impacting nursing in the state.

"By measuring what matters, we believe this report and those to come and the original research that is underway will empower the decision makers to invest in specific projects and programs to increase the number of nurses in Kansas,” said Barbara MacArthur, M.N., FAAN, co-director of the center. “Our focus is determining the true impact that nurses make on the health of Kansans — their personal health, the health of their families and the viability of their communities.”

Learn more about the report and its key findings: https://bit.ly/3AURfmc

Some more of our favorite moments from the Dedication to the Profession ceremony 📷 Congratulations again to the Class of 2026! KU School of Nursing is excited to be a part of your journey.

In partnership with the Office of Student Life and the Institute for Community Engagement, KU School of Nursing hosted a community-focused event during Hawk Week for students on our Kansas City campus. During the event, students had the opportunity to meet with non-profit organizations from the KC area and help assemble hygiene and household kits for those in need.

A special thank you to all who participated!

Reach Out and Read Kansas City
Bethel Neighborhood Center
Cross-Lines Community Outreach, Inc
Shepherd's Center of Kansas City, Kansas
Project Eagle
IMPACT KCK - Avenue of Life
Mission Adelante
WethrYve KC
Juntos Center for Advancing Latino Health
Friends of Yates
PREP-KC

This afternoon, we officially welcomed our Bachelor of Science in Nursing Class of 2026 at the Dedication to the Profession Ceremony. During the event, students received their jackets and recited an oath to the profession, signifying the beginning of their nursing careers.

Please join us in offering a warm welcome to our 134 incoming BSN students!

https://www.kumc.edu/about/news/news-archive/nursing-dedication-ceremony.html

On August 20, we gathered to officially welcome Jean Giddens, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, ANEF, as the new dean of KU School of Nursing. Joined by leadership from the University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Health System, Dean Giddens shared her goals and plans for the future of our school.

A native Kansan, alumna of the school and national nursing leader, Dean Giddens discussed an abundance of opportunities for our continued growth and success. Thank you to everyone who joined us for the celebration!

Congratulations to KU School of Nursing's 2024 Alumni Award honorees. The recipients will be recognized during Alumni Reunion Weekend at a luncheon on Sept. 27. Learn more about the honorees and join us in congratulating them online: https://bit.ly/3SPxMcH

🔹 Early Career Achievement in Nursing Alumna: Jennifer McNiel, MSN, BSN '08, RN, CPHQ
🔹 Honorary Nursing Alumna: Mary Beth Warren, M.S., RN
🔹 Distinguished Nursing Alumna: Christine Pabico, Ph.D. '19, RN, NE-BC, FAAN

KU School of Nursing is expanding the nursing workforce through Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded opportunities. DNP student Maddie Schulte, RN, BSN, is a recipient of the Advanced Nursing Education Workforce (ANEW): Grow and Stay grant.

“The ANEW grant helped me immensely throughout the past three semesters," said Maddie. "The grant money gave me the financial freedom to focus so much more on learning and really getting the full experience in my rural clinical setting. Dr. Gray and Dr. Paramesh were pivotal throughout this program, and I am so grateful for their wealth of knowledge and help. I feel very well prepared to serve my community!”

The ANEW grant allows nurses, nurse practitioners and nurse-midwives to earn up to $25,000 while studying and serving in rural, urban and/or tribal underserved communities with focus in the areas of mental health, maternal-child health, and substance use disorders. Learn more about the ANEW program: https://bit.ly/3SyEl3f

This ANEW: Grow and Stay project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2.58 million with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The ANEW: Grow and Stay project period runs from 07/01/2023 to 06/30/2027. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information visit HRSA.gov.

👋 Say hello to Jilian Powell, a fourth-year student from our Salina campus. We are excited to introduce some of our student ambassadors this fall as they share their perspectives about KU School of Nursing.

Originally from Overland Park, Kansas, Jilian is most excited to experience different specialties this year as she gears up for a career in nursing.

"I chose to go to KU because the program is committed to helping students succeed," said Jilian. "My favorite thing about the program is the hands-on clinical experience."

Students and faculty on our Kansas City campus recently gathered for a Doctor of Nursing Practice Day of Scholarship. During the event, students in the Nursing 982 DNP project course participated in a mock nursing conference and students in Nursing 981 completed their DNP project defense.

DNP students like Brianne Culbertson, RN, and Taylor Hinderer-Glasgow, RN, showcased their final projects. Brianne presented her project, “Aggression Reduction by Avoiding Power Struggles: Enhancing Emotional Awareness Using the Perth Emotional Reactivity Scale- Short form (PERS-S),” and Taylor presented, “Inconsistent Su***de Screening at a Comprehensive Cancer Center: A Root Cause Analysis."

It was an impressive day of scholarship that displayed the significant contributions the DNP students are making to improve health care in Kansas and beyond.

Get to know Fred Neis, BSN, MSN, a double alumnus of KU School of Nursing and a member of the school’s alumni board. A senior client partner at Korn Ferry, Neis currently leads efforts to assess, design and implement holistic workforce solutions in health care.

"Through the BSN program, I was immersed in the clinical aspects of care," Neis said. "Graduate school introduced me to a language and concepts about the business of health care. Having both clinical experience and business exposure has allowed me to translate for both.”

Learn more about Neis and his efforts to help develop the next generation of nurse leaders in the latest edition of the Kansas Medicine + Science magazine: https://bit.ly/3Wosypb

Registration for the 2024 Alumni Reunion Weekend is officially open, and you won't want to miss this year's celebration! Join KU School of Nursing Sept. 26-29 for KUMC Alumni Association's biggest event of the year, with class reunions, campus tours, open houses, the Alumni Awards luncheon and more. Learn more about the weekend and register online today: https://bit.ly/3A8dGDH

KU School of Nursing faculty recently attended the Clinical Teaching Institute and Kansas Nurse Educator conference at Newman University in Wichita, giving three podium presentations and three poster presentations.

The annual event brings together nurse educators in higher education from all over the state to promote professional development and continued education.

The nurse-midwifery program at KU School of Nursing is among the top in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2024.

“We are ecstatic to receive this national recognition of our nurse-midwifery program. Consistent with the mission at KU Medical Center, the nurse-midwifery program is improving lives and communities by educating highly qualified clinicians through excellence and innovation,” said Cara Busenhart, Ph.D., clinical associate professor and program director.

KU Medical Center graduate programs earn high marks in U.S. News & World Report rankings for 2024 Nationally high rankings in primary care, physical therapy and in the nurse midwifery program all reflect a commitment to caring for Kansans and beyond.

Last week, we celebrated the retirement of Cindy Teel, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, professor and associate dean for academic affairs. During the event, colleagues shared how Dr. Teel embodied grace throughout her tenure.

"Dr. Cynthia Teel served as an outstanding leader at KU School of Nursing during the past 30 years," said Becky J. Christian, Ph.D., RN, FNAP, FAAN, professor and Ph.D. program director. "As a quiet leader, her caring and concern for faculty and students was demonstrated through all of her interactions. It has been my distinct pleasure to serve with her."

Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Teel! We thank you for your dedication to KU and our students.

Congratulations to Janet Pierce, Ph.D., APRN, CCRN, FAAN, distinguished professor, the WiSTEMM Educator Award honoree for Central Exchange's 11th annual STEMMy Awards. The award recognizes a full-time faculty member in a STEMM field who has been recognized by her institution/community as an excellent educator based on student or faculty assessments and community accolades.

“Dr. Pierce is a pioneer nursing scientist who translates research findings from a laboratory setting into clinical trials in humans," said Qiuhau Shen, Ph.D., APRN, associate professor. "She is also an exceptional educator, a dedicated mentor and an outstanding role model who has made the most significant and positive impact on me and many others. I would not be who I am today without the mentorship and support that I received from Dr. Pierce.”

The STEMMy Awards celebrate Kansas City's women in science, technology, engineering, math and medicine. Dr. Pierce will be honored at a ceremony in October. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3codpN2

Last month, Frances M. Yang, Ph.D., research associate professor, joined the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Coalition Against Gun Violence for a program at the White House.

As the principal investigator of the "Evidence-Based Digital Resources for Survivors of Mass Shootings" study, funded through KU School of Nursing's MacArthur Interprofessional Collaboration Research Award, Dr. Yang was invited by the White House Executive Office of the President to the inaugural roundtable convened by the Office for Gun Violence Prevention.

Get to know Christopher Libert, BSN, a 2024 KU School of Nursing grad with a unique journey 🎓

Nursing isn't Christopher's first career. He joined the Army right after high school, got married at 19, was deployed to Afghanistan, Germany and Africa and now has two young children. His mother is a nurse and as a result of many positive encounters with other nurses, he decided to pursue a career in health care. After a five-year process of completing prerequisites online, Christopher chose KU School of Nursing to earn his BSN.

Following graduation, Christopher was officially sworn in as an officer, and his children pinned his lieutenant rank on his uniform. He will find out his new post in August. “I am the first in my family to graduate college, and it’s a big deal,” he said. “I am privileged and honored to be where I am.”

Congratulations to Cara Busenhart, Ph.D., APRN, CNM, FACNM, clinical associate professor, on her induction to the American Academy of Nursing's Fellows Class of 2024.

“Dr. Cara Busenhart has spent a significant part of her professional career working to expand the scope of practice for advanced practice nurses (APRNs) in Kansas,” said Cindy Teel, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, associate dean for academic affairs. “Her work to ensure APRNs were empowered to practice at the top of their license has helped eliminate health care disparities, manage costs and build the health care workforce. For over 20 years, she has also mentored nurse-midwifery students, nursing and medical students, and resident physicians in their training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. We congratulate Dr. Busenhart on this achievement.”

Induction into the academy is a significant milestone in a nurse leader’s career in which their accomplishments are honored by their colleagues within and outside the profession. Fellows are selected based on their contributions and impact to advance the public’s health: https://bit.ly/3L6OG1T

Next spring, the undergraduate simulation program will roll out new virtual reality simulations in the N4 curriculum. Using VR technology, students will be immersed in a multi-patient virtual reality simulation that will prepare them for the in-person multi-patient simulation they will do in our lab space at the end of the semester.

📷: Faculty and graduate teaching assistants testing vrClinicals for Learning by Wolters Kluwer

This summer, the School of Nursing simulation lab will integrate electronic health records (EHR) for use during simulations. Using EHR in simulation provides a more realistic experience for learners and helps increase the identification of patient safety issues, which can carry into clinical settings.

New scanners, mobile computer stations and EHR software will be installed, tested and ready for the first simulations this fall.

The undergraduate program simulations will also see several changes this fall, including a pediatric critical care simulation, mental health simulation and an advanced IV drip lab.

Laura Klenke-Borgman, Ph.D., RN, CHSE, clinical associate professor, and Nate Mattson, MSN-NE, RN, CNEcl, CPN, clinical instructor, recently attended the 2024 International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.

At the conference, they received the 2023 Research Article of the Year for their research article, "The Long-Term Transferability of Clinical Judgment via In-Class Simulations to Practice: A Qualitative Descriptive Study." They also presented the long-term transferability of clinical judgment via in-class simulations to nursing practice. Congratulations on your achievements!

Learn more about the conference: https://www.inacsl.org/

Jean Foret Giddens, Ph.D., RN, FAAN, ANEF, dean of KU School of Nursing, discussed a recent American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) enrollment survey with the Daily Nurse. In the interview, Dean Giddens, chair of the AACN Board of Directors, reviews the survey results and cautions that the results should be placed within a larger context of continuing enrollment trends over time.

Conducted in fall 2023, the AACN's latest annual survey, “2023-2024 Enrollment and Graduations in Baccalaureate and Graduate Programs in Nursing,” contains data reported by 975 nursing schools. Learn more:

Survey Paints Enrollment Picture Stay informed about nursing school enrollment. Learn about the current status and concerns regarding baccalaureate and graduate programs

Get to know Erin Caplan, BSN, a 2024 KU School of Nursing-Salina grad 🎓

Five years ago, Erin had a gut feeling about the direction of her life. Originally from Prairie Village, Kansas, Erin earned a degree in viola performance and was a freelance musician and teaching music in schools. “There were aspects to it that I loved, but I didn’t see myself continuing that direction,” she said.

Sensing a need for change, Erin earned qualifications to work in infant nutrition at The University of Kansas Health System. Seeking more direct patient care, she applied to and earned a spot at KU School of Nursing-Salina. After successfully graduating from our BSN program, Erin began a new job in the medical intensive care unit at the health system.

As Erin moves forward in her nursing career, she leaves future students with these words of wisdom: “Confidence is a willingness to be uncomfortable… if you really want to get the most out of your program, you have to put yourself out there."

First-year DNP student Andrew Berg was sworn in last week by Maj. Jarrod Hall, U.S. Army, as a Reserve 2nd Lieutenant as part of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) through the Army.

"The HPSP provides tuition and living assistance to prospective Army healthcare workers across a range of specialties, including the Doctor of Nursing Practice, Family Nurse Practitioner (DNP-FNP) track, which is the one I am pursuing at KU," said Andrew. "Upon completion of the program, I will transition to active service as a U.S. Army Captain."

Congratulations, Andrew! We thank you for your service!

Last week, KU School of Nursing welcomed doctoral students to campus for a week-long workshop. After kicking off with a welcome reception, students had the chance to learn about university resources, explore professional development opportunities and meet with classmates and faculty members.

The week's events covered a wide range of different topics, including time and stress management, scientific writing, professional identity in nursing and how to disseminate research. We look forward to seeing what our new cohorts will accomplish at KU and beyond!

Amanda Emerson, Ph.D., RN, assistant professor, is one of 16 nurse scientists accepted to the fifth cohort of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing Fellowship for Nurse Leaders and Innovators. The fellowship recognizes nursing scholars and innovators with a high potential to accelerate leadership in nursing research, practice, education, policy and entrepreneurship.

"We congratulate Amanda on being named a part of the 2024 Betty Irene Moore Fellows program," said Dr. Giddens, dean of KU School of Nursing. "This prestigious and highly competitive opportunity selects early- to mid-career innovative nursing scholars and provides $450,000 in funding over three years. Through the program, Amanda will further her research on the barriers to health equity in populations affected by criminal legal system involvement."

Join us in congratulating four KU School of Nursing faculty members who earned doctoral degrees during the last academic year:

🔹 Kimberly Cornwell, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Fort Hays State University*
🔹 Erin Keith-Chancey, DNP, RN, CCRN-NIC, University of Missouri-Kansas City*
🔹 George Tarwater, DNP, MS-NE, RN, Post University
🔹 Deena Woodall, Ph.D., RN, University of Kansas*

*These faculty participated in KU School of Nursing's Faculty Enhancement Program, commonly known as "Growing our Own." This program provides financial means for our faculty to pursue doctoral studies.