News

The UArizona College of Nursing Alumni Council’s New President Has Big Plans for the Future

Sept. 25, 2020

For Marjorie Pazzi, RN, BSN, CCRP, assuming the role of president of the University of Arizona College of Nursing Alumni Council was a natural fit.

“I always find myself gravitating to those roles,” she says. “I love starting things up, building little empires, finding organizations to be a part of and lead.” As site director for the Center for Neurosciences Clinical Research Program, Pazzi oversees a team that conducts clinical trials for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, rare pediatric epilepsies and brain cancer. She is also a past president of the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona.

The oldest of seven siblings as well as their frequent caregiver, Pazzi discovered at a young age that she had a talent for caring for others. A long-time Tucsonan and second-generation nurse, she decided on UArizona Nursing to pursue her BSN when she was in the 11th grade. She worked in hospitals and clinics for years before discovering that through research she could take care of patients as individuals while at the same time advancing medical breakthroughs that might help larger populations of patients. Since then, she has developed extensive experience in clinical research, working as Senior Research Nurse and Supervisor of Clinical Research in the UArizona’s Department of Neurology prior to joining the Center for Neurosciences.


“The College of Nursing prepared me for success, no matter what the health care setting, or what type of job it was. I want to give back to the college and my fellow alumni and future wildcat nurses, through connecting, mentoring, career development. That lights me up,”  ~ Marjorie Pazzi, RN, BSN, CCRP


Pazzi is thankful her experience in UArizona Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and feels a strong desire to employ her leadership skills to enrich the lives and careers of her fellow alumni. “The College of Nursing prepared me for success, no matter what the health care setting, or what type of job it was,” she says. “I want to give back to the college and my fellow alumni and future wildcat nurses, through connecting, mentoring, career development. That lights me up.”

Taking the reins of an organization in the middle of a pandemic could have been a stumbling block, but Pazzi sees it as a welcome challenge – one that will help the alumni council provide networking and support for an even greater number of Wildcat Nurse alumni. Pazzi assumed her new role in July, but she already has a host of transformative goals for the Council. “I see it being a meaningful connection for nurses during a time when they are really challenged on the frontlines of the battle against COVID,” she says. “We really need each other right now, so that’s a logical place to start. Whether it’s students or new graduates, all of us have a desire to support each other as we go through a global pandemic.”

Pazzi’s main priority is bringing people together. Although it may seem counterintuitive, the constraints forced on the Council by the pandemic will ultimately pave the way to a more robust and inclusive alumni association. For example, this year’s Homecoming Celebration,’ will be entirely online. “We’re planning a virtual awards ceremony and breakfast that will commemorate the Year of the Nurse, a year in which nurses became the heroes of the pandemic” she says. “That might be the silver lining for us, because we can really welcome all Wildcat Nurses. It doesn’t matter where you live, you don’t have to travel or worry about social distancing when you attend this year’s homecoming.”

Other innovations that Pazzi and the Council are planning include rewriting the bylaws to create a Board of Directors composed of Wildcat Nurses who will vote on issues they wish the Council to address. Additionally, there are plans to use the Bear Down alumni Network to build an even more vibrant community. The Network is built to encourage various modes of personal connection, including finding mentors and mentees, offering career guidance, and forging pathways to job shadowing or internship experiences. “I see this as the next level for trying to drive membership,” Pazzi says. “If we can grow our membership we will have a better opportunity to impact the next generation of Wildcat Nurses.”

With its eye on both the past and the future, the Alumni Council will be prepared to address the varied needs of all Wildcat Nurses. Asked about her advice for students considering enrolling in a UArizona Nursing program, Pazzi again highlights the need for the kinds of meaningful personal connections that the Council is poised to address. “I’ve worked a variety of different jobs in different health care settings and I’ve always been able to find success, and a large part of that has been thanks to working with my nurse colleagues,” she says. “I’m still very good friends with many of the nursing students that I went to school with back in the late 1970s. Those are your people and you should keep them close.”

Nurses Fighting COVID-19: PhD Student Joins Arizona Area Health Education Centers Program COVID-19 Cohort

Sept. 22, 2020

Third-year University of Arizona College of Nursing PhD and Robert Wood Johnson Future of Nursing Scholar student Jamie Besel, MN, RN, recently added another feather to her academic cap. Last month, she was accepted into the Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) COVID Scholar 2020-2021 cohort. The AHEC Scholars COVID Program is a new one-year interprofessional program with training focused on rural and/or underserved settings with an emphasis of the impact of COVID-19. The cohort is a perfect fit for Besel because she plans to focus her dissertation of the health disparities facing rural older adults during the pandemic.


“I will have the opportunity to collaborate with interdisciplinary team members from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to learn about factors affecting social determinants of health, collecting and reporting data, and make recommendations to improve individual and community health,”  ~ Jamie Besel, MN, RN, PhD Student


Besel chose to pursue a career in nursing after witnessing the exceptional care her mother received from oncology nurses more than 20 years ago. “I will always remember their selfless dedication to caring for others,” she says. She was drawn to UArizona Nursing’s PhD program because of the exceptional faculty and their research interests, as well as the ability to complete the program from her home in Montana. Besel has been a nurse for two decades, with a background in academics and critical care. She works currently as a research nurse at a healthcare organization in Montana.

We caught up with her recently to learn more about her plans as part of the AHEC COVID cohort.

Why did you apply for the UArizona AHEC Scholars Program Cohort COVID-19?

Participation in this program is a unique opportunity to learn more about the impact of social determinants of health on the COVID-19 pandemic and help me build the tools to help vulnerable populations in rural areas.

What kinds of activities/projects will you take part in as part of this cohort?

I will have the opportunity to collaborate with interdisciplinary team members from the University of Arizona and Arizona State University to learn about factors affecting social determinants of health, collecting and reporting data, and make recommendations to improve individual and community health. The team will work closely with community partners/agencies to develop and present educational materials designed to help vulnerable populations during this unprecedented time.

How does the COVID-19 cohort differ from other AHEC Scholars programs?

The length of the ASP program is one year, whereas the other programs last two years. Furthermore, community immersion or in-person experiences are not a component of the ASP COVID program. It is this unique feature that makes it feasible for distance students, such as myself.

Can you tell us what led you to your focus on COVID, rural older adults, health disparities?

I grew up in rural Montana and have taken care of rural older adults my entire nursing career. I have a special place in my heart for older adults who live in rural areas. Rural older adults experience higher rates of comorbidities as compared to their urban counterparts, making them more susceptible to COVID-19 related complications. There is a need to critically examine the risk facing rural Americans and discuss possible solutions regarding COVID-19.

What is the duration of this program -- and what is your expected graduation date for completing your PhD?

I am in my third, and last year, as a PhD CON student. As a RWJ future of nursing scholar I am committed to completing the program in three years. The duration of the AHEC ASP COVID program is one year, so 2020-2021, with the goal of wrapping up in April 2021. 

UArizona Nursing Professors Make a Case for Expansion of Dual Degree PhD-DNP Nursing Programs

Sept. 17, 2020

 

The University of Arizona College of Nursing has one of only five dual doctoral degree programs in Nursing offered by major universities within the United States. While dual degree programs for physicians have existed for more than 60 years, nursing programs only adopted the model beginning in 2010. In hopes of moving the dual nursing degree forward nationally, UArizona Nursing professors Lois Loescher, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Terry Badger, PhD, RN,  were authors on a recent article published in the Journal of Professional Nursing, “Breaking new ground? The dual PhD-DNP doctoral degree in Nursing.” Their purpose was threefold: to provide background information on the PhD-DNP dual doctoral degree, specifically historical perspectives and existing programs; to describe UArizona Nursing’s PhD-DNP program as an exemplar to illustrate program data challenges and solutions; and finally, to discuss the national landscape of the dual doctoral degree program.

“The impetus of the article was our realization during attendance at national doctoral education meetings that under-discussion of dual doctoral degree programs stemmed largely from lack of their evaluation and dissemination of evaluation findings,” Dr. Loescher explained.


“The impetus of the article was our realization during attendance at national doctoral education meetings that under-discussion of dual doctoral degree programs stemmed largely from lack of their evaluation and dissemination of evaluation findings,”  ~ Lois Loescher, PhD, RN, FAAN


"According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), fundamental differences exist between the DNP and the PhD degrees," the authors write in their introduction. While the DNP degree is the terminal degree for nursing practice -- preparing graduates to generate new knowledge to improve health or health outcomes through practice change -- the PhD degree in nursing prepares graduates to develop the science, steward the profession, define its uniqueness, and maintain its professional integrity.

But PhD-DNP-prepared nurses blend research and practice, where clinical observations can be transformed into clinically relevant studies that provide an opportunity for active translation of research knowledge into practice. “Thus,” the authors write, “PhD-DNP nurses are well-positioned to accelerate the knowledge cycle from clinical problem, to research questions and results, to clinical practice change, and ultimately, to policy…PhD-DNP nurses also are well positioned to compete for funding from the National Institutes for Health and other federal funding.”

In their article, the authors pay special attention to the UArizona Nursing dual degree program. They examine its inception and evolution as well as its structure, demographic breakdown and benefits. Student outcomes, despite a daunting academic load and a strong emphasis on productivity, have been positive.  Dual doctoral degree students choosing the College’s manuscript dissertation option write three publishable manuscripts emanating from their practice-focused study, submitting at least one manuscript to a refereed journal prior to the final defense. “Based on extant literature on publication by nursing doctoral students, we anticipate that these strategies and others will enhance the productivity of matriculating dual doctoral degree student,” the authors write.

Longer-term outcomes for the program have demonstrated impressive results. UArizona Nursing dual degree graduates have not only generated new knowledge about a host of disciplines but they have successfully translated that knowledge into practice and dissemination of that knowledge. Eighty-seven percent of dual degree graduates have forged advanced practice and research in areas such as orthopedic trauma, skin cancer prevention and detection, cardiovascular health, chronic illness in older adults, and the use of technology to enhance accessibility of both education and clinical care. Half of the graduates have published a total of 27 publications since the first PhD-DNP graduation in 2012. Two are a principal or co-investigator on an externally funded grant and one student went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship.

In their conclusion, the authors argue that although the dual PhD-DNP degree is a decade old, it has yet to gain a foothold on the national stage. “There is demand for the program by nursing doctoral students,” they write, “however, few programs exist to train these students, and little data are available from those programs on the successes or challenges of training. National nursing leaders...need to develop metrics and collect data that will lend support to the visibility and sustainability of the dual doctoral degree in nursing on a national level.”

The PhD-DNP program is directed by Dr. Loescher and Dr. Allen Prettyman. Please contact loescher@arizona.edu or apretty@arizona.edu for more information.

Nurse Burnout: The Next COVID-19 Crisis?

Sept. 15, 2020

UArizona Wildcat Nurses Seek Ways to Mitigate Nurse Burnout During COVID-19 Pandemic

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic started its devastating roll across the country, the health care work environment was experiencing challenges – especially for nurses. According to University of Arizona College of Nursing Assistant Professor Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN, and UArizona Nursing PhD candidate Chloe Littzen, MSN, RN, AE-C, PhD Candidate, the pandemic has only intensified a problem that many people outside the healthcare industry aren’t even aware of: nurse burnout.

Prior to the pandemic, nurses who experienced burnout were leaving the workforce at an exponential rate. Coinciding with this, nurses were placed at a higher risk for the negative consequences of suicide and poor mental and physical health issues. This exodus has put added pressure on the already existing nurse shortage, which in turn has already negatively impacted quality of patient care. A lack of enough nurses in the workforce has forced nurses to work more shifts and longer hours, further placing them at risk for experiencing burnout and suboptimal well-being.

Jessica Rainbow, PhD, RN, Chloe Littzen, MSN, RN, AE-C, PhD Candidate

Adding fuel to this fire, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues. “Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the suffering of nurses from suboptimal well-being and burnout was normalized in healthcare,” adds Littzen. “According to Arundhati Roy, COVID-19 is a portal, and we have the choice to decide what we leave behind. Now is the time we acknowledge that the normalization of suffering in nurses is unacceptable, and together we need to create work environments that enable all nurses to thrive in the new post-pandemic world.”

Dr. Rainbow and Littzen are both conducting IRB-approved research studies that will describe the experiences of our frontline nurses prior to, and during, the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Rainbow’s study is utilizing a voicemail box to collect recordings of the experiences of nurses and others working in healthcare during the pandemic. Anyone working in a healthcare setting in the United States during the pandemic is eligible to call the study voicemail box (1 833 624 0707) and leave a message detailing their experiences. Dr. Rainbow describes the inspiration for her study as, “Listening to nurses and other providers  talk about working during COVID-19 made me interested in capturing recordings of these experiences to figure out how we can intervene to improve the healthcare work environment and also to catalogue this time in our history.” Participants can access the consent form with study information online or contact Dr. Rainbow for more information.


"Now is the time we acknowledge that the normalization of suffering in nurses is unacceptable, and together we need to create work environments that enable all nurses to thrive in the new post-pandemic world," ~ Chloe Littzen, MSN, RN, AE-C, PhD Candidate


Littzen is doing this in her dissertation study titled, “Young Adult Nurse Work-Related Well-Being, Contemporary Practice Worldview, Resilience, and Co-Worker Support,” where she inquired about the role of COVID-19 in nurses work-related well-being. 

Littzen and Dr. Rainbow both plan to use their study findings to guide future interventions that will improve the healthcare work environment and nurse well-being. Dr. Rainbow says. “My goals in creating this study were to understand the different experiences of different healthcare providers and those working in healthcare settings during the pandemic. This will help us improve readiness for future pandemics and build interventions to improve the healthcare work environment.”  In the meantime, they reached out to nurses and other health care workers with a series of questions designed to garner their feelings about such subjects as how leadership can help nurses during this time, as well as how the public can improve the situation. “I kept getting asked by my non-healthcare friends how they can support nurses and other providers during the pandemic and what nurses are doing to cope during this difficult time, so I thought it was important to ask nurses and share that information,” Dr. Rainbow said. Littzen and Dr. Rainbow asked nurses on social media what they would like the public and healthcare leaders to know as well as how nurses are coping with the increased stress of working during a pandemic. Here is how nurses responded:

Following is a breakdown of the results that were garnered from the informal Twitter survey, as well as contact information for nurses seeking more information and support.

  • The pandemic is on the verge of breaking the nursing workforce, and to a larger extent, healthcare at large.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has strapped healthcare organizations for resources, both tangibly and financial. Nurses feel the squeeze of this lack of resources, and they are doing their best to make sure patients do not suffer. But this can only last for so long, and nurses will ultimately reach a breaking point. They will either leave their jobs once hiring freezes end or they can travel, or leave nursing altogether. Prior to COVID, the turnover rate among nurses was 15.9% in the United States.

For a snapshot of breaking point, Dr. Rainbow and Littzen asked in their informal Twitter survey, “Have you thought about leaving your job, or nursing completely during the pandemic?” Of the 44 participants, 39% selected “leaving my job” 18% selected “leaving nursing,” with only 43% selecting “neither.” Only time can tell if and when this comes to fruition, but 57% of respondents are demonstrating this breaking point.

  • What can nursing leadership do to support their nurses during the pandemic?

    Nurses know that leadership is maxed out, but they do not feel as if leadership is being honest with them. 

    Expressing concerns about nursing leadership, one participant stated:

    They need to be honest... If there is a shortage of PPE, be honest about it, don't try to make us believe using the same N95 for days is "safe"... needless to say, trust has plummeted (sic).”

    In the Twitter survey, nurses also expressed concern about the post-traumatic effects from the pandemic that are on the horizon for them.

    One nurse stated:

    A greater recognition of the effects that bearing witness to such extensive death and loss will have on providers in the coming days... I see so much PTSD in the near future.

    While data is lacking on the occurrence of post-traumatic stress related to the pandemic, leadership needs to proactively prepare for the potential of post-traumatic stress for their frontline nurses.

    One nurse described this experience to nursing leadership, and offered some suggestions to help frontline nurses:

    The worry from working directly with Covid patients can be overwhelming sometimes. Worry about taking it home to family. Worrying about family who lost jobs or gotten sick. Wondering how long these altered work environments will keep up. I think what so many people want right now is to feel safe and valued and heard in some way. We don’t want to be in the dark about decisions that will impact us. I think team of social workers and chaplains should be employed to support staff around the hospital on every shift.”
     

  • How can the public help support nurses during the pandemic?

    Nurses want the public to understand that they are doing everything they can to help their patients and families. But they are tired, and their bandwidth is maxed out.

    In describing her experience being a frontline nurse, one participant stated:

    We’re tired. Frustrated and over begging people to do the right thing. We’re doing the best we can, one second we’re heroes, the next villains for asking people to wear a mask. But we continue to fight. Because mask or no mask we will care for those in their sickest hour

    Nurses want the public to remember that nurses are human too. They have children, and some have multiple jobs. Nurses need the public to be more understanding of who they are as humans, and grant them flexibility, grace, and forgiveness when things don’t go as planned.
     

  • What have nurses been doing to help their well-being and burnout during the pandemic?

    Nurses have been trying out a variety of creative self-care strategies to help enhance their well-being and prevent burnout during the pandemic. Many of these strategies are mind-body focused activities such as meditation, yoga, and journaling. One resource that many nurses have recommended is the Calm app. Dr. Judith Gordon, UArizona Nursing Associate Dean, Research, has also developed an app, “See Me Serene,” an app that uses Guided Imagery to address the negative health effects of social isolation by reducing stress and anxiety.

    One nurse described:

    I started Calm several weeks ago, and it has been a significant quality of life enhancer. I do guided meditation at least 1xa day...

Nurses have also been reconnecting with nature by going for walks or hikes outside and gardening. Others have prioritized sleep including naps, hydrating, eating healthy balanced meals, and making sure they make time for creative hobbies such as cooking or baking. Some nurses know they haven’t been doing the best job managing their well-being and burnout, but they are actively practicing grace towards themselves during this difficult time. 

Dr. Rainbow and Littzen hope to expand on the understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on nurses from their two ongoing studies. The participation of more nurses in this research will help improve readiness for  future pandemics and build interventions to improve the healthcare work environment.
 

A Passion for Leadership: UArizona Nursing Alumna Valerie Kading’s Path to Success

Sept. 9, 2020

When Valerie Kading, DNP, MBA, MSN, PMHNP-BC, earned her Bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Arizona, she had no idea that her academic and career trajectory was about to shift to an entirely different direction. 

At the time, Dr. Kading thought her next step would be to attend law school. But while she waited for her acceptance, a job as a behavior health case manager working at a local community out-patient mental health facility opened her eyes to a new passion: nursing. “During my time there, UArizona nursing students were doing their psychiatric nurse preceptorship at the facility,” Dr. Kading says. She interacted with nursing students and instructors and gained a deeper understanding of the nursing field. “It really resonated with me. I wanted to continue on in the behavioral health field, working with patients and those with mental health issues. I decided that the next step I wanted to take was to go to nursing school to become a nurse practitioner.”


"I believe that once you address systemic problems, you make work environments better and make employees happier. That always trickles down to better patient care," ~ Valerie Kading, DNP, MBA, MSN, PMHNP-BC


Since Dr. Kading was already a UArizona alumna, the UArizona College of Nursing was a natural choice to pursue her new career goals. “It was really my home and my family,” she says. “I can’t understate that.” As a student in the College’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, and then its Master of Science in Nursing program, she found an academic atmosphere marked by academic rigor, a holistic approach to interacting with the Tucson community, committed mentors, a close-knit group of students and a robust support structure.

Dr. Kading’s faculty mentors, including Terry Badger, PhD, Chair, Division of Community and Systems Health Science, encouraged her to excel. “They were also very supportive when it came to taking on extra projects or extra opportunities to continue to learn and grow,” Dr. Kading says. “There were so many opportunities that were afforded to us in terms of being involved in the community.” She was active in community service opportunities and gained valuable experience as a research assistant. “A lot of attention given to every student and there was a lot of pride in what we did and who we are.”

UArizona Nursing’s emphasis on holistic care soon became her focus and passion. Her degree in psychology already informed her understanding of the importance of mental health issues and the unfortunate stigmas that can prohibit patients from getting the treatments they wanted and needed. “I felt there was so much that the world did not understand about what mental health looked like or how significant one’s mental state and emotions had an impact on their lives,” she says. “I knew that there was a huge impact on one’s overall health if their mental health issues were not addressed.” This knowledge inspired Dr. Kading to focus on the entire wellness of an individual, an interest she is passionate about to this day.

While earning her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from New Mexico State University, she was awakened to the possibilities that lay in pursuing leadership positions in the nursing field. “I saw the health care landscape in a very different way,” she explains. “I was already a nurse practitioner, so my studies were not about anything clinical. It was about nursing theory, it was about leadership skills, it was about how to become that instrumental heath care change agent. It was so fascinating and it just turned my world upside down in a great way.”

Concurrent with her DNP studies, a position supervising a small nursing team caused her to realize how much she enjoyed implementing processes and seeing the positive results, and encouraging and empowering her team, which led to improved morale and better patient care. Those skills served Dr. Kading well, as she navigated her way through a series of leadership roles that positioned her to make concrete changes in the health care field that would improve the lives of not only patients but the nurses who cared for them.

Soon after, Dr. Kading was offered a leadership position at Sierra Tucson, a top-rated addiction and mental health treatment center with a holistic focus. As Associate Director of Medical Operations, she grew her management skills exponentially. A systems thinker, she loved being involved with process improvement. “I believe that once you address systemic problems, you make work environments better and make employees happier,” she says. “That always trickles down to better patient care.” Various Sierra Tucson departments – including medical, nursing, psychology, integrative medicine, and pharmacy – reported to Dr. Kading, allowing her to work closely with this diverse group of individuals and leaders across all teams.

Dr. Kading was subsequently promoted to Director of Medical Operations, Chief Medical Operations Officer, and Chief Operations Officer. Those led to a stint as CEO of two newly acquired facilities in California, executing the rebranding and restructuring of the operations to become part of the Sierra Tucson family. That led to her most recent position: Group CEO of Sierra Tucson, which puts her in charge of the Tucson operation as well as both California facilities. “I honestly would have never thought that I would be here,” she says, crediting her success to the mentors and support network she surrounded herself with. “It’s very humbling and also exciting at the same time.”

In her new role, Dr. Kading has more opportunity than ever to be a change agent for good.  One exciting initiative is a budding partnering with UArizona Nursing to make Sierra Tucson a training site for the College’s Nurse Practitioner students. The culmination of talks between Dr. Kading, Dr. Terry Badger and Allen Prettyman, PhD, the partnership will allow students to learn not just learn about prescribing medications and psychiatric care, but to give them firsthand knowledge of what an integrated team providing holistic care looks like.

“Dr. Kading demonstrated her clinical and leadership abilities from the very start of her nursing career,” says Dr. Badger.  “From those early days in the BSN program, faculty knew she would go on to be leader in health care.  She is an outstanding alumna and we are fortunate she choose UArizona nursing. I am delighted to form a partnership with Dr. Kading to establish Sierra Tucson as a training site for our psychiatric mental health advanced practice nurse practitioner students. Dr. Kading will be an excellent role model for our students showcasing systems thinking for better patient care.”

“They’ll be able to explore other measures of wellness besides the medications that are used for mood disorders,” Dr. Kading says, emphasizing the nursing philosophy that it’s necessary to meet the patient where they are in treatment, treat them as an individual, and provide interventions to support them holistically. “We’ll be able to train DNP students to think in a more holistic way, and that’s what I’m very excited to be able to help train the next generation of nurse practitioners.”

Student Spotlight: Jennifer Paulson, Second-Year DNP student

Aug. 24, 2020

Second-year Doctorate of Nursing Practice student in the MS-DNP program from Bend, Oregon

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

As a little girl, one of my most profound influences was my aunt, who was a nurse. I always wanted to be like her, and my caring personality was a perfect fit for a nursing career. 

What drew you to the UArizona College of Nursing?

As a practicing holistic nurse, I was seeking a rigorous program with faculty who would emphasize the concept of self-care of nursing students. The University of Arizona has excellent integrative programs in nursing and medicine, which were an attraction. I also have a passion for teaching nursing students and found the Nurse Faculty Loan Repayment Program opportunity to be a good fit for me. 


"As a practicing holistic nurse, I was seeking a rigorous program with faculty who would emphasize the concept of self-care of nursing students. The University of Arizona has excellent integrative programs in nursing and medicine, which were an attraction," ~ Jennifer Paulson, 2nd-year Doctorate of Nursing Practice student in the MS-DNP program


What drew you to the MS-DNP specialty?

When I applied for my Doctorate of Nursing Practice program at the University of Arizona, I had been a practicing nurse for 19 years and a Family Nurse Practitioner for 12 years. I've always known that I would earn my doctorate. My career sidetracked a bit with other continuing education and certifications in functional, integrative medicine, and holistic nursing.  In 2018 I had an urge to develop my scholarly skills and calling to move into academia. It was very intuitive that earning my DNP was the next stepping stone. I wanted to enhance my research and scholarly skills to give back to my profession in a new way.

What features of the program are you especially passionate about?

The online delivery format has worked well for my lifestyle as I continue my private practice part-time.  

What faculty members have made the biggest impressions on you?

In my previous nursing education, no one encouraged self-care for me, the future nurse, and nursing student. This led me on a path of compassion fatigue and burnout. In the last six years, I learned through my integrative and holistic nursing education that self-care is non-negotiable for nurses. During RISE orientation, Dean Moore made an impression when she took a hand-raising poll on how many students were practicing self-care. She encouraged daily self-care for students during the nursing program.  Dr. Renee Gregg has also continued to emphasize and provide regular resources on self-care for DNP students throughout the DNP project courses. I've enjoyed working closely with Dr. Allen Prettyman, who is mentoring me into the world of academia as a teaching assistant. Overall, I've found the faculty to be warm, inviting, helpful, and compassionate. 

Can you share a favorite memory from your time at the College of Nursing?

I enjoyed attending RISE at the beginning of my program, where I was able to meet fellow Nurse Practitioner classmates and make connections. 

What are your hopes for the future?

I plan to graduate and work my way into a nurse educator position, where I can share my knowledge and passion for holistic nursing. Inspiring nurses to be healthy healers is essential for the nursing profession. 

What are your extracurricular activities?

When I'm not at work or doing schoolwork, I love to practice yoga, study herbalism, and Ayurvedic medicine, to hike in nature, garden, and cooking healthy meals.

What other degrees do you hold?

Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master's of Science in Nursing. 

UArizona Nursing MEPN Students Work Towards Greater Focus on Diversity and Inclusion within College Curriculum

Aug. 20, 2020

The reverberations of grief and anger that swept the country in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in police custody touched nearly every facet of American life, including the realms of education and health care. Self-reflection and soul-searching around issues of social justice and systemic racism became imperative to moving our society toward more just and inclusive terrain. Although it has an established track record of fostering diversity and inclusion in its student body, the University of Arizona College of Nursing was no exception.

UArizona Nursing Dean Ki Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN, marked Juneteenth with an announcement to all faculty, staff and students, pledging to implement efforts to examine the College’s own commitment to social justice. “As an institution dedicated to educating nurses and promoting health and wellbeing, we have a duty to stand up for social justice, recognize and call out instances of injustice, and proactively work toward a better and more healthy society for all,” she wrote. As a start, she announced a College-wide diversity, inclusion and equity forum, which will be held for all faculty and staff at the beginning of the fall semester.


“As future nurses, we believe that our ability to provide quality care depends on understanding the past, current, and future impacts of systemic racism and injustice in healthcare,” ~ UArizona Nursing MEPN students from the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Tucson cohorts and the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Phoenix cohorts


Continuing this constructive dialog, in July a group of Master of Science for Entry to the Profession of Nursing (MEPN) students comprised of the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Tucson cohorts and the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 Phoenix cohorts sent an open letter to UArizona Nursing administration and faculty. They commended Dean Moore’s statement and provided calls to action to further ensure the College’s commitment to combating systemic racism.

“As future nurses, we believe that our ability to provide quality care depends on understanding the past, current, and future impacts of systemic racism and injustice in healthcare,” the students wrote in their statement. “Throughout the MEPN program, we have recognized the need for increased discussion of race and diversity, increased historical context for healthcare information, and increased cultural sensitivity training. We propose modifying the curriculum to address these inadequacies. Doing so will produce well-rounded nurses able to positively impact their future patients and institutions.”

In their letter, the MEPN students called for integrating inclusive health justice education into the current MEPN curriculum, providing a framework for incorporating health justice curriculum into the nursing program in general, and supporting the College’s ability to produce well-rounded, anti-racist nurses. The result, they said, would be to “positively influence current UA CON students and faculty, a future generation of nurses, and all related future patients and healthcare institutions.”

The students provided a framework for moving UArizona in this positive direction. They assembled a list of relevant videos, UArizona-affiliated speakers, perspective pieces, and evidence based articles that could readily be integrated into current MEPN curriculum. They also included anti-racism resources for UArizona Nursing educators to aid in better embodying these principles and incorporating them into their language. The students also emphasized the need for interprofessional exchange on these topics between the College of Nursing, the College of Medicine and the College of Public Health.

The students concluded by stating, “As nursing students who will graduate with a Masters degree, we understand the power we hold to make changes in the profession. We hope the College of Nursing can help us achieve this potential with a thorough and well-thought out antiracist and health justice focused curriculum. We value our relationships with our faculty and clinical instructors and look up to them as role models in the field of nursing.”

$1M Gift from UArizona Alumni Bolsters Nursing’s Health-Care Simulation Technology

Aug. 19, 2020

University of Arizona alumni Andrew and Kirsten Braccia have made a generous $1.5 million gift to the university, $1 million of which is designated for the UArizona College of Nursing to support next-generation education for nursing students.
 
The Braccia’s gift will enhance simulation capabilities at the College of Nursing’s Tucson, Phoenix Biomedical and Gilbert campuses, and provide students online access to virtual-patient experiences. Nursing students regularly engage in team-based clinical procedures under the direction of faculty members and simulation specialists. This technology gives future nurses opportunities to receive live feedback while training in realistic and complex scenarios.


"I am deeply grateful for the generous gift that Andrew and Kirsten made to the College of Nursing to ensure the continued success of our students during this challenging time," ~ UArizona Nursing Dean Ida M. “Ki” Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN


“The University of Arizona College of Nursing has a long history of distinction among peer institutions, and this gift will help propel the college even further,” said University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins, MD. “Andrew and Kirsten have a deep commitment to the future of nursing and ensuring that nurses receive the best education possible, whether they are learning remotely or in person. I am very grateful for their partnership and support.”

“The field of nursing has no better friends than the Braccias, who are tremendous supporters of the University of Arizona Health Sciences’ vision to provide next-generation education opportunities for its students. Andrew and Kirsten’s generosity comes at a critical time, as the state of Arizona and the nation grapple with the need for highly-trained nurses to deliver holistic, compassionate care,” said Michael D. Dake, MD, senior vice president for UArizona Health Sciences.

“I am deeply grateful for the generous gift that Andrew and Kirsten made to the College of Nursing to ensure the continued success of our students during this challenging time,” said UArizona Nursing Dean Ida M. “Ki” Moore, PhD, RN, FAAN. “It has been my pleasure to learn about the Braccia’s priorities for moving the College of Nursing forward in an era where state-of-the-art technology will most certainly be center stage. We are already seeing the positive impact of their gift on our students’ ability to engage in virtual and web-based simulations that for the immediate future will replace ‘on-ground’ experiences.”
 
Steve Machtley, assistant dean for Learning and Healthcare Technology Innovations, said the purchases from the Braccias’ gift to the college fall into three broad categories: software subscriptions, upgrades to its simulation facilities, and equipment and other essential technology to support online teaching and learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Under Machtley’s guidance, and in coordination with faculty, the College of Nursing will subscribe to online software solutions that offer virtual patient encounters designed to supplement or replace a student’s experience in an in-person simulation center or patient-care setting. The simulations will present students with realistic clinical scenarios in an interactive environment to help them understand the case, practice skills and make sound decisions.
 
“We are purchasing virtual-reality equipment to provide our students the opportunity to experience some of these simulated patient encounters with even greater immersion,” Machtley said. “We have a vision of incorporating extended reality learning experiences throughout our curriculum, so this wonderful gift enables us to move forward in that direction.”
 
The gift also will support much-needed enhancements to College of Nursing simulation facilities. The Steele Innovative Simulated Learning Center in Tucson will launch phase one of its planned renovation. Updates include replacement of core audiovisual technology and integration with the UArizona Health Sciences clinical simulation management platform used in the Health Sciences Innovation Building. Together, these improvements will provide live remote monitoring and video capture of simulation activities for enhanced debrief and student learning. At the college’s new Gilbert campus, funds will be used to expand and improve functionality within its simulation rooms to support program growth. In addition, both the Phoenix Biomedical and Gilbert campuses will receive new high-fidelity pediatric manikins.
 
Another important goal of the Braccia’s gift to UArizona Nursing is to support and augment technology needed for distance learning due to the pandemic. These include “smart health equipment” like Bluetooth stethoscopes that will be incorporated into telehealth simulations, video production kits for faculty to produce skills-training demonstrations and audiovisual equipment to support remote access to classroom sessions for students who need to isolate themselves from others after the return to campus.
 
Andrew and Kirsten Braccia live in the San Francisco area with their four children. A proud Wildcat Nurse for Life, Kirsten Braccia graduated from the UArizona College of Nursing and worked as a registered nurse at the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital on the Stanford University campus. Andrew Braccia, an alum of the UArizona Eller College of Management, is a venture capitalist with Accel.

 

Student Spotlight: Amanda Romaine, Second-Year DNP Student

Aug. 18, 2020

Student Spotlight: Amanda Romaine

Second-year Doctorate of Nursing Practice student with a specialty in pediatrics, from Prescott, Arizona.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in nursing?

My grandmother has always been a role model in my life. She was an incredibly caring person and she would go out of her way to help others. She was also a nurse in the military, and it was her kind and compassionate care for everyone around her that inspired me to look into nursing as a career.  I ultimately decided on nursing in particular because I not only wanted to help others, but I wanted to do so in a personal and individualized way. 

What drew you to the UArizona College of Nursing?

I knew several nurses that had graduated from the UArizona College of Nursing, and I was incredibly impressed with their passion for nursing and the types of jobs that they had started following graduation. 


"My passion has always been working with children and their families to provide holistic and patient-centered care. I've worked as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit since I graduated with my BSN in 2016, so specializing in pediatrics was a natural choice," ~ Amanda Romaine, Second-Year DNP Student


What drew you to the PNP specialty?

My passion has always been working with children and their families to provide holistic and patient-centered care. I've worked as a nurse in the pediatric intensive care unit since I graduated with my BSN in 2016, so specializing in pediatrics was a natural choice.

What features of the program are you especially passionate about?

I really appreciate that I am able to complete the DNP program part-time, as it allows me to get more experience as a bedside nurse and eases the financial burden of graduate school tuition. I also appreciate the faculty's efforts to build close working relationships with their students and to ensure that we have what we need to succeed.

What faculty members have made the biggest impressions on you?

Dr. Melissa Goldsmith played a major role in the completion of my undergraduate degree and honors thesis. In addition to being incredibly intelligent, she is also a wonderful teacher and mentor. I've had the opportunity to work with Dr. Gloanna Peek both during my undergraduate experience, and now, as I complete the DNP program. Dr. Peek embodies the type of nurse practitioner that I would like to be: knowledgeable, compassionate, and enthusiastic about nursing.

Can you share a favorite memory from your time at the College of Nursing?

Looking back, one of my favorite memories from my time at the College of Nursing was my very first day of clinical rotations. I remember walking into the hospital with my clinical group and being completely terrified. Despite my apprehension, I was very excited and I felt a great sense of accomplishment at finally being able to work with patients!

What are your hopes for the future?

My hope for the future is that I can make some sort of positive difference in pediatric healthcare and form meaningful relationships with the families that I care for. 

What are your extracurricular activities?

I am a nurse trainee with the University of Arizona Pediatric Pulmonary Center and I participate in many of their education and clinical opportunities. I am also the chair of the Shared Leadership Committee for the unit that I work on, and a member of the RN Think Tank, which works to implement evidence-based changes in order to improve patient care. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and exploring new places, hiking, and baking.

New Guided Imagery App from UArizona Nursing Researcher to Help Reduce the Stress and Anxiety of Social Isolation

July 31, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic many people are sheltering in place and staying home, with little access to the outdoors or ability to engage in activities they enjoy. But a new mobile app hopes to address the negative health effects of social isolation by reducing stress and anxiety using a technique called Guided Imagery, which has been used to help people quit smoking,  get into shape, and reduce stress. Last month, UArizona’s BIO5 Institute awarded UArizona Nursing Associate Dean for Research, Judith Gordon, PhD, a seed grant to pursue COVID-19 team projects. One of several UArizona faculty to be awarded seed money, Dr. Gordon and her co-principal investigator, Chris Gniady, PhD, associate professor, Computer Science, will receive $20,360 to pursue their project, “See Me Serene: A Guided Imagery MHealth App for decreasing Anxiety Related to Social Isolation.”

Dr. Judith Gordon

While social media can provide connections with others, social isolation removes people from nature and the outdoors. People who cannot go outdoors may experience increased stress and anxiety as a result.  Although technologies exist to provide immersive experiences (e.g., virtual reality), they require specialized equipment and are expensive. The vast majority of Americans across age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status own smartphones; and of those, most use mobile apps. Dr. Gordon’s project addresses this stress by offering a mobile app that delivers a Guided Imagery intervention.

Guided imagery is a proven method that uses enhanced visualization to help people deal with stressful situations, including social isolation. More than just visual images, guided Imagery involves imagining sights, sounds, tastes, smells, tactile senses, and the emotions you feel in a particular situation. Dr. Gordon and her colleagues have used Guided Imagery successfully to help people make positive lifestyle changes, like quitting smoking, eating healthfully, and getting more exercise. Guided Imagery also has been shown to be effective at reducing chronic pain and anxiety.


"Using a simple mHealth app to deliver Guided Imagery audio files will provide endless possibilities for simulating outdoor experiences for the millions of Americans experiencing social isolation," ~ Judith Gordon, PhD, UArizona Nursing Associate Dean, Research


“Using a simple mHealth app to deliver Guided Imagery audio files will provide endless possibilities for simulating outdoor experiences for the millions of Americans experiencing social isolation,” Dr. Gordon said.

The See Me Serene app provides users with immersive, vivid, nature experiences designed to reduce stress and anxiety related to social isolation. The app will be a more affordable and scalable solution than Virtual Reality, which requires expensive and specialized equipment. “See Me Serene allows users to select from at least 50 different audio files, each describing a different outdoor experience. The app also contains links to mental health resources that are available 24/7,” Dr. Gordon said.

The See Me Serene Logo

The goals of the See Me Serene research project are to pilot test the app with 100 participants. Participants will provide self-report survey data and will be tested for cortisol levels collected from saliva. Cortisol is a biological marker for stress. Participants will use the See Me Serene app for 4 weeks. People interested in participating can contact the research team from within the app.

“Our hope is that See Me Serene will be easy to use and that it will help people cope with the stress and anxiety they’re feeling as a result of being stuck indoors,” Dr. Gordon said. “If our pilot results are promising, we will seek funding to conduct a large-scale efficacy trial. In the meantime, the app will be free for anyone to use.” See Me Serene is available on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

The BIO5 grant was made possible with resources from the BIO5 Institute and the Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF) to help researchers quickly pivot their work to address the pandemic in areas related to improving the health of Arizonans. 

The Technology and Research Initiative Fund that helped launch BIO5 in 2001 continues to be a catalyst in enabling effective, cross-disciplinary bioscience research and innovation at the University of Arizona, where initiatives and projects are carefully chosen to align with areas of state and national need.

Over the past 19 years of TRIF, over $50 million has been invested in building critical facilities and research services that UArizona is leveraging today to quickly and robustly respond to the current COVID-19 crisis. TRIF allows the flexibility to pivot and repurpose campus resources to engage in the complex fight against COVID-19, drawing on faculty expertise, campus facilities, logistical assets, research labs, and campus staff and leadership to provide immediate assistance in the battle against the pandemic.

The See Me Serene App is available from the App Store and Google Play. Find more information here