"Weight Loss in Women: An Interdisciplinary Study" - Dr. Karen Estridge

Karen Estridge, DNP, RN

Dr. Karen Estridge, Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences recently presented a poster at the Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society Region 10 Conference, “Bridging Nursing Leadership and Research - What Will the Future Hold?” in Ann Arbor, MI.   Karen is the primary investigator for an interprofessional study with Dr. Melissa Snyder, Dr. Beth Patton, and Mrs. Denise Reed titled, Weight Loss in Women:  An Interdisciplinary Study that involves students from Nursing, Athletic Training, Exercise Science, and Dietetics.  The students work in teams to design programs that assist participants to meet weight loss goals.

Nursing Faculty Member Billie Maglott MSN, RN along with Junior Nursing Students Kellie Cline (SNA President), Sarah Mormino, and Morgan Lauderbaugh presented a poster entitled Providing Culturally Competent Healthcare: The Student Nurse Journey at the Student Nurse National Convention held in Nashville on April 9-12, 2014. The National Student Nurses Association is a pre-professional organization where nursing students develop leadership skills and learn how to become change agents in their future healthcare profession. Nursing Faculty SNA Co-Advisor Laura Gilmore MS, RN traveled with the group as well. 

Faculty: Billie Maglott, MSN, RN
Nursing Students: Kellie Cline, Sarah Morimino, Morgan Lauderbaugh

Ashland University Establishes Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program

Ashland University Establishes Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program

RN to BSN Student Receives Nursing Scholarship

Courtney Dill, Linda Nelson, Lynn Friebel, Missy Compton, and Jackie Owens

Ashland University RN to BSN student Melissa (Missy) Compton recently received the Wanda June Humphrey Nursing Scholarship.  On December 23, Lynn Fribel, Director of the Shelby Foundation, presented the award to Missy on her unit at MedCentral Health System.  Missy holds the position of Clinical Leader of the Birthing Suite.  Courtney Dill, Nurse Manager of the perinatal unit, Linda Nelson, Director of Perinatal Services and Jackie Owen, Director of the RN to BSN program were present for the scholarship presentation.  Missy will graduate in May 2014 with a BSN and is exploring options for graduate eduction.

Ms. Friebel also shared the following information about Wanda June Humphrey and the Nursing Scholarship.  Wanda June Humphrey graduated from Shelby High School in 1942.  She went right into war work at the former Autocall plant.  In 1947, she started attending Mansfield General School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse in 1950.  Not long after she passed her state board exam, she signed up with the Navy.  She was never on a ship the entire six years.  She was a general nurse and often worked in dependents’ wards, which is where the families of service members were treated.  While at St. Alban’s Navy Hospital on Long Island, New York,  she decided six years was enough and came home to Shelby.  She went to work at Shelby Memorial Hospital as an operating nurse.  She wanted to work in the operating room since she started nursing school.  At Shelby, she got her wish and spent 26 years as an OR nurse.  “I really enjoyed nursing, it was hard work, but very rewarding and had a lot of fun” she said.  On December 31, 1983 she retired. Wanda has been blessed with opportunities and memories through her nursing career and wants to share her passion through granting continuing education scholarships for registered nurses. 

Applicants for the Wanda June Humphrey Nursing Scholarship must hold an active Registered Nurse license in the State of Ohio, reside in Richland County, and be employed while attending school.  The first scholarship was awarded in 2010. 

Amish Health and Safety Day - August 13, 2013

Ashland University (AU) nursing students and faculty recently volunteered at the Amish Health and Safety Day.  This event was held on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 in Ashland, Ohio at the Hay and Straw Auction Barn.  The Health and Safety Day was a success with over 325 Amish in attendance.

Throughout the day, local agencies gave presentations on various health and safety related topics such as fire safety, drinking water safety, buggy safety on the highway, and gun/hunting safety. 

Agencies also set up displays and booths where the Amish could learn more about community services as well as health and safety topics. 

Back: Adam Heydinger, Cole Jasinski, Alyssa Coley, Jessica Petroff, Julie Natterer,
Middle: Samantha Green, Johnathan Horst, Melessa Starnes Damoff
Front:  Courtney Friebel, Marje Silcox, Wesley Kyser, Carrie Grund
Not pictured: Whitney Hatfield, Diana Gibson, Tiffiny Ellenberger

Nursing faculty member Marje Silcox organized a team of AU nursing students to volunteer at this event.  There were 11 current nursing students, 2 recent AU nursing graduates, and 3 nursing faculty members on site taking blood pressures and blood sugar tests.  Students and faculty also provided education related to hypertension.   Silcox stated, “This was a great opportunity for our students to learn more about the Amish culture and to be engaged with our community and its needs.”  The Ashland University College of Nursing actively participates in various service learning projects in our community as part of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant.

The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health

In 2010 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a landmark report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.  All states have formed Action Coalitions to facilitate implementation of the recommendations in this report.  The report recommendations emphasize strengthening nurse education and training, enabling nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training, advancing interprofessional collaboration, expanding leadership opportunities for nurses, and improving health care workforce data collection.

The Ohio Action Coalition, along with several other organizations, recently sponsored a visit by Susan B. Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior adviser for nursing at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and director of Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action.  Dr. Hassmiller held a series of stakeholder meetings on June 11, 2013 in Columbus to discuss efforts in Ohio and nationwide to implement the IOM recommendations.

Dean Faye Grund and nursing faculty member Dan Hellinger, who serves on the Ohio Action Coalition, represented the AU CONHS in an official capacity.  Nursing students in the accelerated track enrolled in the leadership and management course and several CONHS nursing faculty attended the staff nurse and student stakeholder session and Dr. Hassmiller’s keynote address. 

AU nursing faculty and students attended Dr. Hassmiller's presentation on implementing the IOM recommendations.

AU nursing faculty Dan Hellinger with Dr. Hassmiller.  Dan serves on the Ohio Action Coalition.

Dr. Hassmiller and AU nursing students.

AU Accelerated Nursing Program students.

Minority Health Fair - Ocie Hill Community Center

The 16^th annual Minority Health Fair was held on Saturday April 27, 2013 at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center in Mansfield, Ohio.  Approximately forty-seven local agencies participated in the event providing the community with free health screenings and educational resources.  Various health screenings available to the community included: blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, breast cancer, vision, and hearing.

The Seventh Day Adventist church served a nutritious breakfast and lunch at the event.  Ashland University College of Nursing faculty and students helped prepare and serve meals as well as clean up after the event.   Over 535 meals were served to the community and health fair workers.  

Local agencies set up educational booths at the Ocie Hill Neighborhood Center.  AU nursing students assisted theses agencies by providing important information and resources at the various booths.  AU nursing students are engaged with our community and participate in a variety of service projects as part of a HRSA grant that was awarded to the College of Nursing.      

Thank You AU College of Nursing Volunteers:

Faculty: Patti Clayburn, Melessa Starnes Damoff, Dan Hellinger, Marje Silcox

Students: Kathy Aduddell, Lisa Deschner, Ky Gingery, Johnathan Horst, Wes Kyser, Cassandra LaBove, Lisa Linscott, Danielle Martin, Ahmed Mirza, Ali Polkinghorn, Elexis Shelton, Lana Surgener, Emily White

Dominican Republic - Medical Mission Trip

Ashland University nursing students traveled to the Dominican Republic March 9-13, 2013 on a medical mission trip.  Lisa Young, organized the trip through the Ashland University Religious Life Department and Partner’s in Christ, an organization already serving in the Dominican Republic.  

Back Row: Michele Funk, Steven Chittenden, Lisa Young, Dr. Aaron Young, Joe Maggelet   
Front Row:  Alyssa Coley, Danielle Hart, Cole Hunter, Rachel Brown, Tiffiny Ellenberger
(Not pictured: Miriah Keller)

 

The first part of the week was spent in Juan Tomas where the team worked side-by-side with the people already serving in this area.   Students teamed up with interpreters and completed initial assessments.  Following an assessment, the Dominican people would then see one of the physicians, Dr. Aaron Young (Lisa’s brother), Johanna (a Dominican doctor), or Lisa Young (Advanced Practice Nurse).    Approximately 670 people were seen at the clinic in those 3 days.  The team also spent two days at a clinic in Mal Nambre where they saw over 350 people.    

There was a great need for medical assistance and supplies in this area.  The team took almost 8,000 Vitamins and 10,000 tablets of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen, all of which were gone by the end of the week.  The Dominican people were greatly appreciative of these little things that we often take for granted in the US.  The team also purchased anti-parasitics to give to the people.  Infection was a common problem and was frequently seen in tonsils, ears, and wounds.  

 

At the end of the week, the AU team shared gifts from the people in the states with the children in the mission school in Juan Tomas.  They distributed coloring books and crayons to the younger children, hygiene packs to the high school, and Children’s New Testaments (donated by Temple Christian School) to the fifth to seventh graders.   Nursing students also gave antiparasitic medication to approximately 100 of the school children.  

The mission trip concluded with a trip to Colonial City where students shopped and learned more about the Dominican Republic culture.  The AU team was sad to leave the Dominican Republic people.  They will always treasure the friendships that were made, the unforgettable experiences they had, and the knowledge gained while serving in the Dominican Republic.