CONHS Faculty Presentations at Cleveland Clinic Nursing Research Conference

Three CONHS faculty presented at the Cleveland Clinic 14^th Annual Nursing Research Conference, held May 2-3, 201,8 at the Marriott Cleveland East in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. Dr. Jackie Owens presented an invited session, Writing for Publication: Helpful Faculty and Student Resources Identified by Editors. Jackie also served as a judge for the conference poster presentations. Dr. Robin Brian gave an oral presentation titled, The Experiences of Living with Excess Weight as an Adolescent: Everyday Life and Healthcare Encounters. Dr. Jeri Berryman gave a poster presentation titled, Improving Nurse-Physician Communication & Collaboration Through Simulation: A Bridge to Patient Satisfaction. Over 200 nurses attended the conference.

Nursing Students Inducted into Sigma

On Sunday, April 15, there were 46 students inducted into Sigma (formerly Sigma Theta Tau International) nursing honor society. The induction ceremony was held at the Mount Vernon Nazarene University Chapel in Mount Vernon, OH. The speaker, Patti Kastelic, Director of Cancer Services and Imaging at OhioHealth Mansfield and Shelby, was the speaker. Faye Grund, PhD, APRN from Ashland University, Judy Gregg, DNP, RN from Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and James Middleton, MSN, MBA, RN from Knox Community Hospital, received leadership awards.

CONHS Faculty Members Honored with Annual Mentor Awards

Pictured above (L to R) are Mary Camm, Dr. Deana Kehres, Dr. David Vanata,
Grace Reichard, Dr. Dennis Gruber, Jessica Zeitz, Jill Solis and Dr. Jeri Berryman

Eight Ashland University faculty members were honored during the University’s 32nd annual Academic Mentor Awards recognition ceremony held Jan. 26. Of the eight, five are CONHS faculty members. The program recognizes faculty whose academic leadership with regard to students extends beyond the classroom. The mentors, each nominated by an Ashland student, were presented an engraved silver plate at the event held in John C. Myers Convocation Center. 

Recipients from the CONHS this year are Dr. Jeri Berryman, clinical assistant professor; Dr. Dennis Gruber, chair of Health Sciences Department and clinical assistant professor; Deana Kehres, clinical assistant professor; Jill Solis, adjunct clinical education instructor; and Dr. David Vanata, associate professor of Health Sciences.

Friends, colleagues and family members attended the luncheon, joined by members of Ashland’s administration and Board of Trustees. Provost Dr. Eun-Woo Chang welcomed the guests and presided over the event, while also commending the award recipients and the students who nominated them. The awards were presented by Dustin Ness, chairman of the academic affairs committee of the Board of Trustees; and President Dr. Carlos Campo provided remarks.

Students nominated faculty or staff members using the criteria of history of their relationship, how they benefited academically, how their personal development has been enhanced by their mentor and what impact the mentor has had on the student’s progress at the University. Selections were made by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Ashland University Board of Trustees from the information included in the nomination letters.

Students who submitted winning nominations included: Nicole Ziegler, a senior from Medina, Ohio, majoring in Nursing, nominating Berryman; Jessica Zeitz, a senior from Bellevue, Ohio, majoring in Athletic Training, nominating Gruber; Mary Camm, a senior from Findlay, Ohio, majoring in Nursing, nominating Kehres; Gabrielle Hetzel, a senior from Hilliard, Ohio, majoring in Nursing, nominating Solis; and Grace Reichard, a senior from Nevada, Mo., majoring in Dietetics, nominating Vanata.

Berryman, who joined Ashland University in 2013, serves as a clinical assistant professor in the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She received a Master of Science in Nursing degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio State University, an Associate Degree in Nursing from Regents College and an LPN from North Central Technical College.

Gruber, chair for the health sciences department, clinical assistant professor and program director for athletic training, joined Ashland University in 2003. His areas of expertise include acute and chronic pain and qualitative research. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Youngstown State University, a Master of Science from Ohio University and an Ed.D. in Curriculum Studies from Georgia Southern University. He is a site visitor and review team member for CAATE and a certified athletic trainer. 

Kehres, who serves as clinical assistant professor of nursing in the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences, joined Ashland University in 2014 and she holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ashland University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Akron. 

Solis joined Ashland University in 2017 and currently teaches Advance Simulation and Complex Care Clinicals through the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Case Western Reserve University and is working to complete her Master of Science in Nursing as a Nurse Practitioner.    

Vanata, who joined Ashland University in 2002, serves as director of the Dietetics program and as associate professor of health sciences in the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Stockton College, a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Florida State University and a Ph.D. Human Nutrition from the University North Carolina Chapel Hill.

In nominating the recipients of this year’s Mentor Awards, the students wrote one-page essays about their mentors. Passages from these essays were distributed at the luncheon.

Nursing Alumni Attend Senior Sendoff

On Monday, December 4, the College of Nursing hosted a Senior Sendoff day. Representatives of the nursing alumni were present to meet the seniors and invite them to join the alumni association. In the picture below are (left to right) Barbara Mollica, Judy Davis and Pat Brook. Seniors also won alumni gifts. Those seniors were Madison Davis, Kathryn Knapp, Taylor Ludwig, May Pan and Amy Sanchez.

Ashland University Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences Receives $199,325 from the Ohio Board of Nursing for Post Licensure Program

9/15/17 ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University’s Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CONHS) was awarded $199,325 in renewal grant funding from the Ohio Board of Nursing’s Nurse Education Grant Program (NEGP). This two-year grant funding makes possible Ashland University’s Accent on the Individual: Increasing Student Enrollment and Faculty/Instruction Personnel through Academic/Health Care System Partnerships.

According to Dr. Faye Grund, dean of the Dwight Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences, this project expands on the previous NEGP grant project to increase baccalaureate professional nurses and promote graduate nursing education. NEGP 2015-17 grant program partnerships with Marion Technical College and Stark State College will continue through 2019, in addition to new grant partnerships with North Central State College and Avita Health System.

“Goal one of the project is to increase Ashland University’s RN to BSN program enrollment capacity by 50 students in 2019,” Grund said. “Associate degree students at partnering institutions will have the opportunity to dually enroll at their institution and Ashland’s CONHS to streamline their pathway from an associate’s degree to a bachelor’s degree.”

Dr. Jody Hostetler, RN to BSN faculty member and faculty lead on the grant, said the project is designed to provide a seamless progression for nurses seeking to complete a baccalaureate degree.

“This model promotes adult student success by offering courses in a more manageable and supportive 16-week hybrid delivery method on the grant partner campuses,” she added. “Avita Health System nurses will receive support for those new to online learning including a hybrid delivery of the seven-week courses in the 16-week semester, both face-to-face and online at the Avita Health System campuses.”

The second project goal increases graduate nursing programs enrollment capacity by 40 students in 2019. Grund said this increase of Ohio nursing students will be accomplished through the expansion of recruiting resources, student advising and education models for graduate candidates at partnering institutions.

Grund said AU is working to create multiple graduate pathways for nursing students. Through the project work of the 2015-17 NEGP grant project, the CONHS received approval to begin the DNP Health Systems Leadership track in the fall of 2017. The Nurse Educator Certificate program for the fall of 2017 will expand nurses’ content expertise regarding curriculum development and educational theory preparing them for roles in the classroom, laboratory, clinical and online learning environments.

Kathy Durflinger, vice president and chief nursing officer for Avita Health System, said Avita Health System is very excited to partner and participate in the RN to BSN Grant Program with Ashland University.

“As an organization, we are committed to staff development and ongoing professional education. In our efforts to meet the state and national goal that all registered nurses achieve their BSN by the year 2020, this grant opportunity is a practical way to offer the BSN courses onsite at the Avita Health System facilities,” Durflinger said. “Avita nurses will not have to travel to the college campus but instead can attend classes at the hospital campus, which is convenient and appealing to them. Registered nurses make up the largest percentage of employees at Avita and we are grateful to be able to provide this educational opportunity with Ashland University to our staff.”

Cindy Hartman, nursing director for Marion Technical College Nursing Program, also was excited about the project.

“The Marion Technical College Nursing Program provides quality education to prepare students for vital positions in the nursing profession. We support the continued professional growth of our Associate Degree students and graduates by forming a partnership with Ashland University,” Hartman said. “This partnership supports the growth of the nursing profession by creating a pathway to the baccalaureate degree. The ultimate goal of this partnership is to provide the highest quality nursing care to patients, families and communities.”

Dr. Lada Gibson-Shreve, provost and chief academic officer at Stark State, said that “Stark State’s mission is focused on affordable and transferable education as well as academic partnerships. The grant with Ashland University supports Stark State’s mission.” Dr. Kathy Sommers, dean of Health and Public Services at Stark, added that “the partnership with Ashland University provides students the opportunity to pursue baccalaureate professional nursing education, which is important to the students and our community. We both look forward to continuing the partnership, to advancing student success and to supporting health care in our communities.”

Dr. Kelly Gray, dean of Health Sciences for North Central State College, said she is pleased that graduates have another option for continuing to grow in the nursing profession. “While most NC State RN and LPN graduates enter the workforce, many pursue their bachelor’s degrees, and a few graduates pursue both. This partnership is another opportunity for practicing professionals to explore opportunities to move into nursing leadership and management. It helps NC State meet its mission and commitment to the region, and continue to provide a stream of qualified nurses to serve the growing needs of the health care industry here in north central Ohio,” Gray said.

AU plans to seek approval of a Master of Science in Nursing by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, the North Central Association of the Higher Learning Commission, and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). The College anticipates that this degree program will be available in 2018.

Ashland University’s CONHS is guided by its values of Integrity, Caring, Accountability, Respect and Excellence (I CARE) to educate individuals to become health care professionals committed to health related practice, leadership, and service. The CONHS provides undergraduate and graduate education in Nursing, Athletic Training, Dietetics, and Exercise Science and its graduates are prepared both professionally and personally for the challenges of an exciting and rewarding career as healthcare professionals.

Avita Health System is dedicated to providing an extraordinary patient experience and is proud to have patient satisfaction scores ranking above most regional and national health systems, as measured by the independent patient satisfaction. The creation of Avita health system occurred when Bucyrus Community Hospital and Galion Community Hospital joined in 2011. The hard work and dedication given by the Board of Directors, Medical Staff and employees has led to Avita’s ability to enhance services to the communities they serve. Avita has grown from approximately 450 employees in 2009 to over 1,400 employees who provide patient care in Crawford, Richland and Marion counties. 

Ashland University, ranked in the top tier of colleges and universities in U.S. News and World Report’s National Universities category for 2017, is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) deeply values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.                                                                                

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Senior Week Hosted at the Mansfield Campus

The week of April 24th, graduating seniors were invited to celebrate their upcoming commencement at the Mansfield campus. The festivities featured sweet treats, raffle prizes, senior week t-shirts, bookstore specials, and opportunities to recognize meaningful faculty and staff members. Plus, members of the Nursing Alumni Association were present to welcome students into their organization and to give away additional prizes!

AU Nursing Student Successfully Defends Honors Defense

 Emily Donahue, senior honors nursing student, successfully defended her honors capstone project Understanding Suicide in the Navajo Population on April 19. Emily’s project was the culmination of two site visits to the Navajo reservation as a student in the Navajo Reservation Cultural Immersion class. Her study of Navajo culture prior to this immersion experience, plus her first experience sparked her interest that led to her topic of inquiry.  Emily performed a qualitative research study gathering data by semi-structured interviews. The objective of her qualitative study was to glean insight about suicide in the Navajo and inform care of the Navajo population. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for American Indians/Alaskan Natives.

Emily presented her work as a poster presentation at 2 scholarly events. She presented at a regional meeting of Sigma Theta Tau International (the honor society of nursing). She also presented her work at the national level during the 42nd Annual Conference of the Transcultural Nursing Society.  Professor Sharon See served as faculty mentor and Dr. Jackie Owens contributed as a second reader.

Accelerated BSN Program Named One of the Best in the Country

Ashland University’s Accelerated BSN Degree Program has been named as one of the top 20 programs in the country by GeriatricNursing.org, a leading online resource for providing information on nursing schools and programs that offer geriatric nursing education.

“We are very pleased to have our Accelerated BSN Program identified as one of the top 20 in the country,” said Dr. Faye Grund, dean of AU’s Schar College of Nursing and Health Sciences. 

Patti Clayburn, director of the Accelerated Second Degree program, stated, “Our Accelerated second-degree nursing program allows students a more expeditious path to a second degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The program is available for students who have a degree in another field and are seeking to pursue a career in nursing.”

Dr. Juanita Reese Kline, chair of the Nursing Department, reported that this summer, the program will enroll its largest cohort to date with 66 students. The Ashland program includes face-to-face classes, labs and clinicals with some online classes.

The Geriatric Nursing website announced its “Top 20 Online Accelerated BSN Programs” earlier this month. 

“We are glad to announce that your school’s program has been considered one of them. Congratulations,” said Meredith Rogers of Geriatric Nursing. “We understand that it takes lots of effort to maintain high standards and dedicated staff to provide the best nursing education out there, so you should all feel extremely proud of your hard work.”


To see the full top 20 list, visit --http://geriatricnursing.org/20-top-online-accelerated-bsn-programs/

AU Student to Participate in ASCEND Program

Amy Sanchez has been selected to participate at Akron Children's Hospital in their ASCEND internship. The program is a 10-week summer program that provides professional development, nursing skills and the potential for future employment in a pediatric hospital setting. During the program, she will have the opportunity to attend professional enrichment experiences, such as simulation and role exploration, along with other various sessions. Amy will also receive her Pediatric Advanced Emergency Assessment Recognition and Stabilization certificate. She is "beyond excited and extremely blessed for this opportunity!"

AU Students, Faculty, Alumni Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society

On Sunday, March 26 at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, 73 students were inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing Rho Nu-at-Large Chapter #419. There were 53 Ashland University juniors and seniors inducted into the society, along with six nurse leaders (all AU alumni). Additionally, AU faculty Patti Clayburn, MS, RN, Jill Matthes, DNP, RN, CHSE, and Jackie Owens, PhD, RN, CNE, received Awards for Excellence.

Winners of the CONHS Knowledge Integration Research Day

In order left to right from first to fifth place:  Marjie Smallman, Erin Burke,
Maria Neville, Taylor Mellick, and Alvine Kombem

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences held the summer Knowledge Integration Research Day on July 25, 2016. Each student presented an interesting research poster, that represented several journal articles of current research from which they integrated the knowledge for use in nursing practice. The seniors did an excellent job disseminating new information on their chosen topics.

The poster session is a required assignment in the "Nursing Leadership and Management of Healthcare Organizations" course, taught by Dr. Karen Estridge.

The CONHS Recognizes Graduates with Blessing of the Hands Ceremony and Recognition Ceremony

Ashland University Students Inducted into Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society

On Sunday, April 3, 2016, over 40 students from the Ashland University Dwight Schar College of Nursing & Health Sciences were inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Rho Nu-at-Large Chapter #419. Founded in 1922, STTI's mission is "advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership and service." Rho Nu-at-Large Chapter #419 consists of nursing members from Ashland University and Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Ashland University College of Nursing & Health Sciences 2016 inductees

Jada Craze, AU Clinical Assistant Professor, and Kate Leffler (AU senior
Nursing student) present their story on the Mission Trip to the Dominican
Republic with Partners in Christ

Kate Leffler, senior Nursing student and Rho Nu-at-Large Chapter #419 inductee

AU Clinical Assistant Professor Jeri Berryman

AU RN to BSN student Sheila Owens-Bauer receving her honor cords

AU RN to BSN students Lee Perry (left) and Sheila Owens-Bauer (right)
with AU Associate Professor and RN to BSN Director Jackie Owens (middle)

AU RN to BSN student Lee Perry (right) with his mother,
who is a nurse and current STTI member. Lee picked up his mother
without informing her of his induction. Surprise!

Rho Nu-at-Large Board of Directors

"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.

Ashland University Establishes Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program

Ashland University Establishes Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program

Interventions for Weight Loss in Women: An Interdisciplinary Approach

Faculty and students at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences are participating in an interdisciplinary weight loss research study.  The study focuses on lifestyle changes for positive weight control through individualized health nutrition and safe exercise plans.  The research subjects are working together, learning from other health disciplines though information sharing and discipline-specific coaching as client-specific plans are administered.  The primary investigator for this research study is Karen Estridge, DNP, RN; with co-investigator Melissa Snyder, PhD, AT, ATV, SCSC; Beth Patton, PhD; and Denise Reed, MS, RD, LD. 

Billie Maglott, MSN, RN; Melessa Damoff, MSN, RN; Angela Miranda (Dietetics);
Matthew Lioi (Exercise Science); Sally Trout (Athletic Training); and Andrew Lioi (Exercise Science)

Jonathan Darmon (Athletic Training); Val Kuenkele, MSN, RN; Ashley Lorah (Exercise Science)

Braxton Wright (Dietetics); Denise Reed, MS, RD, LD; Tracy Crum BSN, RN; Abby Leboza (Exercise Science);
Melissa Hill (Athletic Training) partially hidden; Sharon See, MSN, RN.

Not shown in the photos above are team members Karen Estridge, DNP, RN; Laura Gilmore, MSN, RN; Lisa Young, DNP, RN; Tina Cunningham, Kelly Kossick, Natasha Kikbride (Dietetics), Danielle Crouse (Nursing); Lydia Kallini (Nursing); Lauren Blakney (Nursing).

Faculty, staff, and students share words of encouragement!

Encouragement Wall at the College of Nursing!