A Farewell Message From Dean Safiya George | |
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Dear faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends:
As I begin to transition away from the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and begin my new role as president of the University of the Virgin Islands on August 1, I would like to express that it has been a joy and privilege to serve as the third dean of this esteemed college. Together, over the last five years we have achieved tremendous success in all our strategies – nursing education, research and scholarship, clinical care and community and alumni engagement.
Our nationally-ranked programs continue to attract students who are ready to rise to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving field, and our first-rate faculty and staff are making a transformative impact on our students’ education. With the addition of a new peer mentorship program and a dedicated student success team, our students are poised to excel on their NCLEX and Nurse Practitioner certifications, as well as deliver exceptional care to our growing South Florida community and beyond.
College of Nursing faculty have had a strong presence at regional and national conferences that helps bolster our profile and showcase our research, programs and leadership among professional and academic audiences. During a recent faculty and staff retreat, I was immensely pleased with the amount of engagement and energy that they demonstrated. It will go a long way toward continuing the upward trajectory of the college.
Several new certificate programs and annual conferences are attracting lifelong learners. The “Teaching/Learning Grounded in Caring Science,” “Compassionate Care of Older Adults at Risk for or Experiencing Dementia” and “Telemetry/Progressive Care” certificates will expand expertise in these ares of health care. This June, the Anne Boykin Institute Summer Academy and the International Association for Human Caring conference hosted by the college were exceptional community events that featured in-depth presentations and workshops on innovations in caring science.
With the support of our generous partners in philanthropy, we have extended our footprint on both the Boca Raton and Davie campuses. In Boca Raton, the groundbreaking of the new Simulation Lab is expected this fall which will help students prepare for real-world practice. In addition, a new Advanced Nursing Simulation and Clinical Learning Laboratory opened on FAU’s Davie campus in December 2023.
None of these remarkable achievements would have been possible without the college’s talented faculty and staff. Thank you for all of your hard work over the years. I would also like to thank our alumni, friends, Advisory Board members, Caring Hearts Auxiliary members and supporters throughout the community for their unwavering dedication to our students and programs.
Moving into the next academic year, I am confident that Interim Dean Pat Liehr, Ph.D., will be an exceptional leader for the college during the search for my permanent replacement. I am deeply grateful for her many years of service and dedication to the college and for her willingness to step into this role.
Our college is grounded in a strong legacy of excellence and innovation to nursing education, research, scholarship and practice. I look forward to continuing to hear about its future endeavors, and I wish our students every success in the coming school year!
Go Owls!
Dean Safiya George
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Three FAU Nursing Faculty Named AAN Fellows | |
Drs. Beth King, Lisa Wiese and Angela Prestia will be inducted into the 2024 Class of American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Fellows this fall at the academy's annual Health Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. The newest fellows represent 37 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and 14 countries and reflect a cross-section of nursing’s most dynamic leaders who are making positive change. Read More | |
FAU Nursing Offers New Fully Online and On-Demand Caring Science Certificate | |
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Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is offering a 25-hour, fully online and on-demand “Teaching/Learning Grounded in Caring Science Certificate” course to provide the essential knowledge for engagement in the innovative process for studying nursing grounded in caring.
The Teaching/Learning Grounded in Caring Science course is a virtual-learning certificate program for nursing faculty, graduate nursing students, and working nursing professionals interested in a teaching career. The focus of the program is to acquire knowledge and competencies for engagement in caring science-based teaching. The content includes the evolution of caring science, philosophical and theoretical foundations of caring science, epistemology, methodologies and praxis exemplars, and a framework for the study of nursing grounded in caring. Read More
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Anne Boykin Institute Holds 2024 'Earth Caring' Summer Academy | |
Health professionals and academics from across the globe attended the annual Anne Boykin Institute Summer Academy both in-person on the College of Nursing’s Boca Raton campus, as well as online, on June 20 and 21. Participants examined relationships in the fields of health, justice and the environment through the lens of his year’s theme, “Earth Caring: Tending Our Common Home.” Attendees also enjoyed music provided by this year’s Artist-in-Residence Kathy Sherman. View Photos | |
College of Nursing Hosts 45th International Association for Human Caring Conference | |
FAU's College of Nursing was pleased to host the 45th annual International Association for Human Caring conference on June 22 and 23, on the Boca Raton campus. Highlights from the event included keynote speakers Drs. Marilyn “Dee” Ray, Caroline E. Ortiz and Thomas A. Chavez, as well as presentations and workshops on the latest innovations in caring science. View Photos | |
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Summer vibes are here, but don't let your career goals fade away! Get a head start on your future and stop by FAU's Career Center for in-person career coaching – no appointment needed. Be sure to follow the Center on Instagram for updates on events, services and career tips. You can also check out the latest jobs in Handshake.
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Registration is open for fall 2024. Take the time today and sign up for classes! Registering now will ensure you have a great semester. Classes start on Saturday, August 17. View the FAU Registrar's calendar here. Note: Non-degree-seeking students are only allowed to register just prior to the start of each term.
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The Graduate College will host a virtual Graduate Information Session on Thursday, July 18 at 5 p.m. This session will include information regarding financial aid, test preparation and graduate admissions. Learn more and register for the event here.
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The RN-BSN track will hold an informational session on Thursday, July 25, 1 to 2 p.m. This track is for applicants who have completed a diploma or associate's degree nursing program at an ACEN-accredited institution, possess an unencumbered RN license in the state of residence, and seek to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Click here to register.
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The College of Nursing's summer commencement will take place on Tuesday, August 6 at 1 p.m. in the Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, located in the Student Union on the Boca Raton campus.
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College of Nursing faculty and students participated in the Men’s Empowerment and Health Fair at Pahokee Elementary School on Saturday, June 8, providing health care access for rural and vulnerable communities. The CARE Nurse-led Mobile Health Unit team offered free blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, as well as essential health information to residents.
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Preceptor Spotlight: Carolina Assis | |
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Carolina Assis, a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with over seven years of experience, serves as a preceptor for FAU College of Nursing FNP students at the Cleveland Clinic Florida where she is known for her exceptional listening skills, dedication and empathetic approach. Carolina goes above and beyond to understand and attend to patients’ needs, while respecting the uniqueness of each individual.
“My goal in health care is to make a difference in the way patients manage their overall health,” said Carolina. “I want to empower individuals to learn how to live better and productive lives by making sound decisions using evidence-based knowledge and best self-care practices.”
Carolina firmly recognizes the transforming power of education to make a lasting and positive impact in people's lives. She strongly believes it is possible to spread hope, as well as motivate and inspire people in any situation, including mentoring future nurse practitioners, interacting with co-workers and treating patients.
“Carolina was a phenomenal preceptor, consistently going above and beyond in her role to support and mentor students,” shared Cristina Calvo, M.S.N. ‘24. “Aspiring nurse practitioner students who are fortunate enough to work with her will receive a unique opportunity for growth and transformation. I am eternally grateful to her, and I feel lucky to have had such a smart, sincere and special teacher.”
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The University will be closed on Thursday, July 4 and Friday, July 5 in observance of Independence Day.
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Faculty, staff and students, check your inbox for details about upcoming Wellness Sessions led by Dr. Miriam Ismail, a professional development and self-improvement coach, along with Drs. Laurie Martinez and Dawn Hawthorne. A schedule of July sessions can be found on the college's Events Calendar.
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Dr. Maria Ortega delivered a presentation at the Abbey Delray South on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias on June 25. She discussed the differences between normal aging, mild cognitive impairment and dementia as they relate to brain health.
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Drs. Ruth Tappen, Jo Ann Bamdas and Kelley Jackson described how brain health impacts memory and wellness in a presentation at the South Healthcare Advocacy Network event on June 19. Hosted by the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center and the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, the gathering included health care professionals and local entrepreneurs from Palm Beach and Broward counties. View Photos
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College of Nursing faculty and staff visited four Memorial Healthcare System hospitals for the second annual 2024 Employee Fair during the week of June 17. They provided information on current college training opportunities, certificates and advanced degrees. Assistant Professor Dr. Ashley Rivera, Outreach Specialist Juliet Soler and FAU’s College of Business also met with RNs who are interested in continuing education and degrees in health administration. View Photos
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Members of FAU's College of Nursing attended a leadership retreat on June 17 and 18, hosted by the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC. Dean Safiya George, Dr. Pat Liehr, leadership team members and several faculty and staff engaged in a variety of leadership activities, assessments and presentations. The retreat focused on developing leadership skills, coaching techniques and collaborative strategies to advance innovative ideas and projects.
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On June 26, College of Nursing staff held their summer retreat which featured an appreciation language workshop and a paint and sip session. Participants from the college’s Staff Professional Development Leadership workshops facilitated by FAU College of Business Executive Education also received their certificates at the retreat.
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The National Consortium of Florida conference "Caring Connections; Discovering Magic at the Intersection of Technology and Nursing” was held at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort June 28 and 29. FAU College of Nursing was among the sponsors and several faculty attended and presented research at the event.
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The 2024 Association for Leadership Science in Nursing (ALSN) International Conference, sponsored in part by the College of Nursing, will take place Sept. 26-28 in Dallas, Texas. Join leaders in nursing education, administration and research from around the world to discuss current health care challenges. Register Now
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'Fit2Drive' Transforms Assessing Older Drivers With Cognitive Decline | |
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As the world’s population ages, so does the proportion of older drivers on the road. Safe driving requires adequate memory, perceptual and motor skills, and executive function abilities.
With the help of an evidence-based calculator called “Fit2Drive,” researchers from Florida Atlantic University have made it easy to administer and evaluate an in-office test to predict an older individual’s probability of passing an on-road driving test. Based upon brief, easily administered cognitive tests, Fit2Drive provides an objective estimation of the ability to drive for those with cognitive concerns.
For the study, FAU Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Charles E. Schmidt College of Science researchers created an algorithm to rapidly generate the prediction for an individual patient. They combined 12 cognitive tests and on-road evaluation data from two samples: patients from FAU’s Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center data repository and older drivers from the community. Results of the study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, showed that the Fit2Drive algorithm demonstrated a strong 91.5% predictive accuracy. Read More
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Dr. Candy Wilson has been promoted to rank of full professor and granted tenure in the College of Nursing. The promotion will be effective with her appointment at the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
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New staff member Suzanne Davis joined the college on June 10 as the associate director for Research Financial Services and Grant Management.
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Dr. Mary Ann Leavitt moderated and judged oral abstracts and posters in both research and practice improvement during the 20th annual American Association of Heart Failure Nurses Annual Meeting on June 19 to 22, in Orlando.
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Dr. Armiel Suriaga won the Top Abstract Award (non-student category) at the 2024 Cannabis Clinical Outcomes Research Conference in Orlando on May 30-31, for sharing his team’s research, “What are the odds of dying from drug intoxication among cannabis users who also used kratom, alcohol, and opioids?” Study co-authors are Drs. Lenny Chiang-Hanisko and Oliver Grundmann (University of Florida), and students Raquel Panos, Sebastian Kuzak and Mia Herberts.
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Nurse.org ran coverage of the top one-year accelerated online MSN program in the country for 2024, including Florida Atlantic's College of Nursing which is ranked at No. 4 (June 3).
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The collaborative study between Cross Country Healthcare and Florida Atlantic’s College of Nursing was featured in the May 2024 NursesNOW Roundup, on HealthcareNOW Radio’s website. Drawing insights from more than 1,100 nursing professionals and students, the study illuminates the intricate interplay between cutting-edge health care technologies and the enduring essence of compassionate care.
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Invest in our nursing students today to prepare for Florida’s health care needs tomorrow. | | | | |
