November 10, 2020

The Ohio State University College of Nursing faculty members Associate Professor Todd Monroe, PhD, RN-BC, FNAP, FGSA, FAAN, Professor Karen Rose, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN, and Assistant Professor Kathy Wright, PhD, APRN-CNS, PMHCNS-BC, were honored with Distinguished Nurse Educator in Gerontological Nursing awards, presented by the National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (NHCGNE). The NHCGNE Distinguished Nurse Educator Awards Ceremony took place virtually on Wednesday, October 28.

“Receiving this award affirms the important and unique knowledge that awardees have to teach all levels of students (undergraduate and graduate) regarding the complex needs of older adults,” said Rose, who is the director of the Center for Healthy Aging, Self-Management and Complex Care at the College of Nursing. “As older adults are a growing segment of the world’s population, recognizing nurse educators who have this unique skillset further amplifies the need to ensure that all students receive in-depth education in addressing the needs of older adults.”

The Distinguished Educator in Gerontological Nursing Program is an NHCGNE initiative that aims to recognize the leadership of nurse educators working with students, faculty, providers, and older people in diverse settings. “Given the rapidly growing older adult population and the urgent need to prepare the future nurse workforce to care for an aging population, it is imperative to have well-prepared nurse educators not only with knowledge and skills in care of older adults, but also with teaching competence so that they can foster positive attitudes toward older adults and actively engage learners at all level,” the program states on its website. Applicants for the award must show active engagement in gerontological/geriatric nursing education, coordination and professional development.