BUCKEYE COLLEGE OF NURSING

 
 
College of Nursing e-News
 

August 2015

 
     
     
 

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

 
 

Bernadette MelnykToday marks the official start of autumn semester and Newton Hall is once again buzzing with the sounds of students and faculty excited for the academic year ahead.

While campus is always a bit more subdued during the summer months, there was still plenty happening at the College of Nursing. For starters, we had some major moves take place which I'm quite excited to share with you. Our college has experienced some incredible growth over the last few years. With more than 2,000 students and over 225 faculty and staff, Newton Hall in its present state simply couldn't accommodate our growing numbers.

As a temporary solution, we leased additional office space at 760 Kinnear Road, just a short drive from the health science campus. This freed up significant space within Newton, enabling several changes to take place to allow for better student service and faculty collaboration. Most notably, the Office of Student Affairs is now housed on the first floor, the second floor hallway and classrooms have been renovated, and on the third floor, faculty offices have been reassigned so that our research center teams are located together.

In July, the following teams moved to the new site at Kinnear: Center for Transdisciplinary Evidence-based Practice, Clinical Placement, several members of Information Technology, Marketing & Communications, and the Master of Applied Clinical & Preclinical Research program. I'm so grateful to our wonderful faculty and staff for their unwavering can-do spirit and positive outlook throughout this process.

As for long term goals, we completed a feasibility study this past year and envisioned plans for a desperately needed phase two building for our college, and the sketches look terrific. Nothing happens unless first a dream and we have a wonderful dream for a new second building in the not-too-distant future. Hopefully, soon we will have University approval to start fundraising efforts for the new building.

It's a wonderful way to start what will certainly be a great year. Go Bucks!

Fondly,

Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, RN, CPNP/PMHNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
Associate Vice President for Health Promotion
University Chief Wellness Officer
Dean and Professor, College of Nursing
Professor of Pediatrics & Psychiatry, College of Medicine
The Ohio State University

 
     
     
 

FEATURED STORIES

 
 

New partnership aims to promote Million Hearts®

The College of Nursing and the Ohio Nurses Association are teaming up to target crisis levels of cardiovascular disease in the Buckeye State. The partnership will aim to expand participation in the Million Hearts® initiative, a national effort launched in 2011 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prevent one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017. Read more.

Wine tasting uncorks fun, spirit of giving

The 9th annual Wine Tasting was another great success, with 142 alumni and friends gathering at the Ohio Union for an evening of great wine and entertainment. New to the event this year was the addition of a Wine Pull, in which guests paid $15 for the chance to win a bottle of wine valued up to $100! More than $13,500 was raised to support the college's Scholarship Fund. View photos from the festivities on Flickr.

New wellness-focused degree

The college has officially launched its first non-nursing, undergraduate degree. The Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Innovation in Healthcare (HWIH) will prepare graduates to support health and wellness across the lifespan, in all states of health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job growth in health care is expected to expand by 33 percent, adding 5.7 million new jobs by 2020. More wellness-focused positions are being created to fulfill the Affordable Care Act's wellness program requirements. Applications for the HWIH program are currently being accepted, and admitted students may declare their major in spring 2016.

CON hosts summer diversity program

This summer the college accepted 27 local high school students for its 2015 Summer Institute for Diversity in Nursing. Students spent four days learning about the nursing profession and engaging in exciting hands-on activities. View photos from SIDN on Flickr.

 

Health and wellness at the State Fair

Ohio First Lady Karen W. Kasich was among visitors to the College of Nursing's booth for a free Million Hearts® screening at the Ohio State Fair recently. Read more about Ohio State's efforts to support the Million Hearts initiative.

 

New hand hygiene 'how-to' guide

A multimodal program is essential for hand hygiene success and preventing the spread of infection, says CON faculty Tim Landers, lead editor of a new guide by The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

 
     
     
 

PEOPLE TO WATCH

 
 

CON student named Schweitzer Fellow

Congratulations to graduate student Janet Masters who was selected for the 2015-16 class of Albert Schweitzer Fellows from Columbus and Athens. As a fellow, Janet will spend the next year learning to effectively address social factors that impact health and developing lifelong leadership skills, following the example set by famed physician-humanitarian Albert Schweitzer.

New alumni engagement coordinator

Colleen Pelasky was recently promoted to Alumni Engagement Coordinator. This role replaces the one previously held by Megan Denison, who has transitioned to a new role in development at The James. Previously, Colleen served as the college's Special Events Coordinator, during which time she played in integral role in planning alumni events and interacting with alumni. To get in touch with Colleen, email pelasky.3@osu.edu.

New college leaders appointed

The college is pleased to announce several new leadership updates:

  • Kristy Browning and Randee Masciola will co-lead the Master's Program. Browning, program director, is certified as an adult health nurse practitioner while Masciola, program coordinator, is a certified women's health NP.

  • Janine Overcash is the new specialty track director for the Adult Gerontology Primary Care NP Program. Overcash is a certified adult gerontology primary care NP.

  • Jennifer Kue has been appointed director of the Office of Global Innovations and Community Engagement. Dr. Kue's expertise is in community health promotion and achieving health equity in underserved ethnic minorities, community-engaged research, and refugee and immigrant health.

Faculty inducted into prestigious academies

The college is The college is proud to announce that several faculty have been inducted into prestigious national academies. Janine Overcash and Alice Teall have both been named fellows by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and Laureen Smith and Tondi Harrison have been selected as fellows by the American Academy of Nursing. Additionally, Mary Beth Happ was selected for induction into Sigma Theta Tau International’s Research Hall of Fame. Congratulations to all on these esteemed and well-deserved honors!

 
     
     
 

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

 
 

Stephanie Stelmaschuk

OSU degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) 2010; Master of Nursing with a focus in Adult-Geriatric Primary Care (MS) 2014

Current role: Trauma nurse practitioner at Grant Medical Center; president of the College of Nursing Alumni Society

Professionally, I am most proud of having finished my master's degree last spring and now nearing the end of my first year as a trauma NP. It's been a very challenging role and has certainly tested my clinical skills. I have a long career ahead of me and I'm excited about the endless learning opportunities in my current role. I'm also proud to be giving back to students as a young alumna — this past year I've been focusing on how to get alumni involved in our society at a younger age. I'm really excited to meet again with students and kick off our new mentoring program this fall!

Interesting fact: I've taken up running as a hobby since college. I've run in three half marathons, and my fiancé and I are training to run the Nationwide Half Marathon again this October. We figured it would be great motivation to exercise before our wedding this December. Someday I think I'd like to run a full marathon. I'd also love to run a race in Disney World so that I could have an excuse to run in a princess costume. Unfortunately, my fiancé would probably have to sit out that race.

 
     
     
 

BUCKEYE WELLNESS TIP

 
 

Avoiding the back-to-school blues

The start of a new school year can be a stressful time for everyone in the family, but there are several steps parents can take to help their children — and themselves — cope with the related nerves and anxiety. Read more.

 
     
     
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 
 

9/16

Graduate Nursing Expo

Join us in Newton Hall to learn more about the master's specialty options and doctoral programs offered at the College of Nursing. Refreshments will be provided. Deadline to register is September 11. Learn more or register here.

10/9-10/11

Homecoming 2015

Homecoming Weekend is fast approaching, so don't miss out on this great opportunity to reconnect and show your Buckeye spirit! This year will honor all graduates from years ending in "0" or "5," but of course, all alumni are welcome. Registration remains open through October 2. Click here for a full schedule of events.

10/12-10/13

Entrepreneur and Innovation Workshop

Dream of opening your own practice or implementing your research-based intervention in the real world? Have an idea for a revolutionary health-related product or service? Join other nurses and health care professionals for this two-day workshop and discover how to launch practices and businesses that succeed! Click here to learn more and register.

 
     
     
 

Create a lasting impact and legacy at the College of Nursing with a gift from your estate. Click below to learn more about your giving options, or contact Katy Trombitas at (614) 688-1086 or trombitas.4@osu.edu.

GIFT PLANNING
 
     
     
 

College of Nursing Continuing Education

AcCELL
 
     
     
 

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  The Ohio State University - College of Nursing

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Newton Hall
1585 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210
614-292-2658
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