Valdosta State University College of Nursing Dean s Notes October-November 2010 A comment on the times, This fall s AACN meeting focused on managing resources in challenging times. Needless to say, I went feeling I was an expert, but, as always, learned more than I ever could imagine about everything from framing budgets to match philosophy, to strategies for building advisory boards, to understanding the relationship of uncertainty to the recession. I ll be sharing insights on the IOM report (link will be attached at the end of this Dean s Notes) to make sure all faculty have access to what will be the foundation of our practice and educational programs for the next decade. I ll be looking forward to your impressions! STATUS of the COLLEGE Clinical Nurse Leader Curriculum Proposal coming for approval! Thanks Dr. Jim Humphrey! Revised Nurse Practitioner Curriculum Proposal coming for approval! Thanks to Dr. Maria Whyte, Dr. Brenda Dyal, Ms. Bonni Cohen, Mr. John Faircloth and Ms. Michelle Ritter. Search Committee for position being left vacant by the retirement of Dr. Nancy Redfern-Vance (alas, we ll never replace you, Nancy!) will be constituted in November. Anyone wishing to serve, let me know by November 15. RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 1. We discovered that putting magnets in the doorways to hold open the classroom doors isn t a good idea, as many were forgetting to remove them and access to our classrooms and labs were not secured. 2. Paper copy costs are down! Thanks. 1
RESOURCES 1. We have applied for additional laboratory/simulation equipment through the academic pools and instructional setting pools. The Dean s Council and then the Planning and Budget Committee will be reviewing soon so if you have any advice for supporting these initiatives please send! Thanks Ms. Jane Murray and Dr. Debbie Weaver for the fast turn-around on the documentation! 2. Dr. Schloss announced on October 20 that the indirect funds going to PI s on grants has just been increased from 15% to 50%! Great incentives for grant writing. Let me know your ideas and we ll get you the help you need to write that grant! QUALITY 1. Special thanks to Dr. Jim Humphrey an d Dr. Susan Wold, who have reviewed the first draft of the CCNE Self Study! 2. Congratulations to Ms.Arlene Corbitt, who abstract on front-line leadership is being jointly published by the University of Chicago Press in Ethnography in Action. Ms. Corbitt also attended the Atlantic School of Business Annual Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she presented a research paper entitled A Few Good Men: The TOP Ten Reasons Why Men Choose a Career in Nursing. 3. Thanks to Dr. Nancy Redfern-Vance for being such a gracious and well-informed host to our visitor from Japan, Mr. Iwaishi, a medical journalist, during his visit on October 21. 4. Special recognition to Mr. Myron Faircloth and Ms. Bonni Cohen, for spearheading the Nurse Practitioner Proclamations across south Georgia! a. Mayor Barr of Adel (November 4) b. Mayor Ellie Morris of Pearson (October 1) c. Mayor Dupree of Ray City (October 5) d. Mayor McIntosh of Moultrie (October 19) e. Mayor Cater of Tifton (October 21) f. Mayor Camille Payne of Thomasville (October 5) 5. Thanks to Ms. Darlene Pirkle, who represented the CON on October 30 Visitation Day and to Ms. Jane Murray for attendance on September 4. 6. Congratulations to Dr. Melissa Benton and Dr. Maura Schlairet, who were awarded a Faculty Research SEED Grant this year! 7. Ms. Laura Carter and her senior 1 students helped staff the drive through Flu Clinic at SGMC on October 26- great community service. PERFORMANCE 1. Charge to the Advancement Committee: a. Collaborate with the dean to complete the development of the CON brochure b. Collaborate with Dean to review change in charge of the committee to be members of the External Advisory Council and to advance strategies for increasing recognition of the CON, increasing external partnerships, increasing external funding, and promoting our faculty, students and graduates. c. Plan three events for 2010-2012 d. Collaborate on design of website and branding CON 2
POLICY UPDATES 1. A reminder about appropriate credentialing for students in clinical coursework; students must have up to date immunizations, current liability insurance and CPR certification. Students receive receipts when submitting credentials in administrative suite, so if for any reason the database has an error, the student just needs to show you their receipt. Let me know how we can help. Mr. Shirlock is reviewing new software that may be able to assist us in tracking these data. I encourage you to come for the demonstration when scheduled. 2. If you are using Safe Assign, a plagiarism prevention software tool, in your courses, please make sure you access the information site at: http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/usingsafeassign.shtml to find out how to access and have this activated for your course, and to access the online orientation. Please let us know you experience with this product! 3. Reminder Travel Related Reminders: a. While we are not currently using the PeopleSoft TAUTH for travel, the expenses module to be filed when returning from professional travel is accessed at: https://dfsfineapps.gafirst.usg.edu/psp/f89prd/fineapps/finss/?cmd=logi n a. Travel authorization is required in advance of travel unless you have standing authorization for travel, which is applicable only to travel within the state of Georgia. b. The car cost/flight comparison is required for every traveler, regardless of the source of the funding for the travel. 2. Effective immediately, all students placed at Tift Regional Medical Center will be required to submit a copy of their immunization and TB records at the beginning of their clinical rotations. 3. Feedback on spring academic schedule and master calendar is needed by November 30, 2010. 4. Student Permission Form for the retention of student work (needed for our CCNE Self Study) is available on the faculty website. Please use in conjunction when retaining examples of student work. We will need samples of student work in every course in BSN, RN-BSN and MSN programs. 5. Reminder: Faculty and staff are not permitted to use state resources for personal gain. a. Inform the dean of any outside work while you are on contract as faculty b. All materials developed in your role as faculty are the property of VSU and should not be used for work at another institution c. Consultation, provision of services, etc. for compensation using state property or resources is not permitted d. If you are not sure ask me! 3
6. Effective Fall 2010, all undergraduate students are limited to five course withdrawals (W) grades for their entire enrollment at VSU. This does not apply for a student who withdraws from all classes in a semester before midterm. 7. Any employees who drive on institutional business (including travel to meetings and clinical sites) are subject to complete the Motor Vehicle Training, available on the Blazeview site. 8. In consideration of the growing demands for transcript review, analysis and academic advising for students who have not applied to VSU, a transcript review fee is now in effect. If a student who does not have a VSU ID number requests a transcript review and advising prior to application to VSU, they will be asked to submit the transcript (whether hard copy or electronic copy) to Ms. Cecilia Furey, Senior Secretary, along with a money order for $25.00 (no cash, no checks, no credit cards) made out to the CON Foundation Nursing Excellence Fund. Upon receipt the transcript will be forwarded to the appropriate faculty for review. EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES 1. Tuesday, December 14 as the next CNL Certification Exam date. 2. ELNEC courses (Core, Pediatric, Geriatric and Critical Care) January 13 and 14, 2011 in San Diego. Visit website for more information. 3. GANE (Georgia Association for Nursing Education) Annual Education Conference February 17-19, 2011 in Savannah. 4. QSEN Institutes: January through November 2011; check website for more information. 5. STTI Nursing Research Congress and World Academy of Nursing Science Conference, July 11-15, 2011, Cancun Mexico. 6. STTI 41 st Biennial Convention October 29-Novmeber 2, 2011 Dallas Texas. (abstracts due January 26, 2011) 7. Evidence-Based Practice Conference at MCG (Augusta, GA) January 22, 2011 4
A NOTE ABOUT CLASS CANCELLATION Each faculty is empowered to use their best judgment regarding the necessity of canceling a class due to extenuating circumstances such as inclement weather. Such closings are warranted when a faculty is unable to get to class because of conditions where they live, or in the case when a majority of students are unable to get to campus due to conditions where they live. In addition, there may be times when the designated clinical location for one group is open and another is closed due to weather or emergency events at the clinical site. Additionally, there may be times when inclement weather or an emergency closes the university, but students at remote clinical sites are able to continue the clinical day uninterrupted because those conditions are not occurring at that site. Procedures: You should initiate a phone tree to contact students regarding individual class cancellations. Please do not post signs in Martin Hall. This tends to send the message that the entire college is closed, confusing and causing anxiety among the students. Any postings should be done by the administrative staff and the Dean and the Associate Dean need to be informed in case there are questions from students or from central administration. The only time the College of Nursing is closed is when the university is officially closed, or by direction of the Dean. The Dean s Calendar Date Traveling to Purpose Responsibility 11/8-11/12 Washington DC NSF Grant Review Stephen Shirlock 11/17-21 Orlando, FL AACN Baccalaureate Conference Stephen Shirlock 5