News Briefs

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Training grant: The Medical College of Georgia School of Nursing has received a three-year, $950,000 federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant to train advanced practice nurses at the doctoral level.

The program, which begins immediately, will educate nurses throughout Georgia at sites in Augusta, Athens and Macon. Upon completion, students will have a doctorate of nursing practice degree and be board-eligible as acute care nurse practitioners and/or critical nurse specialists.

“There are critical needs in Georgia in acute-care settings,” said Janie Heath, school of nursing associate dean for academic affairs and principal investigator on the grant. “The work force and national reimbursement environment have changed, necessitating a new model of care.

“Advanced practice nurses are perfect to be part of that health care delivery team. They are the stabilizing force that makes sure patients get continuous and seamless care.”

Of the nearly 3 million registered nurses in the United States, only 8 percent practice at the advanced level. About 140,000 are nurse practitioners, and only 5,500 specialize in acute care.

Students in the Program for Accelerated Certificate Education (PACE) will take 18 online curricular hours and complete 500 clinical hours during two semesters. Targeting post-master’s prepared nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists, PACE candidates must be in a doctoral program or already have a doctorate of nursing practice or Ph.D. degree.

Heath will spend the first year of the grant preparing faculty and clinical preceptors. She anticipates enrolling 52 students in the program.

“There’s a need and an interest,” said Heath, noting that 45 percent of MCG graduate nursing students and 63 percent of clinical nurse leader students say they would apply for such a program.

Caregiving summit: “Averting the Caregiving Crisis: Why We Must Act Now,” will be the theme of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving’s 2010 National Summit and Training Institute.

The event, which will be at Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus on Oct. 20 to Oct. 22, will highlight efforts to better serve family caregivers, particularly through the implementation of evidence-based programs.

The keynote speakers will be Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging, and Anthony (Tony) Rodgers, Deputy Administrator for Strategic Planning and Director of the new Center for Innovation at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

For information, go to www.rosalynncarter.org.

New nurse manager: Steven M. Whitney, RN, MSN, CCRN, has been named nurse manager of the shock/trauma and surgical intensive care units at MCGHealth Medical Center in Augusta.

Since joining MCGHealth in 2005, Whitney has held progressively responsible positions and most recently was a clinical nurse educator in the surgical intensive care unit. Prior to that, Whitney served as a clinical nursing instructor at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and the MCG School of Nursing in Augusta.

Whitney was recognized by Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing for excellence in mentoring in 2008 and was named a CSRA Nursing Showcase Reflection of Nursing Spirit Award Winner in 2009.

Employee scholarships: Four DeKalb Medical employees have earned the 2010 Audrey B. and Jack Morgan Scholarships to continue their education and further their health care careers.

The top winner, Maxine Rockhead, ASN, has been a nurse at DeKalb Medical for eight years and will use her $5,000 award to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She hopes to eventually earn a master’s degree and become a clinical nurse specialist.

The first runnerup, Arabia Moore, a patient access specialist, will use her $3,000 scholarship to work toward a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

The other winners are Tiffany Kellaway ($1,000), a patient care technician, and Keith Avant ($1,000), interim respiratory care manager.

College scholarships: Four recent high school graduates have earned Dr. Gulshan Harjee Scholarships to pursue careers in medicine or allied health care.

Jessica Bilz, a South Gwinnett High School graduate, was awarded $1,500. She is attending the University of Georgia and wants to become a physician.

The first runnerup, Southwest DeKalb High School graduate Candice Slater, was given $1,000. She is enrolled at the University of Georgia and is studying to be a pharmacist.

Brookwood High School graduate Sonia Mathew is the second runnerup ($750). She is studying at Mercer University and plans to become a doctor.

Third runnerup Benjamin Chesler ($500) graduated from Yeshiva Atlanta High School. He attends the University of Georgia and hopes to become a pharmacist.

The annual scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who plan to enroll in an accredited educational program for medicine, nursing, pharmacy, patient care or other related health care field.

The scholarship fund was established by Dr. Gulshan Harjee, a native of Tanzania, who overcame financial and cultural barriers and hardships to become a physician. Harjee funds the scholarships primarily, although contributions are accepted through the DeKalb Medical Foundation. The scholarships are facilitated by DeKalb Medical Pastoral Care in collaboration with the DeKalb Medical Foundation.

Perfect passing rate: All 34 graduates of the May 2010 nursing class at Gordon College passed the National Council Licensing Examination for Registered Nurses. The last time a class at the Barnesville college achieved a 100 percent passing rate was in 2002.

“Oh, we have been very close over the past few years, but having a 100 percent passing rate is amazing,” said Joan Cranford, chair of the Division of Nursing and Health Sciences. “This is particularly special since the difficulty level of the test had just increased and the bar for passing was raised just prior to this group’s graduation.”

The NCLEX is the exam required to obtain a license to practice as a nurse in the United States.

Do you have any news briefs for Pulse? If so, send an e-mail to jbrieske@ajc.com or call 404-526-5664.