News Briefs: Nursing scholar is named state’s top technical student

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Brian Jones, a practical nursing student at North Georgia Technical College, has been named the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2010 student of the year. The award was announced during the system’s annual GOAL award banquet.

GOAL, the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership, recognizes the best of more than 190,000 students attending one of the state’s 28 technical colleges.

Jones was rewarded with a new Chevrolet Cobalt. The automaker and Atlanta Chevrolet dealers are sponsors of the GOAL program.

The first runner-up was Sybil Thompson, a nursing student from Chattahoochee Technical College. The two other state finalists were Shameka Lockhart, a marketing management student at Atlanta Technical College, and Lauren Harnevious, a nursing student at Southwest Georgia Technical College.

Hail to the chief: Mary Jo Satusky, a nurse at Resurgens Orthopaedics Cumming office, has been voted president of the 6,000-member National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses (NAON).

Satusky, BSN, RN, ONC, CCRC, has been involved with NAON since 1995. She has served on the national level as a director on the executive board, the research unit of the NAON Evidence-Based Practice and Research Committee, and the Chapter Advisory Team, Southeast Region. She recently served as president of the group’s Atlanta chapter.

Satusky’s term with the NAON executive board will last for three years. She will represent the organization in interactions with other nursing and orthopaedic groups.

An interim no more: Linda A. Streit, RN, DSN, has been appointed dean of Mercer University’s Georgia Baptist College of Nursing, effective July 1.

Streit has been the college’s interim dean since July 2009. A tenured professor and associate dean of graduate programs, she has been a professor and administrator at the college since 1990.

New medical journal: Three Medical College of Georgia faculty members will head a new medical journal, Cardiac Cath Lab Director, which covers cardiac catheterization administration, management and procedures.

Cynthia Chernecky, professor of physiological and technological nursing, has been named editor-in-chief. Kitty Garrett, an instructor of physiological and technological nursing, will be managing editor, and Dr. Vishal Arora, an assistant professor of cardiology, will serve on the review board.

Cardiac Cath Lab Director will publish research and evidence-based information through peer-reviewed articles. The inaugural issue is planned for September.

Nursing awards: Leslie Edney, a charge nurse in the post anesthesia care unit at MCGHealth in Augusta, was named Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Nurse of the Year at the 2010 Nursing Showcase.

Edney, RN, BAN, CAPA, CN IV, was cited for being an exceptional staff and patient advocate, and for demonstrating initiative, enthusiasm, insight and a positive attitude. Edney, who joined MCGHealth in 1990 as a senior staff nurse, is secretary of the Georgia Nurses Association’s CSRA chapter.

Ten MCGHealth nurses received Spirit of Nursing awards at the showcase, which was hosted by the CSRA Chapter of the GNA. They are Cecelia Butler, RN, BSN, senior staff nurse on 5 West; Theta Coker, RN, BSN, CEN, senior staff nurse, emergency department; Mary Gaffney, RN, MSN, pediatric clinical nurse specialist, case management; Julie Hammond, RN, BSN, CNOR, BSE, perioperative nurse educator, adult OR, Dawn Keep, MSN, RN, CGRN, senior staff nurse, endoscopy; Laurie Matthews, RN, BSN, nurse clinician, outpatient cardiac rehabilitation; Gloria Moxley, RN, BSN, CPAN, CN IV, senior staff nurse, pediatric PACU; Lisa Prince-Clark, RN, CMSRN, assistant nurse manager, 4 South; Donna Posey, RN, clinic nurse, cardiovascular center; and Tracie Sowinski, RN, CEN, senior staff nurse, emergency department.