The latest issue of the DolphiNurse Newsletter for Jacksonville University School of Nursing, Jan. 2014. The School of Nursing is in the JU College of Health Sciences.

1. At the SON we are very proud of the quality of education we provide to our BSN, MSN, and DNP
students. Our graduates are very highly respected in the community. Last month we hosted an
evaluation team from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the accrediting body for
baccalaureate and higher degree nursing programs. Our Doctor of Nursing Practice program was
reviewed for initial accreditation and the BSN program underwent a 10-year review. While we
don’t hear formally until next April, the visit went very well and we’re looking forward to a very
positive report.
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As we approach the start of spring semester, I’m struck by the heightened
degree of activity at the School of Nursing, which is normally a very busy
place! Now, as you drive up to Lazzara Health Sciences building you’ll
see our new College of Health Sciences building going up right next door.
We’ve included some pictures for you so you can see the progress. We’re
all very excited to watch the building go up before our eyes! Come August,
2014 the SON and College of Health Sciences will have an additional thirty
thousand square feet of much needed space. I’d like to personally thank
everyone who has contributed in any way to making this dream a reality.
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17-21 Spring Break
Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
This is an exciting time at the School of Nursing. Our programs continue to grow, and we remain
committed to the success of our students and to the excellence of the faculty. Read more, below,
about news on the undergraduate and graduate programs and many proud accomplishments of
our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Judith Erickson, Dean
© 2014 Jacksonville University

2. By Dr. Cheryl Bergman
Thirty-three 2nd degree nursing students completed their studies and graduated in August. This was an
extremely high achieving class and we are expecting each and every graduate to make their mark in the
nursing profession. Many have remained in Jacksonville and have been hired. Some have been selected
to participate in area hospitals’ new nurse internship programs. Some of our graduates have moved
across the country, specifically to Denver, CO, Reno, NV, and New York, NY. They, too, are reporting job
offers in specialty areas and feel JU has definitely prepared them to be successful nurses.
NCLEX update: The 3rd quarter NCLEX-RN results have been reported and the JU pass rate for the
quarter is 96.15% with a year-to-date pass rate of 92.1%. This ranks JU well above the reported state
rate of 79.28%. Our graduates continue to impress with their success on boards and we are very proud
of their achievements.
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Student News: Undergraduate
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Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
The Traditional undergraduate program began the fall 2013 semester with a total of 253 students.
August admissions for the traditional and transfer programs equaled 68 new students. There were 248
qualified applicants for the 68 seats. The average GPA for the traditional cohort was 3.28 and for the
transfer cohort 3.71. These numbers and GPA’s clearly support the quality of student admitted to the
various pre-licensure programs. Speaking of success, all transfer students were successful in their first
8 week courses. Excitement abounds as these students arrive at the lab in their clinical uniforms ready
to learn mandatory nursing skills in preparation for their first clinical experience in November.
Simulation Lab
Fall is a great time to “freshen up” skills and apply them to patient situations. The Simulation Lab has
assisted faculty in making simulations available in the classroom and the lab to promote application of
concepts presented in class. This Fall, seniors (class of 1213) participated in a multi-patient simulation
that focused on transition skills identified by our clinical partners as “desirable” for new graduates:
prioritization, delegation, time-management and early recognition of status changes. Nursing
collaborated with the JU Theater department for use of their students as patient actors.
© 2014 Jacksonville University

3. By Dr. Andra Oplinksi
In the field of nursing, the literature is saturated with research and thoughts on burn out and nurse
dissatisfaction. These phenomena result from a multitude of reasons including nursing shortage,
increasing demands on nurses, and the complexity of the current healthcare environment. Nurse
educators can too feel these challenges. It is often in the most challenging times that a student brings
an educator back to his or her roots and fundamental desires to be a nurse educator. This recently
happened when an online RN-BSN student, Nicole Baur, sent the following message towards the end
of her first BSN course. She stated, “This course has re-lit my nursing fire. I feel re-energized and
motivated to make changes in my department. We have even added agenda items to our monthly
council meetings to discuss ways to improve stress in our department and have already started
changing things.”
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Student News: RN-BSN
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Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Whether a student has returned to our RN-BSN program shortly after finishing his/her Associates
degree or has been a practicing nurse for 25 years, it is the ‘ahh ha’ moments that re-energize nurse
educators in their vision to make a difference in the world of healthcare. It is so rewarding to see
students excited about creating positive care environments that will impact quality of patient care.
JU RN-BSN faculty cherish the moments to see students put their new knowledge directly into practice.
We are continually energized by the caring difference our RN-BSN students and graduates make in
today’s healthcare environment.
Student News: Graduate
By Dr. Michelle Edmonds
The DNP program admitted its first Leadership cognate students in August 2013. This cognate is
designed for nurse leaders and educators. The first DNP graduates are expected in Spring 2014.
These DNP graduates will be the first doctoral students to graduate in Jacksonville University’s
history so we are extremely proud of them.
The MSN Family Nurse Practitioner students who graduated in May 2013 have been very successful
in passing the FNP Certification exams boasting a 95.5% pass rate for the group. We are so happy to
have such talented students and look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments as FNPs
and FNP/ENPs. The Emergency Nurses’ Association has recently approved a certification process for
our future and previous Emergency Nurse Practitioner graduates. Now these ENP students can pursue
the certification that they’ve earned as a result of completing this very rigorous NP program. More
information about the ENP-BC certification offered through American Nurses’ Credentialing Center
can be found at www.nursecredentialing.org/EmergencyNP-Eligibility.
The JU SON has just admitted its largest group of 28 NP students this August 2013. The admissions
process continues to be highly competitive with almost 5 qualified applicants per open position in
the NP program. The average GPA for admitted students was over 3.8 this year. These students were
very accomplished with a depth and breadth of nursing experience to their credit. JU graduate nursing
© 2014 Jacksonville University

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students recently participated in a health screening event through Baptist’s Community Outreach
Partnership. Shelly Coates, current JU MSN Nursing Education student, has been the liaison between
JU and Baptist Health on this initiative to address the recommendations of the Jacksonville Community
Health Needs Assessment. The FNP students (Erica Adams, Tachaena Anderson, Hermyza Coleman,
Michelle Enz, Angela Yeveyevich) provided screening and health education counseling (BMI, cholesterol
levels, blood pressure, and diet/exercise) to over 100 people at the Black Expo on Saturday, October 5,
2013 at the Prime Osborne Convention Center.
A new MSN cohort at Mayo Hospital will begin in January 2014 for the MSN Clinical Nurse Educator and
MSN Leadership in Healthcare Systems. We are currently taking applications for qualified students who
are interested in this cohort.
CALENDAR EVENTS
JANUARY
20
Martin Luther King Holiday
MARCH
17-21 Spring Break
Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Students Accomplishments
Fall 2013 Graduates
Danielle R. Anderson
Lauren E. Andry
Kristen M. Bernard
Nicholas Boigenzahn
Kristen Elizabeth Campbell
Lindsay Anita Carter
Jacqueline M. Cash
Ashley Davidson
Lindsay M. Dehr
SheLia Drane
Carissa A. Foster
Anja J. Frazier
Alexandra N. Green
Sybil Lynn Hamilton
Ashlee Jeannine Hutcheson
Brianne Kanehl
Jane Lai
Christina Marie Lohr
Jenna L. Marino
Amanda L. McDonald
Caitlin P. McFeeley
Carla Jean Medford
Nora Brianne Meyer
Christy Manaco
Lashlee Blair Morris
Jordan-Lee Pearce
Itzel Ramos
Andrea J. Shamro
Jenna Elizabeth Stoer
Kaylie Dawn Marie Sutter
Emily Kate Verone
Gracia Walker
Victoria Waltrip
Spring 2013 Graduates
(inadvertently omitted in Summer newsletter)
Ivonne Herrera Roese
Renicka Latrice Rogers
Christopher L. Roggen
Lauren Colby Rooney
Cum Laude
Tersa L. Ruehman
Sungjoon Ryou
Beverly C. Saint-Amand
Bryan San Miguel
Danielle Sansores
Misaki Sato
Susan Lynn Scott
Michael Leon Sevick
Cameo Crystal Shane
Angela Sheehan
Erika Sirois-Moreno
Pamela A. Skeels
Summa Cum Laude
Robert Slavescu
Amelia Small
Deborah Smalls-Bartee
Eric G. Smith
© 2014 Jacksonville University

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Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing
Lambda Rho Chapter At-Large
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BSN-Fall 2013 Inductees
Kristen M. Bernard
Lindsay Anita Carter
SheLia Drane
Sybil Lynn Hamilton
17-21 Spring Break
Brianne Kanehl
Jane Lai
Christina Marie Lohr
Carla Jean Medford
Nora Brianne Meyer
Jordan-Lee Pearce
Kaylie Dawn Marie Sutter
Emily Kate Verone
Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Sigma Inductees for BSN (Fall 2013)
Names from left to Right (Emily Verone, Christina Lohr, Kaylie Sutter, Jordan-Lee Pearce, Carla Medford, Brianne Kanehl,
Sibby Hamilton and Kristen Bernard)
Winter/Spring 2013 Inductees
(inadvertently omitted in Summer newsletter)
RN-BSN
Michael Adalia
Kathleen Albers
Erin Frisch
Jill Graffagninor
Sandra Hoover
Roger Huth
Michelle Lee
Nancy Napolitano
Kelly Newman
Abi Jireh Paraon
Sherri Patray
Kristen Perrin
Christina Rice
Ashley Smyers
Erik McFerrin
Janet Meadows
Destiny Parrish Carr
Kathy Street
MSN
Barbara Johnston
Melissa Kleinsmith
© 2014 Jacksonville University

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Faculty Accomplishments: Federal Grant
CALENDAR EVENTS
In one of the largest grants it has received in the past half-decade, Jacksonville University will receive
a federal grant of $870,000 to recruit hundreds more student veterans into its new College of Health
Sciences and help them excel as they pursue bachelor’s degrees in nursing.
JANUARY
The award, announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is part of the
Veterans’ Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing Program (VBSN) of HHS’ Health Resources and
Services Administration.
“The Veterans’ Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program recognizes the valuable skills and experience
of our veterans, while addressing the nation’s nursing workforce needs,” HHS Secretary Kathleen
Sebelius said in a news release announcing the grants. “The education and training they receive helps
qualify them for civilian nursing positions, while expanding Americans’ access to high-quality care.”
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Martin Luther King Holiday
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Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Only nine institutions nationwide were awarded grants as part of the highly competitive project.
“This funding is going to help us tremendously to recruit and better support our
military students as they work on their BSNs, and to educate highly qualified
medical personnel for our community,” said Project Director Lynnette Kennison,
JU Associate Professor of Nursing. “It provides more options for us to help them
succeed as they continue their educations.”
With the additional money, to be spread over four years, more personnel will
be hired at JU to recruit and assist veterans in the nursing program, provide them
additional career track options and prepare them for practice in the local community.
In the first year alone, projections are for 31 additional veterans to be added to Nursing Track 1
(students with little or no medical background), 25 more to Track 2 (those with an associate degree
in nursing) and 34 more to Track 3 (online students with an associate degree in nursing).
Once enrolled, the veterans will receive assistance, such as tutoring in writing, math and nursing;
program, career and mental health counseling; focus and support group help; linkages with veteran
service organizations and community health systems; and even medical monitoring such as biofeedback
to help them with their heart rates and stress levels.
The additional academic and social supports are critical to the success of the veterans in the
program, federal officials said. Kennison, a psychiatric nurse practitioner and 30-year military veteran
herself, agreed that the extra support will enable many more student veterans to succeed in the
nursing program.
“Some of our military veterans have special issues and challenges, sometimes traumatic physical and
mental injuries that can make them feel detached, and these must be addressed as they acclimate back
to civilian life and education,” she said. “The support groups alone will be a huge benefit to them, as
they see they are not alone and can identify with others of similar background.”
© 2014 Jacksonville University

7. “You have to look beyond your immediate teaching goals, and this really expands your horizons,”
she said. “No one has to work on a grant alone. It requires teamwork, and it reenergizes you as a
faculty member and gives you a chance to follow your passions and interests. For me, this is all about
helping the student veterans.”
Grant money has practical benefits for Jacksonville University as well, said Renee Rossi, JU Director
of Grant Development: External funding can raise the reputation and overall esteem of the University.
As JU pursues additional grant competitions, it will increase its ability to offer dynamic research
opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. The pursuit of innovation and research also
helps faculty enhance their upward career mobility and tenure opportunities.
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Kennison said the process of obtaining the grant helped her become better acquainted with other
members of the College of Health Sciences – advisory board members, staff, administration, other
faculty – who offered guidance and helped with the request.
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Have any great news or
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E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
“We are committed to assisting faculty with their scholarly pursuits by helping them secure funding
for research and new programming, and with JU President [Tim] Cost’s support, we are moving toward
developing the processes needed to fully support faculty in both the pre-award and post-award phases
of a project.”
Rossi also noted that options are being investigated to further incentivize JU faculty to pursue grant
funding. One is to establish “research accounts” for funded faculty members, and return a portion of
the recovered indirect costs (also referred to as overhead) to the account. Faculty could then use
the funds to purchase new equipment, hire students, or as seed money for new research endeavors.
“It would give them a little bit of additional funding to use to enhance their research initiative or
program, and is a great incentive for the University overall to pursue more research and program
funding,” Rossi said.
In addition, many funding sources, especially the federal agencies, allow for and even expect the cost
of adjunct faculty to be included in a proposal. The adjunct personnel can relieve some of the class
loads, and enable faculty to work on their funded project and pursue their passions, she said.
© 2014 Jacksonville University

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Staff and Faculty Spotlight
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Dennis Oakes joins the JU SON after serving 27+ years in the United States Air
Force where he practiced in emergency/trauma, post anesthesia, orthopedics,
medical-surgical and informatics. He held commands at the Squadron and
Group level and ended his service where he began, a Registered Nurse,
holding the position of Chief Nurse Executive responsible for 225+ nursing
professionals. After retirement, Dennis gained experience in risk management
and nursing education. His received his undergraduate degree in nursing from
Virginia Commonwealth University and his graduate degree in Trauma/Critical
Care Nursing from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Dennis possesses two certification, Nurse
Executive – Basic Certification and as a Certified Emergency Nurse. He is married to Lynn (also a RN)
and they have three sons.
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Have any great news or
information for the DolphiNurse?
E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Dr. Lindsay Wolf is a certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner who currently
practices in pediatric primary care. Her interests include children with special
needs, particularly children with Down syndrome. Lindsay is a graduate of
the University of North Florida for her Bachelors of Science in nursing. As a
bedside nurse, she practiced in both the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant Units. Lindsay
received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree from the University of
Florida where she also received a certificate in public health. She is married
to Pete and has a daughter, one year old Hailee, and is expecting her second
child in March.
© 2014 Jacksonville University

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New Building Updates
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E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Taken on 8/6/2013
Taken on 8/20/2013
© 2014 Jacksonville University

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New Building Updates
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Have any great news or
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E-mail: DolphiNurse@ju.edu
Taken on 10/2/2013
Taken on 10/21/2013
© 2014 Jacksonville University