Dr. Martha Buckner, associate professor and chair of the undergraduate nursing department at Belmont University, has been accepted as a fellow in the Leadership for Academic Nursing program with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. About 50 leadership fellows are selected each year through a competitive application process from nurse educators in over 640 member schools nationwide.
The fellowship was designed to prepare a more diverse and younger pool of leaders for nursing programs in the United States. The year long program provides participants with a focused assessment experience, a range of content and case studies related to successful leadership, and the opportunity to establish networks with mentors and peers. It focuses on key leadership competencies needed in complex nursing education and healthcare environments.
Buckner practiced as a staff nurse after receiving her BSN from Western Kentucky University. She earned her MSN from Vanderbilt University in adult health and practiced as a clinical nurse specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on a nutrition support team before becoming a nurse educator. Buckner began teaching at Belmont in 1992 as a part-time clinical instructor. In 2006, she completed a Ph.D. in educational leadership with a focus on higher education. Dr. Buckner was selected to chair the undergraduate nursing department at Belmont in 2009.
Dr. Marilyn Odom published in European Biochemical Journal
Dr. Marilyn Thompson Odom, Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Belmont University’s School of Pharmacy, has recently published a mini-review series on the breast cancer susceptibility gene 1, BRCA1. The series, entitled “BRCA1: 16 years later” was published in the August, 2010 issue of FEBS Journal, which is published monthly on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Dr. Odom was invited to co-ordinate and submit the series by the journal editor. As co-ordinator, she invited Dr. Fen Xia, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Patricia Kruk, Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and Oncologic Science at the University of South Florida to submit articles to be included in the series. Dr. Odom wrote the overview and one additional article for the mini-review series. The Journal’s articles, including Dr. Odom’s review, can be accessed by clicking the icon above.
School of Nursing researches CPR training with National League for Nursing & American Heart Association
Belmont University’s Nursing Program has been presented with another distinguished research opportunity. This one is comprised of the National League for Nursing (NLN) and the American Heart Association as they team up to “determine how pre-licensure RN nursing students best retain CPR knowledge and skills.” The study will include students from 10 different schools, among them are notably: Georgia State University, Kent State University, University of Evansville, Washington State University and Belmont University.
The experiment tested the effects “of monthly 6 minute practice sessions (2 minutes each of compressions, ventilations with bag, valve, mask, and single rescuer CPR) using a voice activated manikin (VAM) for up to 12months… 606 students from 10 regionally diverse schools of nursing from around the US were randomized into experimental or control groups. The control group did no further CPR practice. The experimental group practiced CPR skills on a Laerdal Resusci-AnneVAM® manikin for 6 minutes monthly, for up to 12 months. Twenty percent of participants were post-tested and dropped from the study at the 3, 6, and 9 month time points. Forty percent of the participants continued monthly CPR practice until month 12 of the study.” In short, the study was designed to prove that repeated exposure to CPR methods keeps nursing students refreshed and ready to deliver CPR effectively. The study proved exactly that. The conclusion of the study found that “CPR skills deteriorated significantly at the 9 month time point in this study, suggesting that the 2 year time frame for CPR renewal is too long, without practice. Brief monthly practice sessions with a VAM manikin improve or maintain CPR skills.”
What does this mean for Belmont? Beth Hallmark, Belmont’s NLN Ambassador, states that Belmont will be “adopting the VAM for our CPR training and that we will be offering to area health professionals.” In addition Martha Buckner, PhD, RN Director, Undergraduate Studies in Nursing says that Belmont’s “partnership with the National League for Nursing, Laerdal, and the American Heart Association in this national, multi-center trial will advance life-saving knowledge and skills related to CPR. Belmont’s School of Nursing is deeply committed to improving the quality and safety of patient care and this interdisciplinary project allows us to expand those efforts to a national level. We are delighted to be part of this effort.”
College partners with Massey Graduate School of Business and others to offer Lean Healthcare Certificate
Belmont University’s Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business has presented the Lean Healthcare Certificate program for several years now in collaboration with the Gordon E. Inman College of Health Sciences & Nursing. Sponsored in conjunction with Healthcare Performance Partners and Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, the certificate is designed for leaders who desire to understand the tools and knowledge necessary to drive Lean Healthcare throughout their entire organization.
Physical Therapy students receive grant for research related to carpal tunnel.
Earlier this year four physical therapy students at Belmont wrote a proposal to the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association asking for $990 to fund their research. Lauren Clark, Laura Green, Carrie Rorick and Ashley Vidrine requested this money for their research on the comparative advantages of the Manu Brace versus “a standard wrist split in the treatment of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, they explain in their proposal, is “a compression of the median nerve at the wrist, which leads to hand pain and weakness, with a loss of functional activity for many of those afflicted with this pathology”. They note that “conservative measure employed to treat the symptoms of CTS commonly and historically have included the standard or neutral wrist split designed to limit wrist flexion”.
Nurse practitioners do jobs of doctors, with less training
By Christina E. Sanchez
THE TENNESSEAN
Jim Cheeks wears a white lab coat, carries a stethoscope to listen to your heart and writes prescriptions for what ails you.
But Cheeks isn’t a doctor. He is a family nurse practitioner who co-owns a primary care practice, Mount Juliet Family Care, without an onsite doctor.
Cheeks and co-owner Bruce McLaughlin are part of a growing movement of nurse practitioners breaking out to start independent primary care practices. With fewer years of schooling and less debt, they enter the work force at five times the rate of primary care medical residents.
Nurse practitioners believe they could be part of the solution to the growing shortage of primary care doctors and ever-expanding health-care costs. But some question whether they have sufficient training to ensure that patients are safe.
“Physicians train for as long as they do for a reason. It’s to look for underlying issues and provide comprehensive medical care,” said Kasey Dread, executive director of the Nashville Academy of Medicine, a chapter group of the Tennessee Medical Association. “It’s about patient safety, from the physician’s perspective.”
Cheeks disagrees.
“In a family practice I do most things a general practice physician does, and there is not a lot I wouldn’t feel comfortable treating,” said Cheeks, who opened his practice six years ago.
“More and more, we will become the primary care provider for more patients. Nurse practitioners are very competent and capable to manage routine health issues.”
See the full article at Tennessean.com
Kiningham to Study Current Issues in Substance Abuse Education
School of Pharmacy Associate Professor Kelley Kiningham will be attending the University of Utah School of Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies this summer. The School, which is recognized internationally, provides specialized information and techniques for working effectively with substance abuse problems in various disciplines. Kelley’s plan is to focus on current issues and trends in the field of substance abuse education, prevention and treatment.
Done but not over
Dr. Ruby Dunlap’s Uganda Fulbright Blog
I expected to feel relieved, elated even, to be leaving Uganda. The work had been hard, the frustrations many, and all of us, Dad, Bob, and I, missed family and friends back in the U.S. It had been nearly ten months and we were ready to go home. So why were my eyes so wet as the plane lifted off into the night and the lights of Entebbe faded behind us? Uganda and her people have a piece of my heart and it told.
The last paper was graded, the grades averaged, and the final report made. Goodbyes were said, hugs exchanged, promises of emailing regularly made. The most immediate and obvious reflection came easily. All nations have some glory and some shame; I had learned better to embrace both the glory and shame of being a U.S. citizen. I had learned better to put the U.S.’s glory to work and to seek to remedy or mitigate some of her shame. I learned that being a child in Africa and being an adult with much responsibility are very different things. In communication with Joseph, Florence, and Jannat from Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in western Uganda, I consented to take on some advising of master’s in nursing theses. My stay in Uganda was done, my Fulbright assignment completed, but my work for Uganda is not over.
There is still much to puzzle over in the analysis of my experiences in Uganda. I expect it will take a long time to reflect on and I will likely not ever come to the end of it. But let us take another look at one critical issue. The blog entry, “If you put it that way,” reflected on the different ways one could think of resource-rich and resource-poor healthcare environments. It is difficult to think about the topic of this entry in more than one way; the temptation is to think that more money will solve all the problems of the resource-poor. But it is not so simple; there is perplexity in the problems and the solutions in both rich and challenged environments. One only has to consider the recent healthcare reform efforts in the U.S. to appreciate the complexity in what is possibly the richest healthcare environment on the planet.
$5000 Donated for PT Clinical Scholarship
Recognizing the need for student financial assistance, an anonymous donor recently gave $5000 to Belmont University for a Physical Therapy Clinical Scholarship. This scholarship is designed to assist third year physical therapy students in defraying the costs related to the clinical experiences. Students typically travel to other cities to participate in 8-week long full-time clinical experiences in multiple areas of physical therapy, including outpatient, rehabilitation, acute care and experiences tailored to their goals. These opportunities are available nationwide and internationally. This needed requirement can be costly. Seeing the need to encourage and assist students in their clinical endeavors, this scholarship has assisted students allowing them to focus on their experiences and not on the finances involved since 2000.
A three-person committee, comprised of physical therapists, who were themselves recipients of the clinical scholarship award during their physical therapy education at Belmont University, chose students based on their campus and community involvement, high academic achievements and need. The 2010 recipients are: Emily Burn, Matt Cabbage, Nikki Crosser, Kelly Ehlert, Susan Foster, Holly Gentry, Joy Moulton, Cara Nash, Sylvia Poor and Jenna Reid.
Bacon Presents Poster at Sports Medicine Meeting
Nick Bacon and Patrick Schneider of the Sport Science Department attended the annual American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Baltimore. Bacon presented a poster titled, “A cross-sectional survey of why shod runners do not run barefoot.” Dr. Bacon will begin his first semester in the Sport Science Department in August teaching in the Exercise Science discipline with Dr. Schneider.
Marvanova selected for national Parkinson’s disease training
Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences Marketa Marvanova was recently selected for a Parkinson’s Disease Pharmacotherapy Traineeship through the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists Foundation. Marketa was chosen in this very competitive program as one of only 10 pharmacists selected nationally. The traineeship will be conducted at the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.
Notes on Cambodia
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Susan Taplin
WE ARE BACK!!!! And jet-lagged. I write this entry as a BRIEF reflection over the past few weeks comparing it to my experience over the past 6 (somewhat) years. WoW is the biggest thing that comes to mind. WOW!! Every year I am amazed at the experience I am so very blessed to receive. I watch the hearts of people (in both countries) and my own, change. How can I say? How can I do…
So here are some of my notes on Cambodia:
One of the biggest impacts in my own heart is the impact my husband has had in Cambodia. I am always amazed at what people say when I arrive… things like, Oh Suzan…Chas’ wife or You remember Chas’ wife? For those who don’t know, we were both there with our boys for 2 years and I have been back for 4 times with Chas and the boys only once….I am still known by many as Chas’ wife. I love that. It makes me think deeply of my real role in life and my purpose.
Giorgianni Elected Vice-Chair, Chair Elect of APHA Caucus
Dr. Sal Giorgianni, director of Experiential Education & Development for the School of Pharmacy, was recently elected Vice-Chair and Chair elect of the American Public Health Association’s newly formed Caucus On Men’s Health. In addition, Giorgianni will be teaching an elective on men’s health for the Fall 2010 semester, one of only a few such classes currently offered in the U.S.
Cambodia Forever In Our Hearts
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Sharon Dowdy
In the mode of preparing to leave and saying our good-byes, we wake up to take a morning walk only to realize that we are too late to see the city wake up. It is already bustling with traffic and people; exercisers have gone to work; the sun is already high and hot in the sky. We see a couple of people still sleeping in hammocks or and one mother sending her children out to ask for food.
Last night as another farewell, we went to dinner with some of the friends in the church–the pastor, Sovann, and his wife, Sopheap, and their two young children; one of the nurse educators, Phalla, and her husband, Kenda, and their two beautiful daughters; Sotia and wife, Paesset, and 7 year old son who was only one year old when I first met them. It was one of my favorite times on the trip; a relaxed and comfortable time with children laughing, entertaining us with their singing, and playing silly games as children everywhere do. It is so amazing to be able to share in this way with people all the way around the world! We discussed raising children, stories of engagement and marriage, illness, faith, victories.
Did they just lock us in?
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Victoria Kaelin
Well today we finally got to sleep in! If you consider 8:30 sleeping in that is. However, it was greatly appreciated after several long days in a row. After a pretty laid back morning, Peip took us to the Royal Palace. The palace was closing at 11am and we got there at about 10:25, so we quickly saw as much as we could. They were telling us the history and random facts about everything as we passed by, which was helpful cause there were very few signs and if there was one it was probably in Khami. When we were gathered around one tree listening to Ronnie talk about the uses of the flowers, we just so happened to look up to see them closing the gates and were about to lock them. So we all went running across the courtyard out the gate before they could lock us in the palace.
After our fun at the palace, we went to the villa where all the ex-patriots from the hospital live for lunch. It was nice to spend time with people that you can always understand what they are saying. We had some good American-ish food. We all laugh and joked about our adventures in Cambodia. Then Grace and Katrina asked if we wanted to go to the Russian Market so we were, like sure, why not. We can always shop of course so we took the market by storm again.
Haiti Update #12
Jen Watters Haiti Blog
Saturday, May 29, 2010 at 8:48am
Bonjour!
Excuse Moi! Sorry that I missed sending out the update last week. These last two weeks have been a little crazy as my time in Haiti is wrapping up! And now I have less than two days left!! It’s quite strange. On one hand I’m really sad to leave, but on the other hand I am definitely looking forward to seeing everyone. I’ve missed you guys!!! And, also sleeping in a real bed with my PILLOW!!!!
I’ve spent the last two weeks continuing to work in Diquini hospital in Carrefour, and there have been lots of changes. One of our big projects for the last two weeks was to help discharge about 40 people from the hospital, many of whom had been living there since the earthquake. After the earthquake they set up tons of huge tents in front of the hospital to help house all of the extra patients, anyone without acute medical needs was moved out there. And then they kind of all just stayed. Our group was the only one who had any records on the people out there, so we were asked to help organize the discharges. Just an example of working here – you kind of have to be a jack of all trades: PT, social worker, discharge planner! Anyway, we were able to work with IOM which is a branch of the UN that helps displaced people and they were able to get most of the patients’ tents and help them return either to their property or to a place nearby with family or friends. It was interesting to see the patients’ reactions. One lady was so excited to leave, she was packed up with all of her things, sitting in a chair ready to go the first day, before we had even organized anything. She had just heard that people were leaving and wanted to go home. I think she was a little upset when we told her that she would have to wait a couple of days before it was her turn. The first day they took about 5 people with all their stuff in a mini-bus (a big van) there was one guy who jumped in the van as soon as it pulled up there and just sat in there several hours, happily waiting until everyone else was loaded up! He wanted to make sure he got a spot on the bus!
“Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue”
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Stephanie Brooks
WEDDING DAY!!! Two people from the church we have been going to in Phnom Penh got married today! We were so lucky to have the opportunity to experience a Cambodian wedding! We all got our hair and makeup done (something that would cost over $100 in the U.S) for $5! It was the ultimate girl time. The wedding was so much different than what we are used to in the U.S.- it is a full day affair (we only went to the ceremony at 9am and the reception at 6pm) and much more elaborate. The bride and groom changed outfits five times, that we saw, so probably over ten times throughout the day. Everything was so colorful, ornate, and BIG! From the dresses to the hairstyles to the food, everything was bright! The bride and groom were both really shy, so their kiss was very quick and they stood about five feet away from each other. The pastor made them kiss again because it wasn’t good enough! So cute and sweet 🙂
Siem Reap Temples, Fried Crickets, and an Elephant Ride
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
form Kim Engholm
We all got up early this morning to catch the bus for a six hour bus ride to Siem Reap Province in northern Cambodia. The ride up was uneventful except for the one quick stop where Chelsea, Emily, and I tried fried crickets. We have pictures to prove it! Once we were settled in our hotel, we had a relaxing lunch at the Blue Pumpkin restaurant. After lunch we made our way to the temples to watch the sunset. We have never seen anything like these temples before. They truly are the Eighth Man Made Wonder of the world. We climbed the mountain in true Asian style– on the back of an elephant!
After the sun set we went to the Temple Club for dinner and to watch Khemi dancers. The group favorite was the coconut dance. All of the costumes were elaborate and beautiful. The dancers twisted and bent their hands and fingers in ways none of us have ever seen before. The dancing was so elegant and graceful.
The next morning was an early wake up at 4:30 so we could see in the sun rise over Angkor Wat (the main Buddhist temple). Angkor Wat is even featured on Cambodia’s flag. Seeing the sun rise in such an enchanted and sacred place gave me chills. I imagined who else in this temple’s 900 year existence has seen that exact same sun rise. Angkor Wat was full of history and stories carved in detail on the walls. The next temple was called the Temples of Bayon (Bion). This one featured smiling Buddha faces and ancient carvings of men. I believe this temple was everyone’s favorite because it just looked happy. I described it as an adults Jungle Gym complete with steep staircases and fallen rock. Ta Prohm was breathtaking with trees growing out of the temples. This was the location for Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie.
Re-entry is Bittersweet
2010 Pine Ridge Trip
Our Pharmacy group from Pine Ridge arrived back in Nashville last night at about 10:30PM. We were happy to be home, but we came to the realization that we left so much behind. The Lakota people were so welcoming and shared much of their beliefs and health concerns with us when, in reality, we were complete strangers. Despite all the pain of the past the people we encountered taught us the “Lakota way” and trusted that we will help them as much as they helped us during our 10 days in Pine Ridge. “Mitakuye oyas’in”. (translated “All my relations”).
“I have decided to follow Jesus…No turning back, No turning back.”
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Emily Tice
Many people told me that coming on this trip would change my life, but what they did not specifically mention is that these people would forever be imprinted on my heart. Today, after spending a week working in the hospitals and attending church twice, I walked into Wednesday night church being greeted and welcomed as if I had been a member there for years. Worshiping with other Christians across the world has not only reminded me that God is alive and moving in Cambodia, but it has also encouraged me to refocus my life perspective while on this trip and throughout the rest of my life. The Cambodian Christians I have fellowshiped with display so much love, compassion and hospitality, and I am honored to have met them.
One of my neighbors from when I lived in Nashville (Miss Peggy Mueller!) made bracelets for the Cambodian women I would meet on this trip so that they would have something from America. I brought these to church with me tonight and gave them to some of the women I have worked with throughout these couple of days. One was an older woman who spoke little English, but always had a hug and big greeting for me whenever I walked through the church doors (talk about such a great prayer warrior too!). Others were women I have worked with in the hospital and their daughters. All of these women have found the love of Christ and were SO excited to know that fellow believers in America were praying for them (I gave all you supporters a shout out!). They wanted to let you all know that they are praying for you too and that you are all welcome to visit Cambodia when you can 🙂 They really want to meet our families!
The sweet love of a child
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Chelsea Stevens
Well, I just can’t believe we leave in one week from today. This trip has flown by. I am so excited to get home to see all my loved ones that I have missed so much, but at the same time, I am so so sad to leave all the wonderful people I have fallen in love with here. Because sleep was very needed last night, I decided to blog this morning. So I will outline our yesterday for you!
In the morning, Victoria went out on the mobile clinic and the others of us took our posts in the hospital. Emily and I decided to go give blood for the same patient Mrs. Dryden and Victoria gave for yesterday. So we go through all the paper work, and finally make our way to the blood bank. After getting our fingers pricked and waiting for about 10 minutes, the woman who works there comes out and begins speaking in Khmai and shaking her head. We were very very confused, and finally after asking questions to our driver in a few different arraignments of broken English, we found out our hematocrits (pretty much the percent of red blood cells in a draw of blood) were low. So Emily and I are slightly freaking out because we have no clue if something is wrong with us, and no one can understand to tell us!!! Finally, we get out that it was just 2% off the percent they accept. After calling our teachers and realizing that we are a little dehydrated- our fears were gone, but then we were just frustrated! SO FRUSTRATED. We were sitting, pretty much pouting, and thinking- “”Our blood just isnt good enough!”” The doctors at the blood bank were very kind though, and they gave us the units of blood to take back to the patient that they had already in the bank. So we didn’t feel completely worthless!
So much more
2010 Pine Ridge Trip
When I signed up for this trip, I thought it was a “cultural immersion” trip. I thought we would be seeing some new things, participating in some cool things and eventually working on our community health project…But never did I imagine I would have such an amazing spiritual experience! To get to know and understand the Lakota culture is to delve into spirituality completely. You cannot know their culture without opening your mind to a beautiful way of thinking.
Between the talks with a story-telling revered elder, Leonard Littlefinger, and talks and sacred ceremonies with the highly spiritual interpreter/medicine man, Basil Braveheart; these men, along with others in the community, have shown us nothing but open arms and kindness in their quest to educate us. But what they are doing is so much more than education…
“You are Amazing, God”
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Stephanie Brooks
Today I went to a nearby village with the Center of Hope Mobile Clinic. I was awestruck to find houses made of leaves and mud with a dozen or more people living in them. The ground had turned to mud from yesterday’s rainfall, so the piles of trash that had been pushed aside were now embedded in the floors of people’s homes. It is very similar to the slums in the city, but it’s distant location makes it harder to keep supplies stocked. I was immediately aware of the constant struggle to maintain basic needs.
We set up two tables- one for initial screenings and vital signs, where I was, and another for the physician to prescribe and distribute medications. Approximately thirty patients, ranging from ages 6 months to 79 years, were screened and given appropriate medications. I cannot begin to explain their gratitude! Countless hugs and smiles were dispersed 🙂 I was truly humbled that someone who has no money, children to feed, and an illness to bear in those conditions could find the strength to laugh and feel joy. I wanted so bad to do more for them, like bring them food, build them a better home, or simply buy them shoes. I felt so blessed today, though, to have the opportunity to help in the way I feel called and hopefully provide some comfort.
A patient needs blood…
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Keary Dryden
This morning when I walked into the surgical ward to see Victoria who was assigned there today, “Dr. Cornelia” was making rounds and checking on a patient. She turned and said to the group of nurses and doctors that the patient would need blood transfusions and that a donor (or two) was needed. The patient’s only family member was his young daughterand could not donate..I did not realize at first that she was asking someone in the group to volunteer…and it did seem that she was looking right at me! So of course I volunteered and so did Victoria.
What a Day!
2010 Mission Trip to Cambodia
from Victoria Kaelin
We started today by going to the Tuol Sleng museum. We took our Tuk Tuk for the first time without the teachers, and we made it there perfectly safe (for all the parents). We watched a short movie about a couple who were held there and then toured the place. It amazed me that people could be so cruel to their own countrymen. These people were beaten for not saying the right thing or worse killed for their past lives. We went Peip there and she showed us around and talked about the history of the place. She was born the day that war started so it was meaningful for her to show us around.