AACN Recognizes Contributions to Transforming Nursing Education

AACN Recognizes Excellence in Educational Innovations, Teaching, Leadership, 
and Academic-Practice Partnerships at its 2013 Fall Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 5, 2013 - At its Fall Semiannual Meeting held in Washington, DC last week, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) recognized nursing school deans, faculty, and practice leaders for their contributions to transforming nursing education. As the national voice for baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, AACN is committed to recognizing nurse educators whose innovative ideas and leading-edge practices are enhancing how new nurses are educated and how they practice.

The John P. McGovern Invitational Lectureship Award

This award honors John P. McGovern for his noted clinical practice and research, and distinguished record of scholarship, skill, and service. Award recipients are chosen by the AACN Board of Directors on the basis of their scholarship and the notability of their contributions to nursing, health care, or higher education. Right: John W. Rowe with AACN's President Jane Kirschling.

AACN was pleased to honor John W. Rowe, MD, Professor, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, with the 2013 McGovern Award for his contributions to healthcare and nursing. Dr. Rowe's distinguished career includes serving as Chairman and CEO of the health insurance company Aetna, Inc. and President and CEO of Mount Sinai NYU Health, one of the nation's largest academic healthcare organizations. A member of the IOM's expert panel that produced the Future of Nursing report, he is one of the nation's leading physician advocates for expanding nursing's role in providing primary care. 

Emeritus Membership Award

This award is presented to former AACN institutional representatives who have retired from the deanship and upon whom the honorary title emerita/emeritus has been conferred by their respective institution. Recipients of this award are recognized for their outstanding service on the AACN Board of Directors and/or other organizational leadership roles. On right: Janet Allan (right-side) with AACN's President Jane Kirschling (left-side).

This year, Janet D. Allan, PhD, RN, CS, FAAN, Dean Emeritus, University of Maryland School of Nursing was presented this high honor. Dr. Allan served on the AACN Board of Directors from 2006-2012, including service as AACN's Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. She was a member of the Task Force on the Future of Research Focused Doctorate, Board Liaison to the CNL Steering Committee, and member of the Task Force on the DNP Essentials. In addition, she served as a Grassroots Liaison for the state of Maryland and as the AACN representative to the National Nursing Research Roundtable and the Healthy People 2010 task force. Dr. Allan's contributions to AACN have been outstanding in both quality and quantity, and her legacy of service has helped to advance the organization's mission and reach.

Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Awards
This award recognizes the outstanding work of AACN member schools to re-envision traditional models for nursing education and lead programmatic change. Innovation awards are given in four institutional categories: Small School, Academic Health Center (AHC), Private School without an AHC, and Public School without an AHC.

Small School Winner: Illinois Wesleyan University
The Illinois Wesleyan University School of Nursing's study abroad program for nursing majors in Barcelona, Spain facilitates cultural immersion and advances cultural competency at this traditional liberal arts school. Sophomore nursing majors can spend the spring semester studying Spanish language and culture while living with host families in Barcelona. As part of the program, students take language and general education courses offered at Barcelona International College while using technology for synchronous learning of the school of nursing's core course content.

Private School without an AHC Winner: D'Youville College
D'Youville College School of Nursing (NY), in collaboration with the six other healthcare professions-Chiropractic, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Physician Assistant-developed a unique learning exercise that fosters patient-centered collaboration across disciplines. Actors from the on-campus theater were trained to play patients/family members and participated in four simulated patient scenarios that showcase the efficacy of team-based care. These simulations will be continued in all of the health professions curricula and provide experiential learning about team communication and respect for individual roles.

Public School without an AHC Winner: Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Nursing's eLine Military Program (ELM) is a modular, competency-based online program providing a pathway to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for students with previous military experience. ELM's Prior Learning Assessment provides a mechanism to award the maximum amount of college credit based on prior learning from military healthcare training and experience. This results in a customized curriculum for each student by eliminating content already mastered through military service. This ultimately creates a path to the BSN, RN licensure, and a lifetime of service in the most efficient means possible.

Academic Health Center (AHC): Oregon Health & Science University
Faculty and administrators at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) School of Nursing provided the essential leadership needed to create the Oregon Consortium of Nursing Education (OCNE). In addition to developing shared curriculum between OHSU and nine community colleges to improve access to baccalaureate nursing education in the state, OCNE encompasses multiple initiatives necessary to meet the overarching goal of aligning nursing education with emerging healthcare needs in the state. This comprehensive and collaborative effort is increasingly viewed by healthcare and nursing education leaders as a model that can be adapted to achieve similar goals nationwide.

Abstracts for the new Innovation Award winners as well as all past recipients are available online. 

Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Awards

This annual award recognizes AACN member schools and their practice partners who are involved in highly productive and model collaborations. The academic-practice partnership must demonstrate an innovative and sustained relationship that extends beyond clinical placements, be committed to the guiding principles for model partnerships, and show  positive outcomes that are measurable and have been in place for at least a year. The first three awards were presented this year. 
 
The Ohio State University College of Nursing and The Ohio State University Health System
The Ohio State University College of Nursing and The Ohio State University Health System have developed a thriving partnership that has been successful at implementing multiple activities, including the development of a Center for the Transdisciplinary Evidence-based Practice.  This exemplary partnership is enhancing the nursing profession and healthcare by challenging the status quo, stimulating innovation in education and sustainable evidence-based practice, and improving outcomes for the nursing profession, students, patients and the community it serves.

University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and PENN Medicine
Faculty and administrators at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Penn Medicine Health System have developed structures that weave together practice, education, and research to advance nursing locally and globally. They have successfully developed innovative programs such as the Botswana-UPenn partnership, which allows Penn Medicine clinicians and students to travel to Botswana to provide clinical care, engage in educational exchanges, and conduct research. In place for nearly 30 years, this model partnership demonstrates the structures, processes, and determination of their nurses at every level to work collaboratively to benefit partners, students, and clinicians.

University of California-San Francisco School of Nursing (UCSF) and Alameda County Center for Healthy Schools and Communities
UCSF and the Alameda County Center for Healthy Schools and Communities have developed an innovative partnership that not only enhances the community but also provides interprofessional student learning opportunities to nursing and dental students. After two short years, the UCSF Elev8 Healthy Students & Families Project has achieved many milestones, including the development of three quality improvement projects in the areas of mental health, obesity, and asthma carried out by NP students at UCSF. Leaders of this winning partnership are committed to enhancing the overall health of the community and providing lifelong learning experiences for nursing students.
 
More details about the Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award winners are posted online.  A Call for Nominations for the 2014 awards will be issued in January.

Faculty Teaching Awards

AACN is committed to recognizing nursing school faculty making unique contributions
to advancing nursing education through three separate awards programs.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Excellence Award
This award recognizes faculty who systematically investigate questions related to student learning and the conditions under which it occurs in order to improve outcomes. Recipients are recognized for their excellence in evidence-based teaching/learning practices that impact student outcomes. The 2013 award recipient is:

Pamela Jeffries, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award
This award recognizes faculty with more than five years of teaching experience who are leaders in the promotion and implementation of innovative teaching/learning approaches in nursing. Recipients act as role models for creating and sustaining a culture in nursing education that integrates theory and practice.

Cynthia Rubenstein, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, Undergraduate Program Director and Assistant Professor, James Madison University Department of Nursing

Novice Faculty Teaching Awards
These awards recognize excellence and innovation in the teaching of nursing by novice faculty at AACN member schools. The Novice Faculty Excellence in Didactic Teaching Award recognizes outstanding faculty who are teaching in a classroom or online setting, and the Novice Faculty Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award recognizes outstanding faculty who are in teaching in a clinical setting.

Novice Faculty Excellence in Didactic Teaching Award:
Larry Slater, PhD, RN-BC, CCRN, Clinical Assistant Professor, New York University College of Nursing

Novice Faculty Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award:
Jacqueline Riley-Baker, MSN, RN, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio School of Nursing

Brief bios for all AACN faculty awards are posted online at.  The Call for Nominations for the 2014 faculty awards will be issued in December.